Sleep-wake disturbance in canine cognitive dysfunction: guardian-reported patterns and a practical screening tool.

Guardian-reported sleep disturbances and sensory changes can practically screen for canine cognitive dysfunction severity.

This observational study investigated guardian-reported sleep-wake disturbances in dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), enrolling 205 dogs aged ≥8 years via an online survey. The study characterized sleep quality, duration, timing, nocturnal disturbances, and associated sensory changes across varying severity levels of CCD. Key findings indicate that poorer sleep quality—including difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep and increased nocturnal elimination—was significantly associated with greater CCD severity (adjusted p < 0.00001). While total guardian-reported sleep duration did not differ significantly across CCD severity groups, more severely affected dogs were reported to sleep less at night and more during the day, suggesting a circadian phase shift consistent with sundowning phenomena observed in human dementia. Over half of dogs experienced peak restlessness between 02:00–05:00, with increasing late-afternoon/early-evening unsettledness correlating with cognitive progression. Sensory changes, specifically bumping into objects and reduced auditory responsiveness, were more prevalent in severe CCD. A decision tree model incorporating sleep, sensory, and age-related variables demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability between mild and more severe impairment (AUC = 0.69). These findings validate sleep-wake disruption as a clinically meaningful, guardian-observable marker of CCD progression. The proposed screening tool offers a practical, structured approach to facilitate earlier recognition of cognitive decline during routine veterinary consultations for senior dogs, supporting timely intervention and improved quality of life discussions.

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