Degenerative Encephalopathy
Degenerative encephalopathy of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that presents as marked episodes of involuntarily movement during REM sleep.
Age of Onset: 2 months - 5 years of age
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Episodes became progressively more extreme over time, in contrast to typical REM sleep movements. Episodes typically lasted from a few seconds to over an hour and occurred multiple times in a single sleep period.
Episodes became progressively more extreme over time, in contrast to typical REM sleep movements. Episodes typically lasted from a few seconds to over an hour and occurred multiple times in a single sleep period.
Clinical Signs:
Behavioral/Mental Awareness
Difficulty waking from sleep
Difficulty with advanced training
Increased anxiety
Noise-phobia
Tail chasing
Chasing moving objects
Repeated investigation of food bowl
Aggression
Lack of self-control with other dogs
Posture and Appearance
Reduced tail movement
Movement
Extreme involuntary movements during sleep (running, lifting heads, vocalizing)
Abnormal swimming motion
Generalized ataxia
Thoracic limb hypermetria
Proprioception
Tetraparesis
Cranial Nerves
Mild menace deficits
Neurogenic KCS
Spinal Reflexes
Brisk tendon reflexes (pelvix > thoracic)
Crossed extensor reflexes
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
Urinary incontinence
Fecal incontinence
Behavioral/Mental Awareness
Difficulty waking from sleep
Difficulty with advanced training
Increased anxiety
Noise-phobia
Tail chasing
Chasing moving objects
Repeated investigation of food bowl
Aggression
Lack of self-control with other dogs
Posture and Appearance
Reduced tail movement
Movement
Extreme involuntary movements during sleep (running, lifting heads, vocalizing)
Abnormal swimming motion
Generalized ataxia
Thoracic limb hypermetria
Proprioception
Tetraparesis
Cranial Nerves
Mild menace deficits
Neurogenic KCS
Spinal Reflexes
Brisk tendon reflexes (pelvix > thoracic)
Crossed extensor reflexes
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
Urinary incontinence
Fecal incontinence
Intracranial
Unknown
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