Dr Gary Johnson’s lab at the University of Missouri – College of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to announce that the mutation responsible for development of neonatal ataxia in Jack Russell Terriers has been identified, and a DNA test is now available. Neonatal Ataxia (NNA) is a progressive, neonatal onset, cerebellar ataxia described in Jack Russell ...

Some Jack Russell Terriers (JRTs) suffer from a progressive neonatal cerebellar ataxia that differs from a previously reported spinocerebellar ataxia in this breed. Serial neurologic examinations of affected pups revealed normal mentation, intention tremors and severe gait, stance and ocular ataxia beginning at 2 weeks of age. A dancing gait, hypometria in all limbs, decrease ...

Submitted by Debbie Johnson It has been almost 20 years since I first experienced Cerebellar Ataxia. I had spent several years acquiring a number of quality working bitches before I decided to purchase a stud dog that would compliment my acquired bitch’s pedigrees. Before long my first resulting litter whelped, I still remember the feeling ...

Cerebellar Ataxia a.k.a. neonatal cerebellar ataxia, primary granule cell degeneration Onset of signs – 2 weeks of age when pups begin to ambulate Neurologic abnormalities – An uncoordinated gait, spastic in all limbs, start out as a goose-stepping stride which progresses to a stilted stride in all limbs.  Dogs develop more difficulty in forward ambulation ...