Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Boxer puppies with progressive leg weakness and nerve damage
By Geiger, D A et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2009·Bay Area Veterinary Specialists, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Encephalomyelopathy and polyneuropathy associated with neuronal vacuolation in two Boxer littermates.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two 6-month-old Boxer puppies were brought to the vet because they were having trouble walking, breathing, and seeing. The puppies showed signs of muscle weakness in their back legs, difficulty with coordination, and stridor (a noisy breathing sound). After examining them, the vet found that they had a rare inherited condition that affects the nervous system, causing muscle atrophy and damage to the nerves. Unfortunately, this condition is serious and can lead to significant health issues, and the puppies may require ongoing care to manage their symptoms.
People also search for: Boxer puppy walking problems · puppy breathing issues · Boxer eye problems · puppy neurological condition · Boxer puppy stridor treatment
Abstract
Neuronal vacuolation and spinocerebellar degeneration is a rare, presumably inherited condition that is reported only in Rottweilers and in crossbred dogs with known or potential Rottweiler heritage. Gross and histopathologic findings include laryngeal muscle atrophy, neuronal vacuolation, and a combined central and peripheral axonopathy. Two 6-month-old Boxer puppies from the same litter were referred for evaluation of progressive pelvic limb paresis and ataxia, upper airway stridor, and visual deficits. Examination of each dog suggested a combined myelopathy and peripheral neuropathy, as well as congenital ocular disease. Gross lesions were limited to atrophy of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Histopathologically, there was diffuse loss of axons and myelin in the dorsolateral and ventral funiculi throughout the spinal cord and extending into the caudal aspect of the brain stem. Vacuolation of scattered neuronal cell bodies was present in the spinal cord and selected brain stem nuclei. Multifocal axonal degeneration and demyelination was observed in the recurrent laryngeal nerve, sciatic nerve, and brachial plexus and was most severe in the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Ocular abnormalities included microphthalmia, cataracts, and retinal dysplasia. The findings in these Boxer dogs, unrelated to the Rottweiler breed, are analogous to the syndrome of neuronal vacuolation and spinocerebellar degeneration reported in Rottweilers.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19605909/