Síndrome da disfunção cognitiva em animais de companhia: cães e gatos

Abstract

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) in dogs and cats is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with aging, characterized by behavioral changes and impairment of cognitive functions. This study aimed to address the main aspects related to cognitive dysfunction syndrome in companion animals, emphasizing clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment. CDS causes irreversible degeneration of the brain, leading to changes such as disorientation, alterations in social interaction, sleep-wake cycle disturbances, loss of house-training habits, learning deficits, and excessive vocalization. Many clinical signs are commonly mistaken for natural aging changes, making early diagnosis difficult. Diagnosis is mainly performed by exclusion through detailed anamnesis, clinical, neurological, laboratory, and imaging examinations, with definitive confirmation possible only through post-mortem neuropathological examination. Treatment is palliative and aims to slow disease progression and improve the patient’s quality of life. Therapeutic approaches include environmental enrichment, drug therapies, nutritional supplementation, acupuncture, and cannabidiol use. It is concluded that CDS is a highly relevant condition in geriatric veterinary medicine, requiring greater owner awareness and early diagnosis to provide better welfare for affected animals.