Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dachshund puppy with muscle rippling and uncoordinated walk
By Vanhaesebrouck, A E et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2011·Department of Small Animal Medicine and Clinical Biology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Neuromyotonia in a dachshund with clinical and electrophysiological signs of spinocerebellar ataxia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-month-old dachshund was brought in because it was experiencing muscle rippling, stiffness, and had trouble walking in a coordinated manner since it was 8 weeks old. The vet found signs of ataxia (lack of coordination) and poor responses to visual stimuli. Tests showed abnormal muscle contractions and delayed nerve responses. The dog was given a medication called phenytoin, which helped temporarily. This case highlights a possible link between neuromyotonia and ataxia, suggesting that similar issues seen in Jack Russell terriers can also occur in other breeds like this dachshund.
People also search for: dachshund muscle rippling · dog ataxia treatment · phenytoin for dogs · puppy stiffness and coordination issues
Abstract
A 10-month-old dachshund was presented with a recent history of episodic muscle rippling and generalised stiffness. An uncoordinated gait was present since eight weeks of age. On presentation the dog showed cerebellar-like ataxia and poor menace responses. Myokymic contractions were visible in the appendicular and truncal muscles and neuromyotonic discharges were detected by electromyography. Central components of the brain auditory evoked potentials were absent and the onset latencies of the tibial sensory-evoked potentials recorded at the lumbar intervertebral level were delayed. Response to slow-release phenytoin was temporary. The clinical picture together with the electrophysiological findings in this dachshund are identical to the findings in Jack Russell terriers with hereditary ataxia and neuromyotonia. This is the first description of neuromyotonia associated with clinical and electrophysiological signs of spinocerebellar ataxia in a breed other than the Jack Russell terrier. This case also strengthens the theory that spinocerebellar ataxia and neuromyotonia are related. An ion channel dysfunction is presumed to link both disorders.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21967102/