Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Scottish terrier with worsening unsteady walk diagnosed by MRI
By van der Merwe, L L & Lane, E·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2001·Department of Companion Animal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnosis of cerebellar cortical degeneration in a Scottish terrier using magnetic resonance imaging.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Scottish Terrier was brought in because he was having trouble with coordination and was unsteady on his feet, a condition known as ataxia. After ruling out other issues with X-rays and tests on his spinal fluid, the veterinarian used an MRI to diagnose him with cerebellar cortical degeneration (CCD), a condition where part of the brain degenerates over time. Unfortunately, the dog showed signs of progressive decline, and a post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis. Sadly, there is no cure for CCD, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms.
People also search for: Scottish Terrier ataxia · dog brain degeneration symptoms · cerebellar degeneration treatment in dogs
Abstract
Primary cerebellar cortical degeneration (CCD), also termed abiotrophy, is the spontaneous premature degeneration of fully differentiated neurological tissue. Cerebellar hypoplasia shares many morphological features with primary CCD, both conditions being characterised by decreased cerebellar size, with reduced numbers of Purkinje and granular cells. CCD has been identified in many canine breeds. This is the first report of the syndrome in a Scottish terrier. The patient presented with mild, gradually progressive ataxia. Survey radiographs of the cervical spine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were normal. CSF distemper and Toxoplasma titres were negative. A diagnosis of cerebellar atrophy was made based on magnetic resonance imaging. The progressive clinical signs suggested cerebellar degeneration rather than hypoplasia. On necropsy, the cerebellum showed macroscopic and microscopic changes consistent with primary CCD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11518422/