Juvenile-Onset Polyneuropathy, Leonberger Polyneuropathy 1, LPN1

Affected dogs often tire easily (exercise intolerance) and display gait abnormalities, especially in the hind limbs. Due to LPN's effects on the larynx, affected dogs may often be very noisy breathers or may even have difficulty breathing.

Signs can develop as early as one year of age.

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 polyneuropathy result so you can plan ongoing care and monitoring.

Watch for signs such as voice changes, noisy breathing, weakness, or difficulty swallowing, and contact your vet if you notice any of these.

Maintain your dog at a healthy weight and keep them in a calm environment. Avoid strenuous exercise or overheating, as these can worsen breathing problems.

As this condition can progress over time, supportive care and a safe, predictable routine can help keep your dog comfortable and engaged with their family.

This mutation was first described in the Leonberger and Saint Bernard.

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. However, this mutation is incompletely penetrant, meaning that not all dogs with two copies of the mutation will show clinical signs.

Gene

ARHGEF10 Exon 17

Inheritance type

recessive

Clinical category

Neurologic

Citations

1. Ekenstedt et al 2014

• Leonberger
• Saint Bernard