The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs
Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) is a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disorder in dogs. Minimal research has been performed to investigate how clinical signs may be impacted by other medical conditions. A cross-sectional study was performed using the Canine Cognitive Assessment...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2203 |
| _version_ | 1797592178228199424 |
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| author | Rosalind Wrightson Mariangela Albertini Federica Pirrone Kevin McPeake Patrizia Piotti |
| author_facet | Rosalind Wrightson Mariangela Albertini Federica Pirrone Kevin McPeake Patrizia Piotti |
| author_sort | Rosalind Wrightson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) is a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disorder in dogs. Minimal research has been performed to investigate how clinical signs may be impacted by other medical conditions. A cross-sectional study was performed using the Canine Cognitive Assessment Scale (CCAS) to evaluate cognitive impairment as reported by owners. Owner-reported health-related measures included behaviour changes, the body condition score, and veterinary diagnoses of disease. The responses from 804 dogs in the last 25% of their expected lifespan were analysed. Factors were identified in the owner-reported behavioural signs of disease representing pathologies in four body systems: musculoskeletal–neurological, digestive, metabolic, and dermatological, with the items comprising these factors also compiled into a cumulative measure of health. The results showed a strong correlation between the CCAS score and both the musculoskeletal–neurological factor and the overall cumulative measure of health. Moderate correlations between the CCAS score and the digestive factor and metabolic factor were also observed. The correlation between the dermatological factor and the CCAS score was weak. This study highlights the need to screen dogs for concurrent diseases when using scales to assess cognitive impairment and to monitor dogs who have health conditions, particularly those that are painful, for the onset of cognitive impairment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:47:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-169b74d9c2124456a95c99b88122bd6e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:47:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-169b74d9c2124456a95c99b88122bd6e2023-11-18T16:04:29ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-07-011313220310.3390/ani13132203The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior DogsRosalind Wrightson0Mariangela Albertini1Federica Pirrone2Kevin McPeake3Patrizia Piotti4The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Midlothian, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UKDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, 26900 Lodi, ItalyThe Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Midlothian, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UKDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, 26900 Lodi, ItalyCanine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) is a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disorder in dogs. Minimal research has been performed to investigate how clinical signs may be impacted by other medical conditions. A cross-sectional study was performed using the Canine Cognitive Assessment Scale (CCAS) to evaluate cognitive impairment as reported by owners. Owner-reported health-related measures included behaviour changes, the body condition score, and veterinary diagnoses of disease. The responses from 804 dogs in the last 25% of their expected lifespan were analysed. Factors were identified in the owner-reported behavioural signs of disease representing pathologies in four body systems: musculoskeletal–neurological, digestive, metabolic, and dermatological, with the items comprising these factors also compiled into a cumulative measure of health. The results showed a strong correlation between the CCAS score and both the musculoskeletal–neurological factor and the overall cumulative measure of health. Moderate correlations between the CCAS score and the digestive factor and metabolic factor were also observed. The correlation between the dermatological factor and the CCAS score was weak. This study highlights the need to screen dogs for concurrent diseases when using scales to assess cognitive impairment and to monitor dogs who have health conditions, particularly those that are painful, for the onset of cognitive impairment.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2203canine cognitive dysfunction syndromeCDScognitive assessment scaledogageing |
| spellingShingle | Rosalind Wrightson Mariangela Albertini Federica Pirrone Kevin McPeake Patrizia Piotti The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs Animals canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome CDS cognitive assessment scale dog ageing |
| title | The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs |
| title_full | The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs |
| title_fullStr | The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs |
| title_short | The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs |
| title_sort | relationship between signs of medical conditions and cognitive decline in senior dogs |
| topic | canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome CDS cognitive assessment scale dog ageing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2203 |
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