Dogs with N/N genotype will not have this neuroaxonal dystrophy and cannot transmit this NAD variant to their offspring.

Dogs with NADR/N genotype will not be affected by this neuroaxonal dystrophy, but are carriers. They will transmit this NAD variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers are predicted to produce 25% neuroaxonal dystrophy-affected puppies.

Dogs with NADR/NADR genotype will have neuroaxonal dystrophy, a degenerative neurological disease.

Neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) in Rottweiler dogs is a degenerative neurological disease. Signs are first apparent in young adults as uncoordinated movement (ataxia) and overstepping/high-stepping an intended location (hypermetria). Additional signs may include tremors and involuntary eye movements (nystagmus).

NAD results from a mutation in VSP11 (c.2504A>G), reported here as NADR. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, which means that males and females are equally affected and that two copies of the defective gene are needed to cause NAD. Dogs with one normal and one affected gene (carriers) are normal and show no signs of the disease.

Testing for NAD in Rottweiler dogs assists clinicians with diagnosis of NAD and help breeders identify carriers among breeding stock to avoid producing affected dogs. Matings between carriers are expected to produce 25% of affected puppies.