Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) — a degenerative neurological condition analogous to Alzheimer's in humans — affects a significant proportion of dogs over twelve years old, causing confusion, distress, and deteriorating quality of life.
Canine cognitive dysfunction causes real subjective suffering. The dog that paces at night, vocalises in apparent distress, fails to recognise familiar people, or stands confused at walls is experiencing a form of neurological deterioration that generates genuine psychological distress — anxiety, confusion, and loss of the environmental and social orientation that previously provided security and comfort. The underdiagnosis of CDS means that many dogs spend months to years in this state without their owners understanding that the changes are pathological rather than inevitable ageing, and therefore without appropriate management or medication. The welfare case for earlier diagnosis, proactive monitoring, and honest end-of-life assessment is compelling.