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Feline cognitive dysfunction

January 01, 1970

Feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD) is a cognitive disease prevalent in cats, directly related to the brain aging, leading to changes in awareness, deficits in learning and memory, and decreased responsiveness to stimuli. It is also known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Alzheimer's disease and dementia in humans are diseases with comparable symptoms and pathology.[1][2][3]

Causes edit

The exact cause of FCD is currently unknown. Genetic factors may predispose an animal to the condition.[4] Signs of cognitive dysfunction may be connected with a prosencephalon or cerebrum problem.[5]

Symptoms edit

Older cats display more symptoms of the disease than younger cats.[6][7] Behavioural symptoms usually become apparent in cats older than 10 years.[3]

Main signs of FCD can be summarized with the acronym DISH:

  • Disorientation,
  • reduced social Interactions,
  • Changes in Sleep patterns,
  • loss of Housetraining skills.[8]

Affected cats may wander aimlessly and look lost in space, seem restless and anxious, fail to recognize familiar faces such as their owners, caretakers or other cats in the clowder, display decreased interest in social interactions or increased aggression, experience insomnia, sometimes along with increased nocturnal vocalizations[2][7][9] with no apparent reason.

Other conditions with similar symptoms edit

Signs of FCD can be found in a number of other pathologies such as brain tumors[7][10] or non brain-related diseases, which makes it important to exclude the possibility of other causes. For example, excessive urination may signify a kidney disease,[11] and the look of numbness and detachment may be caused by a large variety of conditions, from pain to affected vision.[12]

Arthritis may hinder a cat's ability to get into the litter box in time.  Night-time vocalizing is relatively common in hyperthyroid cats or cats with hypertension, which can also cause retinal detachment and blindness, leading to anxiety and confusion. Progressively painful periodontal disease can discourage the cat from visiting its food bowl with the same enthusiasm it showed at a younger age.

If all other possible diseases are excluded, and MRI and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid fail to reveal a physical problem in the brain, then the problem may be treated by an animal behaviorist or veterinary psychiatrist.[5]

Prevention edit

As the cause of the disease is unknown, there is no way to be certain in prevention of the condition. However, the following measures are considered effective:[5]

  • absence of other animals in the house whose presence may be stressful to the cat,
  • vitamin E-rich diet,
  • conveniently accessible litter boxes,
  • ramps for the stairs if the cat experiences difficulties going up and down,
  • routine checkups with a veterinarian to detect a disease on early stage.

Treatment edit

The disease is little-researched and thus considered incurable at the moment, but its symptoms can be managed with treatment.[7] Cognitive dysfunction syndrome in dogs is an established diagnosis, but there has been limited research for cats and treatment options are limited.[13] Drugs used for treatment of the disease have been approved for use in dogs. However, they are used off-label in treatment of cats.[1] Early diagnosis improves results of long-term treatment.[6]

Improving home environment may help in managing the disease.[2][8] The treatment must always be arranged with a veterinarian for each particular animal, but the suggested measures include the following (veterinarian's advice is needed for right dosage of any supplements):

As the disease progresses, it gradually gets more difficult to ease, which increases the importance of detecting the diseases on the earliest possible stage.

Recommendations include limiting the access to the parts of the house that may present danger to the animal, set a consistent schedule for feeding, playing and interacting with the cat, "talking" with the animal and calling it by the name so that the familiar voice soothes it, and adding more litterboxes in case the cat experiences excessive urination or defecation.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Ilona Rodan; Sarah Heath (24 August 2015). Feline Behavioral Health and Welfare. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 351. ISBN 978-1-4557-7401-2.
  2. ^ a b c "Feline Cognitive Dysfunction - Cat Behavior Associates". Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats". Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Dementia (Geriatric) in Cats | petMD". www.petmd.com. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  5. ^ a b c "Cognitive Dysfunction". Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  6. ^ a b Irene Rochlitz (17 April 2007). The Welfare of Cats. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-1-4020-3227-1.
  7. ^ a b c d Susan Little (1 September 2015). August's Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 977–978. ISBN 978-0-323-22652-3.
  8. ^ a b "Is Your Kitty Confused? 4 Signs of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome". www.vetstreet.com. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Older Cats with Behavior Problems". Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats". PetPlace.com. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  11. ^ "Why is My Cat Peeing so Much?". Pet Health Network. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  12. ^ "Sudden Onset Blindness in Cats". Pet Health Network. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
  13. ^ Issues in Veterinary Research and Medicine: 2011 Edition. ScholarlyEditions. 9 January 2012. p. 936. ISBN 978-1-4649-6435-0.
  14. ^ "Cats and Dietary Medium-Chain Triglycerides". Retrieved 2018-12-16.

Further reading edit

  • Curtis W. Dewey; Ronaldo C. da Costa (8 September 2015). Practical Guide to Canine and Feline Neurology. Wiley. ISBN 978-1-119-06204-2.
  • Karen Overall (4 June 2013). Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 432–439. ISBN 978-0-323-24065-9.

January 01, 1970
feline, cognitive, dysfunction, cognitive, disease, prevalent, cats, directly, related, brain, aging, leading, changes, awareness, deficits, learning, memory, decreased, responsiveness, stimuli, also, known, cognitive, dysfunction, syndrome, alzheimer, disease. Feline cognitive dysfunction FCD is a cognitive disease prevalent in cats directly related to the brain aging leading to changes in awareness deficits in learning and memory and decreased responsiveness to stimuli It is also known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome CDS Alzheimer s disease and dementia in humans are diseases with comparable symptoms and pathology 1 2 3 Contents 1 Causes 2 Symptoms 3 Other conditions with similar symptoms 4 Prevention 5 Treatment 6 See also 7 References 8 Further readingCauses editThe exact cause of FCD is currently unknown Genetic factors may predispose an animal to the condition 4 Signs of cognitive dysfunction may be connected with a prosencephalon or cerebrum problem 5 Symptoms editOlder cats display more symptoms of the disease than younger cats 6 7 Behavioural symptoms usually become apparent in cats older than 10 years 3 Main signs of FCD can be summarized with the acronym DISH Disorientation reduced social Interactions Changes in Sleep patterns loss of Housetraining skills 8 Affected cats may wander aimlessly and look lost in space seem restless and anxious fail to recognize familiar faces such as their owners caretakers or other cats in the clowder display decreased interest in social interactions or increased aggression experience insomnia sometimes along with increased nocturnal vocalizations 2 7 9 with no apparent reason Other conditions with similar symptoms editSigns of FCD can be found in a number of other pathologies such as brain tumors 7 10 or non brain related diseases which makes it important to exclude the possibility of other causes For example excessive urination may signify a kidney disease 11 and the look of numbness and detachment may be caused by a large variety of conditions from pain to affected vision 12 Arthritis may hinder a cat s ability to get into the litter box in time Night time vocalizing is relatively common in hyperthyroid cats or cats with hypertension which can also cause retinal detachment and blindness leading to anxiety and confusion Progressively painful periodontal disease can discourage the cat from visiting its food bowl with the same enthusiasm it showed at a younger age If all other possible diseases are excluded and MRI and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid fail to reveal a physical problem in the brain then the problem may be treated by an animal behaviorist or veterinary psychiatrist 5 Prevention editAs the cause of the disease is unknown there is no way to be certain in prevention of the condition However the following measures are considered effective 5 absence of other animals in the house whose presence may be stressful to the cat vitamin E rich diet conveniently accessible litter boxes ramps for the stairs if the cat experiences difficulties going up and down routine checkups with a veterinarian to detect a disease on early stage Treatment editThe disease is little researched and thus considered incurable at the moment but its symptoms can be managed with treatment 7 Cognitive dysfunction syndrome in dogs is an established diagnosis but there has been limited research for cats and treatment options are limited 13 Drugs used for treatment of the disease have been approved for use in dogs However they are used off label in treatment of cats 1 Early diagnosis improves results of long term treatment 6 Improving home environment may help in managing the disease 2 8 The treatment must always be arranged with a veterinarian for each particular animal but the suggested measures include the following veterinarian s advice is needed for right dosage of any supplements species appropriate diet rich in omega 3 physical and mental exercise such as treat release toys S adenosylmethionine supplement medium chain triglycerides can improve brain energy metabolism and decrease the amyloid protein buildup that results in brain lesions in older pets 14 antioxidants such as resveratrol Japanese knotweed which protects against free radical damage and beta amyloid deposits N acetyl cysteine NAC phosphatidylserine and apoaequorin vitamins E C and B complex melatonin as a sedation for nocturnal vocalizations and insomnia As the disease progresses it gradually gets more difficult to ease which increases the importance of detecting the diseases on the earliest possible stage Recommendations include limiting the access to the parts of the house that may present danger to the animal set a consistent schedule for feeding playing and interacting with the cat talking with the animal and calling it by the name so that the familiar voice soothes it and adding more litterboxes in case the cat experiences excessive urination or defecation See also edit nbsp Cats portal Canine cognitive dysfunction Cerebellar hypoplasia non human Feline spongiform encephalopathyReferences edit a b Ilona Rodan Sarah Heath 24 August 2015 Feline Behavioral Health and Welfare Elsevier Health Sciences p 351 ISBN 978 1 4557 7401 2 a b c Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Cat Behavior Associates Retrieved 10 January 2017 a b Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats Retrieved 10 January 2017 Dementia Geriatric in Cats petMD www petmd com Retrieved 2018 12 16 a b c Cognitive Dysfunction Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine 2017 10 09 Retrieved 2018 12 16 a b Irene Rochlitz 17 April 2007 The Welfare of Cats Springer Science amp Business Media pp 113 114 ISBN 978 1 4020 3227 1 a b c d Susan Little 1 September 2015 August s Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine Elsevier Health Sciences pp 977 978 ISBN 978 0 323 22652 3 a b Is Your Kitty Confused 4 Signs of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome www vetstreet com pp 1 2 Retrieved 10 January 2017 Older Cats with Behavior Problems Retrieved 10 January 2017 Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats PetPlace com Retrieved 10 January 2017 Why is My Cat Peeing so Much Pet Health Network Retrieved 2018 12 16 Sudden Onset Blindness in Cats Pet Health Network Retrieved 2018 12 16 Issues in Veterinary Research and Medicine 2011 Edition ScholarlyEditions 9 January 2012 p 936 ISBN 978 1 4649 6435 0 Cats and Dietary Medium Chain Triglycerides Retrieved 2018 12 16 Further reading editCurtis W Dewey Ronaldo C da Costa 8 September 2015 Practical Guide to Canine and Feline Neurology Wiley ISBN 978 1 119 06204 2 Karen Overall 4 June 2013 Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats Elsevier Health Sciences pp 432 439 ISBN 978 0 323 24065 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Feline cognitive dysfunction amp oldid 1181854316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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