POST-ANESTHETIC NEUROCOGNITIVE CHANGES: A STUDY ON SUBTLE AND UNDERDIAGNOSED DYSFUNCTIONS IN GERIATRIC DOGS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/ERR01v10n7-033Keywords:
Veterinary Anesthesia, Geriatric Dogs, Cognitive Dysfunction, Neuroinflammation, Postoperative RecoveryAbstract
The increase in the longevity of dogs and, consequently, the demand for anesthetic procedures in geriatric patients, highlights the need to understand possible neurocognitive changes in the post-anesthetic period. Considering that brain aging reduces cognitive reserve and increases vulnerability to metabolic, hemodynamic, and pharmacological insults, the objective is to investigate, through an integrative review, the clinical signs, risk factors, and pathophysiological mechanisms associated with such changes, as well as their relationship with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCDS). To this end, a search was conducted in the main scientific databases between 2000 and 2024, including clinical and experimental studies and professional guidelines focused on anesthesia and veterinary geriatrics. It was observed that elderly dogs may experience disorientation, agitation, sleep disturbances, vocalization, and behavioral slowing after anesthesia, especially when there are systemic comorbidities or previous signs of neurodegeneration. These findings resemble the perioperative cognitive disorders described in humans and suggest the involvement of mechanisms such as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and synaptic dysfunction. It is concluded that such changes are plausible, relevant, and possibly underdiagnosed, reinforcing the need for standardized cognitive assessment protocols and individualized anesthetic practices that promote greater safety and well-being for geriatric dogs.
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