Introduction

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), also known as canine dementia, is an age-related neurobehavioral syndrome. It is common in geriatric dogs, typically at least 12 years of age, but it is commonly underdiagnosed. Estimates place the prevalence of this disor­der anywhere from 14-60% with increasing age. The disorder is characterized by deficits in learning, memory, and spatial awareness. Changes in social interactions and sleeping patterns are also common.

There are many characteristic changes associated with CCD, but four key clinical signs are most obvious: sleeping during the day and restlessness at night, decreased interaction, disorientation at home, and anx­iety. The Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) is an example of one scoring method for assess­ing CCD (Table 6.1).