Canine Neurological Symptoms
Dogs cannot communicate feelings of illness verbally. However, an observant owner may be able to tell something is wrong by a dog's behavior, catching diseases in the stages that are treatable. Diseases that impact the nervous system have especially obvious signs and an understanding of canine neurological symptoms can help save your dog's life.
Common Canine Neurological Symptoms
Signs of neurological trauma or disorder in dogs are very similar to those within people. If you see behavior you might expect to see in a stroke victim in your pet, then you should have your dog examined by a veterinarian. Such symptoms include:
- Dragging legs or walking with odd limps,
- Trouble walking in a straight line,
- Falling down,
- Tremors or seizures,
- Walking into walls or furniture,
- Yelping as if in pain for no obvious reasons, and
- Changes in facial expressions.
Other, less common symptoms may indicate neurological damage in your pet. Dog owners should be aware of their pet's habits, and report any sudden changes to a veterinarian.
Causes of Canine Neurological Disorders
As with people, some animals are more prone to disease than others are. Often, there is nothing a pet owner could have done to prevent their dog from suffering canine neurological symptoms. Degeneration in the body as dogs age, past infections, and injuries can all play a role in the development of disorders. Additional causes include a buildup of toxins in the body and birth defects.
Prevention and Treatment of Canine Neurological Disorders
Although pet owners cannot protect their dogs 100 percent against diseases, the best way to prevent neurological disease is by keeping a healthy dog. Adequate amounts of exercise, healthy food without toxins, and proper safety measures to prevent injury can all reduce the risk of neurological injury or damage. If a veterinarian determines your dog is suffering from canine neurological symptoms, there are treatments available. Depending on the cause of the disorder, your dog may be treated with medication and monitoring, or may have to undergo surgery to repair damaged tissue or remove tumors.