It is characterized by impaired functionality of a special part of the brain, the cerebellum. The cerebellum is responsible for coordination of movements and balance. Therefore, any deviations from the norm lead to dire consequences.
The cerebellum, due to its structure, is a kind of nerve center between the desire to move and the ability to carry out movement. In fact, the nerve cells of this part of the brain transmit information about the need to make any movement.
Possible reasons for the development of the disease are as follows:
Hereditary problems.
Existing tumors.
Brain damage.
Complications of infectious diseases.
Ataxia has a long history; doctors have even been able to determine which breeds are most susceptible to the disease: Scotch terriers, Staffies, cocker spaniels, some breeds of shepherd dogs, Chinese Cresteds.
Depending on the location of ataxia, the following types of disease are distinguished:
Cerebellar.
Sensitive: damage to the posterior nerve canals, visual, parietal areas.
Vestibular.
Frontal ataxia.
Mental: atypical damage to the nervous system.
Regardless of location, the symptoms of ataxia are not very diverse.
Coordination is the first to suffer. It is difficult for the dog to move, especially to make complex movements: turning, bending, jumping. Movements strictly in a straight line are usually easy, sharp turns cause loss of coordination, the animal crouches, unable to move further.
The second common symptom is eye tremor, twitching of the eyelids. This happens due to dizziness, the dog loses contact with the surrounding space and falls. Nervous, convulsive twitching resembles epileptic seizures.
Trembling becomes a specific sign, especially in moments of strong tension, when the dog is trying to focus on a certain point or eat something. Diagnosis is usually made using magnetic resonance imaging. The image will show abnormal development of the cerebellum, abnormal functioning.
Types of ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia occurs more often as an independent disease transmitted through generations. An unpleasant feature is the late triggering of the mechanism of the disease: mature, five- to six-year-old animals suddenly begin to show signs. Often such animals have already been allowed for breeding, therefore, ataxia will inevitably manifest itself in future generations. Recent genetic engineering studies have made it possible to isolate the gene responsible for the development of ataxia. Therefore, it has become possible to conduct a specialized DNA test to determine predisposition. Competent, responsible breeders are required to do such tests.
It is important not to miss the symptoms at the beginning of the disease, because seeking help earlier can prevent a rapid deterioration of the condition. First, there is a condition defined by the dog owner as awkwardness. A gradual swaying of the body begins, the animal’s inability to maintain balance. The dog begins to starve because it has difficulty eating and loses weight. Muscle tone weakens and atrophy occurs.
There are two types of this type of ataxia: static and dynamic. The first is characterized by weakening specifically the muscles of the animal’s body. It is difficult for the dog to maintain a certain position. The second most often manifests itself during movements.
Early diagnosis of a dog’s condition will help to overcome tumor and traumatic factors in time. If a genetic cause is established, then all that remains is to maintain the dog’s condition, protect the pet as much as possible, and try to keep it from causing damage. Severe damage to the cerebellum cannot be cured. It is more humane to euthanize the animal.
Sensitive ataxia occurs with lesions of the spinal cord. Then the dog cannot bend and straighten its joints correctly. The ability to determine the correct movement is lost. Severe lesions lead to the inability to move. Occasionally, such a condition can be cured, especially if partial brain damage occurs and the disease is caught at the very beginning.
Vestibular ataxia manifested by a pronounced tilt of the animal’s body in a certain direction. All movements of the injured animal are careful and slow. Constant dizziness causes vomiting and movement in a circle.
Other types of canine ataxia occur due to exposure to infectious diseases and various injuries. Therefore, it is so important to cure any inflammatory processes in the head area in a timely manner. The close location of the brain to the organs of vision, hearing, and oral cavity contributes to the rapid crawling of pathogenic microorganisms.
Treatment of ataxia
If the owner’s desire to save the dog by any means overpowers the humane solution, then veterinary specialists will recommend using painkillers that relieve nervous tension. Of course, treatment is especially effective if a non-genetic cause of the disease is established. Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic drugs, and B vitamins are prescribed. It is important to try to provide the dog with comfortable conditions that take into account lifelong characteristics. Brain damage is rarely completely cured. From the moment the diagnosis is made and the first symptoms appear, a disabled dog becomes completely dependent on people.
Sensitive, attentive attitude will extend the life of your beloved pet for many years.
Series of messages "
Has your dog started to lose balance when turning and falling? , but not at all from the cold? Such symptoms are characteristic of ataxia.
Ataxia refers to genetic diseases in animals. For the disease to appear in a puppy, the recessive gene must be present in both parents.
Modern research methods make it possible to identify a hereditary mutation, therefore such dogs are not allowed to breed. But ataxia can occur against the background of other pathologies in the body. Let's try to figure out what factors contribute to the development of the disease, how cerebellar ataxia manifests itself and how to treat it.
Currently, there are methods to detect ataxia in dogs.
Causes of the disease
An animal can get a disease from its parents, but more often the pathology is acquired in the process of life. The appearance of signs of cerebellar ataxia is influenced by the following factors:
- Previously suffered infectious diseases in which the cerebellum was damaged.
- Trauma to the skull with the formation of hematomas.
- Brain tumor.
- Damage to the cranial nerve.
Otitis media can cause the disease.
Symptoms of ataxia
Before making a turn, a dog with ataxia may crouch for balance.
Cerebellar ataxia is the most severe of other forms of the disease, and also difficult to cure. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that is responsible for the ability to move and coordinate in space.
- Cerebellar damage caused by injury or disease leads to problems with coordination and the ability to move and balance . Sometimes the disease causes the dog to lose spatial orientation. She ceases to navigate the area and does not even recognize her native places.
- With ataxia, changes in the dog's movement become immediately noticeable. . A “drunk” gait appears. The animal moves quite normally along a straight path, but when trying to turn, problems arise. When turning, the dog crouches, trying to maintain balance. If you turn quickly, you may not calculate the opportunity and fall.
- The disease tends to progress . Coordination problems get worse over time. A sick animal begins to bump into objects. The gait becomes like that of a goose.
- With ataxia, the pet suffers from attacks of dizziness . He may fall, and his eyelids will tremble. Many owners perceive the manifestation of nystagmus as. Even veterinarians sometimes misdiagnose the disease after seeing the animal's convulsive shudders.
- The dog trembles when trying to turn sharply or keep attention on a certain object . Very often this problem occurs during feeding. The pet cannot eat normally, as it begins to tremble and hit its face on the plate.
- The animal may panic, try to hide in the far corner and not go anywhere . Constant malnutrition, dizziness and panic attacks worsen the dog’s condition, and progressive weakness appears. The animal is fading away before our eyes.
What should a dog owner be wary of? All of the above symptoms are difficult to miss; in addition, the pet has a constant tilt of the head, hearing may deteriorate, behavior and gait change. Difficulties arise when climbing stairs.
The pet requires a thorough examination to exclude the presence of other diseases.
How is ataxia diagnosed?
Confirming the diagnosis of ataxia is not so easy. There are no special diagnostics that confirm cerebellar (or other type) ataxia.
A blood test will be required for diagnosis.
The veterinarian's task is exclude other diseases that may cause ataxia-like symptoms . Only after identifying the cause of the disease do we begin to treat it.
Treatment methods
The cause of symptoms of ataxia may be a tumor or an infectious process. Therefore, the root cause will be treated.
- At tumor detection Surgery may be prescribed.
- For treatment of infections use antibiotic therapy.
Surgery is prescribed if a tumor is detected.
If it has been established that ataxia is a congenital defect, then special There is currently no treatment for this pathology . The doctor will prescribe maintenance therapy to maintain normal living conditions for the pet.
Therapy will consist of the following medications:
- Sedatives and sedatives will be needed to eliminate panic in the animal and bring its nervous system back to normal.
- Drugs for the treatment of movement disorders. They are selected and prescribed only by a veterinarian. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable and can lead to a worsening of the condition.
Loving your pet will help you learn to cope with illness!
A sick animal must be protected from injury. To do this, he is given a separate room, in which there is practically no furniture and no sharp corners. The disease gradually progresses, so the risk of injury increases.
The pet's condition can be satisfactory, even if the disease is hereditary. Therefore, you should not panic ahead of time and try to euthanize the animal. Many pets cope well with the disease. The body simply adapts to the lack of coordination.
Of course, it will be noticeable that the dog walks strangely: it places its legs incorrectly or raises its paws too high and lingers on every step. But this is not a reason to get rid of your pet. Good care, good nutrition and love for your pet can work wonders.
Video about ataxia in dogs
Ataxia in dogs is a complex, fatal disease. It is characterized by impaired functionality of a special part of the brain, the cerebellum. The cerebellum is responsible for coordination of movements and balance. Therefore, any deviations from the norm lead to dire consequences.
The cerebellum, due to its structure, is a kind of nerve center between the desire to move and the ability to carry out movement. In fact, the nerve cells of this part of the brain transmit information about the need to make any movement.
Possible reasons for the development of the disease are as follows:
- Hereditary problems.
- Existing tumors.
- Brain damage.
- Complications of infectious diseases.
Ataxia has a long history; doctors have even been able to determine which breeds are most susceptible to the disease: Scotch terriers, Staffies, cocker spaniels, some breeds of shepherd dogs, Chinese Cresteds. Depending on the location of ataxia, the following types of disease are distinguished:
- Cerebellar.
- Sensitive: damage to the posterior nerve canals, visual, parietal areas.
- Vestibular.
- Frontal ataxia.
- Mental: atypical damage to the nervous system.
Regardless of location, the symptoms of ataxia are not very diverse. Coordination is the first to suffer. It is difficult for the dog to move, especially to make complex movements: turning, bending, jumping. Movements strictly in a straight line are usually easy, sharp turns cause loss of coordination, the animal crouches, unable to move further.
The second common symptom is eye tremor, twitching of the eyelids. This happens due to dizziness, the dog loses contact with the surrounding space and falls. Nervous, convulsive twitching resembles epileptic seizures.
Trembling becomes a specific sign, especially in moments of strong tension, when the dog is trying to focus on a certain point or eat something. Diagnosis is usually made using magnetic resonance imaging. The image will show abnormal development of the cerebellum, abnormal functioning.
Types of ataxia
Cerebellar
Cerebellar ataxia occurs more often as an independent disease transmitted through generations. An unpleasant feature is the late triggering of the mechanism of the disease: mature, five- to six-year-old animals suddenly begin to show signs. Often such animals have already been allowed for breeding, therefore, ataxia will inevitably manifest itself in future generations. Recent genetic engineering studies have made it possible to isolate the gene responsible for the development of ataxia. Therefore, it has become possible to conduct a specialized DNA test to determine predisposition. Competent, responsible breeders are required to do such tests.
It is important not to miss the symptoms at the beginning of the disease, because seeking help earlier can prevent a rapid deterioration of the condition. First, there is a condition defined by the dog owner as awkwardness. A gradual swaying of the body begins, the animal’s inability to maintain balance. The dog begins to starve because it has difficulty eating and loses weight. Muscle tone weakens and atrophy occurs.
There are two types of this type of ataxia: static and dynamic. The first is characterized by weakening specifically the muscles of the animal’s body. It is difficult for the dog to maintain a certain position. The second most often manifests itself during movements.
Early diagnosis of a dog’s condition will help to overcome tumor and traumatic factors in time. If a genetic cause is established, then all that remains is to maintain the dog’s condition, protect the pet as much as possible, and try to keep it from causing damage. Severe damage to the cerebellum cannot be cured. It is more humane to euthanize the animal.
Sensitive
Sensitive ataxia occurs with lesions of the spinal cord. Then the dog cannot bend and straighten its joints correctly. The ability to determine the correct movement is lost. Severe lesions lead to the inability to move. Occasionally, such a condition can be cured, especially if partial brain damage occurs and the disease is caught at the very beginning.
Vestibular
Vestibular ataxia is manifested by a pronounced tilt of the animal’s body in a certain direction. All movements of the injured animal are careful and slow. Constant dizziness causes vomiting and movement in a circle.
Other types of canine ataxia occur due to exposure to infectious diseases and various injuries. Therefore, it is so important to cure any inflammatory processes in the head area in a timely manner. The close location of the brain to the organs of vision, hearing, and oral cavity contributes to the rapid crawling of pathogenic microorganisms.
Treatment of ataxia
If the owner’s desire to save the dog by any means overpowers the humane solution, then veterinary specialists will recommend using painkillers that relieve nervous tension. Of course, treatment is especially effective if a non-genetic cause of the disease is established. Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic drugs, and B vitamins are prescribed. It is important to try to provide the dog with comfortable conditions that take into account lifelong characteristics. Brain damage is rarely completely cured. From the moment the diagnosis is made and the first symptoms appear, a disabled dog becomes completely dependent on people. Sensitive, attentive attitude will extend the life of your beloved pet for many years.
Specializes in the treatment of small domestic and some types of exotic animals and birds. In our practice, we use the most modern veterinary drugs from well-known manufacturers.
We are pleased to announce the opening of the official website of the Elitevet veterinary care center.
For a long time, we used social networks, printed advertising booklets, and so-called “word of mouth” to inform our clients, but the time has come for a modern solution to this issue. Now you can find all the new products, promotions and a lot of other information about our center on the pages of our website.
Also on the forum you can ask questions to our specialists, make an appointment without leaving your home and use a lot of other opportunities by visiting our website.
Virtual tour
Operating mode of the "Elitevet" center.
At Pobeda we are now open from 8.00 to 21.00.
In Pridneprovsk we now work from 9.00 to 20.00.
On Topol, reception is available 24 hours a day.
Emergency animals are prioritized during the morning and night hours. Please take this fact into account when planning a routine visit to the doctor during these hours.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to the staff of the Elitvet clinic. Administrators - for their responsiveness, they always give you directions over the phone, they are very friendly. And first of all, to doctors, for their caring at any time of the day, competent differential diagnosis and desire to help. My cat Izyum has improved thanks to your recommendations and prompt assistance!
We would like to express our deep gratitude to the medical staff of the clinic for saving our pet and family member, the cat Marky. In particular, for high professionalism, efficiency, warm attitude, sensitivity and attentiveness. The cat was brought in with blood in the stool, thinking it was the gastrointestinal tract, but diagnostics showed purulent inflammation of the uterus. On the same day the cat was successfully operated on. We left her in the hospital for a day for observation. During the period of antibiotic and antimicrobial therapy, our doctors took us for follow-up examinations and provided consultations by telephone. Your work is a shining example of hard work and integrity.
Good day everyone. I want to thank you for saving the life of our beloved pet. Our Chihuahua named Eura was promptly diagnosed and operated on for pyometra. Despite the risks associated with our age (8.5 years), all manipulations were carried out to reduce the risk. The veterinarian approached the treatment of our Eurusya very carefully and professionally. We sincerely thank her for her professionalism and kind heart and would like to wish more such sensitive, responsive and professional doctors in your clinic. Once again THANK YOU SO MUCH.
