Disease Description: An abnormality of the nervous tissue of the spinal cord leading to incoordination.

Inherit Mode: -

Disease Symptom: Weakness of the limbs. May affect one, two, or all of the limbs. May affect only the hind legs, or the legs on one side of the body. Tilting head to one side. Trouble hearing – non-responsive to being called to at normal voice pitch. Stumbling, tipping over, swaying. Excessive drowsiness or stupor. Changes in behavior. Abnormal eye movements may be due to false feeling of movement, vertigo. Lack of appetite due to nausea (symptom of motion sickness from loss of internal equilibrium [balance])

Disease Cause: Neurologic. Cerebellar. Degenerative: Abiotrophy (prematurely the cerebellum loses function). Anomalous: Underdevelopment secondary to perinatal infection with panleukopenia virus in cats. A cyst located near fourth ventricle. Cancer. Inflammatory, unknown causes, immune-mediated. Toxic. Vestibular central nervous system (CNS). Inflammatory, unknown causes, immune-mediated. Toxic. Vestibular—Peripheral nervous system. Infectious: Middle ear. Fungal. Diseases of unknown cause. Metabolic. Cancer. Traumatic. Spinal Cord. Degeneration of the nerve roots and spinal cords. Vascular: Loss of blood to nervous system due to blockage of blood vessels by a blood clot. Anomalous: Spinal cord and vertebral malformation. spinal cyst. Cancer. Infectious. Traumatic. Metabolic. Anemia. Electrolyte disturbances low potassium and low blood sugar

Disease Diagnose: You will need to give your veterinarian a thorough history of your dog's health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have preceded this condition. Your veterinarian will order standard tests, including a blood chemical profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel. Imaging is crucial for determining whether the disease is localized to the peripheral vestibular system, the spinal cord, or the cerebellum. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), myelography and spinal X-rays can all be useful diagnostic tools for non-invasive internal examinations. Chest and abdominal X-rays are also important for determining if cancer or systemic infection is present. An abdominal ultrasound should be done to check liver, kidney, adrenal or pancreatic functions. If the source of the disease is suspected to be in the nervous system, a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) will be taken for laboratory analysis.

Treat Method: Patients may usually be treated on an outpatient basis unless the ataxia is severe or the cause of the ataxia is of a life threatening nature. Avoid giving any drugs to your dog without first consulting with your veterinarian, as many drugs can either contribute to the problem or disguise the underlying condition that is causing it. Treatment will be based on the underlying cause of the disease.

Breeder Advice: Decrease or restrict your dog's exercise if your veterinarian suspects spinal cord disease. Be sure to monitor your dog's gait for increasing dysfunction or weakness; if it worsens, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Disease Description Source: Link