Cognitive dysfunction syndrome in senior canines

During their senior life, some dogs may show progressive changes in their normal behavior such as disorientation, decreased interaction with family members, irritability and excessive vocalization, among others. The non-specificity of these alterations has led to the erroneous belief that many of these behavioral modifications are, typical or “normal” signs of aging. However, this may be a reflection of a pathological process that causes progressive brain deterioration of the cognitive functions in senior dogs. Recently, a condition called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome in senior dogs or “dog Alzheimer's disease” was described, due to its clinical and pathological similarities with the human disease. Affected animals develop morphological and functional changes in different areas of the brain, which probably leads to the appearance of changes associated with cognitive decline, i.e., decreased ability to gather, process, or retain information, and make decisions, which ends up causing deleterious effects on quality of life of affected patients by failing to function normally within their environment. Given the nonspecific clinical signs, medical history and behavioral tests have been considered as the main diagnostic tools to identify this syndrome. On the other hand, due to the fact that no etiopathological aspects have been fully established, the mechanisms used in the development of this neuropathology are still inconclusive, therefore, they are not many therapeutic strategies available, out of which Selegiline has been approved by the FDA.