Neuro-axonal dystrophy is a rare inherited neurological disorder observed in the Spanish Water Dog. Signs appear between six and eleven months of age and progress slowly, including gait abnormalities, behavioral changes, and sometimes incontinence. On examination, a slight head tilt, moderate ataxia, reduced reflexes, and other neurological problems such as sensory, visual, or muscular deficits can be observed. The disease is severe and multifocal, and affected dogs are generally euthanized before the age of two. This test is also recommended for the Lagotto Romagnolo as part of the Flemish government’s breeding program (see the official program).
