A comparison of 2 screening questionnaires for clinical assessment of canine cognitive dysfunction

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a neurobehavioral syndrome occurring in some senior dogs. The diagnosis is currently primarily dependent on owner-based questionnaires addressing changes in behavior and daily routines and the exclusion of other conditions which may display clinical signs mimicking CCD. A number of CCD screening questionnaires have been published, but whether the choice of questionnaire might influence the diagnosis of CCD or not, is unclear. The objective of the present study was to correlate the total scores from 2 CCD screening questionnaires which were developed on the basis of very different strategies. The study population consisted of 50 dogs more than 8 years of age. The dogs were evaluated clinically, and the 2 questionnaires were given in a face-to-face interview with the owners. The study found a significant correlation (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001) between the 2 questionnaires. The ability to identify dogs with multiple and severe signs of CCD were equally good. This is of importance for research studying CCD case definitions and for comparisons between studies using different questionnaires. If evaluation for longitudinal changes is needed, the canine cognitive rating scale may prove more useful for assessing disease progression.