Exercise-Induced Collapse in Dogs

Category: Nervous System & Behavioral
Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Breeds documented: 15
Published sources: 6

Overview

Intense exercise can trigger a sudden loss of coordination and muscle strength in dogs with this inherited disorder. The back legs are often affected first, and weakness may spread until the dog cannot move. Between episodes, dogs can appear healthy and tolerate less strenuous activity. Episodes often resolve, but collapse can be life-threatening and needs urgent veterinary assessment.

Signs to watch for

Wobbling or losing coordination during intense exercise
Dragging the back legs
Weakness spreading from the back legs to the front legs
Collapse or inability to move

Signs can appear from five months of age as exercise becomes more demanding.

Emergency Go to an emergency vet now if your dog collapses during exercise.

Diagnosis and tests

UC Davis offers a DNA test for the DNM1 variant associated with this inherited form of exercise-induced collapse. The result can support a vet's diagnosis and identify carriers for breeding decisions. Dogs with two copies may develop collapse during intense activity; carriers have one copy and do not show this form of the disorder.

Breeds with documented risk

15 breeds

By breed size

3 Small
5 Medium
7 Large

Most popular breeds on this list

Labrador RetrieverLarge · Sporting Group
Pembroke Welsh CorgiSmall · Herding Group
Cocker SpanielSmall · Sporting Group
VizslaMedium · Sporting Group
Rhodesian RidgebackLarge · Hound Group
Chesapeake Bay RetrieverLarge · Sporting Group
Boykin SpanielMedium · Sporting Group
Old English SheepdogLarge · Herding Group

All 15 breeds, A to Z

Labrador Retriever

Old English Sheepdog

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Sources pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov omia.org

Rhodesian Ridgeback Source pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sheprador Source petmd.com
Standard Australian Labradoodle

Vizsla Source pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Inheritance

Autosomal recessive
A dog is affected only if it inherits two copies of the gene variant, one from each parent. A dog with one copy is a carrier: usually healthy, but able to pass the variant on. When two carriers are bred, on average one puppy in four is affected. A DNA test can tell clear, carrier and at-risk dogs apart.
As stated by OMIA
Autosomal recessive
As stated by UC Davis VGL

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.