Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Jack Russell terrier with muscle weakness from suspected
By Olby, N J et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1997·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Suspected mitochondrial myopathy in a Jack Russell terrier.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 14-month-old Jack Russell terrier was brought in for exercise intolerance, meaning he struggled to keep up during walks and play. The vet found that he was thin and had an unusual walking style. Tests showed high levels of lactate, indicating a metabolic issue, and muscle biopsies revealed abnormal mitochondrial activity, leading to a diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy (a muscle disorder caused by problems with energy production). While there isn't a specific treatment for this condition, managing the dog's exercise and diet can help improve his quality of life.
People also search for: Jack Russell exercise intolerance · mitochondrial myopathy in dogs · dog muscle disease symptoms
Abstract
A Jack Russell terrier with a history of progressive exercise intolerance was examined at the age of four months and again 10 months later. Clinical examination revealed a stunted, thin dog with a stilted gait. The dog had raised lactate levels before and after feeding and a raised lactate/pyruvate ratio after feeding, indicating a metabolic abnormality. Histochemical evaluation of muscle biopsies revealed subsarcolemmal accumulation of oxidative activity when stained with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazollum reductase and ragged red fibres when stained with modified Gomori trichrome; all fibre types were involved. Ultrastructural examination of the muscle confirmed the presence of subsarcolemmal accumulations of mitochondria. Histochemical staining for the activity of enzymes of the Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation and other metabolic cytosolic enzymes failed to demonstrate an abnormality. In view of the clinical picture and the biochemical and histological findings, a tentative diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy was made. The difficulties associated with diagnosing mitochondrial disorders are discussed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9179819/