Survey of the presence of signs compatible with senile cognitive changes in dogs

Abstract

Elderly dogs are prone to acquire numerous diseases over the years, with geriatrics as a field of medicine being important. It is visible the emotional bond that owners have with their dogs, consequently, generating a greater concern with the life expectancy of their animals. Cognitive changes are commonly seen in aging, with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome being an example. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is a neurodegenerative disease and neurodegeneration starts over six years old (depending on the size of the dog), and may show specific clinical signs of cognitive decline. However, with the lack of knowledge, the owners are not aware that such a disease may affect their pet, thinking that any clinical sign associated with aging is normal. The definitive diagnosis is histopathological and the diagnosis of exclusion is made by means of imaging tests, CSF analysis, laboratory tests and the increment of questionnaires. Symptom control, on the other hand, is defined by using specific medications, environmental enrichment, among other aspects, all associated with an increase in the patient's longevity and delay in the evolution of the disease. Therefore, the objective of the present work is to identify signs of senile cognitive changes in dogs. A questionnaire was made available to owners of dogs over six years of age, with five symptoms highlighted in the literature to analyze the signs presented with those of the Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. The animals were separated into two age groups, one from six to eleven years old and the other from twelve to nineteen years old, and then the Chi-Square test was used to reveal whether there is significance between the increase in signs with advancing age, using P