Sensory Neuropathy in Dogs

Category: Nervous System & Behavioral
Breeds documented: 1
Published sources: 5

Overview

This inherited nerve disorder reduces sensation and the ability to sense where the paws are placed. Affected dogs may walk unsteadily, turn their paws under or injure their feet by repeated biting. In the Border Collie form, the back legs are often more affected than the front legs, and the nerve damage continues to worsen.

Signs to watch for

An increasingly unsteady walk, mainly affecting the back legs
Paws curling under during walking
Licking or biting the feet until wounds form
Urine leaks or accidents
Muscles becoming smaller, especially in the back legs

In the Border Collie form, signs commonly begin around 2 to 7 months of age.

Emergency Go to an emergency vet now if your dog cannot walk.

Diagnosis and tests

A vet checks walking, paw placement and responses to sensation. DNA testing can identify the change in the FAM134B gene linked to the Border Collie form. Specialist electrical tests can measure nerve signals, and examination of a nerve sample may show loss of nerve fibers.

Breeds with documented risk

1 breed

By breed size

1 Medium

Border CollieMedium · Herding Group

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.