Nemaline Myopathy in Dogs

Category: Muscle
Breeds documented: 1
Published sources: 5

Overview

This rare muscle disorder causes weakness and abnormal, rod-shaped structures inside muscle fibers. One inherited form has been linked to a change in NEB, a gene needed to make the muscle protein nebulin. In the family studied, affected puppies had widespread muscle loss but could still walk independently. Their weakness changed little over time, although other reported forms can follow a different course.

Signs to watch for

General muscle weakness
Tiring unusually quickly during activity
Muscle trembling
Visible loss of muscle around the neck and front legs

The inherited form described in an American Bulldog family began at about 2 months.

Emergency Call a vet now if your dog develops muscle weakness.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets investigate weakness with a physical assessment, blood tests and tests of muscle and nerve electrical activity. A muscle biopsy, meaning a small tissue sample examined under a microscope, can reveal the characteristic rods. A DNA test exists for the NEB variant described in the American Bulldog family.

Breeds with documented risk

1 breed

By breed size

1 Large

American BulldogLarge · Foundation Stock Service

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.