Understanding cerebellar disease first starts with understanding the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that helps to coordinate voluntary movements. The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain and contains over 50% of all the neurons in the brain. The cerebellum receives information from all over the body and puts it together to help coordinate balance, eye movements, limb movements, and gait. A functioning cerebellum allows pets to do complicated movements smoothly and without difficulty. Cerebellar function can be impaired by many different conditions, including benign or cancerous masses, congenital malformations, infection, stroke, or head trauma.
When the cerebellum is not functioning properly it becomes difficult for pets to perform simple movements. The pet may exhibit jerky, exaggerated, or uncoordinated movements, and they may also have difficulty keeping their balance.
Cerebellar disease can often be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, but an MRI can help determine the cause of the disease as well as the specific region of the cerebellum that is affected.
Rehabilitation for cerebellar disorders focuses on fine-tuning and controlling movements. The brain cannot repair areas that have been damaged, but it has a great ability to re-route around areas of damage through a process called neuroplasticity. Through this process, the brain is able to use healthy areas of the brain to do the function of damaged areas. Practicing controlled and targeted movements will help the brain with this re-routing process. We may start with static balance exercises to work on stability and progress to controlled movements of the head and limbs. We often use weights or wraps to provide the body with more sensory input to help control movements. Our goal is to improve stability and quality of movements. We may also address any compensatory pain and tightness.
