The dog drifts to the side. Vestibular syndrome in dogs - symptoms, causes and treatment

One reason is a gene mutation or heredity, due to which the puppy receives the disease from its parents. The following representatives of the canine world are most susceptible to gene ataxia:

1. Cocker Spaniels ( American, English).
2. Old English Sheepdogs.
3. Staffordshire Terriers.
4. Kerry Blue Terriers.
5. Hairless Chinese Crested.
6. Scottish Terriers.

Responsible owners and breeders of these dogs perform special veterinary tests to determine the animal's ability to pass on the disease by inheritance. If the test is positive, the dogs are not allowed to be bred, even if they are World Champions. But, unfortunately, heredity is not the only reason for the development of ataxia in dogs.

The disease can be provoked in a dog by head injuries that damage the brain (fall from height, collision with a car), neuritis and otitis, severe infectious diseases, brain tumors.

Causes of the disease

Why your dog may lose balance, have problems with coordination, and experience discomfort. Let's take a closer look at the main reasons.

Disorientation is an altered state in which your dog loses direction. This can occur as a result of many factors that affect the central nervous system or inner ear. Age-related dementia can also affect a dog's disorientation, causing him to become confused even in familiar places.

Many processes that occur in the spinal cord can affect your dog's balance and coordination. These may include tumors, infections, inflammation, trauma, or a disease such as degenerative myelopathy, which can lead to paralysis. So-called Wobbler's Syndrome affects the spine in the neck and causes an unsteady gait, which is especially noticeable when the affected dog walks slowly or as if on a slippery floor.

Muscle weakness and atrophy can be caused by multiple factors and is manifested by instability and imbalance in dogs. A muscle disorder causes disruption of electrical signals from nerves to muscles. This disease is called myositis - an inflammation of muscle tissue that can lead to the inability to walk.

There are several reasons that can affect your dog's ability to move normally. Many injuries and disruptions to the nerves and muscles of the leg extremities can lead to loss of balance and lack of coordination. This condition is called ataxia. A torn cruciate ligament, hip dysplasia, luxating patella or osteochondrosis all cause pain when walking and prevent your pet from moving without problems.

• Inner ear problems

The inner ear is where the sense of balance occurs, and when it is damaged, this balance can be lost. Infection, inflammation, swelling, and trauma in this sensitive area can cause your dog to walk unsteadily and uncoordinated. When the inner ear does not function normally, the condition is often called vestibular syndrome.

• Brain condition

Brain tumors, infections, and inflammation can affect your dog's ability to balance and walk normally, as well as affect nerve function. Abnormalities in the cerebellum and degenerative changes that can occur due to disease and old age can also affect nerve function.

Canine fever is a highly contagious viral infection that your dog can contract from contact with infected animals. The virus attacks the nervous system, leading to seizures and ultimately paralysis.

Dehydration (dehydration) is an imbalance of water in your dog's body. This condition can cause your body's water levels to become dangerously low. As the body compensates by drawing water from individual cells, essential electrolytes are lost. This can seriously affect muscle function.

Anemia or anemia is a condition in which the number of circulating red blood cells is significantly reduced. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all cells of the body, including muscles. If there are not enough red blood cells to take oxygen to the muscles, then these cells become hungry and weakened. Anemia can also affect the brain and cause confusion and dizziness.

• Disorientation.
• Spinal cord problems.
• Muscle weakness.
• Problems with gait.
• Problems with the inner ear.
• State of the brain.
• Dog fever.
• Dehydration.
• Anemia.

Conventionally, vestibular syndrome is usually divided into peripheral and central - depending on which part is affected.

Also, this neurological phenomenon can be:

• metabolic;
• neoplastic;
• inflammatory;
• traumatic;
• toxic;
• idiopathic.

Accordingly, treatment will depend on the causes of vestibular syndrome.

The peripheral form is diagnosed quite rarely and occurs due to damage to the nervous system affecting the inner ear. The more common form is the central one, which is much more difficult. This is explained by the fact that not only the vestibular apparatus is affected, but also other systems of the body, so many pathologies are fraught with death.

The causes of vestibular syndrome include:

• inflammation in the inner and middle ear;
• abuse of ear cleaners;
• consequences of brain injuries;
• polyps, tumors;
• hormonal imbalances;
• meningoencephalitis;
• chaotic use of certain medications, in particular antibiotics.

Sometimes vestibular syndrome can be congenital or age-related - it is in such cases that we can talk about the idiopathic nature of the pathology, that is, when it occurs for no apparent reason.

What types of disease is divided into?

There is a peripheral form of the disease, which occurs when the peripheral nervous system is damaged, which, however, can affect the inner ear. But this variety is relatively rare.

The central form of the disease is much more common, but it is also much more severe. The reason is simple - the central nervous system is affected, which is fraught not only with damage to the vestibular apparatus, but also with other pathologies, many of which are deadly.

Peripheral vestibular syndrome in dogs occurs when the nerves connecting the inner ear and the brain are affected. As a result, the dog may experience constant dizziness, which negatively affects the ability to maintain body stability in space. Many novice dog breeders, encountering this pathology for the first time, believe that something very bad has happened to their dog.

Fortunately, peripheral vestibular syndrome is a fairly “harmless” disease, since in many cases its manifestations can be dealt with quickly and without much expense.

Why does it develop?

First, let's look at the causes of the peripheral variety. This includes chronic and recurrent inflammatory processes in the inner and middle ear, including those caused by fanatical cleaning of the ears, the consequences of traumatic brain injury, stroke, tumors, polyps, meningoencephalitis, hypothyroidism, as well as thoughtless intake of certain drugs (antibiotics from the aminoglycoside group). The following are especially dangerous for dogs in this regard: amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin.

They are cheap, and therefore “caring” owners who decide to “treat” their dog themselves often buy them. Sometimes their use ends well for the dog, but sometimes serious consequences arise.

It is also very dangerous for owners to excessively use various means to clean their dog’s ears. If you drip glasses of them into your ears, nothing good can happen. The compounds included in these drugs, if the dose is exceeded, cause serious irritation and inflammation of the middle and inner ear.

Sometimes it is a birth defect. In older dogs, the disease often has to be considered idiopathic. It is possible that in some cases an autoimmune process is to blame, due to which the body itself begins to attack the nervous tissues and vestibular apparatus. In puppies and middle-aged dogs, the most common cause is middle ear infections. The older the dog, the more likely it is that the pathology was caused by some kind of tumor.

What are the predisposing factors in the case of central vestibular syndrome? Meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, other infections or injuries affecting the brain, disrupting its integrity and functionality. The possibility of cerebral hemorrhage, hematoma, and cancer should not be excluded.

Identifying the Symptoms and Treatments for Dog Ataxia

The clinical picture of vestibular syndrome, often mistaken for a stroke, is quite extensive. The main sign to suspect pathology is loss of coordination in space. The dog begins to experience difficulty moving, walking with its head tilted, stumbling out of the blue, falling and spinning on the floor.

Another characteristic symptom is the occurrence of vertical nystagmus (eye twitching). In addition, the animal experiences salivation, uncontrollable vomiting, and dizziness.

In severe cases of the disease, the dog stops eating and begins to walk on its own. In such cases, the question of euthanasia is raised as the most humane option.

In Greek, the word ataxia means “without order.” This description speaks volumes about the symptoms of the disease. With progressive ataxia, the dog looks “drunk”, falls, stumbles, turns its head, and crouches when turning. At the same time, moving in a straight line is quite easy for sick dogs, but the pet is not able to climb the stairs, walk along a winding corridor, or change the trajectory of movement.

Dogs with ataxia may even bump into large objects, are unable to jump, make a turn, are unable to chase a person or other animal, or play with their relatives. Animals with a damaged cerebellum move with small “goose steps”, and at the same time they can walk too wide, placing their paw much further than necessary.

Some owners confuse the manifestations of ataxia with epilepsy, as animals often shudder, suffer from dizziness, their head shakes, their eyelids and chin tremble. Convulsive jerks and movements usually occur in a situation where the animal is concentrated, for example, eating or trying to plot a route.

Video - Ataxia in dogs

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.

Yes, such dogs can still eat and continue to live, but only with constant human care and attention.

Who is more at risk for ataxia in dogs?

This disease has spread throughout the world, and in some countries specialists even take measures to ensure that patients with ataxia do not mate under any circumstances.

But it is worth noting that not all dogs suffer from this disease equally often.

Pets of the following breeds are most often affected by the disease:

• Scotch Terriers;
• Staffordshire Terriers;
• Gordon setter;
• Old English Sheepdogs;
• cocker spaniels.

Agree that in the CIS countries you can rarely find a dog of one of these breeds, so many people are not even aware of such a disease as cerebellar ataxia.

Some breeds also have more terrible varieties of the disease, which develop incredibly rapidly, as a result of which the dog can suddenly die, since in such cases most of the motor systems are often affected. Thus, the dog is completely lost in space.

Symptoms of vestibular disease include: a constant and strong tilt of the head, loss of coordination, the animal begins to stumble literally out of the blue, the dog often falls, and begins to spin while already on the floor. Very often, with vestibular syndrome, nystagmus occurs, and it is vertical.

All this is accompanied by profuse salivation and sometimes vomiting (remember your feelings on the carousel). In cases where vestibular syndrome develops on only one side, the animal's head will deviate in the direction of the lesion. If the pathology is bilateral, the disease is indicated by extremely inappropriate behavior of the animal, as well as vertical nystagmus in both eyes.

Congenital vestibular disease in dogs is detected from birth to three months of age. Both varieties of German Shepherd, Doberman Pinschers, Akitu Inu, English Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Fox Terriers, and Tibetan Terriers are especially susceptible.

Vestibular disease in older dogs is often mistaken for a stroke. Dizziness caused by the disease can be especially intense in very old dogs, who in this case cannot stand up at all, or do it with extreme difficulty, their neck bends, and nystagmus is observed.

In severe cases, the animal’s condition is so severe that it cannot eat and empties its intestines and bladder directly under itself. Note that in such a situation the issue of the appropriateness of treatment should be resolved. Perhaps euthanasia is a more humane option.

Diagnostics in a veterinary clinic

To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor, in addition to studying the medical history of the disease, needs to conduct the necessary diagnostic tests. These include:

• general and biochemical blood test;
• urine test;
• X-ray (to examine the middle and inner ear and assess their condition);
• MRI, CT (to determine possible structural changes in the brain);
• examination of scrapings from an animal's ear;
• a series of tests that determine the reaction of the nervous system to stimuli;
• collection of cerebrospinal fluid (to detect the virus in the body);
• Ultrasound of internal organs.

Cost of treatment

It’s worth mentioning right away that most people, having heard that their pet has suffered such a terrible diagnosis, are interested in the possibility of treatment. The fact is that the treatment of the disease is of great interest to pet owners; it is considered an incurable disease. We are talking about ataxia that appeared due to a hereditary factor or some defect. The fact is that no special drugs have been invented that would have a qualitative effect on the animal’s cerebellum.

But if a tumor or, for example, some kind of infectious disease was discovered in the dog (in cases where this became the cause of the development of the disease), then you can try to cure it. Fortunately, modern antibiotics, developed specifically for dogs, help fight many terrible diseases that in the recent past caused the death of pets.

Surgery can also help (for tumors), but the cerebellum cannot be affected in any way. You ask: “What can be done if ataxia was caused precisely by a hereditary factor?” In fact, all that remains is to come to terms with the problem and purchase medications that will help make the dog’s future life calmer and more enjoyable.

Most often, special sedatives are prescribed for this purpose, which help relieve panic. There are, of course, special medications for movement disorders, but often they can only make things worse for the dog. Consult a veterinarian, because if the wrong medications are chosen, the animal may die.

Further life of dogs: basic rules

Your task is to improve the dog's future life. Under no circumstances should she live on the street, even if she has an excellent kennel. The fact is that a dog whose coordination is impaired can harm itself without proper supervision. In the room you allocate for your dog, there should be no objects that have sharp corners, because, despite all the prescribed medications, the pet’s condition will change, and for the worse.

It is also worth noting that some animals may, over time, begin to adapt to life with a congenital pathology, but this process is not typical for all breeds. In some cases, the dog will even move more or less independently, avoiding small obstacles. But there are also not so good situations; sometimes you have to put the dog to sleep so that it simply stops suffering.

If, however, your dog begins to lose coordination, it needs treatment. The cost of such treatment depends on the causes of the disease. For example, treatment for disorientation can cost up to 1800 UAH, while the cost of Wobbler syndrome (spinal cord problem) can be approximately 4000 UAH. As a rule, most procedures can vary from 100 to 3000 UAH.

Treatment of vestibular syndrome is not possible in all cases. So, if we are talking about the idiopathic nature of the pathology (congenital or acquired with age), medications are prescribed to alleviate the animal’s condition.

Pathology caused by an inflammatory infectious process is treated with antibiotics (broad-spectrum). When treating otitis, it is prohibited to use ototoxic drugs belonging to the group of aminoglycosides (antibiotics, chlorhexidine).

Vestibular syndrome caused by oncology can only be eliminated by surgery and chemotherapy. For hypothyroidism and other hormonal disorders, it is advisable to use replacement therapy.

With timely treatment, the dog’s condition stabilizes within three days. After 1-2 weeks, a decrease in ataxia and head tilt can be observed; after 3-4 weeks, recovery occurs. At this stage, physical therapy is prescribed. However, it would be incorrect to talk about a final cure.

As for prognosis, a positive one is possible only if the syndrome was diagnosed in a small puppy - there is hope that its vestibular apparatus will adapt to the environment, and the baby will be able to live a full life. In other cases, this is especially true for cancer patients, residual effects cause the animal to suffer for the rest of its life.

The treatment regimen for ataxia in dogs depends on the cause that caused it. If the cause of ataxia is a tumor compressing the cerebellum or nerve canals, its surgical removal can result in significant improvement, up to complete recovery.

If ataxia is caused by genetics, then it is impossible to cure the brain damage. If the stage of damage is severe, veterinarians consider it humane to euthanize the dog so as not to condemn it to years of unpleasant and painful existence. In cases where ataxia is relatively mild, the animal's quality of life can be improved.

The therapeutic regimen for maintaining an animal with ataxia includes painkillers, medications that relieve nervous tension, antispasmodics, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin complexes (in particular, B-group vitamins).

The owner of a dog who has been diagnosed with ataxia must provide the pet with the most comfortable conditions possible: select equipment for walking in which the animal can be well controlled (for example, a harness), secure the room where the dog is. It will never be possible to cure genetic ataxia, and the owner must be prepared for the fact that his pet will be dependent on his attention and patience all his life.

Therapy

Let us immediately warn you that treatment of vestibular syndrome in dogs is impossible if we are talking about a congenital case, or when the disease begins to develop in an old dog. In this case, only drugs are prescribed that alleviate the animal’s condition. Of course, in cases where the dog becomes helpless, the owner will have to constantly care for it, remove secretions, and massage it in order to avoid the development of bedsores.

There is good news: if vestibular syndrome appears in a very young puppy, there is a good chance that its vestibular apparatus will fully adapt to unusual conditions, after which the animal will be able to live a full life. In principle, even in old dogs it is most often possible to induce remission, but the dog may still have the “habit” of walking with his head bowed.

Since in most cases the disease is caused by inflammation of an infectious etiology, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed, and the cancer is treated surgically (if possible) or through chemotherapy. In situations where hypothyroidism has led to the development of the disease, replacement therapy is resorted to.

As a rule, if the root cause is completely eliminated, it is possible to completely get rid of vestibular syndrome. Unfortunately, this applies to a lesser extent in cases of oncology: even if a malignant tumor is removed, the animal may suffer from residual effects.

What to do at home

Many owners have a question: “How to help a dog at home?” The answer is clear: strictly follow the doctor’s instructions and do not self-medicate, as it can lead to irreversible consequences. The maximum that can be done is to create a comfortable environment for the dog, provide it with good care and quality feeding.

Prevention measures

Treatment of vestibular syndrome is a long process that will require considerable patience and endurance from both the owner and the pet. To avoid relapses, you should carefully monitor symptoms and under no circumstances interrupt treatment, even if the condition has improved significantly.

To prevent the development of vestibular syndrome in your pet, you need to:

• feed the animal correctly;
• systematically walk;
• avoid situations where the pet may injure its head;
• immediately respond to any changes in the dog’s behavior;
• It is imperative to continue to treat diseases, especially for otitis media, which can subsequently cause serious health problems.

A sudden loss of coordination of movements is explained by a disease of the balance organs and is called “vestibular syndrome of dogs (or cats).” The symptoms can look frightening: an apparently healthy animal suddenly cannot rise to its feet, falls, flounders, and looks frightened. Salivation, vomiting, and rapid breathing may also be evident. The head is tilted to the side, the muzzle is asymmetrical. The first thing that comes to mind in such cases is that of an animal. But stroke is perhaps the rarest cause of these symptoms. Most often, such manifestations are caused by disruption of the balance organs located outside the brain - the so-called peripheral vestibular syndrome.

The causes of peripheral vestibular syndrome are as follows:

- Inflammation of the middle and inner ear (otitis media) is the most common cause of peripheral vestibular syndrome. The organ of balance - the labyrinth of the cochlea - is inextricably linked with the organ of hearing. Inflammation during otitis media can spread to the cochlear labyrinth and cause disruption of its functioning. In this case, treatment should include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Dealing with this disease can take a lot of time and effort. Symptoms of vestibular disorder disappear in 10-14 days. When treating otitis media, the use of ototoxic drugs such as chlorhexidine and aminoglycoside antibiotics should be avoided.

Neoplasms (tumors, polyps, cysts) of the inner ear, eustachian tube, eardrum. To diagnose these formations, conventional examination and otoscopy are not enough, but additional visual diagnostic methods and cytological analysis are required. The most effective method of treating tumors is surgery.

Idiopathic vestibular syndrome is the second most common cause of balance problems. In cats, this disease occurs most often during the summer months. Cats of all ages are affected. Dogs get sick more often at older ages and regardless of the time of year. 72 hours after the onset of symptoms, a significant improvement occurs - nystagmus (rhythmic movements of the eyeballs) and nausea almost disappear, appetite and the ability to walk appear. After 7 days the animal can move normally. The head tilt can persist for a longer time - up to 2 months. No specific treatment has been developed. Recovery occurs without treatment, but recurrence of the disease is possible.

Use of ototoxic drugs (aminoglycoside antibiotics, chlorhexidine, metronidazole)

Congenital anomalies in the development of the organ of hearing and balance have been described in such breeds as: and in some others. Congenital disorders appear from birth or at 3-4 weeks of age. Some animals live with this disorder their entire lives. In some cases, spontaneous recovery occurs by 3-4 months of age. No treatment has been developed.

Temporal bone injury.

Let us remember that above we discussed diseases that do not affect the brain. This is the most common cause of sudden loss of coordination in pets. Less commonly, vestibular disorders are a consequence of diseases affecting the brain. Symptoms of imbalance that occur when these structures are affected are called central vestibular syndrome.

The causes of central vestibular disorders are the following diseases:

Infectious diseases of the brain: canine distemper, toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis.

Inflammatory diseases of the nervous system: granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis, necrotizing meningoencephalomyelitis.

Brain tumors – meningiomas, lymphomas.

Vascular diseases of the brain: ischemic, hemorrhagic stroke as a result of hypertension, hormonal disorders, sepsis, bleeding disorders, thrombosis of cerebral vessels.

The prognosis for these diseases is more cautious than for peripheral disorders. As a rule, in addition to symptoms of imbalance, the animal also exhibits other neurological disorders, as well as symptoms of damage to other organs and systems.

Symptoms of peripheral and central vestibular syndrome are listed in the table:

In each case of impaired coordination of movements, doctors need the most complete information about the animal. Therefore, when faced with cases of imbalance in animals, specialists at the Zoovet center conduct a particularly thorough examination. Depending on what disease the symptoms and course of vestibular disorders indicate, a diagnostic and treatment plan is drawn up. In some cases, diagnosis may be limited to a routine examination of the animal, examination of the ears, general and clinical blood tests, and this will be sufficient to establish a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. In more complex cases, advanced diagnostics may be needed - tests for viral and bacterial infections, tests for thyroid and adrenal hormones, x-rays, ultrasound of internal organs, computed tomography of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

Has your dog started to lose balance when turning and falling? , but not at all from the cold? Such symptoms are characteristic of ataxia.

Cerebellar ataxia in dogs

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 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

These are diseases of the nervous system that affect the brain and spinal cord, as well as peripheral nerves. In addition to impaired coordination, such diseases are characterized by epileptic seizures, loss of sensation, paralysis, rapidly progressive weakness and changes in muscle tone.

One of the most dangerous diseases is considered to be rabies, caused by a virus transmitted, most often, by a sick animal - a raccoon, fox, bat or other. The first symptom is a change in behavior, high fever, and vomiting, photophobia and hydrophobia. Already at the first stage of the disease, there is a lack of coordination of movements.

You can observe the same symptom in the case of tick paralysis, when it is poisoned by toxins released by female forest ticks during a bite. Changes begin with a lack of coordination of movements, followed by weakness and paralysis, loss of the ability to breathe and death of the animal. A viral infection that affects the nervous system and also causes loss of coordination of movements can also result in paralysis.

This symptom may be due to one of the many types of encephalitis, as well as tetanus. Like others, these nervous system diseases can be fatal for your pet. Therefore, at the first signs, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

Other causes of poor coordination

The cause of such disturbances can be acute shock, as a result of which she may also lose the ability to move - sitting on her hind legs, she will not be able to stand up. In some cases, shock may be accompanied by fainting or syncope. After some time, the dog regains consciousness and does not feel any consequences, but sometimes it may require medical attention.

Often the dog loses coordination when the nervous system and its tissues are affected by tumors, which often happens in aging people. The nervous system can be affected not by the tumors themselves, but by developed metastases. How the animal behaves largely depends on where exactly the tumor is located, but loss of coordination clearly indicates that the nervous system is affected. Sometimes loss of coordination is explained by damage to the cerebellum or a mini-stroke. In any case, this is always a cause for concern.

In animals, and especially in dogs, neurological disorders occur as often as in people, and they cause a lot of difficulties for the owner, since the treatment of such disorders 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.”

Information about the violation

In fact, there is no single correct answer to the question of what ataxia is. The fact is that this cannot be called a single disease, since ataxia simply indicates the appearance of some symptoms, here is a list of them:

• loss of coordination, which occurs suddenly in all situations;
• situations involving loss of balance;
• sudden shaking;
• There are even situations when an animal falls for no reason.

Let's also mention the classification of ataxia, here are the main types:

1. vestibular;
2. sensitive;
3. cerebellar

It is worth noting that each type has its own characteristic features, as well as reasons for its appearance. The first type of ataxia indicates disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus, which is necessary for the animal to successfully maintain balance; without it, it will be difficult for the dog to be in space. This will be expressed by the fact that she will not even be able to hold her head normally in one position, there will also be a slight list when walking, and instability will end with the dog constantly falling or even spinning in place. Experts note another characteristic symptom - uncoordinated eye movements, as well as a constant feeling of drowsiness, less often - numbness.

Sensitive ataxia

As for sensitive ataxia, it develops in cases of damage to the Burdach or Gaulle bundles, and it can also appear due to disorders in the spinal cord. The main sign of this type of ataxia is considered to be various disturbances in the process of walking; in most situations, owners notice that the dog begins to look at its feet all the time while moving. It is worth mentioning that with serious lesions, the dog may even lose the ability to be in the “standing” and “sitting” positions. For this reason, at the first manifestations, you must consult a doctor, do not hesitate!

Pay attention! The previously discussed types of ataxia cannot affect various behavioral aspects of the pet. Thus, the dog’s behavior partially does not change; of course, the previously described disorders are observed, but this is not so serious (the problem can be solved by contacting a specialist, and mental abnormalities are not observed). For this reason, specialists can easily diagnose the disease, distinguishing it from various infections.

Since these pathologies are relatively minor, it is necessary to consider cerebellar ataxia, because it is the most difficult to treat, even with timely consultation with a specialist. If this area is damaged, the dog’s coordination of movements, as well as its balance, are significantly impaired. Even with a slight delay, loss of control over the pet’s motor function will follow. In more rare situations, more dangerous symptoms are observed, namely, a violation of the ability to spatial orientation; it is worth mentioning that sometimes dogs even cease to recognize their owners, as well as the place where they have always lived.

Such damage to the cerebellum, located in the brain, is often caused by a tumor, and occasionally an infection can be the cause. Despite this, in most situations such manifestations occur due to defects present from birth. The essence of the mentioned defects is that the death of normal neurons is caused. In such situations, the specialist makes a diagnosis called “hereditary cerebellar ataxia.”

Let us mention that such diseases are transmitted by a recessive gene, that is, such disorders must be present in both individuals participating in the birth of the animal. For this reason, cerebellar ataxia is considered a fairly rare disease, because conscientious breeders do everything possible to combat inherited diseases (dogs with such diseases are simply not allowed to breed).

Loss of coordination due to poisoning

Why dogs can still lose coordination - the causes of other types of illness
The reasons for the development of loss of coordination can be different. As mentioned earlier, these types of disease develop against the background of damage to something. Most often, the main reason for their appearance is oncology; such a neoplasm can damage any important organs, which will be accompanied by a large number of unpleasant symptoms, the main ones of which have already been discussed in this material.

It is worth mentioning that the cause of poor coordination in dogs can also be the penetration of toxins into the body. It cannot be argued that this only means poison, since any substances that are released into the bloodstream by helminths (worms) can act as toxins. If a dog has large worms, the problem can be huge, because everything can turn into encephalopathy, so disorders associated with motor function are not the worst manifestation of helminths.

Despite this, the most common cause is poisoning. Almost all dogs pick up some things on the street, and in some situations you can come across poisoned bait, despite the fact that these days they are quite rare. In such situations, in the absence of medical assistance in the first few hours, everything will end up with much more serious manifestations, because, most likely, the pet will die.

The problem may also lie in autoimmune diseases; systemic lupus is most often to blame. Such a disease has a characteristic feature because if it is present, the pet’s body will begin to destroy itself. Experts note that the nervous system may be the first system to be affected, which is why poor coordination of movements often develops.

Important! Don’t forget about injuries, since a dog that gets hit by a car can have a lot of serious injuries that can be observed throughout the body. In this case, ataxia is not uncommon. As you might guess, in this case it is very important to get the dog to a medical facility as quickly as possible. If the veterinarian does not look at it, then any hematoma in the meninges can lead to death!

Symptoms of cerebellar ataxia

The symptoms of cerebellar ataxia are also important to become familiar with, since disturbances in motor coordination can progress over many years. Experts note that in some situations the clinical picture of the disease does not appear for several years. Here is a list of the main symptoms that appear in dogs, regardless of breed and other things:

• nervousness;
• constant trembling;
• inappropriate behavior of the pet;
• lack of coordination;
• strange behavior when walking, because the dog can take uncharacteristically long steps, after each of which it will freeze in confusion;
• the occurrence of panic attacks, the animal in most situations will try to hide somewhere, especially when the owner appears;
• sometimes the dog may even fall while walking, and the frequency of such incidents depends entirely on the type of ataxia and the stage of development of the disease;
• weakness, which may progress as the disease develops;
• situations in which the pet begins to rotate its head or even eyeballs very quickly, which is a little less common;
• hearing impairment;
• possible fall into a state of lethargic sleep;
• significant loss of appetite;
• a condition in which the dog constantly strives to tilt its head to one side;
• other changes related to the behavior of pets.

With cerebellar ataxia, as mentioned earlier, the symptoms are much more serious, because the pet may not even recognize its owners, and may also lose control of the body!

Diagnosis and treatment

It is worth mentioning the diagnostic process, but first you should understand that it is not possible to identify the problem yourself, and it is prohibited to do so, because the situation may worsen. If you suspect ataxia, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. An interesting fact is that no test or diagnostic method has yet been invented that would determine the presence of ataxia of any type.

The veterinarian makes a diagnosis after a full examination and questioning of the owners, and sometimes it is necessary to do a whole range of various tests, which includes such as a urine test and blood drawing. Sometimes it is useful to do an MRI, but not everywhere there is such an opportunity, and such a procedure will be very expensive. For this reason, specialists most often limit themselves to X-rays. Other tests are also prescribed, but they all depend on the results of the examination.

As you might guess, the treatment process will depend entirely on the cause of the disease. If a dangerous infectious disease is detected, the dog will be given strong antibiotics. If the problem is a tumor, then veterinarians will perform surgery.

As for more complex situations, for example, when ataxia is caused by a hereditary defect, it is not possible to cure it. For this reason, specialists can only prescribe supportive treatment to maintain a normal standard of living for the pet. Such therapy includes sedatives that can relieve panic.

As for the treatment of various movement disorders, only specific medications can be used for this purpose. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate an animal, because serious drugs will only make it worse if given incorrectly.

Important! If your animal's ataxia is of the cerebellar type, then you must adapt the apartment to his life. The dog should be given a room where there are no sharp corners or objects, because over time his condition will deteriorate greatly even if he takes the necessary medications prescribed by the veterinarian.