{"id":300387,"date":"2025-06-18T07:35:54","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T07:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/10-neurological-issues-in-dogs-common-signs-to-keep-in-mind-vet-answer\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T07:35:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T07:35:54","slug":"10-neurological-issues-in-dogs-common-signs-to-keep-in-mind-vet-answer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=300387","title":{"rendered":"10 Neurological Issues in Dogs & Common Signs to Keep in Mind (Vet Answer)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If your dog often tilts their head, has tremors, walks in circles, paralyzes, or has seizures, they may be suffering from a neurological condition. The most common neurological issues in dogs are epilepsy, intervertebral disc disease, Wobbler syndrome, stroke, meningitis, and encephalitis. Not all neurological conditions have the same clinical signs. As a result, they will vary depending on the disease.<\/p>\n
In this article, you will learn about the most common neurological diseases in dogs and their most common signs.<\/p>\n\n
The 10 Neurological Issues in Dogs<\/h2>\n
1. Epilepsy<\/h3>\n
The most common neurological condition in dogs worldwide is epilepsy. This condition has several causes:<\/p>\n
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Unknown causes (also called idiopathic epilepsy)<\/li>\n
In this case, a genetic predisposition (inherited from parents) is taken into account.<\/li>\n
Toxins<\/li>\n
Parasites<\/li>\n
Head injuries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Epilepsy is manifested through several types of seizures:<\/p>\n
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Focal seizures \u2014 The clinical signs include face muscle spasms, frequent blinking, head movements or muscle contractions in one of the extremities, excessive salivation, vomiting, dilated pupils, anxiety, impatience, urgent attention seeking, and inexplicable fear.<\/li>\n
Generalized seizures \u2014 Dogs lose consciousness and have convulsions. Excessive salivation, urination, or involuntary defecation may occur. There are also generalized seizures without convulsions, which are characterized by a sudden loss of muscle tone and collapse.<\/li>\n
Focal seizures evolve into generalized seizures \u2014 A generalized seizure occurs immediately after a focal one. It is the most common type of seizure seen in dogs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The manifestations of a dog during a seizure of a certain type can be different in another dog affected by the same type of seizure. They can occur suddenly without other clinical signs, last a short time, and stop by themselves.<\/p>\n <\/source><\/picture>Image Credit: Jaromir Chalabala, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
2. Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)<\/h3>\n
IVDD is a degenerative condition of the discs that form the spinal cord. It is also known as a herniated disc. The prevalence of this disease is higher for chondrodystrophic dog breeds, such as Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, Pekingese, Beagles, Lhasa Apsos, Shih-Tzus, Cocker Spaniels, Corgis, Bulldogs, and Miniature Poodles.<\/p>\n
When the intervertebral discs wear, the outer layer breaks, and the gelatinous content is released into the spinal canal, where it compresses on the spinal cord. Clinical signs of IVDD include:<\/p>\n
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Back pain<\/li>\n
Limb paralysis<\/li>\n
Lack of control over urination and defecation<\/li>\n
Stiffness of neck and back<\/li>\n
Avoiding moving, including bending or raising their head<\/li>\n
Stroke in dogs occurs when the brain is deprived of the oxygen necessary for good functionality, which leads to the appearance of neurological signs. This pathology is less frequent in dogs compared to humans. A stroke can be:<\/p>\n
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Ischemic \u2014 It is caused by the blockage of a blood vessel in the brain.<\/li>\n
Hemorrhagic \u2014 This is when a blood vessel from the brain ruptures. Dogs suffering from hypertension, kidney disease, and hyperadrenocorticism have a high risk of hemorrhagic stroke.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The clinical signs of stroke occur suddenly, and depending on its location, they will differ.<\/p>\n
Anterior location:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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The dog walking in a circle<\/li>\n
Seizures<\/li>\n
Behavioral changes, including irritability and apathy<\/li>\n
In hemorrhagic stroke, the clinical signs have a slower onset.<\/p>\n <\/source><\/picture>Image Credit: 135pixels, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
4. Canine Degenerative Myelopathy<\/h3>\n
Canine degenerative myelopathy, or chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy, is a progressive disease of the spinal cord that occurs in old dogs. This condition gradually sets in around the age of 7\u201314 years.<\/p>\n
It can affect any dog breed, but some are more prone, such as:<\/p>\n
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Boxers<\/li>\n
Bernese Mountain Dogs<\/li>\n
Borzoi<\/li>\n
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels<\/li>\n
Golden Retriever<\/li>\n
German Shepherd<\/li>\n
Pugs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Initially, dogs begin to walk in an uncoordinated manner, and as the disease progresses, paralysis of the hind limbs occurs. The clinical signs include:<\/p>\n
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Walking on their knuckles (especially when turning)<\/li>\n
Falling over easily when they are pushed from the side<\/li>\n
Scraping the ground with their back feet when walking<\/li>\n
Having difficulty getting up<\/li>\n
Having hind limbs paralysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
5. Encephalitis<\/h3>\n
Encephalitis is a neurological condition characterized by the inflammation of the brain tissue. It is common in small toy, terrier, and Poodle breeds. The causes of encephalitis are multiple and include:<\/p>\n
Affected dogs are usually around the age of 5 years. In the case of dogs under 1 year old, the main suspicion is viral infectious encephalitis due to Carr\u00e9\u2019s disease. Clinical signs include:<\/p>\n
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Behavioral changes (aggressiveness, inability to recognize owner, and urination and defecation in inappropriate places)<\/li>\n
Apathy<\/li>\n
Lack of appetite<\/li>\n
Hyperexcitability<\/li>\n
Dromomania<\/li>\n
Hitting the surrounding objects<\/li>\n
Pressing the head against the surrounding objects<\/li>\n
Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, a membrane that covers and protects the spinal cord and the brain. The causes of meningitis in dogs are similar to those of encephalitis.<\/p>\n
Meningitis is rare, and dogs suffering from this condition will have severe clinical signs, including:<\/p>\n
Wobbler syndrome, or cervical spondylomyelopathy, is a neurological disease caused by a malformation of the vertebrae that supports the neck. In the case of dogs affected by this disease, the spinal canal between two or more vertebrae is reduced in circumference due to the herniation of the vertebral disc or the malformation of a vertebra. As the affected dog grows, the spinal canal shrinks even more, putting more pressure on the spinal cord.<\/p>\n
The most affected breeds are Great Danes and Doberman Pinchers, and the first clinical signs occur around the age of 4. Clinical signs of Wobbler syndrome in dogs include:<\/p>\n
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Difficulty bending the neck<\/li>\n
Wobbly gait (especially in the hind limbs)<\/li>\n
Loss of limb control<\/li>\n
Paralysis of the hind limbs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/source><\/picture>Image Credit: didesign021, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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