Cerebellar degeneration, also known as cerebellar cortical abiotrophy, is an inherited disease that causes the wasting away of the part of your dog’s brain that controls balance, the cerebellum. Dogs suffering from this condition are generally euthanized.

The first signs will develop when your dog is anywhere from several weeks to several months old. Symptoms include head tremors, an abnormal gait, abnormal eye movements and shaky or unsteady movements.

This is an inherited disease, meaning that your dog is born with the genetic predisposition to develop this affliction.

Your vet will generally make a diagnosis by ruling out the presence of other diseases that cause similar symptoms.

There is no effective treatment for this progressive disease. Your dog will likely be euthanized.

Affected dogs should not be bred. Likewise, you should never acquire a dog who has a family history of this condition.

No, you cannot contract cerebellar degeneration from your dog.