Neurological disorders?

cigwyllt · 07-07-2010

I am posting this on behalf of a friend who is very concerned about her Jack Russell.

"My dog will be 3 in November. When he first came we laughed at his cute puppy wiggle, and then as he grew, said what a clumsy dog he was and he still had the cute wiggly walk. But as he grew older I had a niggling concern that he hadn't grown out of his clumsiness and also had concern about the way he jumped up steps comparing him to our other dog who always cleared them easily.

I read an article about hip dysplasia and was worried this might be what wrong although reassured that this could be treated or even operated on. We went to the vets today to discuss this with the vet but have ahd some potentially devastating news. There is no indication of dysplasia or arthritic change, the vet gave him a good going over and said there was no discomfort or pain but having watched him walk and jump - he agrees there is abnormality there. He believes that there is a neurological reason behind it, and of course this is not "curable". It is as if his brain has difficulty telling his back legs / back end what to do, and so there is some lack of control in what his back legs do. The approach is conservative, a wait and see, but he did hint "if there is any sign of deterioration I would be very concerned" .

If anyone has any experience or knowledge of this type of condition, please let me know."

She has asked me to share this with you all in the hope that an international forum might possibly have more answers/experience. Any suggestions anyone?

CorkyMax · 07-07-2010

There was someone who had this problem a long time ago in this forum. The dog was born this way. I have been searching in here for that thread--haven't found it yet and have to leave the forum for now. I will leave you with this, although I still think the thread I haven't found is the answer and this is secondary but I have it in my mouse to be pasted so here it is: What is Canine Vestibular Syndrome: Despite Stroke Like Symptoms,The Dog's Health Prognosis May Be Good

Will still try to find the other--If I just knew what it was called--could prob. find out about it on the net. I may never find that thread due to the possibility it was among a bunch (a week's worth or more) of posts that got deleted from the forum a year or so ago by acident or necessity because of computer problems within the forum--Long story! But will continue to search later or tomorrow.

cigwyllt · 07-08-2010

Thank you for putting so much time in on my friend's behalf. I really appreciate it and I know she will too. I'll check out the link for her. She has been trying to google it but without a label from the vet she is somewhat overwhelmed by the different possibilities. Thank you again.

CorkyMax · 07-08-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

Thank you for putting so much time in on my friend's behalf. I really appreciate it and I know she will too. I'll check out the link for her. She has been trying to google it but without a label from the vet she is somewhat overwhelmed by the different possibilities. Thank you again.

I have a very good home vet book that I tried to find the answer in-----Problem is there are many things it could be! I can't copy all of it so am going to give you words to put in your browser. I always put : dogs/(and then whatever I want to check on). Example and one to try(and it mentioned Jack Russell as one of the breeds connected with this): dogs/myasthenia gravis----In my book it says this-A congenital form of myasthenia gravis is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. It can occur in Jack Russell Terriers. Other things you may try: (Put dogs/ at beginning of these)
1. the above--dogs/myasthenia gravis--(look into the congenital form--Jack Russell) (also check on the acquired form--It can occur in all breeds)
2. dogs/hypomyelination diseases--(This is an inherited neuropathy)--no cure
3. dogs/cerebellar degeneration (good possibility?)--no cure but may stabilize in some puppies, allowing them to remain active. A slowly progressive disease.
4. dogs/cerebellar hypoplasia
5. dogs/degenerative myelopathy (sounds like it too but usually bigger dogs)
6. dogs/hereditary myopathies (muscular dystrophy)
7. dogs/granulomatous meningoencephalitis (Might try dogs/GME for shorter-may work as is used a lot in the book)--common inflammatory brain disease--Not sure this would be it --think the dog would have died by now but check it out)
8. dogs/brain tumors and abscesses (tumors, surgical removal of benign tumors may be possible)

Probably the vet never put a name on it as he doesn't know for sure what it is and may need to do all dif. kinds of tests to try and find out what it MIGHT be! Wonder if your friend asked/called him up if he could mention the 'hunches' so she could at least look up on the net about them?

You might try this in your browser too--inherited diseases/Jack Russell
Also maybe dogs/degenerative diseases

I don't have very high hopes of finding the post/thread in this forum that I was looking for but will still try but may take a day or 2 to complete. Will let you know if I find it!

Suggestion: Copy and paste this post in an email to your friend and she can look up some of this 'stuff' too.

cigwyllt · 07-08-2010

Thank you so much for doing this. I'm doing what I can to encourage her to stay positive and there is so much info out there and all with different labels. She has been surfing since she saw the vet and is so worried about her boy. It is obviously quite rare in that there is not a lot of personal experience that we can find.

My hope is that it is just something that 20/30 years ago would have been labelled as a quirk and that there is no need for her to be overly distressed.

CorkyMax · 07-08-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

Thank you so much for doing this. I'm doing what I can to encourage her to stay positive and there is so much info out there and all with different labels. She has been surfing since she saw the vet and is so worried about her boy. It is obviously quite rare in that there is not a lot of personal experience that we can find.

My hope is that it is just something that 20/30 years ago would have been labelled as a quirk and that there is no need for her to be overly distressed.

Adding a link I just found from net here as may get missed if added to my last post:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/myasthenia_gravis.html

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/meningioma.html

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/meningo...ogs/page1.aspx

May add more in this post (watch for it)--I am cleaning out My Favorites and may come across something else!