[Cerebellar cortical degeneration in an American Staffordshire terrier]

Most diseases affecting the cerebellum are congenital and three groups can be distinguished on pathogenetic grounds. In the first group, diseases are caused by intrauterine or neonatal viral infections, in the second group by malformations of genetic or unknown origin, and in the third group by degenerative disease, or abiotrophies. Familial late-onset cerebellar abiotrophy has been reported in the Gordon Setter the Old English Sheepdog, the Brittany Spaniel and more recently the American Staffordshire Terrier. This case report describes the clinical, diagnostic and pathological changes in an American Staffordshire Terrier with cerebellar cortical degeneration. This is the first case diagnosed in the Netherlands.