Hypomyelination and Tremors

When axonal disease is present, affected animals show signs that are consistent with a delay between the brain and the body: sometimes they walk with an uncoordinated gait, or don't seem to know where their limbs are relative to the ground, leading to scuffing or dragging of the paws.

Signs develop in puppies.

Unless a genetic basis is suspected due to the age, breed, or history of the dog, diagnostics must be performed to rule out infectious, inflammatory, or neoplastic causes.

There is no treatment for this disorder. Certain medications may be prescribed to control symptoms.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s hypomyelination and tremors result so you can plan appropriate monitoring and care.

Signs such as whole-body tremors often appear in very young puppies and tend to improve as the nervous system matures.

Keep your puppy’s environment calm and free from slippery surfaces to help them move safely and avoid overexertion.

Most affected puppies recover fully by a few months of age and go on to live normal lives.

In the Weimaraner, this condition has been mapped to a mutation in the FNIP2 gene. FNIP2 is thought to affect the development and maturation of oligodendrocytes; these are supportive cells of the nervous system which specifically contribute to myelin sheaths of axons within the spinal cord.

Penetrance: This disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that affected dogs must have two copies of the mutation to show clinical signs.

Gene

FNIP2

Inheritance type

recessive

Clinical category

Neurologic

Citations

1. Pemberton et al 2013

• Weimaraner