Muscular Dystrophy in dogs

Species: Dog
Condition: Muscular Dystrophy
Organ System: Nervous/sensory

A muscle weakness inherited from parents as a sex linked trait. Male dogs are usually affected, while females are merely the carriers of the gene. In rare cases females can also suffer from muscular dystrophy but in milder form. Symptoms appear at the age of 6 to 8 weeks. Puppies are reluctant to play and exercise, they drool excessively and have trouble swallowing. They are shaking, with abnormal gait and breathing difficulties. Unfortunately, there is no cure or effective treatment for this condition and once your vet confirms the diagnosis, life expectancy of the affected puppy is limited, depending on the severity of the symptoms.

Breeds exposed to Muscular Dystrophy – Research Reference
Alsatian Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
“Australian Shepherd Cross – (Rubin 1989
Basenji Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Golden Retriever Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Dachshund Cross – (Cuddon 2002a)
Labradoodle Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Doberman Pinscher Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Australian Kelpie Sheepdog Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Dobermann Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Labrador Retriever Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Alaskan Malamute Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Old English Sheepdog Cross – (ACVO Genetics Committee 2007)
“Norfolk Terrier Cross – (Rubin 1989
German Shepherd Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Shetland Sheepdog Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Doberman Pinscher – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Australian Kelpie Sheepdog – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
“Australian Shepherd – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database) & (Rubin 1989
English Springer Spaniel – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
German Shepherd – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Golden Retriever – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Shetland Sheepdog – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Kelpie – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Alaskan Malamute – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Basenji – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Dobermann – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Labradoodle – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Alsatian – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Golden Doodle (Groodle) – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Springer Spaniel – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Labrador Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
English Springer Spaniel Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Kelpie Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
“American Cocker Spaniel Cross – (Rubin 1989
Labrador – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Labrador Retriever – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Springer Spaniel Cross – University of Sydney (LIDA Dog Disease Database)
Old English Sheepdog – (ACVO Genetics Committee 2007)
Dachshund – (Cuddon 2002a)
“Norfolk Terrier – (Rubin 1989
“American Cocker Spaniel – (Rubin 1989

Disease Author
Dr Merliza Cabriles, Professor of Veterinary Medicine

To learn more about Muscular Dystrophy or any other condition we invite you to search this website. Even better, pick up the phone and call your vet. Your vet knows your pet better than anyone else and is a fountain of information.