Shaking puppies !

[Kobie]

I read sometimes stories about puppies who are shaking over their whole body !
Does anyone knows what this means and how do they get this ?
I read that it hase something to do with linebreed ?!

[christina]

Kobie,

I am assuming that you are talking about "White Shaker Dog Syndrome" - or idiopathic cerebellitis..... It's usually seen in small white dogs, but can apparently occur in non-white dogs too.
I have heard of this condition, but do not know much about it, other than it is believed to be an immune mediated inflammatory process and treated with high dosages of steroids and diazepam. I found some info discussion on the net about it, which I will partly copy and paste below.

You could well be right about it being down to line-breeding. In-breeding, and to a slightly lesser degree line-breeding, is weakening the immune system and can lead to mutated genes.... which can lead to auto-immune diseases.

Other than "white shaker dog syndrome" I could think of either some form of epileptic seizures, which could have the effect of the dog shaking, or perhaps "wobbler syndrome" - but stricly speaking that would not involve the whole body to shake.....

Hope this helps,
Christina

lightning.prohosting.com/~maltese/595.html

White Shaker Dog Syndrome - Idiopathic Cerebellitis. An acute on set of tremor is seen primarily in small, white, adult dogs. Maltese, poodles and West Highland white terriers are effected most frequently, but the condition can occur in other breeds that are not white. We have seen several silver poodles, for example. The tremor worsens with movement, an intention tremor, and disappears at rest. Tremor of the eye is common. The disease is nonprogressive after the first 2 to 3 days. Spontaneous remission may occur. Other than tremor and slight degree of ataxia, the neurologic examination is normal. The tremor is worse than usually expected with cerebella disease and the ataxia is less. The few dogs necropsies had mild nonsuppurative inflammation of the nervous system not confined to the cerebellum. Speculated causes include viral or immune-mediated inflammatory disease. The relation to the white coat color has led to hypotheses on relation to tyrosine metabolism; however, as Parker points out, these are not albino animals. Treatment is with immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids, diazepam or both. The corticosteroid should be given in decreasing doses for 8 to 12 weeks. Stopping therapy early may lead to relapse. Clinical improvements is expected in 2 to 3 days. The response to treatment is usually dramatic, but some dogs are less responsive. Relapses following recovery have been seen.

[christina]

Scatty me !! I've just noticed that there are two threads further down on the subject of puppy shakes - one on Syringomyelia (Shaky Puppy syndrome), posted by Wendy (syrinx), and another one on Wobblers Syndrome by Cressie...... So, take your pick

Christina

[Kobie]

oh, I didn't see this post before ....
Can you help me find it ?

I noticed that the shaking puppies are (more and more) a problem in the US lines
Do I get this right ??

[marjolein]

euroweims.proboards44.com/index.cgi?board=health&action=display&thread=1114846130

[marjolein]

euroweims.proboards44.com/index.cgi?board=health&action=display&thread=1105359344

[Kobie]

thanks Marjolein !!!

[anne]

Kobie,

It is VERY COMMON in the American lines and there has been a push recently to get this syndrome studied. The WCA matched donations to get an official study done on it. There is also an official test breeding recently done in order to collect DNA and help identify a marker.

Many here know of the most prominent dogs used here that are known carriers, and I will tell you that it is hard to find an American dog without these bloodlines somewhere in the pedigree. They are in show lines, as far as I know are not in our field lines.

They believe that the inheritance is autosomal recessive, and I'll guess that that is what the study outcome is going to show. There are enough breeders here that have been tracking this and known carriers that it's a pretty good guess.

If you want more information I have some, but can also put you in touch with the people who were instrumental in getting this study funded. Please write me privately at [e-mail]

Anne