Paralytic Diseases Affecting Dogs
Paralytic disease in your dog manifests itself as a total loss of muscle function, a loss of feeling and mobility in a particular part of the body. Paralysis is usually due to spinal cord or nerve damage, which can be a consequence of trauma, old age, degenerative discs, ticks and bacterial or viral infections. The most common paralysis is back leg paralysis.
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Bacterial and Viral Paralysis
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Rabies can cause a paralytic stage that affects the head and throat, according to vetinfo.com. In this stage your dog would be unable to swallow, causing drooling. Other signs are labored breathing and a dropped jaw. Respiratory failure and death can occur as well. Meningitis is a disease in which the menges that cover the spinal cord are inflamed. Among the many types of meningitis are viral, fungal, parasitic, protozoan, bacterial and steroid responsive meningitis, the most common form of this condition. Back leg paralysis is possible but rare and treatment may involve steroid treatment or other medications, depending on the type of meningitis.
Laryngeal Paralysis
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Laryngeal paralysis occurs when a dog's vocal folds are unable to open in response to exercise or respiratory demands, says vetspecialists.com. The vocal fold is the longest nerve that leads from the brain and travels down the neck, around the heart and back up the neck to the larynx. This paralytic disease can be traced to genetics or trauma. It affects mostly middle-aged and older dog, large and small breeds alike. The treatment is surgery to permanently secure the vocal folds in an open position.
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Tick Paralysis
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When a female tick injects a neurotoxin through her saliva into your dog the toxin causes hind-limb weakness and eventual paralysis. Hospitalization may be required, but once the tick is removed your dog should show improvement in 24 to 48 hours.
Degenerative Disc Paralysis
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Rubber-like discs between the vertebrae protect the spinal column. Degenerative disc disease causes degeneration or rupture of the outer protective discs. Most ruptures occur in the middle of the back and can result in paralysis. Treatment is based on the stage of the disease and may require surgery.
Ischemic Myelopathy Paralysis
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Ischemic Myelopathy results when there is a blockage in the arteries that stops the blood supply to parts of the spinal cord. A blockage may be caused by a tumor, fat or a fragmented disc. The lack of blood supply can cause paralysis of one or both back limbs, all four limbs or one side of the body. There is no specific treatment other than physical therapy, with a successful prognosis.
Facial Nerve Paralysis
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According to petplace.com, facial nerve paralysis is an abnormality of the facial nerves including the ears, eyelids, nose and lips. Common causes are surgery of the ear and surrounding area, trauma, a neuromuscular disease, polyneuropathies (disease affecting several nerves), cancer and inflammation of the central nervous system. There is no treatment for this paralytic disease except to address underlying conditions such as damage to the cornea, which can be treated with ophthalmic antibiotics.
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References
- Photo Credit two young dogs image by amandare from Fotolia.com
