Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Border Collie puppy with worsening hind limb nerve damage and ataxia
By Harkin, Kenneth R et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2005·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Sensory and motor neuropathy in a Border Collie.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-month-old female Border Collie was brought in because she was having trouble with her back legs, showing signs of unsteady walking. Tests showed that her nerves weren't working properly, indicating a condition called sensory and motor neuropathy, which affects both feeling and movement. Unfortunately, despite the veterinary team's efforts to manage her condition, her symptoms worsened over the next 19 months, leading to her being euthanized. The exact cause of her condition remains unclear, but there may be a genetic link since a sibling had similar issues.
People also search for: Border Collie hind limb ataxia · dog nerve problems · puppy unsteady walking treatment
Abstract
A 5-month-old female Border Collie was evaluated because of progressive hind limb ataxia. The predominant clinical findings suggested a sensory neuropathy. Sensory nerve conduction velocity was absent in the tibial, common peroneal, and radial nerves and was decreased in the ulnar nerve; motor nerve conduction velocity was decreased in the tibial, common peroneal, and ulnar nerves. Histologic examination of nerve biopsy specimens revealed considerable nerve fiber depletion; some tissue sections had myelin ovoids, foamy macrophages, and axonal degeneration in remaining fibers. Marked depletion of most myelinated fibers within the peroneal nerve (a mixed sensory and motor nerve) supported the electrodiagnostic findings indicative of sensorimotor neuropathy. Progressive deterioration in motor function occurred over the following 19 months until the dog was euthanatized. A hereditary link was not established, but a littermate was similarly affected. The hereditary characteristic of this disease requires further investigation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16266014/