Disease Ontology ID: DDTO:0000391

Disease Description: neurological diseases or disorders which cause the reduction of motor function in the peripheral nerves.

Inherit Mode: -

Disease Symptom: In most of these conditions, the first sign you will see is weakness in your dog's hind end. She may stop to rest after short periods of exercise and have trouble climbing stairs. This weakness gradually affects the front legs as well. There may be coughing because the muscles around the larynx are weakened. In some breeds, megaesophagus is a problem. This is a chronic dilation (expansion) of the esophagus which occurs because of loss of normal muscle tone and function, so that swallowing can not occur normally. Affected dogs regurgitate undigested food after meals, and may develop aspiration pneumonia due to inhalation of food particles or other foreign matter. Weakness is not seen with sensory neuropathies, although dogs may eventually develop a lack of coordination. The lack of pain sensation leads to chewing at the feet in the English pointer, and at the penis in affected male dachshunds.

Disease Cause: -

Disease Diagnose: Diagnosis is based on a thorough neurological examination, the absence of abnormalities on routine diagnostic tests, and the progressive nature of these conditions. A muscle biopsy and electronic testing of nerve conduction potentials (an electromyogram) in affected muscles will help with the diagnosis.

Treat Method: There is no treatment for these conditions.

Breeder Advice: Affected animals, their parents and siblings (suspect carriers) should not be used for breeding. For both progressive axonopathy in boxers and hereditary polyneuropathy in the Alaskan malamute, breed clubs in the UK and Norway have initiated comprehensive control programmes to remove known and suspected carriers from breeding, and this has greatly reduced the occurrence of these conditions.

Disease Description Source: Link