Neurologic syndrome in Golden Retrievers presenting as a sensory ataxic neuropa

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J Vet Intern Med. 2007 Nov-Dec;21(6):1307-15.

A neurologic syndrome in Golden Retrievers presenting as a sensory

ataxic neuropathy.

Jaderlund KH, Orvind E, sson E, Matiasek K, Hahn CN, Malm S,

Hedhammar A.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural

Sciences, Box 7054, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.

BACKGROUND: A sensory ataxic neuropathy has been observed in Swedish

Golden Retrievers recently.

ANIMALS: Twenty-one affected Golden Retrievers.

METHODS: Clinical and neurologic status, electrophysiologic, and

pathologic status as well as pedigree analyses were evaluated.

RESULTS: Clinical signs had an insidious onset between 2 and 8

months of age and a slowly progressive course. Affected dogs were

ataxic and dysmetric. They had abnormal postural reactions and

decreased spinal reflexes but no apparent muscle atrophy. Clinical

pathology, radiography, and electrophysiology of motor systems were

all within reference values. Sensory nerve conduction results of

affected dogs were significantly different from those of a group of

control dogs. Necropsy revealed a chronic progressive central and

peripheral sensorimotor axonopathy; the proprioceptive pathways were

most severely affected.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This disease in these Golden

Retrievers is distinct from other canine breed-related

neurodegenerative diseases or hereditary neurodegenerative diseases

described in humans. Pedigree analyses indicated a hereditary

background, but the mode of inheritance could not be established.