Malignant Hyperthermia

Affected dogs under anesthesia will have an extreme spike in body temperature and uncontrollable muscle contractions.

Signs only appear when a dog is placed under certain anesthetics.

Genetic testing and clinical signs can be used to diagnose this condition.

This can be life threatening. Emergency treatment includes removal of the inhalant anesthetic and rapid cooling of the body with ice and fans.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s malignant hyperthermia result so it’s noted in their medical record before any anesthesia or surgery.

Make sure all veterinarians caring for your dog are aware of this result, as certain anesthetic drugs can trigger this reaction.

Outside of anesthesia, dogs with this result can live completely normal, active lives.

This mutation was first described in a mixed breed dog living in a university breeding colony.

Penetrance: This mutation is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, meaning that one or two copies of this gene will cause the disorder.

Gene

RYR1

Inheritance type

dominant

Clinical category

Metabolic

Citations

1. Roberts et al 2001

• Greyhound
• Hungarian Greyhound