Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy in Dogs

Category: Nervous System & Behavioral
Breeds documented: 1
Published sources: 3

Overview

Brief, sudden muscle jerks are the main seizure type in this inherited epilepsy. In this inherited epilepsy, described in Rhodesian Ridgebacks, the jerks often occur while a young dog is relaxed, drowsy or falling asleep. Some dogs also develop seizures that involve the whole body. Visual stimulation can trigger seizures in a subset of affected dogs.

Signs to watch for

Sudden, shock-like jerks of the body or legs
Repeated head nods or facial twitches
Jerks while resting, drowsy or falling asleep
Seizures triggered by bright or flickering light in some dogs
Seizures involving the whole body

Signs usually begin young; the original study reported onset from six weeks to eighteen months.

Emergency Call a vet now if your dog has a seizure.

Diagnosis and tests

A vet assesses the episodes and checks for other causes of seizures. Video combined with EEG, a recording of the brain's electrical activity, can show whether jerks are epileptic. DNA analysis can detect the associated DIRAS1 variant in Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

Breeds with documented risk

1 breed

By breed size

1 Large

Rhodesian RidgebackLarge · Hound 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.