What Veterinarians Are Learning About “Dog Dementia”

As dogs get older, some of them can start to have trouble thinking, remembering, and behaving the way they used to. This condition is called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, or CCDS for short. CCDS is a brain condition in older dogs that is like Alzheimer’s disease in people.

A group of veterinary experts from around the world came together to help veterinarians better understand CCDS. They wrote new guidelines to help doctors diagnose and watch for CCDS in older dogs. The goal is to help pets as early as possible when changes start to happen.

What CCDS Looks Like

CCDS happens slowly and gets worse over time. It affects how dogs act and think. Instead of being normal aging, the changes are more serious and impact daily life. The veterinarians who wrote the guidelines describe six main types of changes that dogs may show:

Disorientation
Impaired social interactions
Sleep changes
House soiling, and problems with learning and memory
Activity changes — either more active or less active than usual
Anxiety or fear that is new or increased
This group of signs is remembered by the acronym DISHAA.

Because CCDS affects behavior in several ways, veterinarians recommend that older dogs be checked regularly for these changes so that pets get help as soon as possible.

How Veterinarians Diagnose CCDS

Right now, there are two levels of diagnosis:

Level 1: The veterinarian looks at your dog’s history and how the dog is acting. The vet checks for other possible causes of the change, like joint pain or illness, and makes sure the problems are consistent over time.

Level 2: This includes imaging tests like an MRI to see if there is shrinkage (atrophy) in the brain and other tests that help rule out other problems.

In the future, vets hope to have easier blood tests and mental tests to help diagnose CCDS earlier and more accurately.

Why This Matters

CCDS is becoming more common simply because dogs are living longer than they used to. Just like with humans, the brain can change with age, and CCDS is more than “normal old age.” These guidelines help vets and families know what to watch for and how to begin care sooner.

If you think your senior dog is showing signs of CCDS, it’s a good idea to talk with your veterinarian. Early recognition and care can help your dog stay comfortable and enjoy a better quality of life.

Here is a free link to the full paper by Olby et al.

https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/aop/javma.25.10.0668/javma.25.10.0668.xml