Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dogs with muscle twitching, stiffness, and collapse episodes studied
By Van Ham, L et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2004·Small Animal Department·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: 'Continuous muscle fibre activity' in six dogs with episodic myokymia, stiffness and collapse.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of six dogs, including a crossbred dog, a Yorkshire terrier, a border collie, and three Jack Russell terriers, experienced episodes of muscle twitching, stiffness, and collapsing. These episodes often started with intense facial rubbing and were linked to high body temperatures in most of the dogs. Tests showed elevated liver enzymes and muscle enzymes, but their spinal fluid was normal. Two dogs were treated with medications to stabilize their muscle membranes, but the results varied.
People also search for: dog muscle twitching treatment · Jack Russell terrier collapse · Yorkshire terrier muscle stiffness · dog hyperthermia symptoms
Abstract
Continuous muscle fibre activity was observed in a crossbred dog, a Yorkshire terrier, a border collie and three Jack Russell terriers. The clinical signs consisted of episodes of generalised myokymia which developed into muscle stiffness and delayed muscle relaxation and generally led to the dogs collapsing into lateral recumbency. These episodes were preceded by intense facial rubbing in three of the dogs, and were associated with severe hyperthermia in five of them. All three Jack Russell terriers showed continuous ataxia. The dogs had above normal activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase, but their cerebrospinal fluid was normal. Myokymic discharges were observed by electromyography in two of the dogs. Two of them were treated with membrane-stabilising agents, with variable results.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15638001/