Ataxia in dogs is not always automatically a death sentence. With superficial lesions, the animal only needs emergency measures, and thinking about euthanasia is too hasty. This is confirmed by the long-term life of a significant percentage of dogs surrounded by the necessary care.

Ataxia is a neurological disorder of a congenital or acquired nature, which is manifested by lack of coordination in the movements of an animal. At the same time, muscle strength is often preserved in the limbs, and any involuntary movements, paresis or excessive spasticity may be absent. The animal's consciousness often does not change.

Reasons for the development of the disease

Ataxia is not considered as a separate disease, because it is a symptom complex of one or another lesion of the central nervous system or vestibular apparatus of the dog. Often it is a genetic defect or occurs as a result of specific underlying causes.

Types of ataxia

Depending on the location of the lesion, ataxia exists in three forms: general proprioceptive (sensitive), vestibular and cerebellar ataxia in dogs - the cerebellar form.

Cerebellar

Cerebellar ataxia in dogs can have a sudden onset or a chronic course, be congenital or occur for a number of reasons, progress or remain stable.

As the main coordinator of movements and balance regulator, the cerebellum also controls the animal’s muscle strength and ensures the rhythm and balance of these movements. Because of this, the affected cerebellar hemispheres lead to dynamic ataxia of the limbs, and dysfunction of the cerebellar vermis results in the dog’s inability to maintain body balance and maintain a certain posture (static subtype).

Congenital pathology is caused by autosomal recessive inheritance. The dog receives from each parent 2 defective copies of the mutated gene, affected by ataxia. In this case, the pathology is considered as an isolated disease. The congenital form may not progress throughout the dog’s life.

Acquired cerebellar ataxia in some cases develops as a result of the following pathologies:

• tumors in the brain;
• falling from a height;
• autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus);
• brain infections and severe inflammation;
• collision with a car;
• anomalies in the development of cerebellar structures and the structure of the skull;
• degenerative processes in cerebellar cells;
• metronidazole intoxication;
• acute thiamine deficiency;
• ischemic infarction in older dogs;
• helminthic intoxication.

In most cases, characteristic signs of the disease begin to appear after 3 or even 5 years.

Ataxia is manifested by the dog's awkwardness, which is unusual for the owner, and a gait with widely spaced paws, which is initially most noticeable after the animal has woken up and is trying to get up. After a certain time, strange swaying of the body and a clear inability to maintain balance become more and more obvious.

Male dogs begin to lose balance when urinating. The dog moves either too fast with goose steps, or, on the contrary, slow, taking too wide a step. Freezes unpredictably from time to time. When driving in a straight line it goes almost exactly, but gets very lost when turning.

Muscle tremors are present both when the dog tries to maintain a specific position (postural) and when moving (dynamic). There is no threat reflex: the animal does not reflexively close its eyelids when hands or objects approach the eyes, and over time, nystagmus develops - frequent involuntary rotations of the eyes. The pupils of the left and right eyes are of different sizes - anisocoria. Hypertonicity of the forelimbs and occipital muscles manifests itself in paroxysms. The dog often throws its head back.

The progressive form leads to stable weight loss, because it becomes increasingly difficult for the dog to eat. She often hits her face on the food in her bowl. In especially severe cases, the animal ceases to recognize the owner and long-familiar, familiar places. Quite often, owners mistake the clinical manifestations of the disease for a stroke or epilepsy.

Hereditary cerebellar ataxia particularly affects Staffordshire terriers, American and English cocker spaniels, Kerry blue terriers, hairless Chinese crested dogs, Scottish terriers and shepherd dogs.

Sensitive

Sensitive (proprioceptive) ataxia develops in animals in the case of a number of spinal cord pathologies. Often these are damages in the systems of ascending SC fibers that lead to the cerebral cortex, which are responsible for awareness of the position of the body in space. In medicine, these systems are called Gaulle and Burdach bundles. And the second root cause is compression (compression) of the spinal cord due to narrowing of the spinal canal, all kinds of injuries, arterial blockages, cysts, tumors, intervertebral hernias, infections and degenerative processes in the spinal tissues.

The dog's gait suddenly becomes "strange." While walking, the animal often looks down carefully and takes very careful steps, as if it is afraid to step on something. The most basic typical sign of this form of the disease is volar flexion - when moving, the dog does not fully raise its paws, but seems to “drag” its toes along the floor or on the ground.

The animal looks confused and cannot determine the correct direction of movement for a long time. At the same time, the rest of the dog’s behavior is completely adequate. Severe lesions lead to complete inability to move.

Vestibular

A sluggish, unsteady gait, staggering and periodic “throwing” to the side, which are accompanied by a tilt of the dog’s head to the left or right, are signs of vestibular ataxia. Along with this, spontaneous strabismus and nystagmus are often observed, regardless of head movements. One-sided or bilateral deafness cannot be ruled out. During an examination at the clinic, specialists may detect facial paralysis and Horner's syndrome - pathological constriction of the pupil and drooping of the upper eyelid.

The vestibular system controls muscles that are directly involved in maintaining head position, eye movements, and overall balance. And all incoming information from the outside is used to appropriately coordinate and regulate the movements performed.

The central structures of the vestibular apparatus are located in the brain, and the peripheral structures are located in the inner and middle ear. Damage to these structures in one area or another causes vestibular ataxia. In particular, these are the following pathologies:

• congenital vestibular syndrome;
• hypothyroidism;
• polyneuropathy;
• internal and otitis media;
• fungal infections;
• tumors in the ear or brain;
• ototoxic antibiotics;
• nerve degeneration.

Symptoms

Regardless of the location of the initial lesion, some manifestations of ataxia are common to all three forms:

• incoordination of movements, which is manifested by staggering, uncertain, careful walking, stumbling, squatting when turning, or rolling onto one side;
• it is extremely difficult or even impossible for a dog to climb stairs or jump even onto a low surface (for example, onto a sofa);
• during walks the animal does not show activity towards other dogs;
• muscle tremors are noticeable at rest or during movement;
• appetite is significantly reduced;
• Nystagmus periodically appears: rapid movements of the eyeballs to the sides or up and down.

Each dog has its own quantitative and qualitative symptoms. The intensity of manifestations is always individual. And if one animal has all the symptoms “on the list,” another dog may have only one sign (balance problems), and the diagnosis for both dogs will be the same. In addition, in some cases there is a mixture of symptoms of cerebellar and sensory ataxia, as well as cerebellar and vestibular. This suggests that the animal has a mixed form of the disease.

Signs of ataxia in puppies

Mostly, the pathology affects already mature dogs. But in a situation of congenital pathogenesis, ataxia in a puppy manifests itself quite clearly already at the 4th or 5th week. As a rule, the root cause is hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of the cerebellum.

The puppies shake their heads, rise to their paws with great difficulty, and fall on their sides after only 2-3 steps. Nystagmus is possible. In all other respects, the behavior of babies is no different from healthy puppies: they are very active, curious and have a good appetite.

Similar symptoms of cerebellar ataxia can be observed in a puppy against the background of infestation with large helminths.

Diagnostics

Based on a number of visual manifestations, detailed complaints from the owner and specific tests, a specialist can easily determine ataxia and its form. But in order to find out the root cause of the pathology, it is necessary to donate blood and undergo an MRI - an extremely informative diagnostic option for suspected ataxia. If the clinic does not have such equipment, use an x-ray.

The symptoms of vestibular ataxia are quite striking. In this case, an additional otoscopy (detailed examination of the ear) is performed, and a CT scan or ultrasound is required if there is no way to undergo an MRI.

There are known cases of hereditary cerebellar ataxia, when by all indicators the results are normal, but the animal dies, and the diagnosis is clearly confirmed after an autopsy.

Treatment of ataxia in dogs

The treatment regimen is determined by the root cause of ataxia. The most favorable prognosis is for the vestibular and sensitive forms. In this case, it is enough to eliminate the tumor, inflammation or symptoms of intoxication for the recovery process to begin. Whether recovery is complete or only partial depends on the severity of the original lesion. Some irreversible processes often leave residual neurological signs, which still allow the dog to live more or less fully for several more years.

The cerebellar form is the most severe case. Genetic etiology, unfortunately, cannot be treated. But if the disease does not progress, the dog lives a fairly tolerable life, adapting to its “shortcomings.” At the same time, acute cerebellar ataxia, provoked by an ischemic infarction, often allows the animal to fully recover after timely treatment.

To one degree or another, a dog’s life is made easier by sedatives, multivitamin complexes, antispasmodics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and painkillers. Each product and its dosage must be prescribed exclusively by a veterinarian. Any experiments on the part of the owner can result in irreversible consequences.

A dangerous symptom of many diseases of domestic animals can be convulsive syndrome. Seizures in a dog are an unpleasant and frightening sight. Involuntary muscle contractions are often accompanied by excessive drooling, foaming at the mouth and loss of consciousness. It is very important to make a correct diagnosis. Only in this case can competent treatment be prescribed. Usually it takes place in two stages: symptomatic treatment alleviates the pet’s condition, and specific treatment eliminates the cause of the attacks and thereby prevents their recurrence.

But before the dog gets to the veterinary clinic, first aid should be provided to it by someone who is nearby. The owner needs to know what to do if his dog starts having seizures.

Increased convulsive readiness can be provoked by pathological activity of neurons in those parts of the brain that are responsible for the motor control system. The magnitude of a convulsive attack can vary: from mild twitching of the muscles of the limbs to severe generalized seizures with loss of consciousness. It all depends on what size part of the brain is affected by the disease.

A classic attack consists of the following main stages:

1. Aura. This is the period when seizures are approaching. It can be recognized by increased anxiety and increasing trembling of the limbs. It can last from a few minutes to several days.
2. Hit. This is an acute period. Symptoms appear with the greatest brightness. The convulsions are particularly severe and the dog may lose consciousness. This stage is characterized by uncontrolled urination and increased salivation.
3. The post-traumatic stage is a state of “stupefaction”. It is characterized by wandering of the animal, loss of orientation in space, confusion, and severe headache. May last for several hours.

Single, infrequently recurring attacks of convulsions are not life-threatening. But there are acute conditions called convulsive status. It is characterized by constant or frequently recurring attacks. In this case, the dog needs urgent medical attention.

Causes

Seizures in dogs can have different causes. This is a fairly common symptom. In order to be sure that the seizures will not return, it is not enough to eliminate them. The disease itself must be cured.

1. A bacterial or viral infection in a dog can cause complications in the brain. An example is meningitis or rabies. Rabies is one of the most dangerous viral diseases, which is practically incurable and almost always leads to death. The only way to protect yourself from it is to vaccinate your dog on time.
2. Severe intoxication of the body. It is almost always the result of poisoning with pesticides or a poisonous insect bite. Arsenic is very dangerous for animals. The pet feels nauseous, muscle cramps may be accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal spasms and other signs of poisoning. In this case, competent detoxification and gastric lavage with copious amounts of liquid can save the situation.
3. Hypoglycemia is a severe deficiency of glucose in the body. With prolonged hunger or disruption of the pancreas, blood sugar can drop to unacceptably low levels. Hypoglycemic coma can result in a seizure and loss of consciousness. The disease is often hereditary. An injection of glucose into the muscle of the hind legs or a small amount of sweet syrup poured into the dog’s mouth relieves the attack.
4. The consequences of injuries to the brain or spine, electric shocks can give a convulsive response. Moreover, the reaction is often very distant in time.
5. Diseases of the cardiovascular system can also have a neurological basis, expressed precisely through seizures.
6. Tumor diseases of the brain or spinal cord are likely to be characterized by seizures and loss of sensation in the hind legs. Its presence depends on which part of the brain is affected by the disease. More common in older dogs.
7. Liver disease, namely hepatic encephalopathy, is a very likely cause of seizures. Diagnosed in individuals who are already 5 years old.
8. Infectious damage to the animal's nervous system by the canine distemper virus leads to convulsions and subsequent paralysis of the hind limbs.
9. Vitamin deficiency and lack of microelements. With a lack of vitamins and beneficial chemical elements, the nervous system suffers the most. This is especially true for B vitamins, as well as magnesium and calcium preparations.
10. Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures in dogs. Large breed dogs are more susceptible to it. It is almost always a congenital pathology, so it is more often diagnosed in young individuals.
11. The consequences of stress and nervous tension can also be expressed by an increase in convulsive readiness.

Small puppies often experience muscle twitching and slight cramps in their hind legs during sleep. They may move or move them, as when running. No need to be scared. Such conditions are not dangerous. They only indicate that the baby’s nervous system is too excitable. All animals need the attention and affection of their owner. To eliminate such symptoms, you need to strengthen the dog’s nervous system and leg muscles by walking with it in unfamiliar places.

Types of seizures

A cramp is an involuntary contraction of muscles. They tense, become hard, and become deformed. Such strong tension often accompanies pain. The brain, nerve fibers, muscle tissue, and endocrine system can take part in the formation of a seizure.

In dogs, seizures can vary in intensity and duration. There are 4 types of involuntary muscle contractions:

• Convulsions are rhythmic twitching of large muscle groups. They are usually not accompanied by changes or loss of consciousness. They last from several seconds to several minutes, sometimes accompanied by pain.
• Tonic cramps are a series of short-term muscle spasms. Affects the muscles of the abdomen, neck, legs. One large muscle may be involved.
• Clonic seizures are characterized by twitching, a rapid alternation of contractions and relaxations. May be characterized by movement disorders and impaired coordination of movements.
• Generalized cramps are diffuse in nature and affect many muscle groups. The dog falls sharply. Convulsive movements shake the whole body, usually foaming at the mouth. Such conditions are especially characteristic of epilepsy and epileptic syndromes of various etiologies and are often accompanied by loss of consciousness.

First aid

Sudden convulsions in a beloved dog should not lead the owner into confusion. This symptom is not so scary. Much more serious consequences can arise from injuries that the dog can inflict on itself during an attack. Therefore, the owner’s main task is to reduce this risk to a minimum. The most correct actions would be:

• make sure that the animal cannot get hurt; for this purpose, make sure that there are no piercing or cutting objects nearby;
• put the dog not on the bed, but on a soft bedding placed on the floor;
• hold the animal’s paws and head;
• put it on its side to prevent choking, make sure that foam and saliva flow freely from the mouth;
• to avoid damage to the dog’s teeth, try to insert an object (a spoon) between the jaws;
• carefully drop a few drops of a sedative (Corvalol or Valocordin) onto the tongue, this will help the attack end sooner;
• observe the dog’s behavior in order to subsequently correctly describe its condition to the veterinarian;
• Call a veterinary service at home as soon as possible or, after waiting for the attack to end, bring the dog to a veterinary clinic.

It happens that the convulsions are quite prolonged; only an experienced veterinarian knows what to do in this case. Attempts to treat an animal with home methods can only worsen the situation.

Survey

Diagnosis of a neurological disease includes a set of instrumental examinations aimed at identifying its cause. Since this symptom can be caused by a number of ailments of a very different nature, the diagnosis should be as comprehensive as possible. When making a diagnosis, the patient’s age and lifestyle are always taken into account.

The owner needs to find out whether any of the dog’s ancestors had similar symptoms. It is also very important to remember whether the dog had significant injuries or head hits.

The following types of surveys are the most informative:

• magnetic resonance and computed tomography of the brain and spinal cord;
• ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity;
• radiography of the bones of the skull and spine;
• electrocardiogram of heart contractions;
• detailed blood test.

It must be borne in mind that seizures in an elderly person may often indicate liver disease, kidney disease, or heart problems. Puppies and young dogs are more often susceptible to epilepsy, and calcium deficiency (eclampsia) is experienced by pregnant and lactating females, as well as small breed dogs.

Treatment of the disease

Before a diagnosis is made, treatment of seizures in dogs can only be symptomatic, that is, it relieves the main symptoms and improves the general condition of the animal. Anticonvulsant therapy begins with intramuscular injections of magnesium sulfate (magnesium). Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor determines the main cause of seizures and prescribes specific treatment to the patient. It may happen that the animal may need medications that relieve neurological symptoms for the rest of its life.

The owner is required to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations. You cannot stop prescribed therapy without permission to avoid recurrence of attacks.

Prevention measures

There is no special system for preventing these conditions. The main means of prevention are, first of all, a healthy lifestyle - good nutrition, walks with the dog in the fresh air, active games. Regular preventive examinations are important to ensure that the onset of the disease is not missed. Seizures in dogs of most small breeds can begin after suffering stress, because they are very timid. We must ensure that such situations are created for them as little as possible.

Pedigree dogs are most predisposed to this disease. Why this is so is still unknown. Dogs of the poodle, husky, and dachshund breeds are often diagnosed with epilepsy, and Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas and Spitz dogs are susceptible to hypoglycemia.

Sudden loss of coordination in dogs is called peripheral vestibular syndrome. It looks scary. A seemingly healthy animal suddenly falls, cannot rise to its feet, and flounders.

Also, drooling, rapid breathing. The dog's head is tilted to the side. The cause of this disease is a disruption of the balance organs. First of all, otitis media can lead to this. Inflammation in the ear can spread to the organ of balance - the labyrinth of the cochlea, and cause a lack of coordination.

The second most common cause of balance disorders is idiopathic vestibular syndrome. More often it affects adult dogs. It goes away on its own after 72 hours - the animal regains the ability to walk, its nausea disappears. But the head tilt may persist for up to two months. There are also congenital hearing abnormalities.

Most often they are found in German shepherds, beagles, and English cocker spaniels. They appear already at 3-4 weeks of age. To a lack of coordination, a cyst or polyps that appear in the inner ear, on the eardrum or eustachian tube.

To diagnose them, you will need otoscopy and cytological analysis. Injury to the temporal bone is also possible. Less commonly, loss of coordination occurs as a result of diseases affecting the brain. This can be toxoplasmosis, canine distemper, cryptococcosis.

Treatment for impaired motor coordination in dogs

With such serious symptoms, especially if they appear after suffering any illness, it is imperative to contact a veterinary clinic and thoroughly examine the animal. You may need:

• x-ray,
• tests for bacterial and viral infections,
• tests for adrenal and thyroid hormones,
• cerebrospinal fluid analysis,
• computed tomography of the brain.

The success of treatment will largely depend on the accuracy of the diagnosis. and inflammation trapped in the cochlear labyrinth, treatment involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.

Symptoms of the disorder disappear in a couple of weeks, but treatment for otitis media will take longer. If a tumor is found in the inner ear, surgery will be required. In some cases of congenital disorders, spontaneous recovery occurs by 3-4 months of age. Otherwise, the animal lives with the disease all its life.

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 the 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:

1. Previously suffered infectious diseases in which the cerebellum was damaged.
2. Trauma to the skull with the formation of hematomas.
3. Brain tumor.
4. Damage to the cranial nerve.

Otitis media can cause the disease.

Symptoms of ataxia

Before turning, 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:

1. Sedatives and sedatives will be needed to eliminate panic in the animal and bring its nervous system back to normal.
2. 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 feet 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