What is ataxia in dogs: treatment and prognosis, types and causes of coordination problems in dogs

In animals, and especially in dogs, neurological disorders occur as often as in people, and they cause a lot of difficulties for the owner. Treatment requires a professional approach; for example, situations often arise when the dog loses coordination. If you notice any behavioral disturbances in your pet, you should immediately contact a specialist; do not hesitate under any circumstances, as everything could end sadly for your pet.

It is worth mentioning that in almost all situations such phenomena are a sign of the appearance of serious functional disorders in the pet’s body. The situation is also aggravated by the fact that the dog itself will not be able to tell you what the problem is. Experts often group pathologies of a neurological nature under the word “ataxia.”

What is ataxia in dogs

Loss of coordination in dogs, or ataxia, is characterized by a shaky and uncertain gait, leaning to any side, and refusal to move. This is not an independent disease, but only a consequence of violations.

Characteristic

The resulting pathology is not independent and acts as a symptom of diseases of the central nervous system and/or vestibular apparatus. Most often, damage occurs in the brain and spinal cord.

Despite the possible preservation of muscle strength, the sick animal loses orientation in space and usual mobility. This affects the quality of life and often results in death due to injuries.

Breed predisposition

The disorder can occur in any pet, but some breeds are more vulnerable than others. These include:

bobtails;
cocker spaniels;
Australian Kelpies;
Border Collie;
Chinese Crested;
amstaffs;
Staffordshire, Scottish, Scotch, Airedale and Jack Russell terriers;
Sennenhunds;
Scottish Setters;
German Shepherds.

Owners of animals at risk should sign up their pets for a DNA test. If you receive a positive result, you should take care of their safety by following preventive recommendations.

Hip diseases

Large breed dogs are usually at risk - Dobermans, Rottweilers, Great Danes, St. Bernards, etc. Often a similar diagnosis is made to shepherd dogs at the age of 6-12 months. Problems with the hip joints can be periodic, subsiding and worsening under the influence of various reasons. For example, from insufficient or excessive physical activity.

The dog may fall on its paws after waking up or after an active walk. It is not at all necessary that the disease will affect both limbs at once. There is a high probability that the dog will only pull one paw. Possible causes of dysplasia:

Genetic predisposition;
Poor nutrition;
Obesity;
Improper conditions of detention.

Important: despite the fact that dysplasia is classified as an incurable disease, modern medicine can provide animals with fairly comfortable living conditions.

Why the disorder occurs: 10 reasons

Depending on the cause of occurrence, the disorder is divided into congenital and acquired. In the first case, everything is explained by a genetic predisposition: you can find out about its presence by reading detailed information about the health of the parents before purchasing a puppy.

In the second case, pathology occurs for the following reasons:

Neoplasms
. The most dangerous are malignant tumors that affect brain cells. Benign polyps and cysts affecting nerve endings also cause similar symptoms.
Ear inflammation
. Internal and otitis media is one of the most common causes, since the organ of hearing is directly related to balance.
Intoxication
. In addition to poisons, poisoning can be caused by helminth waste products. With an advanced form of helminthiasis, encephalopathy develops, accompanied by pathological changes in brain tissue.
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Ophthalmic diseases
. An unsteady gait occurs with any eye disease that weakens vision.
Anemia
. A lack of red blood cells results in oxygen starvation and gradual muscle weakening.
Injuries
. This includes any mechanical damage to the spinal cord and brain.
Infections
. Gait disturbances are caused by plague, myelitis, toxoplasmosis, encephalitis, cryptococcosis and other diseases affecting brain structures.
Vitamin B, calcium or glucose deficiency
. These substances are necessary for the normal functioning of the brain, so their deficiency leads to a critical condition.
Dehydration
. When there is a lack of fluid inside the body, the missing amount is drawn from its own tissues and cells. As a result, the muscles lose their elasticity.
Vascular diseases of the brain
. This group includes strokes that occur due to bleeding disorders, arterial hypertension, hormonal disorders and sepsis.

Treatment directly depends on the cause, so it is very important not to engage in self-diagnosis and be examined at a veterinary clinic when the first alarming signs appear. The sooner help is provided, the lower the likelihood of complications - and the more favorable the prognosis.

Spondylosis

The insidiousness of the disease is that it progresses very slowly and is not diagnosed in the initial stages. There is a gradual “aging” of local areas of the spine through the formation of special growths on the intervertebral discs - the so-called osteophytes. Spondylosis is more typical for older animals, although due to poor nutrition and living conditions, young dogs can also fall into the risk zone.

Important: dogs can also fall on their paws from exhaustion. This applies more to street animals than to domestic ones.

Separation of pathology by type

According to localization, pathology is divided into 6 types. Despite the similar symptoms, each of the varieties has its own characteristic features and occurs for different reasons.

Vestibular

Vestibular ataxia in dogs develops with damage to the brain stem and internal form of otitis media. Sick animals lose orientation in space, and any surface seems inclined. Because of this, they constantly lean forward or to the sides, walk in circles and exhibit unusual lethargy. With sudden movements they experience dizziness and vomiting.

Cerebellar

Cerebellar ataxia in dogs occurs when nerve cells in the cerebellar cortex are lost. Depending on the characteristics of the manifestation, this type is divided into 2 varieties: static and dynamic. In the first case, there is a severe loss of muscle mass, which makes it difficult to maintain immobility. In the second case, coordination is completely lost. This is especially noticeable when moving.

The cerebellum is the part of the brain responsible for muscle tone, balance and coordination. It consists of two layers:

external, processing information and making decisions;
internal, transmitting data throughout the body.

If at least one of the layers is damaged, the cerebellum loses its functions.

Sensitive

It is observed with damage to the spinal cord. This type is typical for oncology, inflammation and other pathologies of intervertebral discs. A sick animal cannot bend or straighten its joints. When the form is advanced, the ability to move is completely lost.

Sensory

The rarest variety, manifested by increased symptoms when closing the eyes. Its main symptom is loss of sensation in the limbs, causing the development of partial or complete paralysis. Occurs in case of poisoning, polyneuropathy and spinal cord injuries.

Frontal

Develops when the frontal lobe or temporo-occipital region is affected. Accompanied by a shaky gait with the paws positioned in a straight line and the body tilted back.

Psychogenic

The symptoms of this type differ from organic lesions of the nervous system. The movement of sick animals is very similar to ice skating. They slide their paws, moving along a broken line, cross their limbs or walk without bending their joints.

Discopathy, disc herniation

It is typical for dogs of small breeds that have a genetic predisposition to instability of the intervertebral discs. As a rule, these are pugs, Pekingese, French bulldogs, and poodles. Disc displacement leads to compression of the spinal cord, which, in the worst case scenario, can lead not only to complete immobilization of the limbs, but also to death.

Due to the fact that the dog begins to experience acute pain, it tries to limit its movement as much as possible. Often freezes in a certain position, hunching the spine and retracting the neck, trembling and eventually simply falling to the floor. If the pain is not very critical, then external signs may be less pronounced. The pet will seem to drag its paws behind itself, evade jumps and sudden movements, and bend over with difficulty.

What symptoms should you be wary of?

The number and intensity of symptoms of ataxia vary from person to person. The greatest number of alarming manifestations is observed in the mixed form of the disease, when not one, but several varieties are diagnosed.

At the puppy's

In the congenital form, the first symptoms can be detected at 4-5 weeks of life. Sick babies are very clumsy. They constantly fall over on their side after a couple of steps and have difficulty getting up on all 4 legs.

If by 4-6 months the puppy still cannot maintain balance and constantly falls, contact your veterinarian. Such clumsiness is normal only in the first months of life.

You should also monitor feeding. If your pet strangely twists its neck and body without getting its muzzle into the bowl, hurry up and schedule an examination.

In an adult dog

Most often, the disease develops in animals older than 6-7 years. It is accompanied by the following symptoms:

sudden loss of coordination, manifested by body collapse and squatting when turning;
increasing weakness, decreased activity and loss of appetite;
hearing impairment and periodic involuntary movements of the eyeballs;
erratic head rotation and muscle tremors;
falling out of the blue for no reason;
problems with climbing stairs or jumping onto vertical surfaces.

If you notice only one of the listed symptoms, do not wait for the condition to worsen and rush to seek help. Timely treatment will help prevent the development of complications.

Myositis

In simple terms, this is inflammation of the muscles. As a rule, this condition is typical after an unusual training session with an increased load for the dog or after being in a draft for a long time. With myositis, the animal may step heavily on its paws, as if overcoming itself, or if the inflammation is too extensive, involuntarily bend its limbs and fall to the ground. Symptoms usually go away on their own after a few days, and massages and rubbing of the muscles of the spine and back of the body can help improve well-being.

Diagnostic methods

Before making a diagnosis, it is important to exclude diseases with similar symptoms. To do this, the following studies are carried out:

blood and urine tests, including rapid tests for parasites;
Ultrasound of internal organs;
examination of the ears for injuries, inflammation and hearing acuity;
smears for cytology, revealing the presence of pathogenic microorganisms;
MRI, CT and X-ray, determining the presence of tumors and injuries;
Romberg test, which evaluates coordination capabilities.

After collecting an anamnesis, examining the four-legged patient and receiving the results of all necessary studies, the veterinarian selects treatment, taking into account the type and cause of the pathology.

Diagnostic measures

The owner is unlikely to be able to personally determine the reason why the dog is moving backwards. Therefore, as soon as you notice the dog’s uncertain movements or trembling of its paws, you need to take the dog to the veterinarian. Of course, doctors do not have any single prescription.

Attention! Only after a comprehensive examination and history collection will an experienced veterinarian be able to determine the root cause of coordination failure.

Among laboratory tests, a general analysis of blood and urine will be in demand, and additional methods of data collection may include X-ray examination, which can make it possible to exclude head injuries and internal secretory otitis media, and MRI, which provides more complete information regarding the presence of tumors in the brain and inflammatory diseases. processes.

Having excluded the main ailments with coinciding symptoms (metabolic disorders, parasitic diseases or diseases of internal organs), the specialist is able to narrow the selection circle, and at the end he can only examine the condition of the external ear canal and eardrum. If, as a result of the examination, a rupture of the eardrum was found, then it is possible to suspect otitis of the middle and inner ear as a factor in the failure of movement coordination.

How is ataxia treated in dogs?

There are no drugs to correct the functions of the cerebellum, so the congenital form cannot be treated. The therapy used is aimed at relieving the causes of the disorder, preventing complications and improving the well-being of the sick pet.

Drug therapy

Infectious diseases are treated with antibiotics and antivirals. All other drugs are used to relieve associated symptoms. The pet may be prescribed:

analgesics and antispasmodics;
anti-inflammatory;
diuretics;
sedatives;
immunomodulators.

In case of poisoning by poisons or parasites, detoxification therapy is carried out and anthelmintics are prescribed. Deficiencies, anemia and dehydration are eliminated by reviewing the diet and intravenous injections of glucose solution. Treatment of vascular diseases involves the use of medications that improve the metabolism of nervous tissue and stimulate blood circulation.

In what cases is surgery indicated?

Surgical intervention is provided for neoplasms, injuries and some ophthalmological diseases. Under general anesthesia, the affected tissue is excised from the animal and the consequences of existing damage are eliminated. Additionally, chemotherapy may be required.

Features of life, care and nutrition

Despite the disease, many pets continue to remain active. In this case, you should take care of their safety:

Avoid living on the street. The patient should live in a spacious room next to the owner.
Place the bed or house away from potentially dangerous objects: sharp corners and heavy objects.
Place the feeder and water bowl on stands to prevent accidental tipping.

If there is paralysis, the pet needs a special massage of the paws and back. The appearance of bedsores can be avoided by timely turning the dog from side to side.

The diet should consist of easily digestible food. Make sure your pet gets enough vitamins. If necessary, be sure to include them in your daily menu in the form of ready-made complexes or individual supplements.

Prevention

To prevent the development of a terrible pathology in a pet, it is recommended to follow simple preventive measures:

Buy a dog from breeders who do not allow individuals with symptoms of ataxia to be bred;
Treat non-contagious and infectious diseases of the dog in a timely manner;
Feed your pet a balanced diet with vitamin and mineral supplements.

Forecasts and possible consequences

The loss of the ability to coordinate one's actions often results in injuries to the paws and fingers. Head tremors that interfere with chewing food can lead to life-threatening exhaustion. In case of complete paralysis and stable deterioration of health, euthanasia is recommended.

A favorable prognosis is typical for acquired vestibular and sensitive pathologies detected at an early stage. If all neurological signs disappear during treatment, the animal is able to live a normal life again.

Symptoms

The dog develops a wobbling gait and coordination of movements is impaired.
The dog begins to hunch over, spends a lot of time in one position and tries to shift the load to its front legs. This is especially noticeable when she is about to jump on the sofa or overcome some obstacle while walking.
There is trembling of the limbs, shortness of breath, and inability to fully bend over to a bowl of food.
There are difficulties when urinating and defecating.

In severe cases, a sharp development of paralysis and, as a consequence, complete immobility of the rear part of the body is possible. Since there is no universal explanation for severe neuralgia, all diagnoses can only be made by a specialized doctor.