What is Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)?
Strikingly similar to Alzheimer’s Disease that affects humans, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome affects the brain of elderly dogs, causing confusion, forgetfulness about many lifelong habits (ie : eating, favourite people, or housetraining habits), and normal boundaries. A dog who may have never left the yard in her entire life, may suddenly decide to wander off into the middle of rush hour traffic. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is caused by the chemical and physiological changes that occur in an older dog’s brain. Likely causes seem to parallel the human disease Alzheimer’s as well, such as the accumulation of B-amyloid proteins, or the activity of monoamine oxidase-B being increased. Both of these problems accelerate degeneration of the brain. What are the symptoms of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome? These are the most noticeable symptoms of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in dogs : • Aimless wandering • Disorientation • Confusion about a previously familiar place (ie: gets lo
