Question:
I have a dog that came into my life from nowhere. She was young, maybe a year old. She is unstable; her feet will slip out from under her on waxed floors. Her head shakes while trying to focus. I carry her in and out of my vehicle. Her gait is like the "running walk" of a Tennessee walking horse. Through all this, she loves life and seems perfect in every other way. The vet said she has a neurological disorder or cardiac problem. I have had her for more than a year with no changes in her condition. The problem is that I dare not have her spayed or give her any shots, including rabies shots, yet the government here insists upon both. The vet will give no guarantee as to adverse effects from the shots or the operation. I accept this. What I do not accept is the possibility that those procedures might harm my beloved pet, owing to her predisposed medical condition. The county authorities here have arrested two pet owners on private property this month for noncompliance. This rabies scare seems more to do with the money being made on shots and fines than with an actual health problem because the county is overrun with loose cats.
B.C., Henderson, NC Jul 25, 2010
Answer:
If your dog also has a dry, crusty nose and/or thick, hard pads, it is almost certain that she had distemper as a pup. This would account for the jerky movements called chorea. Alternatively, she could have a congenital brain abnormality. If she falls over when blindfolded (because she relies on her eyes for balance), she probably has cerebellar hypoplasia, which is more common in kittens. The rear part of the brain has not developed properly, leading to impaired balance, high-stepping gait, etc. There's not much you can do to help her. Try massage therapy, good nutrition and extra B-complex vitamins. The anti-rabies vaccination should not cause further problems. It must be done if she has never been vaccinated before. That is the law. The veterinarian can take a blood sample to see if the dog needs a distemper vaccination, but I would avoid that and other potentially risky procedures and injections, unless your veterinarian is sure that there are no risks. A monthly anti-heartworm medication like Heartgard is advisable for your dog, and a blood test to see if she is already infested is required prior to giving the preventive medicine that could kill her if she already has heartworms.
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