Canine Dysautonomia Research

Canine Dysautonomia (CD) is killing our dogs, and no one knows why. 

CD is a deadly disease that most dog owners have never heard of. It can be challenging for veterinary clinicians to recognize CD in its early stages. Initial symptoms frequently suggest 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 (ANS). 

The ANS controls many reflexes and other neurologic functions that the animal does not consciously control, such as heart rate, digestion, and respiration. Nerve cell damage resulting from CD cannot be reversed, and many dogs must be mercifully euthanized. Historically, over 90% of dogs that contract CD will die or be euthanized within a few weeks of disease onset. 

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 beloved pet to this horrific disease, please support this campaign. We in the Department of Veterinary Sciences have new research in CD that depends on your support. This 21st-century canine medical mystery can be solved, and we thank you for being a part of it!