Canine Ataxia

Ataxia isn't a disease, but a symptom that some neurological problem is present. This can have different causes, which is why it's important to see the vet to reach a diagnosis.

The prognosis will depend on the cause behind the ataxia. Some dogs will be able to recover, while others will keep lasting effects for life. Below, we'll learn to identify this disorder and its most common triggers.

What Is Ataxia?

Ataxia can be defined as a lack of coordination in movement that occurs following damage affecting different areas, such as the cerebellum or the vestibular system.

Symptoms of Ataxia in Dogs

We can suspect our dog has ataxia if we detect symptoms such as the following, related to ataxia itself and the conditions it's most commonly linked to:

• Unusual gait, which will vary depending on what's affected, so we can't set a single pattern. Hypermetria is common, consisting of exaggerated, overly wide movements.
• Walking in circles.
• Hesitation when performing any movement.
• Very obvious lack of coordination.
• Tilted head or other abnormal postures.
• Nystagmus, the involuntary movement of the eyes.
• Tremors and/or seizures.
• Vomiting.

What Causes Ataxia in a Dog?

The damage that ends up causing ataxia can result from different causes, such as trauma. Strong impacts, falls, being hit by a car, or even fights can be the start of ataxia, along with other symptoms such as breathing problems, bleeding, fractures, or unconsciousness, depending on the type of injury.

Other times, ataxia appears as a result of poisoning. Dogs can eat anything they find within reach, including trash and almost any leftover that could poison them. Products meant for human consumption are sometimes harmful to them too.

Finally, we should mention certain medications as a cause. Some drugs list ataxia among their side effects. If this is the case for our dog, we should tell the vet right away, so they can decide how to adjust the medication.

Vestibular Syndrome

We'll highlight this disorder since we can come across it fairly often. It's characterized by symptoms such as ataxia itself, nystagmus, head tilting, immobility, or walking in circles. The vestibular system is divided into peripheral, which is injured more often, and central.

The first is located in the inner ear, while the central one is found in the brainstem. Although its origin can involve various causes, trauma and otitis stand out. Otitis is inflammation of the ear that, if left untreated, can become complicated to the point of causing this condition.

Wobbler Syndrome

This disorder isn't as common as the causes we've already mentioned, but we'll highlight it as an example of other diseases that have ataxia as their main symptom. Wobbler syndrome is caused by vertebral problems that may or may not be congenital. It's more common in large breeds and middle-aged dogs.

What Do I Do If My Dog Has Ataxia?

Ataxia involves damage to sensitive structures in the body, which is why any of the symptoms described is more than reason enough to see a vet clinic. Waiting to see if it resolves on its own can only backfire, worsening the picture or making it too late for treatment.

Veterinary procedures will depend on the dog's clinical picture. First, they'll always try to stabilize the animal, which generally includes fluid therapy, and from there, the necessary treatments begin, which can include rest, drugs such as anti-inflammatories or painkillers, and surgery.

How Is Ataxia Diagnosed?

The vet can diagnose ataxia based on the symptoms and by performing a neurological and orthopedic exam of the animal. In addition, they'll turn to tests such as X-rays or, better yet, MRI or CT scans. The latter offer more information but aren't always accessible.

Can Ataxia Be Cured?

There's no clear-cut answer to this question, since it depends on the characteristics of the injury. Some dogs will be left with lasting neurological effects. One of the most common is a more or less obvious uncoordinated gait.

If the ataxia resulted from poisoning, how severe the condition is will depend on factors such as the amount ingested or the dog's weight. For treatment and prognosis, it's important that, if we know what the dog ate, we tell the vet.

In cases of idiopathic vestibular disease, more common in older dogs, animals can recover but keep a tilted head or some similar lasting effect. So, for the prognosis, the cause always needs to be taken into account.

Bibliography

Rejas López, Juan (coord.) (2003): Patología médica veterinaria. Universidad de León, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Universidad de Zaragoza.