Peripheral vestibular syndrome in dogs symptoms: cerebellar ataxia of Staffordshire terriers

How it arises and is transmitted

Ataxia in dogs can be inherited, and only if both parents of the puppy are either carriers of the damaged gene or are already sick. The disorder can also occur due to a number of diseases that damage:

• cerebellum;
• vestibular apparatus;
• a system of nerve fibers that conduct impulses from the brain or spinal cord to the motor organ.

The following dog breeds are more susceptible to ataxia than others:

• bobtail;
• Scottish Terrier;
• amstaff;
• Scottish Setter;
• Cocker Spaniel;
• Mountain Dog;
• Australian Kelpie;
• Border Collie.

Breeders who breed these breeds perform a genetic test on their pets to identify carriers of the gene even before clinical signs of the disease appear. Such dogs are excluded from breeding, which avoids the spread of the defect.

Diagnosis of the disease

Vestibular syndrome is diagnosed comprehensively. The doctor begins differentiation of the disease by collecting anamnesis, and supplements it with such procedures as:

• general urine analysis and biochemical analysis of the dog’s blood fluid;
• X-ray examination for pathological changes in the animal’s inner and middle ear;
• Ultrasound of internal organs;
• conducting a number of special tests to determine the degree of reaction of the nervous system to an irritating stimulus;
• Taking the dog’s cerebrospinal fluid will help identify the viral etiology of the disease;
• MRI will show structural deformations in your pet’s brain.

The doctor should pay special attention to excluding pathologies with similar symptoms, such as polyps in the nasopharynx and diseases of inflammatory etiology in the middle and inner ear. It should also be taken into account that side effects in the form of problems with the vestibular apparatus could result from taking pharmaceuticals that contain aminoglycosides.

Types of disease

Regardless of the type of disorder, the symptoms of ataxia are manifested by an awkward gait, the inability to overcome an obstacle or climb stairs, trembling, and increased tone of the paws. The gait becomes similar to a rooster's step - with the forelimbs raised high. There is a constant tilt to one side, dizziness due to sudden and frequent shaking of the head. Nystagmus is periodically observed - a short pendulum movement of the eyes from side to side.

As the disease progresses, the animal loses weight due to difficulty feeding.

In clinical practice, there are three types of ataxia:

• cerebellar;
• sensitive;
• vestibular.

The cerebellum is a part of the brain that is responsible for the position of the body in space, coordination of movements and balance in various external conditions. With cerebellar ataxia in dogs, there are no structural changes in this organ. Its biochemical composition changes due to the loss of some Purkinje cells. These cells are a kind of dispatchers, transmitters of information into the cerebellum, to or from the white matter, to the outer layer.

Cerebellar ataxia in dogs has two types – static and dynamic. In the first case, it is difficult for the animal to stay in a motionless position. The dog has difficulty standing on widely spaced paws. Trying to maintain balance, he may fall on his side or forward. With dynamic cerebellar ataxia, discoordination manifests itself during movement, especially when turning.

Sensitive ataxia is less common. It can be differentiated from other types by increased symptoms when closing the eyes. In this case, the dog’s perception of its body in space – proprioception – is disrupted.

Depending on the area of ​​damage to the nerve impulse pathways, only the pelvic limbs or all four legs may be affected.

Vestibular ataxia occurs when the labyrinth, which perceives changes in the head and body in space, as well as the direction of movement, is damaged. The dog seems to be on an inclined surface. The animal tries in vain to maintain balance. With this type of disorder, the dog's body is tilted to one side, movements are slow and cautious. Deterioration and loss of hearing, drowsiness, and numbness are observed. The pet moves in circles, which causes dizziness and vomiting.

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 on a low surface (for example, on 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 symptom (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.

Read How and when to deworm dogs and puppies

Diagnosis and treatment

There are no specific tests or diagnostic methods to detect ataxia. The diagnosis is made after a series of examinations and the exclusion of other, less serious diseases with similar symptoms. The most informative will be a magnetic resonance or computed tomography scan. In the absence of the necessary equipment, they are limited to radiography.

In the case of hereditary ataxia, a DNA test is performed for diagnostic purposes. A complete genetic treatment for a disease of this nature has not been developed. Over time, a sick dog becomes practically incapacitated. The veterinarian prescribes maintenance therapy to alleviate the condition and maintain normal living conditions for the pet. Most often this is symptomatic therapy in the form of sedatives, sedatives and vitamins.

It is important to create the most comfortable living conditions for a sick dog, because it will no longer be able to cope without the participation and care of its owner. It is better to provide your pet with a separate room without traumatic objects, sharp corners and interior items.

If the disease arose for another reason, then treatment of ataxia in dogs is aimed primarily at eliminating it.

The animal body is able to partially compensate for existing disorders. When one part of the brain is damaged, another area of ​​the brain takes over a share of its functions. In addition, dogs are taught to control the strength, speed and range of movements using their visual abilities. In this regard, manifestations of the disorder are noticeable only when the animal is tired or excited.

These body abilities can not only prolong the dog’s life, but also make it close to normal, despite the disorder.

Diagnostics

In order to make an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive diagnosis is carried out. It includes a number of important events.

History taking

The first thing the veterinarian does is collect an anamnesis. Due to this, he is able to exclude other possible diseases and find out the true clinical picture. Only after completing these steps do they resort to laboratory research.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to determine which area of ​​the brain is damaged. With the help of this study, it is possible to assess the condition of the animal and select tactics for further therapy.

Causes

In addition to the hereditary factor, the disease may have other underlying causes.

For cerebellar ataxia:

• neoplasms or cysts in the cerebellum;
• intoxication;
• autoimmune diseases.

For vestibular ataxia:

• otitis media of an infectious or fungal nature;
• neoplasms of the middle ear;
• injuries in the temporal region;
• hypokalemia;
• stroke. For sensitive ataxia:

For sensitive ataxia:

• tumors;
• injuries;
• pathologies of spinal development;
• acute vascular and compression disorders;
• infections.

If a tumor is detected, further treatment includes, first of all, surgery.

For an infectious disease, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

Intoxication occurs not only due to poisoning by certain poisons, but also due to infection of the dog with worms that release toxins into the animal’s blood. In this case, treatment is carried out with anthelmintic drugs. Folk remedies will no longer help in such serious cases.

Treatment of ataxia

Although ataxia is an incurable disease, it can be caused by injury, tumors, or infections. This means that the causes must be discovered and eliminated. To do this, you must consult a doctor who will conduct certain tests designed to find out the factor that provoked the disease.

Symptomatic therapy, including various B and PP vitamins, diuretics, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, is also possible. Of course, they will not cure the disease, but they will make life much easier for the animal and its owners.

Ataxia in puppies

Although most cases of congenital ataxia develop in dogs during adulthood, abnormalities that are noticeable from birth occasionally occur. Problems with the musculoskeletal system and coordination problems are clearly expressed.

The puppies try to move their paws, but cannot walk. There is a shaking of the head and twitching of the eyes. Otherwise, babies develop normally - they are active, inquisitive, and have a good appetite. But such dogs will never be able to move.

To avoid acquiring a carrier or a sick puppy, you must first take into account the breed’s genetic predisposition to ataxia. Secondly, it is better to purchase a small pet from a trusted nursery with a good reputation. A responsible breeder will not allow a sick dog to breed, and if there is concern, he will conduct a DNA test on individuals intended for mating.

Identifying the Symptoms and Treatments for Dog Ataxia

Ataxia in dogs is considered one of the most terrible diseases based on the genetic principle of distribution. It always appears as a result of damage to the cerebellum, and this disease is characterized by problems that make the dog’s movements unusual, or rather, abrupt and disproportionate.

Dogs affected by this disease often begin to fall, and they also lose their balance. It is worth noting that the strength in a dog’s limbs with such a disease does not disappear anywhere, but the effect cannot be achieved, because the dog completely loses the skill associated with moving in space. Yes, such dogs can still eat and continue to live, but only with constant human care and attention.

Reviews

Marina, Novomoskovsk

“I never thought that worms could cause such a terrible disease. She gave anthelmintic drugs to the dog not on the recommendation of a veterinarian, and often forgot to take a preventive course on time. Now I will treat this very carefully.”

Rita, Balakovo

“Cocker spaniel, 15 months. He suffered from an intestinal infection, was treated, and seems to have recovered. Suddenly he began to fall on his side and lose coordination. After a course of treatment prescribed by the veterinarian, there was an improvement, but soon the symptoms returned, and the head tremor was added. The diagnosis of cerebellar ataxia was made in the regional center. I didn’t dare do an MRI with anesthesia for the dog.

Cerebrolysin and vitamins B1, B6, B12 were prescribed.

Jim is active, very smart, agile. But his hind legs seem to not obey him, his tail is always tense. The head shakes even more when the dog strains in an attempt to accurately get his nose into a bowl of food, or sniff something on the street.

I know there’s no cure for this, but I really want to prolong Jim’s life!”

Elena, St. Petersburg, veterinarian

“Ataxia is a violation of the coordination of movements in an animal. It can be congenital or acquired after injury or some disease. In the first case, the disorder develops gradually and cannot be cured. In the second, we treat the cause: infection, inflammation, intoxication. Dogs with cerebellar ataxia are not recommended to undergo surgery under general anesthesia, including sterilization. Anesthesia drugs have a negative effect on the brain and nervous system. In such a situation, it is better to operate on the dog using epidural anesthesia.”

What causes the disease?

As mentioned earlier, the main reason for the development of the disease is heredity, that is, the disease develops when a dog suffering from this disease participated in their mating. Once we have figured out what it is, it is worth discussing other reasons that can trigger the appearance of the disease in a dog. Here are the main ones:

• tumors;
• serious infectious diseases;
• otitis;
• neuritis;
• serious injuries resulting in damage to the animal’s brain.

Symptoms of the disease

When the symptoms of a disease in dogs are mentioned, this is exactly what should be discussed first, because it is by them that the disease can be identified in the early stages. Let's look at the symptoms that occur most often, here is a list of them:

• constant trembling, as well as noticeable nervousness;
• lack of coordination of movements, which may give the impression that the dog is drunk;
• strange walking, the essence of which is steps of different lengths and constant stops;
• constant falls that occurred, it would seem, on a straight road;
• severe panic in the dog, which is most often expressed in panic attacks;
• the animal’s desire to quickly hide somewhere and not move;
• weakness that becomes more pronounced over time;
• random rotation of the head or, for example, eyeballs;
• lethargy;
• decreased appetite (the amount of food eaten decreases);
• hearing impairment;
• changes in behavior, decreased activity;
• constant head tilt, which was not previously characteristic of a particular dog.

It is not necessary that all the symptoms on this list will appear immediately, since the disease manifests itself in different ways. But if there are at least a few signs, it’s worth showing the animal to a specialist, because even if your fears are not confirmed, the dog will still have some problems. You can find out about them from your veterinarian.