Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with gastrocnemius muscle rupture after steroid treatment
By Rewerts, J M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1997·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Atraumatic rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle after corticosteroid administration in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old spayed female Shetland Sheepdog was brought in for lameness and muscle wasting in her right hind leg that had been going on for 5 weeks. The vet found that the muscle in her leg had ruptured without any injury, likely due to the effects of corticosteroids she had received. Unfortunately, surgery to repair the muscle did not work, and she later showed signs of adrenal gland issues from the steroid use. This case highlights the risks of using corticosteroids, which can weaken muscles and lead to serious problems like muscle rupture.
People also search for: dog limping after steroids · Shetland Sheepdog muscle injury · corticosteroid side effects in dogs
Abstract
A 6-year-old spayed female Shetland Sheepdog was referred for evaluation of lameness, muscle atrophy, and a partial plantigrade stance of the right hind limb of 5 weeks' duration. Without history of trauma, atraumatic rupture of the right gastrocnemius muscle was diagnosed. Surgical repair was unsuccessful. The dog then developed signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Results of ACTH stimulation and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests were consistent with iatrogenic adrenal suppression. One deleterious effect of excessive use of corticosteroids on muscle and connective tissue is degenerative myopathy. Steroid-induced myopathy with subsequent rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle was suspected in this dog. Clinical signs of myopathy most often develop with use of triamcinolone acetonide; therefore, care should be taken when administering this and other corticosteroids.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9054994/