Bouvier des Flandres dysphagia-associated muscular dystrophy in Dogs

Category: Muscle
Breeds documented: 1
Published sources: 3

Overview

Progressive damage to muscles involved in swallowing can make eating and drinking difficult. This form of muscular dystrophy has been reported in related Bouvier des Flandres dogs. Food or water may come back up because it does not move normally through the throat and food pipe. Material entering the airway can cause a serious lung infection called aspiration pneumonia.

Signs to watch for

Difficulty swallowing food or water
Food or water coming back up after swallowing
Difficulty taking food into the mouth

Reports include puppies and adults; some swallowing problems were noticed by 8 weeks.

When to get help Contact a vet promptly for difficulty swallowing or repeated regurgitation.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets assess the swallowing process with moving X-ray images taken while the dog swallows a contrast material. Electrical testing of the muscles can help identify abnormal function. Examination of muscle tissue under a microscope is important for confirming muscular dystrophy and distinguishing it from other causes of swallowing difficulty.

Breeds with documented risk

1 breed

By breed size

1 Large

Bouvier Des FlandresLarge · Herding Group

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.