Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Review of pathophysiology and clinical management of narcolepsy in dogs.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary record
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Tonokura, M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Fujita Animal Hospital · Japan
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Narcolepsy is a long-lasting sleep disorder that can affect both people and dogs, with certain breeds like Dobermanns, Labrador Retrievers, and Dachshunds being more prone to it. Dogs with narcolepsy may suddenly lose muscle control when they experience strong emotions, and they tend to fall asleep more quickly than usual. This condition is linked to a problem with certain brain chemicals that help regulate sleep. While narcolepsy isn't dangerous and doesn't get worse over time, dogs with this disorder will need ongoing treatment and care throughout their lives. The article discusses how narcolepsy is diagnosed and managed in dogs, emphasizing the importance of lifelong support for affected pets.
Abstract
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that affects human beings and animals. Up to 17 breeds of dogs are affected sporadically, and familial forms occur in dobermanns, labrador retrievers and dachshunds. These dogs display characteristics strikingly similar to those of human narcolepsy, including cataplexy (a sudden loss of muscle tone in response to emotional stimulation) and a shorter sleep latency. It has recently been shown that the aetiology of both the familial form (receptor null mutation) and the sporadic form (loss of ligand production) of canine narcolepsy is associated with a deficit in hypocretin/orexin neurotransmission. Hypocretin deficiency can be detected by the measurement of hypocretin-1 in cerebrospinal fluid, and this could be used to diagnose hypocretin ligand deficient cases in clinical practice. Narcolepsy is neither progressive nor life-threatening, but the clinical signs persist throughout life, and lifelong treatment and care are required. This article reviews the recent progress in narcolepsy research in dogs, and describes the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17873267/