Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Episodic falling and movement disorders in dogs explained
By Urkasemsin, Ganokon & Olby, Natasha J·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2014·Department of Pre-Clinic and Applied Animal Science·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine paroxysmal movement disorders.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was observed having episodes of involuntary movements and muscle stiffness, known as paroxysmal dyskinesias. These episodes were not accompanied by loss of consciousness, which helped differentiate them from seizures. Researchers found that a genetic mutation was responsible for these movement disorders in this breed. Understanding the genetic causes could lead to better identification and treatment options for affected dogs in the future.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel involuntary movements · dog muscle stiffness treatment · canine paroxysmal dyskinesias symptoms
Abstract
Paroxysmal dyskinesias are episodic movement disorders characterized by muscle hypertonicity that can produce involuntary movements. Signs emanate from the central nervous system; consciousness is not impaired, ictal electroencephalography is normal, and there are no autonomic signs, distinguishing them from seizure disorders. In humans they are classified into 3 groups, each responding to different therapies. A mutation in the gene for brevican (BCAN) has been identified as the cause of Episodic Falling in Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Further elucidation of the genetic causes will enhance our ability to identify and treat these canine diseases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25441627/