Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dropped head syndrome as main sign of myasthenia gravis in two dogs
By Reyes, Henry Mendo et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case Report: Dropped head syndrome as a main clinical sign of suspected myasthenia gravis in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old Basset Hound and a 3-year-old Zwergpinscher were brought in with a condition called dropped head syndrome, where their heads drooped down due to muscle weakness. The veterinarians suspected myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disorder, and started both dogs on a medication called pyridostigmine. Follow-up calls several months later showed that both dogs were doing much better and had returned to normal activity levels. This case highlights the importance of careful diagnosis and treatment for dogs showing similar symptoms.
People also search for: dog dropped head syndrome · myasthenia gravis treatment for dogs · Basset Hound muscle weakness
Abstract
Drop head syndrome (DHS), characterized by pronounced cervical ventroflexion, is a clinical syndrome that can be found associated with neuromuscular disorders, particularly myasthenia gravis. In this case series, we describe two dogs, an 8-year-old Basset Hound and a 3-year-old Zwergpinscher, presenting with DHS as the main clinical sign. In both cases, a presumptive diagnosis of myasthenia gravis was made and were empirically treated with pyridostigmine. Telephone follow-ups at 6 and 4 months after diagnosis, respectively, were consistent with clinical remission. These cases highlight the diagnostic challenges of DHS, emphasizing the need for thorough evaluation to exclude numerous differential diagnoses. In cases where myasthenia gravis is strongly suspected despite negative tests, trial treatment with anti-cholinesterase drugs may be considered, with caution to avoid potential side effects.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41078500/