Hereditary ataxia (HA) - Belgian Shepherd (Malinois)

General description

In the Malinois, a variety of Belgian shepherd dogs, a genetic variant was found in the SLC12A6 gene, which is associated with spinocerebellar ataxia. The SLC12A5 gene encodes a potassium chloride cotransporter, which plays an important role in a variety of biophysical and physiological processes in the body.

Affected dogs show a slowly progressing disturbance of movement coordination (ataxia), paraparesis of the hind limbs, a palmigrade stance (when standing the carpal joints touch the ground) and, after sedation, generalized involuntary muscle contractions occur (similar to myocymia). Epileptic seizures have not been observed in the affected dogs.

First symptoms usually emerge at the age of 3-6 months in the form of an uncoordinated gait and worsen until the affected dogs are no longer able to move around on their own at 2.5-3 years of age. The size and weight of the affected dogs can be slightly reduced in comparison to other dogs.