Glycogen Storage Disease Type IIIA, GSD IIIA

Affected dogs have "failure to thrive" including poor growth, lethargy, and mildly low blood sugars. They may be exercise intolerant and experience episodes of collapse.

Signs appear around 14 months of age.

Genetic and laboratory testing, including liver biopsy, are used to diagnose this disease.

There is no treatment except supportive care for the clinical signs the affected dog develops.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s glycogen storage disease type IIIA result so you can work together to plan ongoing care and monitoring.

Schedule regular checkups and lab testing as recommended to monitor liver function and muscle health.

Your vet may recommend a diet with steady energy foods that are moderate in complex carbohydrates and high-quality protein, along with frequent smaller meals to help maintain stable energy levels.

Encourage light to moderate activity but avoid strenuous exercise or prolonged exertion, which may worsen fatigue or muscle weakness.

This mutation was first described in Curly Coated Retrievers.

Penetrance: This mutation is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner; that is, a dog requires two copies of the mutation to show signs of the disease.

Gene

AGL (GDE)

Inheritance type

recessive

Clinical category

Multisystem

Citations

1. Gregory et al 2007

• Curly-Coated Retriever