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What Is Shaking Puppy Syndrome?
Shaking puppy syndrome, also known as hypomyelination, is a neurological disorder affecting a young dog’s central or peripheral nervous system, leading to widespread trembling throughout the body.
Myelin is the fatty, insulating layer that wraps around every nerve fiber, protecting and facilitating the smooth transmission of electrical signals. When this protective myelin sheath is abnormally thin or underdeveloped, as seen in hypomyelination, nerve signals can become disrupted, causing the nerves and associated muscles to malfunction, leading to uncontrollable shaking.
Symptoms of Shaking Puppy Syndrome
Signs of shaking puppy syndrome often emerge shortly after birth, sometimes as early as 2 weeks old. Along with pronounced tremors, affected puppies may struggle with walking, display poor balance and coordination, and position their legs unusually wide apart to steady themselves.
Excitement tends to intensify the trembling, and many puppies shake more vigorously while eating, with the trembling usually easing when they are resting. Despite these physical symptoms, the puppies typically appear mentally alert and normal.
Causes of Hypomyelination
Hypomyelination is a genetic condition, often passed down through specific breeds. Breeds most commonly affected include the Springer Spaniel, Australian Silky Terrier, Weimaraner, Golden Retriever, Catahoula Cur, Dalmatian, Chow Chow, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Vizsla, Samoyed, and Bernese Mountain Dog. However, other purebreds and mixed breeds can also be susceptible, with male dogs being more frequently affected than females.
Golden Retrievers have a unique variant of shaking puppy syndrome affecting their peripheral nerves rather than the central nervous system. Consequently, they exhibit all the symptoms linked to hypomyelination except for the shaking. In Goldens, symptoms typically show up a bit later, between 5 to 7 weeks of age.
For Springer Spaniel puppies, males bear the brunt of this disease due to a distinct pattern of genetic inheritance. While female Springer Spaniels often recover fully, males rarely do, with many succumbing to the disease by six months, whether from the progressive severity of symptoms or humane euthanasia if the tremors become particularly debilitating.
Diagnosing Hypomyelination
Diagnosing hypomyelination involves a process of elimination. Your veterinarian will begin with a comprehensive physical examination and gather a detailed history, including any known familial occurrences of the condition. A thorough neurological assessment will evaluate for brain, spinal cord, or cranial nerve dysfunction.
Diagnostic testing often includes blood work to assess organ health and rule out toxic exposures. X-rays of the chest and spine can help identify skeletal abnormalities or tumors. Additionally, cerebrospinal fluid samples may be collected for laboratory analysis. Genetic tests may be performed to detect mutations linked to hypomyelination, though some dogs carry the genetic defect without exhibiting symptoms.
Advanced imaging and diagnostic tools, such as CT scans, electromyography, MRI, or myelography (nerve conduction studies), may be recommended to exclude other neurological conditions.
Ultimately, the diagnosis is one of exclusion since a definitive diagnosis requires microscopic examination of the spinal cord tissue—typically only possible post-mortem.
Treating Shaking Puppy Syndrome
Currently, there is no specific cure for hypomyelination. Fortunately, most puppies affected by shaking puppy syndrome gradually improve and can lead fairly normal lives by the time they reach 1 to 1.5 years old. Puppies with milder symptoms often stabilize or recover substantially by 3 to 4 months of age.
While many survivors may retain subtle tremors in their hind limbs for life, they can still enjoy happy, active lives with proper care and support.
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