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Muscular dystrophy due to a sarcoglycan deficiency in a female Dobermann dog
Author(s) -
Munday J. S.,
Shelton G. D.,
Willox S.,
Kingsbury D. D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/jsap.12306
Subject(s) - medicine , dysphagia , myalgia , aspiration pneumonia , muscular dystrophy , weakness , exercise intolerance , muscle weakness , pneumonia , creatine kinase , pharyngeal muscles , pathology , weight loss , surgery , swallowing , heart failure , obesity
A four‐month‐old female Dobermann presented with myalgia, dysphagia, progressive weakness and loss of body condition. Diagnostic evaluation at nine months of age revealed markedly elevated serum creatine kinase activity, electromyographic abnormalities and histological evidence of chronic‐active muscle necrosis. Imaging confirmed dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. Muscular dystrophy was suspected and immunohistochemical staining of muscle cryosections demonstrated reduced sarcoglycans. Treatment consisted of gastrostomy, and over the next 5 months the dog gained weight, despite continued loss of muscle mass. The dog died at 14 months of age after developing clinical signs of aspiration pneumonia. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of muscular dystrophy in a Dobermann and only the second detailed report of a canine sarcoglycanopathy. Supportive care resulted in an acceptable quality of life for 10 months after clinical signs were first observed.