Results: 2018 General Health Survey
Neurology
Conditions listed in the Neurology category were reported in 5.4% (63) of 1,171 surveys completed across all breeds/varieties.
Considering the entire population surveyed:
Considering the entire population surveyed:
- Seizures were the most commonly reported neurological condition/symptom across all breeds/varieties examined. Coincidence with epilepsy reports was low.
- Age of onset for seizure was not provided consistently, however analysis of owner provided details and age of animals at death or as of the date of the survey indicates the likely existence of two groups – one affected late in life and associated with advanced age, and the other affected at a much earlier age.
- 2.6% of English Toy Terrier owners reported that their dog had at least one seizure and half of those dogs were affected between 18 weeks and 7 years of age.
- Age of onset for seizure was not provided consistently, however analysis of owner provided details and age of animals at death or as of the date of the survey indicates the likely existence of two groups – one affected late in life and associated with advanced age, and the other affected at a much earlier age.
- Conditions relating to loss of coordination (ataxia, degenerative myelopathy and polymyositis) were reported in 11 Standard Manchesters, representing 6% of all Standard Manchester reported on in the survey. 2/3s of these cases were diagnosed in dogs aged less than 7 years of age.
Conditions
The following conditions are referenced below in the analysis for this section. The explanation for each disease/condition provided in the survey is included for reference:
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Toy Manchester Terriers
Neurological conditions reported in Toy Manchester Terriers included six cases of Seizures (2.0%), four cases of non-specific Ataxia (1.3%), three cases each of Epilepsy and Tremors, and one case each of Cerebellar Ataxia, Vestibular Ataxia, and Hydroencephalitis (0.3%).
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported one case of “dementia at age 14” and one dog with “Lumbo-Sacral Stenosis after injury.”
With regard to Epilepsy and Seizures, only one owner reported both conditions in a single dog. Age of onset was not reported for any dogs with Epilepsy and for seizures was reported for two dogs at ages 5 and 4. One dog’s seizures were secondary to a brain tumour and the other was reported to have had just one witnessed seizure. Although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be determined based on survey information, among the eight dogs reporting Epilepsy or Seizure, median age at death or as of the date of the survey was 13.5 years.
For ataxia, three of four owners reporting general ataxia explained it occurred in 13-14 year old dogs and in one case was resolved after a few weeks. Although age of onset was not reported, one case of Vestibular Ataxia was reported in a Toy Manchester that was affected at some time before age 8.
Associated Deaths
One Toy Manchester death was attributed to neurological issues, with a 13-year-old male dying of a stroke.
Neurological conditions reported in Toy Manchester Terriers included six cases of Seizures (2.0%), four cases of non-specific Ataxia (1.3%), three cases each of Epilepsy and Tremors, and one case each of Cerebellar Ataxia, Vestibular Ataxia, and Hydroencephalitis (0.3%).
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported one case of “dementia at age 14” and one dog with “Lumbo-Sacral Stenosis after injury.”
With regard to Epilepsy and Seizures, only one owner reported both conditions in a single dog. Age of onset was not reported for any dogs with Epilepsy and for seizures was reported for two dogs at ages 5 and 4. One dog’s seizures were secondary to a brain tumour and the other was reported to have had just one witnessed seizure. Although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be determined based on survey information, among the eight dogs reporting Epilepsy or Seizure, median age at death or as of the date of the survey was 13.5 years.
For ataxia, three of four owners reporting general ataxia explained it occurred in 13-14 year old dogs and in one case was resolved after a few weeks. Although age of onset was not reported, one case of Vestibular Ataxia was reported in a Toy Manchester that was affected at some time before age 8.
Associated Deaths
One Toy Manchester death was attributed to neurological issues, with a 13-year-old male dying of a stroke.
Standard Manchester Terriers
Neurological conditions reported in Standard Manchester Terriers included seven cases of Seizures (3.8%), five cases of non-specific Ataxia (2.7%), four cases of Cerebellar Ataxia (2.2%), two cases of Degenerative Myelopathy, and one case each of Epilepsy, and Polymyositis (0.5%).
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported:
With regard to Seizures, no owners reported Epilepsy and Seizure in the same dog meaning seizure activity in Standard Manchesters was not attributed by owners to this condition. Several owners provided insight into suspected causes, which included:
Looking at neurological issues reported broadly, conditions related to loss of coordination (ataxia, degenerative myelopathy and polymyositis) were reported in 11 Standard Manchesters, representing 6% of all Standard Manchesters reported on in the survey. While specific age of onset was provided for few of these dogs, using the information provided in combination with observation of age of dogs at death or as of the date of the survey, it appears that at least 7 of the dogs were diagnosed before age 8, including four diagnosed before age 5. The existence of the younger cohort of dogs warrants increased awareness among breeders.
Two of five owners reporting general ataxia indicated a suspected but unspecified autoimmune cause while a third was associated with Cushing’s/Addison’s Disease and advanced age. Three of the four cases of Cerebellar Ataxia were diagnosed at less than 6 years of age, with one of the dogs diagnosed at 4 months.
Associated Deaths
Four Standard Manchester deaths were attributed to neurological issues, with one 3 year old female dying of a brain bleed, a 13 and 15 year old female and male dying of seizures (unspecified cause), and one 11 year old female dying of Cerebellar Abiotrophy.
Follow-up:
-Given indications of the existence of a cohort of Standard Manchester Terriers affected at a young age by conditions characterized by motor deficits, breeders may wish to explore the associated family of diseases and symptoms in more detail to determine whether commonalities exist.
Neurological conditions reported in Standard Manchester Terriers included seven cases of Seizures (3.8%), five cases of non-specific Ataxia (2.7%), four cases of Cerebellar Ataxia (2.2%), two cases of Degenerative Myelopathy, and one case each of Epilepsy, and Polymyositis (0.5%).
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported:
- one dog with a “brain bleed”,
- one dog with drug sensitivities causing seizures,
- one dog with rear lameness associated with a suspected but undiagnosed case of “degenerative myelopathy”, and
- one dog with “sudden unexplained loss of movement of extremities at age 2”.
With regard to Seizures, no owners reported Epilepsy and Seizure in the same dog meaning seizure activity in Standard Manchesters was not attributed by owners to this condition. Several owners provided insight into suspected causes, which included:
- Advanced age (x2 dogs)
- Isolated seizure as a result of low blood sugar associated with Diabetes Mellitus
- Drug Reaction
Looking at neurological issues reported broadly, conditions related to loss of coordination (ataxia, degenerative myelopathy and polymyositis) were reported in 11 Standard Manchesters, representing 6% of all Standard Manchesters reported on in the survey. While specific age of onset was provided for few of these dogs, using the information provided in combination with observation of age of dogs at death or as of the date of the survey, it appears that at least 7 of the dogs were diagnosed before age 8, including four diagnosed before age 5. The existence of the younger cohort of dogs warrants increased awareness among breeders.
Two of five owners reporting general ataxia indicated a suspected but unspecified autoimmune cause while a third was associated with Cushing’s/Addison’s Disease and advanced age. Three of the four cases of Cerebellar Ataxia were diagnosed at less than 6 years of age, with one of the dogs diagnosed at 4 months.
Associated Deaths
Four Standard Manchester deaths were attributed to neurological issues, with one 3 year old female dying of a brain bleed, a 13 and 15 year old female and male dying of seizures (unspecified cause), and one 11 year old female dying of Cerebellar Abiotrophy.
Follow-up:
-Given indications of the existence of a cohort of Standard Manchester Terriers affected at a young age by conditions characterized by motor deficits, breeders may wish to explore the associated family of diseases and symptoms in more detail to determine whether commonalities exist.
Manchester Terriers (UK/FCI)
Neurological conditions reported in Manchester Terriers (UK/FCI) included three cases each of Epilepsy, Seizures and Tremors (0.7%), two cases of non-specific Ataxia (0.4%), and one case of Vestibular Ataxia (0.2%).
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported:
With regard to Epilepsy and Seizures, only one owner reported both conditions in a single dog. Age of onset was not reported for any dogs with Epilepsy and in only one dog with seizures where activity was associated with end of life at less than one year of age as a result of a vaccine reaction. One dog’s seizures were secondary to a brain tumour.
Associated Deaths
Six Manchester Terrier deaths were attributed to neurological issues, with one 14 year old male dying of a seizures associated with epilepsy and five dogs dying of “stroke” at ages ranging from 10-14 years (median age of 11 years).
Neurological conditions reported in Manchester Terriers (UK/FCI) included three cases each of Epilepsy, Seizures and Tremors (0.7%), two cases of non-specific Ataxia (0.4%), and one case of Vestibular Ataxia (0.2%).
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported:
- two dogs with symptoms similar to Bells Palsy in humans (a male and female both age 5 years),
- two dogs with back injuries (one born with a broken back, the other damaged discs in an accident at age 10),
- one dog with syringomyelia secondary to an arachnoid tumour,
- one dog with a signal canal infection, and
- one dog with brain damage resulting from a toxoplasmosis infection
With regard to Epilepsy and Seizures, only one owner reported both conditions in a single dog. Age of onset was not reported for any dogs with Epilepsy and in only one dog with seizures where activity was associated with end of life at less than one year of age as a result of a vaccine reaction. One dog’s seizures were secondary to a brain tumour.
Associated Deaths
Six Manchester Terrier deaths were attributed to neurological issues, with one 14 year old male dying of a seizures associated with epilepsy and five dogs dying of “stroke” at ages ranging from 10-14 years (median age of 11 years).
English Toy Terriers
Neurological conditions reported in Toy Manchester Terriers included six cases of Seizures (2.6%) and three cases of epilepsy (1.3%).
With regard to Epilepsy and Seizures, only one owner reported both conditions in a single dog. Two owners of dogs with seizures indicated the condition appeared late in life while one owner reported that epileptic seizures developed at 18 weeks of age. Although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be accurately determined based on survey information, among the eight dogs reporting Epilepsy or Seizure, median age at death or as of the date of the survey was 8.5 years, reflecting a decisive split with four dogs affected at some point between 18 weeks and 7 years and four between ages 10 and 16. While small, the existence of this younger cohort of dogs warrants increased awareness among breeders.
Associated Deaths
Two ETT deaths were attributed to neurological issues, with one 13-year-old female dying of a stroke and one 19-week-old male dying of seizures associated with epilepsy.
Follow-up:
-Given indication of the existence of a cohort of English Toy Terriers affected at a young age by conditions characterized by seizures, breeders may wish to explore the associated family of diseases and symptoms in more detail.
Neurological conditions reported in Toy Manchester Terriers included six cases of Seizures (2.6%) and three cases of epilepsy (1.3%).
With regard to Epilepsy and Seizures, only one owner reported both conditions in a single dog. Two owners of dogs with seizures indicated the condition appeared late in life while one owner reported that epileptic seizures developed at 18 weeks of age. Although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be accurately determined based on survey information, among the eight dogs reporting Epilepsy or Seizure, median age at death or as of the date of the survey was 8.5 years, reflecting a decisive split with four dogs affected at some point between 18 weeks and 7 years and four between ages 10 and 16. While small, the existence of this younger cohort of dogs warrants increased awareness among breeders.
Associated Deaths
Two ETT deaths were attributed to neurological issues, with one 13-year-old female dying of a stroke and one 19-week-old male dying of seizures associated with epilepsy.
Follow-up:
-Given indication of the existence of a cohort of English Toy Terriers affected at a young age by conditions characterized by seizures, breeders may wish to explore the associated family of diseases and symptoms in more detail.