The Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: rating scales

Abstract

“Aging” represents the broad spectrum of changes associated with the passage of time. Among domestic
animals, dogs have been extensively studied as a model for neurodegenerative human diseases due to their similarities,
especially in terms of pathological alterations. Canine Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) is still under investigation
from diagnostic, clinical, anatomopathological, and therapeutic perspectives. Consequently, numerous authors have
developed and validated various rating scales to assess geriatric animals for early and non-invasive diagnosis of
CDS. The objective of this review is to offer a comprehensive overview of existing rating scales and to discuss their
strengths and limitations.