Nutritional supplementation in cases of canine cognitive dysfunction—A clinical trial

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a clinical condition, which impacts significantly on the lives of elderly dogs and their owners. It is hypothesised that nutritional supplementation can be used in the management of the condition and this trial was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of a specific supplement when compared to a placebo. The trial was conducted in a clinical context and involved 20 UK veterinary practices, giving geographical spread across the country. The duration of the trial was 56 days, including a baseline period of 7 days and a post trial period of 7 days. There was a significant difference between the treated and the placebo groups in relation to improvement in their scores for disorientation, changes in interaction and house soiling behaviour at day 21, day 28 and day 42. These results support the clinical practice of nutritional supplementation as a valuable component of the therapeutic approach in cases of canine cognitive dysfunction.