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If you have an active, energetic dog, you’ve probably seen this scene play out: your dog runs across the wood floor to bark at someone who rang the doorbell, and their hind legs slide out from underneath them, sending them tumbling.
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However, if they try to get up, they keep falling down, and this happens over and over again, a slippery floor may not be the cause. Take note if their legs seem to be flying in different directions, losing control, and continuously falling. It could be a sign that your dog might have a condition known as ataxia.
What Is Ataxia in Dogs?
Ataxia is a condition that disrupts a dog’s ability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements. It can also occur in humans and is often linked to central nervous system disorders. When the cerebellum, the part of the brain that coordinates movement, doesn’t function properly, a dog’s movements may look awkward or out of order.
Although dogs with ataxia appear unsteady, this doesn’t mean their muscle are weak. Ataxia is often confused with muscle weakness (paresis), but they aren’t the same. According to the Head of Neurosurgery at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ronaldo C. da Costa, DMV, MSc, PhD, DACVIM, ataxia affects coordination, while paresis only affects a dog’s strength.
Types of Ataxia in Dogs
If your dog suffers from ataxia, the most common and noticeable symptom is a change in their gait, making them appear unsteady, almost like a human when drunk.
Veterinary neurologists generally classify ataxia into three types, each with slightly different symptoms depending on where in the nervous system the problem occurs.
Cerebellar Ataxia
Any disease that affects the cerebellum, such as canine distemper, strokes, or brain tumors, may cause cerebellar ataxia. When the spinal cord is damaged, it’s called spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA).
Research of certain breeds, including the Spinone Italiano, suggests that SCA may be inherited from a recessive gene. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) also recommends testing certain terrier breeds, including Russell Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, Toy Fox Terriers, and Smooth Fox Terriers, to see if they carry the gene. The link isn’t proven to be direct to this recessive gene, but continued research is being done to rule out factors that could cause SCA.
Symptoms include:
- Goose-stepping (lifting legs in an exaggerated manner called hypermetria)
- Head tremors that worsen when the dog reaches to pick up toys or drink
- Legs flying in every direction when running
- Frequent loss of balance and falling
- Dragging toes on the ground
Proprioceptive Ataxia
Proprioceptive ataxia causes a dog to be unaware of where their legs are in space, known as proprioception. As a result, it becomes hard for the dog to move normally.
This condition is often due to a spinal cord lesion and can present itself in many ways, caused by:
- Compression of the dog’s spinal cord from a bulging disc, mass, tumor, or nerve injury
- A bleeding blood vessel or clot in the spinal column
Symptoms include:
- Stumbling
- Dragging their toes
- Paws bending under when walking, causing the dog to walk on their knuckles (loss of proprioception)
- Swaying
Vestibular Ataxia
Vestibular ataxia occurs when the inner ear or brainstem isn’t functioning normally and interferes with a dog’s balance. Potential causes include:
- Hypothyroidism
- Ear infections
- Inner ear or brainstem tumors
- Head or ear trauma
- Strokes
- Infections caused by canine distemper
- Inflammation of the brain
- Thiamine deficiency
- Metronidazole toxicity
Although a dog at any age may be affected, senior dogs sometimes get acute vestibular disease or idiopathic vestibular disease. This appears when a dog suddenly becomes unbalanced. It usually doesn’t get worse and often improves quickly.
Symptoms include:
- Head tilted to one side
- Uncoordinated gait
- Circling, usually toward the side of the lesion (unless the cause is cerebellar, in which case the circling is often contralateral, meaning it’s related to the other side of the body)
- Eyes moving jerkily from side to side, up and down, or circling (a condition called nystagmus)
- Inability to stand and repeatedly rolling over to one side
- Excessive salivation
- Moving in circles in the same direction
Why Causes Ataxia in Dogs?
Ataxia can result from a wide range of underlying issues that affect the nervous system. These may include injuries, infections, inflammation, or exposure to toxins.
Neurological causes include:
- Encephalitis
- Tumors
- Spinal cord disease
- Head trauma
- Inner-ear infections
- Vertebral infections
- Anaplasmosis
- Canine distemper
Non-neurological causes include:
- Metabolic diseases such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Exposure to toxins, such as xylitol, marijuana, and macadamia nuts
- Adverse reactions to drugs, such as phenobarbital or metronidazole
When Should You Call the Vet?
You should contact your veterinarian right away if your dog suddenly loses balance, develops an unusual gait, cannot stand up, or holds their head or body in an abnormal position.
Since there are so many causes of ataxia, the vet will need to perform a series of tests before diagnosing the condition, which may include:
- A physical exam
- Blood and urine tests
- X-rays of your dog’s back or head
- A CT scan
- A cerebrospinal fluid tap.
Then, they’ll determine the best course of treatment for your dog. In some cases, you may be referred to a veterinary neurologist. Depending on the cause of the condition, treatment options may include:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatories
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy or radiation
- Physical therapy with a canine rehabilitation therapist
Recovery and Managing Life With Ataxia
The outlook for dogs with ataxia varies widely depending on the cause and severity. Some dogs improve quickly, especially with conditions like idiopathic vestibular disease, while others may stabilize or experience progression.
Supporting your dog at home is an important part of care. Following your veterinarian’s advice regarding pain management and maintaining a safe environment can help prevent injuries and improve quality of life. There are many ways to provide supportive and safe care at home, including:
- Supporting your dog on stairs, or use dog gates to limit stair access
- Blocking off sharp furniture corners
- Laying carpets or rugs over slippery floors, like wood
Dogs with more severe symptoms may need assistance with walking or going outside, such as using a sling or towel for support. If head tremors or balance issues interfere with eating, hand-feeding can help ensure they receive proper nutrition.
Close supervision is important, particularly around hazards like stairs. Never leave a dog with ataxia alone or unsupervised near bodies of water or swimming pools, as they could lose their balance and fall in.
Talk to your vet about any concerns you may have as soon as symptoms arise. Because there are so many causes of ataxia, allowing your vet to rule out causes early on will help your dog get the best care possible.
Key Takeaways
- Ataxia is a loss of coordination caused by problems affecting the nervous system, inner ear, brainstem, spinal cord, or cerebellum.
- The three primary types are cerebellar, proprioceptive, and vestibular ataxia.
- Symptoms may include stumbling, falling, head tilting, circling, toe dragging, and abnormal gait.
- Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include medications, surgery, cancer therapies, or rehabilitation.
- Creating a safe home environment can help prevent injuries and improve quality of life for affected dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is my dog losing balance?
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Ataxia is a common cause of balance problems in dogs. Dogs with ataxia may stumble, sway, fall, or have trouble standing because their coordination is impaired. Any sudden loss of balance should be evaluated by a veterinarian
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Is ataxia in dogs an emergency?
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Sudden loss of balance, inability to stand, severe head tilt, or rapid onset of abnormal movement should be treated as urgent and evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
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Can dogs recover from ataxia?
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Some dogs recover completely, while others experience long-term symptoms. Recovery depends on the underlying cause, severity, and how quickly treatment begins.
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What does ataxia look like in a dog?
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Dogs with ataxia may stumble, sway, drag their toes, fall frequently, circle, tilt their heads, or appear unusually uncoordinated when walking. -
Is ataxia the same as muscle weakness?
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No. Ataxia affects coordination and balance, while muscle weakness, known as paresis, affects strength. A dog may have one condition, the other, or both.
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Can senior dogs develop ataxia?
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Yes. Older dogs can develop ataxia from many causes, including vestibular disease, tumors, strokes, spinal cord disorders, or other age-related health conditions.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.