Bandera's Neonatal Ataxia

First signs are observed as soon as the puppies start to move at around 2 weeks of age. Usually, affected puppies are unable to stand or walk on their own and they appear to move as if they were swimming. Other signs are nodding of the head, intention tremors, and jerky movements of the eyes. Clinical signs do not usually progress, but due to their severity affected puppies are usually euthanized.

For affected dogs clinical sign progression should be carefully monitored, ensuring the dog is as comfortable as possible. Affected dogs are usually euthanized on welfare grounds, although some dogs may live longer with significant support.

There are many responsibilities to consider when breeding dogs. Regardless of test results it is important that your dog is in good general health and that you are in a position to care for the puppies if new responsible owners are not found. For first time or novice breeders, advice can be found at most kennel club websites.

This disease is autosomal recessive meaning that two copies of the mutation are needed for disease signs to be shown. A carrier dog with one copy of the BNA mutation can be safely bred with a clear dog with no copies of the BNA mutation. About half of the puppies will have one copy (carriers) and half will have no copies of the BNA mutation. Puppies in a litter which is expected to contain carriers should be tested prior to breeding. Carrier to carrier matings are not advised as the resulting litter may contain affected puppies. Please note: It is possible that disease signs similar to the ones caused by the BNA mutation could develop due to a different genetic or clinical cause.