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TUCSON - On today's "Pet Vet," Dr. Randy Aronson stopped by the News 4 Tucson studios to talk about of those fixable diseases in pets: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.

The information from his segment is below. For details, watch the video above.

There is no single description that fully encompasses the term 'cognitive dysfunction'. Some common definitions include:

-A disease of older dogs/cats causing deterioration of cognitive abilities Cognitive dysfunction is defined as unusually poor mental function associated with confusion, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. (People definition)
-28 million senior pets in the U.S. have CDS but only 1 million are actually treated.

Top signs your senior dog or cat needs help but may have Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome:

• Increased sleeping
• Reduced responsiveness to commands/apparent deafness
• Lack of interest in surroundings/events
• Confusion/disorientation
• Inability to recognize familiar people
• Increased thirst
• Excessive panting
• Difficulty eating and/or reduced interest in food
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Difficulty navigating the environment (e.g. stairs)
• Vocalization
• Reduced daily activity

How do we know that its CDS, and not something else?

One should rule out other disease that may mimic symptoms of CD by
• running blood tests,
• urinalysis
• x-rays.
• remove drugs that may increase cognitive decline i.e. barbiturates, benzodiazepine, anticholinergics,
• chemotherapeutic agents and
• gas anesthesia and find alternative therapies whenever possible.
• There are many forms and degrees of cognitive dysfunction.,
• which can be inflammatory,
• vascular,
• toxic,
• nutritional,
• viral, or
• drug induced

Diseases we need to look at to diagnose Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome:

• Blindness
• Deafness/hearing loss +/- blindness
• Cushing's disease +/- diabetes +/- neuropathies
• Severe spinal cord compression/ lumbosacral stenosis
• Drug-induced CNS suppressants, i.e. benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, anticholinergics, gas anesthesia.
• Hepatic encephalopathy (intermittent)
• Severe depression... following loss of friend or owner, etc.
• Hypoglycemia.....insulinoma? (intermittent)
• Hydrocephalus
• Space-occupying lesions
• Severe hypothyroidism
• Hypocalcemia
• Encephalopathies due to vitamin deficiency, i.e. thiamine, B12, folate
• Anemia
• Hypo/Hypernatremia
• Severe pulmonary disease... i.e. hypoxia
• Probably several other diseases.

Treatment possibilities:

• Grain-free diet
• Omega 3 Fatty acids
• Neutricks-
• Melatonin
• B vitamins
• Assorted medicines