Evaluation of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) in dogs and cats following chronic diseases

One of the problems of aging in dogs and cats is cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), which is very similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans and can affect the well-being of pets and the quality of human-animal communication. Currently, the most practical way to diagnose CDS in clinical practice is to administer a questionnaire based on cognitive symptoms, which include vocalization, changes in social interaction, changes in sleep/wake cycle, litter box soiling, disorientation, changes in activity level, anxiety, and changes in memory function and past learning. The study of cognitive disorders that may result from medical conditions is a critical area of research in human medicine, and many studies have been conducted to explore this topic. However, the study of such disorders in dogs and cats has received relatively little attention, with only a few studies conducted to date.A total of  20 clinically affected dogs and cats selected to evaluate their cognitive status. The control group consisted of 10 dogs and 10 cats in similar age and sex. After obtaining the consent of the owners, the samples were evaluated using a questionnaire and the incidence of CDS after chronic diseases was compared with the natural aging process.According to the results, a significant difference was seen in the activity and change of memory function and prior learning in dogs with underlying disease compared to the control group. In addition, the greatest differences in cats included changes in activity, sleep-wake cycle, and house soiling. On the other hand, anxiety in dogs and social interaction in cats showed the least difference between healthy and patient groups.It seems important to evaluate behaviors related to cognitive dysfunction syndrome in dogs and cats after chronic diseases using a questionnaire.