Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Facial twitching in dogs and cats - causes and treatments
By Elvira, Tomás et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Facial Myokymia With or Without Concurrent Neurological Deficits in Seven Dogs and Two Cats.
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought in for twitching of the face, known as facial myokymia, which can be a sign of nerve issues. The dog also showed signs of balance problems, and after tests, the vet found several possible causes, including nerve damage and tumors. Treatment with prednisolone, a steroid, helped improve the twitching, but the dog experienced some relapses. The outcome varied depending on the underlying cause, highlighting the need for careful diagnosis and management.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myokymia is a form of peripheral nerve hyperexcitability that can be focal or generalized. Information regarding focal myokymia in veterinary medicine is currently limited, resulting in a need for a better understanding of this clinical sign. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, treatment, and outcomes in dogs and cats with facial myokymia (FM). ANIMALS: Seven dogs and two cats with clinically confirmed FM. METHODS: Retrospective study. Clinical records from six referral institutions were reviewed to identify cases with FM. Signalment, clinical presentation, diagnostic test results, treatment, and outcome were recorded and evaluated for each patient. RESULTS: Facial myokymia was detected before referral in 6/9 cases. Concurrent vestibular signs were present in 7/9 cases, whereas signs of facial nerve dysfunction other than FM were present in three cases. The diagnoses in the seven dogs were facial and vestibular neuropathy of unknown etiology (n = 2), extra-axial neoplasia (n = 1), otitis media-interna with intracranial extension (n = 1), otitis interna with associated facial and vestibulocochlear neuropathy (n = 1), meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (n = 1) and neoplasia or hypertrophic neuritis (n = 1). The two cats were diagnosed with retrobulbar adenosquamous carcinoma with intracranial extension and traumatic orofacial injury. When prednisolone was used (6/9 cases) FM improved or resolved, although relapses were common. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Facial myokymia is an uncommon and nonspecific clinical sign in dogs and cats, associated with a range of structural disorders affecting the facial motor nucleus, nerve, or both. Control of FM is variable, and treatment and outcome depend on the underlying cause.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40103261/