Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject: Movement Disorder - Paroxysmal Dyskinesia
Some people will know from previous posts that Monty has been undergoing tests as he has been having episodic collapses (11 since August). Thanks for all your good wishes.
Just thought I would update you.
After lots of tests and having seen a number of vets in different practices we were finally referred to the Neurology department at Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. More tests were done there and some samples were sent to the US for analysis. After four weeks of waiting we finally have the last of the results through - and everything came back normal.
Fortunately I had been able to video a couple of Monty's later and milder episodes, and this, together with full neurmuscular workup and all test results have led the neurologist to say that she believes Monty to have a movement disorder - probably paroxysmal dyskinesia.
It has been a very worrying time and I suppose I had been hoping that a definitive diagnosis would be made with a prospect of sucessful treatment - but on the other hand I know that some of the problems they were testing for were more sinister than PD. Monty won't be having any treatment unless the episodes become more severe or more frequent.
Apparently a few young labs have been seen at the AHT with similar problems and their diagnosis has been the same. They believe it is probably genetic - so it seems as if another labrador genetic disease is appearing. But as such a small number of labs have been identified so far its early days, and I understand that it could well be some considerable time before the gene can be identified.
I am going to send them a copy of Monty's pedigree and the neurologist is hoping to obtain pedigrees from the other lab owners with affected dogs, with a view to seeing if there is any obvious link in the blood lines of these dogs.
If anyone knows of a lab who has been diagnosed with paroxysmal dyskinesia it would be really helpful to hear about it . I feel sure there must also be other labs out there, experiencing similar problems, which have not been diagnosed (or possibly mis-diagnosed). And their owners must be very concerned, as I am.
PD affects the basal nucleii of the brain and is thought to be caused by a malfunction of one of the ion channels. Very little seems to be known about canine PD. Dogs affected by it remain fully conscious and alert throughout the collapsing episode, and also return to "normal" very quickly. As not much is known about it I can't really get a prognosis on what is likely to happen in the future . It does seem that some forms of human PD is found in children and adolescents, who can "grow out of it". I hope and pray that this may be the case with dogs too.
Monty's most recent episode was last week (after an interval this time of six and a half weeks) and fortunately seemed to be less severe. The attacks have happened at intervals anywhere from 10 weeks to 6 days. The episode lasts anything from just a couple of minutes up to about 25 mins. Sometimes just the hind legs seem to be affected - sometimes all four limbs. He becomes very stressed and pants throughout the attack. I don't know if he is getting used to the episodes now, but he doesn't seem to have been quite so stressed during the last few attacks as he was during the early ones - but it is still very upsetting to see this happening to him and not be able to do anything other than try to calm him.
His stitches (where he had the muscle biopsy taken) have healed quite nicely but he does still seem to have a bit of a bump there. I expect this must be scar tissue and hope it will disappear in time. I feel a bit guilty about putting poor Monty through so many tests - but I really felt that we had to have some answers.
Thanks to everyone who has been sending Monty healing vibes.
Hope that Monty does grow out of this PD in the future, its a shame you havn`t got a specific diagnosis but at least you know its nothing that could more sinister as you say.
Sounds hopeful that his episodes are getting better from what you say of his last one
Sorry to hear about Monty, but am pleased that you look to have a clear diagnosis now and wish you both all the best for the future.
June - would these episodes present as almost fit-like symptoms?, I do know of a few dogs who have these types of things occasionally coupled with collapse.
Poor lad! At least you have a tentative diagnosis and all the nastier things have been ruled out. I hope his attacks continue to get less severe and he grows out of it XXX
____________
Georgia XX
"If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane.
I would walk right up to heaven,and bring you back again"
Yes Jackie - it is almost like a fit in some ways.
Sometimes he loses the use of all four limbs, sometimes just the hind ones. He remains fully conscious and alert throughout. He pants through the episodes and also trembles a bit - as if with fear. There is no warning "aura" before the attack and when the attack is over he gets to his feet, walks a few wobbly steps, and then goes immediately back to being his usual lively self - no "ictal" period. The attacks last anything from a couple of minutes up to about 25 mins.
Several of the vets we saw before being referred to the AHT thought it might have been epilepsy - but that was just because they couldn't find anything else wrong, hadn't come across this before, and epilepsy is usually a diagnosis arrived at when all else is excluded.
Thanks for the good wishes for Monty
June
The first time it happened we thought it could be put down to exercise induced collapse - but most of the attacks have been at home and seem to have been triggered by shock/excitement.
He did have one episode which was totally different. It was a warm day and we went to the park. I decided not to play ball with him as he gets overheated and tired very easily - especially if its warm. He then found another dog to race around the field with instead! On the way home he was leaning against the tailgate of the car for support - he seemed exhausted - but he has done this before. When we got home he walked into the house reasonably well but when he reached the kitchen he had to lean against that door for support - couldn't support himself. He then drew one hind leg up and stood on 3 legs with his body hunched up. When I went towards him he growled at me - very unMontylike. He panted heavily for about an hour and a half and though he could stand on 4 legs again fairly soon - his posture remained "hunched up" and he wouldn't let me near him most of that time. So that episode also seemed to be induced by heat and exertion but differed from the others. Most of the episodes have followed the same pattern.
I would really be most interested to hear about any dogs you may know of suffering similar episodes. If you think they are similar Jackie I can let you have a copy of a video of a couple of Monty's milder and more recent episodes.
I have just discovered your story whilst searching for ideas on a problem that Toby has.
3 times now, over the past couple of months, he has lost us of his back legs suddenly, and effectively ends up dragging them along.
The episodes seem to last for several minutes (but we haven't timed them) and recovery time is fast and then he appears to have no side effects until the next episode.
We can't confirm that it is only 3 episodes as we are lucky in having some private fields behins our house, so he does spend some time most days off lead and out of sight (probably 20 mins at a time) - but we are not aware of any other episodes.
Our vet is starting to investigate and has taken an ECG of his heart this week - having already done a manual inspection of his joints and ruled out any obvious hip weakness
Would definitely be interested in hearing more about your story, but also aware that the symptoms can be quite similar in a number of things
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. I feel sure there must also be other labs out there, experiencing similar problems, which have not been diagnosed (or possibly mis-diagnosed). And their owners must be very concerned, as I am. 
. It does seem that some forms of human PD is found in children and adolescents, who can "grow out of it". I hope and pray that this may be the case with dogs too.
