Canine Dysautonomia Research

Now is your chance to help light the way in finding the cause of canine dysautonomia (CD)! We are still in the dark as to the cause of this disease that is killing our dogs.

Most dog owners have never heard of CD, and it can be challenging for veterinarians to recognize in its early stages. Initial symptoms often mimic common everyday canine ailments, so while the dog is receiving numerous medications and being subjected to invasive surgeries, the disease is rapidly invading and deteriorating its autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls many reflexes and other neurologic functions like pupil size, heart rate, digestion, and respiration. Loss of this system can result in difficulty seeing in bright light, abnormal heart rate, vomiting, bathroom issues, difficulty breathing, and death.

Nerve cell damage resulting from CD cannot be reversed, and most dogs that contract CD will die or be euthanized within a few weeks of disease onset. Those that survive (less than 30%) usually have lasting effects, like squinting when outside, having significant bathroom issues, and a reduced quality of life. Finding the cause of CD is critically important, and funding for research is desperately needed! If you or someone you know has lost a dog to CD or if you cannot imagine losing your pet to this horrific disease, please support our research by giving to this campaign. We in the Department of Veterinary Sciences are investigating CD with the goal of finding the cause, which is fundamental to prevention. Keeping our research going in the coming year is going to depend largely on you. We appreciate your consideration and support this giving day.