Polyneuropathy in Dogs and Cats

Common info

Polyneuropathy is a result of the damage to the myelin sheath, polyneuropathy causes weakness in the pets’ arms and legs, leading to their walking, breathing and barking disorders. The common symptoms of polyneuropathy in dogs and cats include weakness in all 4 legs, paralysis in all 4 legs, facial paralysis, laryngeal paralysis, esophageal paralysis, and neck paralysis, etc.

History

The causes of polyneuropathy in dogs and cats vary among heredity, immune-disease, metabolic disease, infection, cancer medications, and toxins.

Description

Myelin is the white, fatty and lipid material that acts as an insulator coat for some nerve fibers. Upon being damaged, it will result in the loss of electrical signals in the nerves, leading to functioning impairment respectively.

Symptoms

Weakness in all 4 legs
Paralysis
Sensory nerve disorder
Difficult for dogs to eat and drink
Slower heart rate
Dry nose
Dry mouth
Dry eyes

The symptoms of polyneuropathy in dogs and cats include weakness in all 4 legs,paralysis in all 4 legs, muscle atrophy and tremor, sensory nerve disorder, failure of the thyroid gland causing laryngeal paralysis, esophageal paralysis, neck paralysis, making it difficult for dogs to eat and drink, facial paralysis, failure of automatic nervous system causing dry nose, dry mouth and dry eyes as well as slower heart rate.

Treatment and Prevention

The pets with such polyneuropathy will have to be hospitalized, esp. those with acute respiratory distress and automatic nervous system syndromes. For pets with diabetes, blood sugar levels and dietaries will need to be closely and regularly monitored. The best treatment is physical therapy so that the muscles and nerves can be well stimulated.

Wagwalking. | Polyneuropathy
Honestdocs | Peripheral neuropathy in dogs
Petmd | Peripheral neuropathies
Kyle G. Brand, BVSc, PhD, Andy Sbores, DVM, PhD, Susan Cocbrane, DVM, Dru Forrestend. DVM, Jacek M. Kwiecien, DVM MSc, Janet E. Steiss, DVM, PhD. 1994. Laryngeal paralysis-polyneuropathy complex in young Dalmatians. Am J Vet Res. 55(4): 534-542
E. Villiers and J. Dobson. 1998. Multiple myeloma with associated polyneuropathy in a German shepherd dog. Journal of small animal practice. 39: 249-251.
Suraniti, A. Patrica, L. Rosa Gilardoni, M. Graciela Ramallal, M. Echevarria and M. Marcondes. 2008. Hypothyroid associated polyneuropathy in dogs: Report of six cases. Braz. J. vet. Res. anim. Sci., São Paulo. 45(4): 284-288.

Recently uploaded

Health Wobbler Disease in Dogs and Cats The symptoms found in Wobbler diseases in dogs and cats include strange wobbly gait, neck pain or neck stiffness, lack of strength to walk, short-stride walking. Health White Dog Shaker Syndrome The symptoms found in white dog shaker syndrome are muscle incoordination, entire body shaking, low body temperature, difficulty walking, paralysis and seizures. Health Tick Paralysis in Dogs and Cats The symptoms found in tick paralysis in dogs and cats include vomiting, regurgitation, unsteadiness, high blood pressure, fast heart rate, weakness, especially in the hind limbs Health Syringomyelia in Dogs and Cats The symptoms commonly found in syringomyelia in dogs and cats include severe headache, stiffness in other parts of the body, weakness in other parts of the body, numbness in other parts of the body, etc. Health Scottie Cramp The symptoms of Scottie cramp include shortness of breath; the dog may even stop breathing for a short time, contraction of facial muscles, stiffening of limbs and sudden collapse.