title: Neuroaxonal dystrophy of Rottweiler dogs.
abstract: Five Rottweiler dogs were examined because of progressive ataxia of thoracic and pelvic limbs of several months' to 4 years' duration. Hypermetria, especially of the thoracic limbs, and head incoordination and tremors were obvious features in the 3 older dogs. None of the dogs had evidence of weakness or loss of conscious proprioception. An electroencephalogram in 1 severely affected dog was normal. Electromyograms in 2 severely affected dogs were normal except for some positive sharp waves and fibrillation potentials in the interosseus muscles of all 4 feet. Cerebrospinal fluid evaluations of 2 severely affected dogs were normal. A reduced number of sensory nerve endings, compared with age-matched controls, was seen on histologic examination of a conjunctival biopsy specimen in 1 severely affected dog. An antemortem diagnosis of neuroaxonal dystrophy was suspected from the signalment, history, and neurologic examination findings. The diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of microscopic findings in 3 dogs necropsied.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000662:veterinary; D011379:Prognosis