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Spinal cord degeneration in hound ataxia
Author(s) -
PALMER A. C.,
MEDD R. K.,
WILKINSON G. T.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1984.tb00461.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ataxia , spinal cord , brainstem , wallerian degeneration , beagle , anatomy , reflex , anesthesia , psychiatry
An ataxia is described in seven Foxhounds, seven Harrier hounds and two Beagle hounds, aged from 2 to 7 years. Weakness and incoordination occurred in the hind‐legs; there was no loss of deep reflexes or of conscious pain sensation. The panniculus reflex was abnormal in 75 per cent of animals examined. Pathologically, Wallerian degeneration was present in the spinal cord, especially in the cervical and thoracic levels, but the dorsal and lateral columns were largely spared. Secondary degeneration occurred in ascending tracts in the brainstem. All the animals were kept under hunt conditions and were usually fed a diet of paunch and occasional knacker meat. The cause of the condition was not established but it may be related to nutritional deficiency or to neurotoxicity.