The hidden cost of caring : psychological burden among caregivers of dogs with cognitive dysfunction, cancer, and age-related decline

Pavlin, Darja (avtor), Hlebec, Valentina (avtor), Doušak, May (avtor), Zakošek, Maja (avtor)

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a neurodegenerative disorder like Alzheimer’s disease in humans, but its impact on caregivers is poorly understood. This study examines the multidimensional burden of caregivers of ageing dogs, comparing caregivers of healthy ageing dogs (HAD), dogs with chronic oncological disease (COD) and dogs with CCD. In a cross-sectional survey of 516 Slovenian dog owners, seven areas of stress were investigated: time burden, work- life interference, emotional burden, social stigmatization, financial burden, perceived adequacy of care and veterinary support. Time burden was increased by unpredictable CCD symptoms (e.g. nocturnal restlessness, disorientation), especially in households with children or multiple pets (p = 0.005). Emotional distress was significantly increased in CCD caregivers due to feelings of stigmatization (p = 0.005), while COD caregivers reported no significant increase compared to HAD. Caregivers of dogs with CCD reported significantly greater stigmatization (p < 0.001) and financial burden (p < 0.001). While all groups reported similar perceived inadequacies in care, CCD caregivers expressed significantly lower confidence in performing positive care tasks (p = 0.041). Relationships with veterinarians did not differ between groups, although regression analysis identified age, education and number of pets as predictors of the dynamics between caregivers and veterinarians. This study shows that caring for dogs with CCD is significantly more stressful than caring for healthy older dogs and, in several areas, caring for dogs with chronic oncologic diseases. The results emphasize that caring for dogs with CCD is a complex, underestimated burden that is comparable to caring for dementia patients in humans and requires targeted interventions.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: dogs, cognitive dysfunction, cancer, aging, caregiver burden, care
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FDV - Fakulteta za družbene vede
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 9 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 315, [article no.] ǂ106510
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177241
• UDK: 636.09
• ISSN pri članku: 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106510
• COBISS.SI-ID: 259292163
• Datum objave v RUL: 18.12.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: The veterinary journal
• Skrajšan naslov: Vet. j.
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1532-2971
• COBISS.SI-ID: 71146243

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: psi, kognitiva disfunkcija, rak, staranje, breme skrbnikov, skrb

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P4-0053
• Naslov: Endokrini, imunski in encimski odzivi pri zdravih in bolnih živalih