New Guidelines Aim to Improve Diagnosis of Canine Dementia

Reported 16 April 2026 · Published April 2026

Veterinary experts have set out new guidance designed to help vets diagnose and monitor canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, often described as canine dementia.

The American Veterinary Medical Association reported in April 2026 that an international group of experts has proposed a formal definition, diagnostic criteria and monitoring tools for the condition.

The guidance is important because cognitive decline in older dogs can be difficult to recognise. Changes may develop gradually, and owners may mistake early signs for normal ageing rather than symptoms that should be discussed with a vet.

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or CCDS, is associated with progressive changes in behaviour and cognition in older dogs.

The NC State University announcement said an international working group of canine cognition experts had released guidelines to support diagnosis and monitoring of the condition. The group described CCDS as a chronic, progressive, age-associated neurodegenerative syndrome.

The guidance identifies behavioural areas that can be affected, including disorientation, social interaction, sleep disruption, house soiling, learning and memory, activity changes and anxiety. These areas are often grouped under the DISHAA framework.

For owners, the signs can be subtle at first. A dog may sleep differently, seem more anxious, become confused in familiar spaces, forget established routines or start toileting indoors after years of being house-trained.

The purpose of the new guidance is not to encourage owners to diagnose their pets themselves. It is to give vets and researchers a more consistent way to discuss, identify and track the condition.

The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine notes that cognitive dysfunction syndrome may be underdiagnosed because behavioural changes progress slowly and owners may assume some changes are simply part of ageing.

That is one of the reasons the new diagnostic framework matters.

The working group recommends that veterinarians begin monitoring dogs for cognitive changes through routine senior dog surveys from around seven years old. If behavioural abnormalities are reported by a caregiver, the guidance recommends follow-up with a more detailed CCDS scale and ongoing monitoring every six months.

From around 10 years old, the guidance recommends using a CCDS scale every six months for all dogs.

This kind of routine monitoring could make a difference because early patterns are easier to miss when they are not recorded. A single restless night may not seem significant. Repeated night-time wandering, changes in interaction or new anxiety may tell a different story when they are tracked over time.

The published JAVMA guidelines propose two diagnostic levels and three severity stages.

The first diagnostic level is based on a consistent history of progressive behavioural signs, while also ruling out other possible causes through physical, orthopaedic and neurological examination, laboratory work and assessment of other conditions. The second diagnostic level includes brain MRI findings.

The guidance also proposes severity stages ranging from mild to severe. In mild cases, signs may be subtle and function may be largely preserved. In more advanced cases, behavioural changes can become more obvious and may require significant management adjustments.

This staged model matters because canine dementia is not an all-or-nothing condition. A dog may have early changes long before daily life becomes severely affected.

For vets, a standardised framework may make it easier to monitor progression, compare cases and discuss treatment or management options. For owners, it may help explain why their dog’s behaviour is changing and what kind of support may be needed.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation announced in January 2026 that the guidelines were the first ever published guidance for diagnosing and monitoring CCDS.

The foundation also said it was partnering with Dr Natasha Olby, who led the working group, to launch an online resource hub for canine cognitive dysfunction. The aim is to bring together science, guidance and practical tools for veterinarians and dog owners.

That is important because senior dog care often happens partly in the clinic and partly at home. A vet may see the dog for a short appointment, but the owner sees the daily patterns: sleep, toileting, appetite, anxiety, confusion, activity and social interaction.

Better owner resources may help families recognise changes earlier, describe them more clearly and understand what a vet is trying to assess.

Senior dog care can be emotionally difficult because changes are often gradual.

A dog may still eat, walk and greet familiar people, but also become unsettled at night, anxious when left alone, confused in familiar places or less responsive to routines. Families may disagree about whether the dog is simply ageing or whether something more serious is happening.

That disagreement can be harder when care is shared between households. One person may notice night-time restlessness. Another may see house soiling. A third may pay for vet appointments but not see the dog every day.

In those situations, written observations can matter. Dates, symptoms, vet appointments, medication, changes in routine and care decisions can help everyone involved understand what is happening.

The new guidelines do not remove the difficulty of caring for an ageing pet. They do, however, reinforce a simple point: patterns matter, and those patterns are easier to understand when they are noticed and recorded.

Pawsettle welcomes developments that help people recognise and plan around the real responsibilities of pet care.

Canine cognitive dysfunction is not just a clinical issue. It affects daily routines, sleep, toileting, household stress, veterinary costs and decisions about quality of life. For families, those questions can become emotional very quickly.

When more than one person is involved in a dog’s care, clarity becomes even more important. Who notices changes? Who books the vet appointment? Who pays for treatment? Who keeps the notes? Who makes decisions if the dog’s needs change?

Pawsettle exists to help people think through those questions before pressure builds. Better veterinary guidance can support owners, but clear communication at home remains part of responsible pet care.