Canine Dementia Scale Quiz

Canine Dementia Scale (CADES)

We encourage you to use the following scale to gain a quantitative understanding of your dog's cognitive health. Score each of the 17 items based on how frequently you have observed the abnormal behavior in the last six months.
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Category A : Spatial Orientation

These questions address how well your dog navigates and interacts with its environment. In TCVM, disorientation relates heavily to a disturbance of the Shen (Spirit/Mind) and a decline in Kidney Jing, the vital essence that fuels the brain.
1. Is your dog disoriented in a familiar environment (inside/outside)?*
2.Does your dog fail to recognize familiar people and animals inside or outside the house?*
3. Does your dog abnormally respond to familiar objects (like a chair or a wastebasket)?*
4. Is your dog aimlessly wandering or motorically restless during the day?*
5. Is there a reduced ability to do previously learned tasks?*
Total Spatial Orientation Score (A)
Category B : Social Interactions

Changes in social behavior, like increased irritability or reduced play, often point to a pattern of Liver Qi Stagnation or Heart imbalance in TCVM. Stagnation can generate internal Fire, leading to frustration and aggression.
6. Are there changes in interaction with people or other dogs (e.g., playing, petting, welcoming)?*
7. Are there changes in the dog’s individual behavior (e.g., exploration behavior, play, performance)?*
8. Is their response to commands or ability to learn new tasks reduced?*
9. Does the dog display increased irritability?*
10. Does the dog express aggression more often?*
Total Social Interactions Score (B)
Category C : Sleep-Wake Cycles - Score x 2

Disturbed sleep is a hallmark of an unsettled Shen, where the mind fails to root itself at night. This is often linked to a deficiency in Yin and Blood that should nourish the Heart.
11. Does your dog abnormally respond at night (wandering, vocalization, motorically restless)?*
12. Is there a switch over from insomnia to hypersomnia (sleeping too much)?*
Total Sleep-Wake Cycle Score (C)
Category D : House Soiling

The ability to control and signal for elimination is governed by the Kidney Jing and the Spleen Qi in TCVM. A decline here indicates a loss of containing and controlling function.
13. Does your dog eliminate at home at random locations?*
14. Does your dog eliminate in its kennel or sleeping area?*
15. Are there changes in signaling for elimination activity (e.g., not asking to go out)?*
16. Does your dog eliminate indoors after a recent walk outside?*
17. Does your dog eliminate at uncommon locations (e.g., on concrete or grass outside of the usual spot)?*
Total House Soiling Score (D)
Total Score of All Sections
Should be Empty:

Canine Dementia Scale (CADES)