Neurological Disordersin Dogs & Cats

• Seizures or head tremors
• Head tilt
• Head pressing
• Abnormal eye movement
• Circling or bumping into walls
• Incoordination, balance issues, high stepping, or swaying
• Behavior changes
• Blindness

• Back or neck pain
• Limp tail
• Weak or wobbly gait
• Paw knuckling or dragging limbs
• Inability to walk in one or more limbs
• Urinary or fecal incontinence
• Paralysis

• Weakness in all four limbs
• Difficulty walking more than a few steps
• Inability to walk in all four limbs
• Shaking of the limbs
• Weak bark

AA luxation is a spinal disorder in which there is excessive movement between the first two bones in the neck. This condition is most common in small breed dogs, often due to hereditary factors where the AA joint forms incorrectly.

It is not uncommon for older dogs and cats to develop brain tumors, which can be categorized as either primary (forming from the cells and lining of the brain) or secondary (originating elsewhere in the body and spreading to the brain).

Cervical disc disease is when one or more discs (the cushions between the vertebrae) in the neck wear down and rupture, causing compression of the spinal cord and various symptoms including weakness, wobbliness, neck muscle spasms, and buckling of the front legs.

Chiari-like malformation (CM) is an abnormal bone growth inside the back of the skull. This puts pressure on the brain and disrupts the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which can result in syringomyelia (SM), a fluid-filled cyst formation within the spinal cord.

Discospondylitis is a condition in which an intervertebral disc and its adjacent vertebrae become inflamed due to a bacterial or (less likely) fungal infection. Dogs with discospondylitis may act painful and have difficulty walking. Large-breed male dogs are most commonly affected.

Encephalitis is swelling of the brain that may have infectious or noninfectious causes. Clinical signs may include seizures, lack of balance, walking in circles, stumbling, and blindness. Small breeds like Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, Chihuahuas, and Pugs are more likely to be affected.

FCE occurs when a piece of fibrous cartilage blocks blood flow to a section of the spinal cord. Without a blood supply, this section goes without essential oxygen and nutrients, which can lead to spinal cord dysfunction.

IVDD can be described as a slipped disc, ruptured disc, herniated disc, or bulging disc, depending on the type of damage that occurs. If a disc swells or ruptures, it may strike or compress the spinal cord, affecting an animal’s ability to walk.

Seizures occur due to an abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain. What causes seizures can be separated into 3 categories: problems that happen outside of the brain, but have a secondary effect on the brain; structural problems inside the brain; and idiopathic epilepsy, which is the most common cause of seizures in dogs.

Strokes may be caused by bleeding in the brain due to high blood pressure, clotting or platelet disorders, or metastatic cancer. Other causes include closing or blockage of a blood vessel due to hypothyroidism, kidney disease, cardiac disease, or Cushing’s disease.

Vestibular disease is when a pet has balance problems, which are characterized by a head tilt, poor coordination, and unusual eye movements. From your perspective, it may seem as if your pet has vertigo.