Page 13 - Canine-Diseases

mouth or nose are affected. Signs of genital transmissible venereal signs of cauda equina syndrome may include a prolonged period
tumor include a discharge from the prepuce and in some cases of intermittent or continuous weakness of the hind limbs. Most
urinary retention, from blockage of the urethra. Signs of a nasal commonly affected dogs are large breed and older dogs with German
transmissible venereal tumor include nasal fistulae, nosebleeds Shepherds over-represented. Other reported breeds include Great
and other nasal discharge, facial swelling, and enlargement of the Danes, Airedale Terriers, Irish Setters, English Springer Spaniels,
submandibular lymph nodes. Boxers, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers.

Carpal hyperextension: Carpal hyperextension injuries are Cerebellar abiotrophy: Also referred to as the cerebellar cortical
most commonly seen in large active dogs. However, small breeds abiotrophy (CCA), is a genetic neurological disease in animals
can also be affected. Carpal hyperextension injuries produce a best known to affect certain breeds of horses, dogs and cats. It
breakdown of the ligaments that support the back of the carpal joint develops when the neurons known as Purkinje cells, located in the
in the wrist, resulting in collapse from the normal upright position. cerebellum of the brain, begin to die off. These cells affect balance
Warning signs of this condition include lameness, swelling of the and coordination. The Purkinje layer allows communication
carpus and sinking of the paw to the ground during exercise caused between the granular and molecular cortical layers in the
by excessive motion (hyperextension) of the carpus. There are three cerebellum. Symptoms of cerebellar abiotrophy include ataxia
common forms of injury to the carpus causing hyperextension: or lack of balance, an awkward wide-legged stance, head tremor,
The first form affects puppies and involves an abnormality in the body tremors, hyper-reactivity, lack of menace reflex, stiff or high-
development of the ligaments supporting the carpal joint. The stepping gait, coarse or jerky head bob when in motion, apparent
second form of injury to the carpus is the result of trauma. The lack of awareness of where the feet are, poor depth perception, and
third form of carpal injury is degenerative hyperextension of the a general inability to determine space and distance. Breeds affected
wrists. Symptoms of carpal hyperextension in dogs include pain by cerebellar abiotrophy include Australian Kelpies, Gordon
and swelling on the forelimb, abnormal, hyperextending stance and Setters, Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, Airedale Terriers,
gait, crying or pain vocalization, increased distal limb extension, English Pointers, Scottish Terriers, Kerry Blue Terriers, Miniature
and joint instability. Schnauzers, Lagotto Romagnolos, and other dog breeds. Most
breeds prone to the condition, such as the Kerry Blue Terriers,
Cataplexy: Cataplexy in the dog manifests itself as postural Border Collies, Australian Kelpies, and Labrador Retrievers,
collapse, areflexia (below normal or absent reflexes), and partial to begin showing symptoms between six and sixteen weeks of age.
complete muscle atony with a sparing of the respiratory and ocular In a very few breeds, such as the American Staffordshire Terriers,
muscles. These symptoms generally appear prior to six months of Old English Sheepdogs, Brittany Spaniels, and Gordon Setters,
age in the canine. Cataplexy is similar to narcolepsy in that the symptoms do not appear until adulthood or even middle age.
episodes are spontaneous, brief, and reversible. These disorders
are relatively common in dogs. Hereditary in Labrador Retrievers, Cerebellar hypoplasia: Is a congenital disorder that denotes an
Poodles, Dachshunds, and Doberman Pinschers. incomplete development of the cerebellum at birth, a section of
the brainstem largely responsible for modulating motor impulses.
Cataracts: Are an opacity or imperfection in the lens of the Affected dogs therefore fail to move normally, especially when it
eye causing blurry vision. Most cataracts in dogs are caused by comes to maintaining normal balance, posture, and coordination.
a genetic predisposition, but diabetes mellitus is also a common The most common cause in dogs is an in utero infection with canine
cause. Other causes for cataracts in dogs are systemic drug toxicity, herpesvirus. It is also seen associated with toxins, malnutrition, and
other underlying eye conditions, trauma to the eye, and the aging infections. Symptoms include tremors, head bobbing, nystagmus
process. Another less serious eye condition called nuclear sclerosis (involuntary eye movement), ataxia and dysmetria (lack of balance
is often mistaken for cataracts in older dogs. The only effective and coordination), disequilibrium (sensation of being off balance),
treatment is surgical removal. Many breeds of dogs are affected and wide stance. The breed most commonly affected by cerebellar
with hereditary cataracts. Some of the recognised breeds include hypoplasia Chow Chows, Airedale Terriers, Irish Setters, Boston
the American Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, French Terriers, and Wirehaired Fox Terriers.
Poodles, Siberian Huskies, Boston Terriers, Welsh Springer Cervical vertebral instability (Wobbler syndrome): Is a term
Spaniels, and Yorkshire Terriers. loosely used to encompass compressive spinal cord lesions

Cauda equina syndrome: Also termed as lumbosacral affecting the spinal cord at base of neck. The cause is likely to be
stenosis, lumbosacral instability, lumbosacral malformation, multifactorial with genetic, nutritional and biochemical influences.
lumbosacral malarticulation, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbosacral Veterinary literature has used 14 names to describe this condition.
spondylolisthesis, and lumbosacral nerve root compression. This is in part due to the confusion regarding the mechanisms
Cauda equina syndrome is associated with a number of pathologic causing it. The name most commonly used in veterinary articles
changes in the spine that result in compression of sciatic and sacral is cervical spondylomyelopathy, cervical vertebral instability,
nerves which include degenerative arthritis of the spine, congenital cervical vertebral malformation, cervical vertebral malformation-
deformity of the bones, acute intervertebral disk herniation, malarticulation, and cervical spondylopathy. Dogs with wobbler
chronic bulging disk, infection in the disk and adjacent spinal syndrome typically have a “wobbly” gait mostly in the back end
bones, fractures, partial dislocation of the spinal bones, tumors, (thus the name “wobblers”). Symptoms of Wobbler syndrome
inflammation of the nerves, and infection in the spine. Clinical include weakness, ataxia (incoordination and confusion). The
symptoms worsen slowly over several months. Over time, an

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