Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Young Rottweiler puppies develop severe progressive paralysis
By van den Ingh, T S et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·1998·Department of Veterinary Pathology, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A neuronal vacuolar disorder in young rottweiler dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four young Rottweiler puppies developed serious problems with coordination and movement, starting with wobbly back legs at just seven to eight weeks old. Over the next few weeks, their condition worsened, leading to weakness and paralysis in all four legs. Unfortunately, a postmortem examination revealed a specific type of brain disorder that caused damage to their nervous system. This condition appears to be unique to Rottweilers and may be hereditary. Sadly, the puppies did not recover.
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Abstract
Four rottweiler pups from two litters developed severe progressive signs of spinal ataxia, cerebellar ataxia and tetraparesis/paralysis. The signs started with ataxia of the pelvic limbs at seven to eight weeks of age and progressed to tetraparesis and paralysis within three to five weeks. Postmortem, a vacuolar neuronal disorder was found in the cerebellum, brainstem and the spinal cord, associated with Wallerian type degeneration in the brainstem, cerebellar peduncles and the medullary cord. Electron microscopy revealed empty membrane-bound vacuoles. Immunohistochemistry for PrPSc was negative. The disorder differs clinically and pathologically from other neurological disorders in the breed and a new (familial) neurological disorder in the rottweiler is suspected.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9549867/