Multisystem Neuronal Degeneration in Cocker Spaniels

Four young Cocker Spaniels had slowly progressive neurologic signs with ataxia and mental deterioration. Pathologically, the lesions consisted of diffuse nerve cell loss, gliosis, axonal degeneration, and some demyelination in several areas of the brain. Pedigree analysis strongly suggests a hereditary cause for this disease, which is classified as a multisystem neuronal degeneration. This disorder has not been previously reported and has some resemblance to certain degenerative neurologic diseases found in humans. The clinical differential diagnosis includes cerebellar degeneration and lysosomal storage diseases. A definitive diagnosis requires postmortem examination.