Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sensory ataxic neuropathy causing unsteady walk in young Golden
By Jäderlund, K Hultin et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2007·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A neurologic syndrome in Golden Retrievers presenting as a sensory ataxic neuropathy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 21 Golden Retrievers showed signs of a nervous system issue called sensory ataxic neuropathy, which started between 2 and 8 months of age. Owners noticed their dogs were unsteady and had trouble coordinating their movements, but there was no muscle wasting. Tests showed that while their motor systems were normal, the sensory nerves were not functioning properly. Unfortunately, this condition appears to be hereditary, but the exact way it is passed down is still unclear. There is currently no established treatment for this condition.
People also search for: Golden Retriever ataxia symptoms · dog coordination problems · hereditary neuropathy in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A sensory ataxic neuropathy has been observed in Swedish Golden Retrievers recently. ANIMALS: Twenty-one affected Golden Retrievers. METHODS: Clinical and neurologic status, electrophysiologic, and pathologic status as well as pedigree analyses were evaluated. RESULTS: Clinical signs had an insidious onset between 2 and 8 months of age and a slowly progressive course. Affected dogs were ataxic and dysmetric. They had abnormal postural reactions and decreased spinal reflexes but no apparent muscle atrophy. Clinical pathology, radiography, and electrophysiology of motor systems were all within reference values. Sensory nerve conduction results of affected dogs were significantly different from those of a group of control dogs. Necropsy revealed a chronic progressive central and peripheral sensorimotor axonopathy; the proprioceptive pathways were most severely affected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This disease in these Golden Retrievers is distinct from other canine breed-related neurodegenerative diseases or hereditary neurodegenerative diseases described in humans. Pedigree analyses indicated a hereditary background, but the mode of inheritance could not be established.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18196741/