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Neurological Diseases In Dogs

Neurological diseases in dogs affect not only dogs but also their owners in the sense that as the dog suffers from the several conditions, the owner dos not have any clue as to what he can do to make his dog better. This is the reason why it is essential that an owner is aware of the different neurological diseases in dogs and can recognize the symptoms as soon as they start occurring so that with early treatment, the dog can be cured.

Following are the most common neurological diseases in dogs along with the main symptoms their produce. If you feel that your dog is exhibiting any of the symptoms, report to the vet immediately so that diagnosis can be done quickly to begin treatment.

1. Degenerating Myelopathy:

This is a neurological condition that results from the malfunctioning of the spinal cord nerves and is characterized by mobility issues, especially the hind leg movement. The condition generally afflicts older dogs and can result in complete paralysis of the rear. The common symptoms include:

  • Dragging of the hind legs,
  • Trouble in standing,
  • Weakness in the rear
  • Muscle loss in the rear,
  • Problems with defecation

2. CCDS or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome:

Also known as dementia, this neurological disease afflicts older dogs and is characterized by the disorientation of the dog. This is one of the most common neurological diseases in dogs. The symptoms include forgetfulness ad confusion and you may have accidents with your dog like urination in the house.

3. Epilepsy:

Similar to the human disorder, epilepsy in dogs is caused by brain seizures which may be caused due to head trauma, congenital defects or due to some other disease. Make sure that your dog doesn’t hurt itself or you during a seizure and keep track of the duration of the epilepsy episode and recount it to the vet so that proper diagnosis can be made.

 

4. GME or Granulomatous Mengingo-encephalomyelitis:

This is disease of the central nervous system which is caused due to the inflammation of neurons. It commonly occurs in dogs of middle-age though it is known to affect dogs between the age of six and ten months also. The symptoms include

  • Walking in circles,
  • Paralysis of the face,
  • Tremors,
  • Fever,
  • Weakness,
  • Seizures and
  • A stumbling gait.

5. Hepatic Encephalopathy:

This is one the neurological diseases in dogs which is caused due to infection elsewhere- in this case the liver. The toxins, which were supposed to have been filtered out by the liver, cause brain and neuron degeneration. The disease can be easily cured with antibiotics to heal the liver. Symptoms include:

  • Hysteria,
  • Aggression and
  • Tremors.

6. CPVS or Canine Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome:

This neurological disease is often called the “old-dog syndrome” which is caused by the inflammation of the nerve that connects the cerebellum of the brain to the inner ear. If diagnosed on time, the dog can be healed within a matter of days. The symptoms can be very scary at times and they include:

  • Balance loss,
  • Stroke,
  • Disorientation,
  • Facial contortion and
  • Tilting of the head.