Nervous system disorders in dogs
Disorders of the nervous system can start from an inadequate development of the nerve tissue and its associated organs or their damage through trauma or infection. Many existing diseases are of genetic origin.
Disorders of the central nervous system
The central nervous system consists of the brain, brain stem and spinal cord.
Disorders of the peripheral nervous system
The peripheral nervous system includes the nerves that travel from the brain to areas of the head and neck and also the nerves that exit and enter the spinal cord. These nerves carry messages from the central nervous system to other areas of the body such as the legs or tail. Nerve impulses travel from the brain down to the spinal cord, out of the peripheral nerves, to the tissues and back.
Peripheral nerves that come from the brain or spinal cord are called motor nerves. These nerves affect the muscles, control movements, posture and reflexes. Peripheral nerves that return to the brain or spinal cord are known as sensory nerves. These nerves carry information (such as the sensation of pain) from the structure of the body to the central nervous system.
Disorders of the autonomic nervous system
Another set of nerves comprises the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system (which originates from the central nervous system) contains nerves that control involuntary movements of organs such as the intestines, heart, blood vessels, bladder, etc. Dogs do not have voluntary control over their autonomic nervous system; it works automatically.
Numerous nerve centers are located in the brain: the cardiovascular center, in the spinal bulb; hunger center,
Both at the level of the spinal cord, inside there is the ependymal canal, and at the level of the brain, a transparent liquid circulates, the cerebrospinal fluid. The changes in the physical, chemical and biological constants of this cerebrospinal fluid indicate: encephalitis, neuroviruses, tuberculosis, serious diseases in dogs, which can be diagnosed through the laboratory examination of the fluid.
In the canine species, nervous system disorders are very common: epilepsy, encephalitis, cerebrovascular accidents, meningitis (inflammation of the sheets that cover the central nervous system: dura mater, pia mater and arachnoid).
Diseases of the nervous system
Generalities:
The paralytic manifestations following the injury of some nerves are similar to those of neuritis and polyneuritis and have very different causes: infections (gobies, Aujeszky’s disease, rabies), mechanical factors (traumas, perinerve scars, tumors, fractures, dislocations), intoxications (with arsenic, insecticides, herbicides, streptomycin), vitamin deficiencies, etc. In the first destructive phase, motor, sensory and reflex paresis or paralysis of the respective nerve occurs. The symptom picture is not too typical for one nerve or another. However, there are also some typical paralysis.
Ankylosing spondylitis
Generalities:
The disease occurs more frequently in German Shepherds and Bassets, 20% of old dogs being affected by this disease. It is a rheumatic arthritis, located in the joints of the spine. The reasons are not specified. During the radiological examination, bone bridges appear above the intervertebral spaces, especially in the cervical and lumbar regions.
Symptoms: The dog gets up and moves with difficulty and has an arched back.
Treatment: pollenoplasmin is administered 2 times a day until he stands up and then 1 time a day until complete healing