Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is often referred to as doggy dementia. Your senior pet who has cognitive dysfunction can exhibit a wide range of signs associated with memory loss, anxiety, and other behavioral disorders. However, many pet owners believe their pet’s signs can be attributed to normal aging changes, so CDS often goes ignored, undiagnosed, and untreated.

To help you identify CDS in your pet, our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center designed the following clinical signs checklist. If you have noticed any of these changes in your four-legged friend during the past six months, they may have CDS and, at the very least, they need a comprehensive veterinary exam to determine the underlying cause of their behavioral changes. 

Your pet appears disoriented or confused.

Pets who are disoriented or confused often get stuck behind furniture or doors, or fail to find their food, water, or bed. They may wait at the wrong side for a door to open, and find that navigating around items, such as furniture, is a problem. Your pet may stare blankly into space or at a wall, and may not seem to recognize you if you call their name, or to recognize their name itself. They may consider familiar family members and other household pets as strangers, and become unsettled in your home, which may seem new because they cannot remember the layout.

Your pet displays altered social interactions with you or other pets.

Your pet’s personality and normal social interactions can take a 180-degree turn, resulting in irritable, potentially aggressive behavior. If your pet fails to recognize you or other household pets, they may react out of fear, hissing, growling, or snapping. Your pet may also seek out your companionship less frequently and prefer to be secluded and alone.

Your pet’s sleep/wake cycles have changed.

Your pet with CDS may flip-flop their normal sleeping patterns and sleep more during the day and be more active at night. They may wander aimlessly or pace at night, or vocalize excessively (e.g., howl, whine, meow) as they roam your home, rather than sleeping.

Your pet is having accidents in the house.

House soiling occurs commonly in senior pets who suffer from CDS. Dogs may fail to signal they need to go outside, or may sniff around outside, come back inside, and then urinate or defecate. Cats may eliminate right next to their litter box or go to more easily accessible spots. For example, if your senior cat’s sole litter box is in the basement, they may refuse to go down the stairs because of arthritis pain, or because they have forgotten their box’s location.

Your pet’s memory seems to be failing.

The adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” holds a kernel of truth. While senior pets can still learn new skills, CDS makes that difficult. Affected pets may not only struggle to learn something new, but may also struggle to retain that knowledge. In addition, they may not respond to previously learned commands, and may forget their name.

Your pet’s activity has changed.

Typically, a pet who has CDS will show a shift in their normal activities. They may be less likely to play or interact with toys, people, or pets, and increase their aimless activity, such as pacing or wandering. Your pet may also display repetitive behaviors, such as licking, chewing, or circling.

Your pet appears anxious.

Pets who experience pain, nausea, or impaired mobility from chronic diseases do not understand what is happening, which can lead to anxiety. Failing cognitive abilities also cause pets distress, which can manifest as separation anxiety, clinginess, and an increased fear of new people or places. Your senior pet may also react more than usual to loud sounds. 

Although CDS is a progressive condition, spotting—and managing—early disease signs can slow advancement. Early intervention through environmental enrichment, “brain games,” physical activity, and dietary supplementation can do wonders for a senior pet’s aging mind, and help preserve their cognitive function well into their golden years. There are medications and special diets available that may help also.

If you marked any of the boxes in our cognitive dysfunction checklist, you should schedule an appointment for your senior pet with our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team, so we can make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.