Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome affects a large proportion of elderly dogs, causing confusion, anxiety, and reduced quality of life.
Dogs with CDS experience a progressive loss of their established relationships with environment and owners, causing confusion and anxiety that may manifest as nighttime vocalizations, pacing, and fearfulness. The gradual nature of decline means owners may not recognize the extent of suffering until severely affected. CDS causes real distress in affected animals - this is not merely a human perception of the dog's experience. Pain management for concurrent conditions is essential as uncontrolled pain worsens cognitive symptoms. End-of-life decisions for CDS dogs often involve difficult quality of life assessments.