What's new in muscle and peripheral nerve diseases?

It is likely that most neuromuscular diseases that are described in humans will have a counterpart in our companion animals. With the advent of molecular genetics and the completion of the canine and feline genomes, an ever expanding number of DNA-based tests should become available for the diagnosis of muscle and peripheral nerve diseases. Molecular testing procedures should enable us to continue to unravel the molecular basis of neuromuscular diseases for which the cause is still unknown. It is important that accurate clinical evaluations and diagnostic testing, including muscle and peripheral nerve biopsies, are performed in order to reach these goals. This review focuses on recently identified inherited neuromuscular diseases in companion animals.