Myotonia in related Chow Chow dogs

A myopathy associated with myotonia was observed in three related Chow Chow dogs. The clinical signs were first noticed at 2 to 3 months of age. They included muscle spasm and stiffness of gait which decreased in severity with exercise. Electromyographic findings and the demonstration of a muscle percussion dimple confirmed the presence of myotonia. Dystrophic changes were observed in muscle biopsies but histochemical techniques did not demonstrate fibre type changes. An inherited aetiology was suspected but not confirmed.     

Myotonia in a chow chow

Congenital myotonia was diagnosed in an inbred Chow Chow pup with severe muscle stiffness that regressed with exercise. Voluntary movement, percussion, or needle insertion caused sustained contraction of the muscles involved. Electromyographic recordings from several muscles contained myotonic discharges. Creatine kinase activity was mildly increased. Slight myofiber hypertrophy and a few atrophic fibers were seen in muscle biopsy specimens. Treatment of the pup with procainamide caused a marked decrease in clinical signs. Myotonia congenita in the Chow Chow appears to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. This condition can be diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs. Satisfactory clinical management of myotonia congenita can be achieved with procainamide.     

Cryptococcosis in a pup

Disseminated cryptococcosis was diagnosed as the cause of death of a 2-week-old pup. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from the dam's vaginal discharge, but not from the dam's milk, blood, feces, or environment. During succeeding months, C neoformans was isolated repeatedly from the dam's vagina, even though vaginitis was not evident. One year after the death of the 2-week-old pup, cryptococci could not be isolated from the dam's vagina, and evidence of cryptococcosis was not detected in pups of the dam's next litter. This case was unusual because cryptococcosis has been reported previously only in dogs 11 months or older and because the source of the pup's infection may have been the dam rather than the environment.     

Cryptosporidiosis in a pup

Cryptosporidiosis is a coccidian parasitism which has been implicated as a cause of diarrhea in man and a variety of animals. Cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed in a one-week-old pup which had a history of acute diarrhea. Organisms, 2 to 3 mm in diameter, covered the microvillous border of intestinal epithelium. Ultrastructurally, the cryptosporidia had one or more nuclei with prominent nucleoli and abundant cytoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum. Cryptosporidia may have played a role in the enteritis seen in this pup but further studies are needed to establish its pathogenicity.     

Neosporosis in a pup

CASE: A 13-week-old female boxer pup was found to be suffering from rigidity of the left hindleg. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment over a 3-week period failed to improve the condition and the pup was humanely killed. METHODS: Serological examination for Neospora antibodies was carried out by the indirect fluorescent antibody test and for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies with a latex agglutination test. A variety of tissues were examined histologically, and the central nervous system by immunohistochemistry and the polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The IFAT for anti-Neospora antibodies showed a titre of 1:51 200 in the clinically affected pup while the latex agglutination test for Toxoplasma antibodies was negative. The dam and one of two tested litter-mates had anti-Neospora IFAT titres of 1:1600, the other litter mate was negative. All three were not clinically affected. Histological, immunohistochemical and polymerase chain reaction examinations of the affected pup confirmed the diagnosis of Neospora infection. CONCLUSION: In the live animal, serological examination is thought to be the most useful specific test. Post-mortem examination by traditional histology, immunohistochemistry and the polymerase chain reaction confirmed the diagnosis. The case is discussed in the context of present knowledge about Neospora infection in New Zealand.     

Hereditary myotonia in the Chow Chow

Four related Chow Chow puppies which were presented because of stiffness in their movements were shown to have myotonia similar to myotonia congenita of man. Electromyography revealed characteristic myotonic discharges. Repetitive nerve stimulation studies showed a marked fade in the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) which was most apparent at stimulation rates of 10 per sec or higher. If stimulation was continued at a rate of 10 per sec the CMAP returned to normal or sometimes greater than normal following several seconds of the reduced response. The decremental response could be exaggerated by cooling the muscle prior to repetitive nerve stimulation. A therapeutic trial to assess the efficacy of the commonly used membrane stabilizing agents, quinidine, procainamide and phenytoin, indicated that all three drugs were beneficial in the treatment of myotonia but procainamide produced the best response. Hypocholesterolaemia was documented in one case. The possibility of a multisystem membrane defect in hereditary myotonia associated with low serum cholesterol was considered.     

古老的松狮犬

松狮犬（Chow Chow）,又称“熊狮犬”、“熊犬”、“汪汪狗”、“巧巧犬”。是原产于中国的名犬之一,它有着一个非常特殊的蓝黑色舌头,并以其尊贵的气质、王者的风范、独特的个性而闻名遐迩,风靡世界各地。古代的松狮犬是作为狩猎和护卫用犬,现在松狮犬更多地被人们当作家庭宠物犬。     

Neuroaxonal dystrophy in a rottweiler pup

An 8-month-old Rottweiler pup was evaluated for neurologic disorder. Clinical signs included ataxia, hypermetria of all 4 limbs, intention tremors of the head, lack of a menace reflex bilaterally, and mild proprioceptive deficits. The pup was euthanatized because of the progressive nature of the disease. Histopathologic findings consisted of decreased numbers of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and moderate numbers of axonal spheroids in the nucleus cuneatus. This latter finding confirmed the diagnosis of neuroaxonal dystrophy.     

Congenital cerebrospinal hypomyelinogenesis in a pup

One of 8 highly inbred Dalmatian pups was born with generalized body tremors, which interfered with the pup's ability to suckle, walk, and maintain sternal recumbency. The pup's head, neck, and limbs oscillated rhythmically when it attempted to perform any motor function. The pup was euthanatized at 8 weeks of age, after it became apparent that the disorder was likely to be permanent. The histologic diagnosis was cerebrospinal hypomyelinogenesis.     

Focal granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in a pup

Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) was diagnosed in an 8-month-old Maltese with signs of CNS disease. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration was decreased, and CSF analysis revealed high concentrations of mononuclear WBC and IgG. Initial improvement of the pup's signs in association with prednisolone treatment and postmortem examination of CNS tissues confirmed GME. Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis occurs rarely in young dogs and the abnormal Ig concentrations in this pup's serum and CSF suggest that immune responses may have a role in the cause and/or pathogenesis of GME.     

雍容的贵族——松狮犬的美容

<正>购买一头松狮犬以前,你必须做好每周至少花费2小时为它做完全美容的思想准备。松狮犬不像其他的长毛品种一样需要那么多的修饰,但是必要的美容,如给松狮犬剪指甲、洗澡、梳毛等工序是必不可少的,这样     

Severe bilateral microphthalmos in a Pomeranian pup

A 4-week-old male Pomeranian was presented with eyes that had remained closed since birth. Clinical examination of the orbits revealed that globes were bilaterally absent, suggesting clinical anophthalmos. Following ultrasound imaging of the orbits, a diagnosis of severe bilateral microphthalmos was made, a condition of rare occurrence with an etiology that is not fully understood.     

Pyoderma caused by Peptostreptococcus tetradius in a pup

Pyoderma caused by Peptostreptococcus tetradius in a pup was successfully treated with cefadroxil. Although this bacterium is rarely found in veterinary medicine, it is a known pathogen in human beings and should be considered as a potential causative agent in pyodermas in which anaerobes are suspected.