Shaking Puppy Syndrome
This group of diseases center around the neuronal axon, a specialized cellular structure that helps our nervous systems relay information across great distances. Remember: messages from the brain sometimes have to travel the entire length of your dog! Axons are the portion of the nervous system that transmit these messages quickly and reliably.
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Signs and symptoms
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. -
Diagnosis
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.
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Treatment
There is no treatment for this disorder. Certain medications may be prescribed to control symptoms.
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What to do if your dog is at risk
Actions
- Keeping your affected puppy comfortable and giving them the best quality of life you can are the only actions you can take at home.
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Genetic Information
In English Springer Spaniels, X-linked generalized tremor has been mapped to the PLP gene. PLP has a crucial role in oligodendrocyte development and myelin sheath compaction: in its absence, myelination will be inappropriately established, leading to tremors beginning as early as 12 days of age and culminating in severe seizures and death by 3-4 months of age. Currently there is no treatment for shaking puppy syndrome.
This mutation has a sex-linked recessive inheritance pattern, which means that the gene is on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes and must inherit two abnormal copies to be affected with this disease. Males have only one X chromosome and either have a normal copy of the gene or the mutation.
Gene names:
PLP1 ‐ chr
Inheritance type:
x-linked recessive
Citations:
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Breeds affected
This health condition affects the following breeds
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