Craniomandibular Osteopathy, CMO

Affected dogs may have a painful swelling of the jaw and consequent signs of discomfort (difficulty opening the mouth, salivation, lack of appetite, and difficulty swallowing). In addition, inflammation often results in fever during the early phase.

Clinical signs begin around four months old and may continue up to 12 months.

A diagnosis is made based on X-rays, clinical signs, and genetic testing. Typically, lesions occur on both sides of the skull, but asymmetric changes are possible. Computed tomography (CT) may be helpful for further evaluation.

All clinical signs usually resolve with time when regular bone growth is complete.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s CMO result so you can plan appropriate monitoring and treatment.

Feed soft foods if chewing is painful, and avoid hard toys or treats that could worsen discomfort.

Make sure your dog is resting comfortably and stays on their prescribed pain and anti-inflammatory medications as directed.

Some dogs improve as they reach maturity, while others may need ongoing care to stay comfortable.

This variant was first described in the Basset Hound.

Penetrance: This variant is inherited in a dominant manner, meaning that a dog requires at least one copy of the variant to show signs of CMO.

Gene

SLC37A2 Intron 16

Inheritance type

dominant

Clinical category

Skeletal

Citations

1. Letko et al 2020
2. Hytonen et al 2016

• Basset Hound