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Animals
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Cognitive Dysfunction and Neurodegenerative Diseases in Dogs and Cats
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Cognitive Dysfunction and Neurodegenerative Diseases in Dogs and Cats

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Companion Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1794

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dagmara Winiarczyk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department and Clinic of Animal Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
Interests: cognitive dysfunction; neurodegenerative diseases; biomarker identification; clinical neurology; companion animals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases in dogs and cats represent an increasingly important challenge in contemporary veterinary medicine, largely due to the extended lifespan of companion animals and the growing recognition of age-related neurological disorders.

This Special Issue of Animals, ‘Cognitive Dysfunction and Neurodegenerative Diseases in Dogs and Cats’, aims to present the current advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders in companion animals. We invite original research articles, reviews, and short communications that focus on the clinical presentations, behavioral assessments, diagnostic imaging, neuropathology, and molecular mechanisms associated with cognitive decline in dogs and cats.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the development and validation of the diagnostic tools and biomarkers that enable earlier detection of cognitive dysfunction, including those derived from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and other biological fluids. Submissions employing advanced analytical approaches, such as proteomics, metabolomics, and other omics-based methodologies, are especially encouraged. Contributions addressing neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, synaptic dysfunction, and disturbances in protein homeostasis within the aging canine and feline nervous system are also welcome.

In addition, this Special Issue will highlight current and emerging strategies for the management of cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases, including pharmacological treatments, nutritional interventions, dietary supplementation, environmental enrichment, and behavior-oriented therapies. By integrating perspectives from clinical practice and experimental research, this Special Issue aims to support evidence-based approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of dogs and cats.

Dr. Dagmara Winiarczyk
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cognitive dysfunction
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • dogs
  • cats
  • aging
  • biomarkers
  • veterinary neurology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

23 pages, 1155 KB  
Review
Evidence-Based Clinical Management of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: Diagnostic Algorithms, Practical Guidelines, Critical Appraisal of Biomarkers and Translational Limitations
by Maurizio Dondi, Ezio Bianchi, Paolo Borghetti, Valentina Buffagni, Rosanna Di Lecce, Giacomo Gnudi, Chiara Guarnieri, Francesca Ravanetti, Roberta Saleri and Attilio Corradi
Animals 2026, 16(7), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16071114 - 4 Apr 2026
Viewed by 966
Abstract
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCDS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting older dogs that shares many pathological mechanisms with human Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although it is common in geriatric dogs, CCDS is often underdiagnosed in veterinary medicine. Both CCDS and AD involve a [...] Read more.
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCDS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting older dogs that shares many pathological mechanisms with human Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although it is common in geriatric dogs, CCDS is often underdiagnosed in veterinary medicine. Both CCDS and AD involve a gradual decline in cognitive functions such as memory, learning and executive abilities. From a pathological perspective, dogs with CCDS show brain changes similar to those seen in AD, including cerebral atrophy, loss of neurons and accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques. CCDS is diagnosed by exclusion, meaning that other medical or neurological conditions that could cause similar behavioural signs must first be ruled out. Clinical evaluation mainly relies on structured questionnaires completed by owners. Magnetic resonance imaging is used to confirm cerebral atrophy and, at the same time, to exclude other brain disorders, such as cerebrovascular accidents and neoplasia. Current research focuses on identifying fluid biomarkers, such as amyloid-beta, neurofilament light chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein, to support an early and objective diagnosis. The most effective management combines pharmacological therapy, targeted nutrition and non-pharmacological strategies, including environmental enrichment and behavioural support. Early intervention, ideally during mild cognitive impairment, is crucial to slow disease progression and maintain quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Dysfunction and Neurodegenerative Diseases in Dogs and Cats)
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15 pages, 278 KB  
Review
Proteomic Analysis of Tear Film in Dogs and Cats: Emerging Biomarkers of Cognitive Dysfunction and Neurodegenerative Disorders
by Dagmara Winiarczyk and Mateusz Winiarczyk
Animals 2026, 16(6), 930; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16060930 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 463
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative disorders represent an increasing clinical challenge in aging dogs and cats, while objective and minimally invasive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring remain limited. Tear film is a biologically active fluid reflecting both local and systemic processes and [...] Read more.
Cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative disorders represent an increasing clinical challenge in aging dogs and cats, while objective and minimally invasive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring remain limited. Tear film is a biologically active fluid reflecting both local and systemic processes and offers a practical, non-invasive source of potential biomarkers in geriatric veterinary patients. Proteomic analyses of canine and feline tear film have revealed a complex protein composition, including molecules involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, immune regulation, and cellular homeostasis—processes implicated in neurodegeneration. However, growing evidence from human and veterinary research emphasizes the importance of CNS-specific and mechanistically informative biomarkers, such as markers of axonal injury, synaptic degeneration, and glial activation, which may provide a more precise framework for interpreting peripheral proteomic alterations. This review summarizes current knowledge on tear film proteomics in dogs and cats and discusses its potential relevance to cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative processes. Particular attention is given to the integration of tear-derived proteins with validated blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, as well as to methodological challenges and future research priorities. With appropriate standardization and clinical validation, tear film proteomics may contribute to the development of novel diagnostic and monitoring strategies for neurodegenerative disorders in companion animals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive Dysfunction and Neurodegenerative Diseases in Dogs and Cats)
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