Symptoms of Neuronal Canine Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

Neuronal Canine Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, or NCL, is a class of neurological disorders which affects several canine breeds including American Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, English Setters, Border Collies and Miniature Schnauzers. Each breed has a variety of different symptoms which makes it difficult to recognize, especially in the early stages. Unfortunately, the prognosis of the disease is quite grave. A cure does not yet exist, and a dog with NCL often succumbs within two years of diagnosis.

  1. Posture and Gait Changes

    • Dogs with NCL exhibit many changes in their gait and posture. Many breeds develop uncoordinated movement in their limbs in early stages of the disease, especially in the back legs. As the disease progresses, many dogs lose coordination in their front legs as well. Muscle twitching occurs throughout the course of the disease, even when sleeping. Also, some breeds develop a tremor and pronounced staggering.

    Vision Symptoms

    • NCL produces visual dysfunction very early in the disease. Different breeds exhibit different variations of visual impairments as the disease progresses. Dalmatians and Miniature Schnauzers often go blind from the disease, while English Setters only experience low vision. The vision problems of some breeds with NCL, such as Welsh Corgis and Dachshunds, haven't been documented. Very early symptoms of vision dysfunction include bumping into objects, even very large and noticeable objects.

    Behavior Changes

    • Behavior changes develop as the disease progresses, and the changes differ between breeds. Many breeds including the Dalmatian become aggressive toward their owners, other people and other animals. Most dogs experience heightened anxiety and stress and develop self-destructive behaviors such as teeth grinding. Some dogs with NCL develop house training issues and stop eating food. Also, females with NCL have a tendency to cannibalize their puppies. As the disease progresses, many breeds exhibit signs of dementia which worsens rapidly.

    Seizures or Convulsions

    • Some breeds experience seizures and convulsions, while other breeds with NCL do not have any at all. For example; English Setters with NCL usually die from severe seizures by 26 months of age. Some breed owners report mild convulsions or fits of trembling, which occurs commonly in Miniature Schnauzers. Also, some seizures are so mild they go unrecognized by owners. The Chihuahua breed, as well as the Cocker Spaniel, have little reports of seizure activity with NCL.