Introduction

• A wide range of systemic diseases can affect the neuromuscular system.
• Many infectious agents are more common in certain geographical locations, therefore knowledge of local diseases and a travel history are important.
• Many endocrinologic disorders, endogenous and iatrogenic, result in muscle and likely peripheral nerve disease.
• In most affected dogs with systemic disease, muscle involvement may be an incidental finding or may be subclinical. In other cases, muscle weakness or stiffness may be the presenting clinical sign and lead to the diagnosis of an underlying endocrine, metabolic, infectious or neoplastic disorder.

Specific systemic diseases causing neuromuscular weakness

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Lake-Bakaar G A, Johnson E G, Griffiths L G (2012) Aortic thrombosis in dogs: 31 cases (2000-2010). JAVMA 241 (7), 910-915 PubMed.
• Winter R L, Sedacca C D, Adams A et al (2012) Aortic thombosis in dogs: presentation, therapy, and outcome in 26 cases. J Vet Cardiol 14 (2), 333-342 PubMed.
• Rossmeisl J H Jr. (2010) Resistance of the peripheral nervous system to the effects of chronic canine hypothyroidism. J Vet Intern Med 24 (4), 875-881 PubMed.
• Rossmeisl J H, Duncan R B, Inzana K D et al (2009) Longitudinal study of the effects of chronic hypothyroidism on skeletal muscle in dogs. Am J Vet Res 70 (7), 879-889 PubMed.
• Inzana K D (2004) Paraneoplastic neuromuscular disorder. Vet Clin N Anim Pract 34 (6), 1453-1467 PubMed.
• Cuddon P A (2002) Acquired canine peripheral neuropathies. Vet Clin N Anim Pract 32 (1), 207-249 PubMed.
• Platt S R (2002) Neuromuscular complications in endocrine and metabolic disorders. Vet Clin N Anim Pract 32 (1), 125-146 PubMed.
• LeCouteur R A, Dow S W, Sisson A F (1989) Metabolic and endocrine myopathies of dogs and cats. Semin Vet Med Surg Small Anim 4 (2), 146-155 PubMed.

Further Reading 

• The Webinar Vet - Neuromuscular disease: a case based approach