Re: 3-4 month old GSD with cerebellar signs

[Guest guest]

Have you checked blood pressure?  What do her more sensitive proprioceptive tests indicate (hopping, ext. postural thrust, wheel barrow, etc)? Any nystagmus- stationary or positional?  Does she have intention tremors?

I would explore the blindness further- do you have an ophthalmologist in your practice?

 

Hi! I was wondering if I could get some input on a case I saw earlier this week. The dogs is a young German Shepard that the O found on Jan 10. The dog initially presented to a colleague of mine. She was quiet but alert & responsive. Borderline dehydrated, bilaterally (+) PLRs, no menace, good ROM all joints with no palpable fractures/effusion/crepitus but had a very abnormal gait. She was ataxic with a plantigrade stance, can stand but clearly preferred to be laying down. Mild generalized tremoring & hypermetria. Her exam was otherwise unremarkable. An in house panel was performed with CBC being unremarkable and chem 15 also unremarkable except for mildly decreased globulins. O elected to take her home and monitor and declined further work up or referral.

The O is the brother of one of our receptionists who told him that I was doing rehab stuff. O brought the kiddo back in on 1/25 for me to evaluate him to see if I could help with her gait. On exam she was BAR and very active. She had tarsal hyperextension & mild carpal hyperextension but was not in full plantigrade stance. She is definitely ataxic, hypermetric and occasionally falls over. She is much more stable when sitting or lying down. When standing she cannot lift her head up but has no issues looking upward when she is sitting or lying down. Her neuro exam is as follows: (+) palpebral, facial and gag, NO menace, (+) CPs all 4 limbs, (+) patellar & gastroc bilaterally, (+) biceps bilaterally, (+) triceps on right side, unable to elicit on left. (+) Withdrawal all 4 limbs. She looks to me like a dog with a cerebellar issue. O has declined further referral to neurologist. I discussed with him at length cerebellar disease. Discussed congenital, infectious, toxic causes. Since her gait is a little improved (per O) since she was first found and her plantigrade stance has improved he is interested in supportive care and anything we can suggest to help with the ataxia.

So, I was wondering if anyone has worked with cerebellar kids and what their luck has been? Are you doing mainly proprioceptive exercises? Any strength building exercise to help increase stability? Also, if any neurologists out there want to throw in their two cents on the case that would be awesome & greatly appreciated! I should be able to get a video of the kid next week if that will help with suggestions.

Thanks!

Jen Remensperger, DVM, CCRT - candidate

Canine Rehabilitation And Fitness Therapy (CRAFT)

Woodland Veterinary Hospital

-- Leilani Alvarez, DVM, CVA, CCRT