Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome

Last updated April 02, 2024

Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (CECS), previously known as Spike's Disease, is a hereditary dog disease initially found in Border Terriers and has since been documented in many other dog breeds including Labrador Retrievers and Chihuahuas, with similarities to canine epilepsy. Its cause is unknown.^[1] In 2015, a study concluded: "Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome in Border Terrier's is a gluten-sensitive movement disorder triggered and perpetuated by gluten and thus responsive to a gluten-free diet."^[2]

Symptoms

CECS can first occur at any age between a few months and 7 years.^[3]

Symptoms include:

cramping (often followed by exaggerated stretching)
staggering
trembling
dizziness
unusually slow or methodical walking
borborygmus and/or intestinal cramping
muscle contractions

Dogs typically remain alert and responsive during episodes that can last from a few seconds to several minutes. In some dogs, one or two episodes are seen followed by long-term or permanent remission. In others, episodes may be frequent or progressive in frequency and duration.

Diagnosis

The neurological symptoms CECS are of a paroxysmal dyskinesia, which is a type of movement disorder.^[4] This type of movement disorder can be difficult to differentiate from epilepsy,^[5] with the main difference being that, unlike during an epileptic seizure, there is no impairment of the consciousness during an episode of CECS.^[5] Between episodes of CECS, the dog has normal movement.^[3]

Treatment

Gluten free diet is an effective treatment for CECS.^[2] Other diets and some drugs might also help with some of the symptoms.

Drugs

Diazepam and Clorazepate Dipotassium have been used successfully to alleviate cramping in some cases, but have also failed to help in other cases. Scopolamine (Buscopan) rectal suppositories or injections and Gaviscon have been used to alleviate intestinal symptoms.^[6]

Diet

Some owners have had varying levels of success with dietary changes. In most cases, a gluten-free and/or raw diet is recommended, while some recommend avoiding grains, dairy, eggs, soy, beef, chicken, corn, rice, and artificial flavours and colours.^[7] Other owners report success with commercial hypoallergenic formula feeds.

History

In 1994, Diana Plange, a German veterinarian and Border Terrier Breeder (Malepartus) received several phone calls from anxious Border Terrier owners whose dogs Ms. Plange had bred. They were observing epileptic-like problems in their dogs. However, many of the presentations did not fit the classic form of epilepsy. So after taking a further health survey, she decided to give up on her own breeding program and started working to find the cause of this condition, which was epileptoid in character. Ms. Plange arranged to have more than 100 Border Terriers examined thoroughly in her own surgery as well as in specialists' clinics. Many of the affected dogs showed abnormal liver function which resulted in much of the early focus implicating hepatic disorders as the cause of the newly discovered disease. However, after the number of symptomatic dogs with apparently normal livers increased, the concentration shifted to diet in early 1999, as through thorough investigation she found that the symptoms were responding to a nutritional change. It soon became clear that the condition must have a genetic (hereditary) background.

Ms. Plange wrote some articles discussing this disorder which were placed on her web site and published in different European dog magazines, as well as some veterinary magazines. As a result, there were more responses from Border Terrier owners and some veterinarians who felt their dogs were exhibiting these symptoms, not only from Germany and other parts of Europe, but from all over the world as well.

Samples of liver tissues, blood and urine were sent to several laboratories including the U.S. Thereupon, a worldwide cooperation among interested scientist started, and quite a number of people were involved. It was Erica Jabroer-ter Lüün from the Netherlands who stepped in at an early stage of Mrs. Plange`s investigations and in an enormous effort not only built up what can easily be recognized as the best Border Terrier database worldwide, but together with Mrs. Plange, coordinated research at several European universities.

Ms. Plange came to the U.S. Border Terrier list in early 1999 inquiring about the BT's in America and asking if any dogs had unusual epileptic-like symptoms, because a number of suspected carriers were imported from GB to the USA. Ms. Kris Blake contacted Ms. Plange and found that the symptoms of her dog ‘Breaker’ were identical to those of the dogs in Germany and that his pedigree contained dogs who also suffered from the disorder. Then, with Kris Blake struggling with this unusual medical problem in her dog, the problem became recognized in the United States, too. In 1996, Joke Miedema, a Dutch Border Terrier owner, acquired a puppy named Roughmoor Blue Spike (known as Spike). About a year later, the dog began exhibiting strange symptoms, starting with apparent absentness and occasional staggering. In 2000, Spike began exhibiting more severe symptoms including cramping and epileptic-like fits; tests performed at Utrecht University in 2002 were Prof Rothuizen already had examined Border Terriers from Germany, determined that the dog did not have epilepsy.^[8]

By the end of 2001, Spike was having 2–3 epileptoid episodes per week. Owners of cramping dogs began to connect via Internet groups, including a support group started by Miedema; the condition came to be known in NL as "Spike's Disease."^[9] In science it is customary for the person who first described a condition to also give it a name. So in the spring of 2003 Diana Plange decided to give the condition a descriptive name: Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome.

Related Research Articles

The Scottish Terrier, popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and West Highland White terriers. They are an independent and rugged breed with a wiry outer coat and a soft dense undercoat. The first Earl of Dumbarton nicknamed the breed "the diehard". According to legend, the Earl of Dumbarton gave this nickname because of the Scottish Terriers' bravery, and Scotties were also the inspiration for the name of his regiment, The Royal Scots, Dumbarton’s Diehard. Scottish Terriers were originally bred to hunt vermin on farms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavalier King Charles Spaniel</span> British breed of toy dog spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) is a British breed of toy dog of spaniel type. Four colours are recognised: Blenheim, tricolour (black/white/tan), black and tan, and ruby; the coat is smooth and silky. The lifespan is usually between eight and twelve years.

The West Highland White Terrier, commonly known as the Westie, is a breed of dog from Scotland with a distinctive white harsh coat with a somewhat soft white undercoat. It is a medium-sized terrier, although with longer legs than other Scottish breeds of terrier. It has a white double coat of fur which fills out the dog's face, giving it a rounded appearance.

The Border Terrier is a British breed of small, rough-coated terrier. It originates from the area of the Anglo-Scottish border, and shares ancestry with the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Bedlington Terrier from the same area. The dogs were traditionally used in fox-hunting, and worked with the Border Hunt in Northumberland.

Phosphofructokinase deficiency is a rare muscular metabolic disorder, with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern.

Skin disorders are among the most common health problems in dogs, and have many causes. The condition of a dog's skin and coat is also an important indicator of its general health. Skin disorders of dogs vary from acute, self-limiting problems to chronic or long-lasting problems requiring life-time treatment. Skin disorders may be primary or secondary in nature, making diagnosis complicated.

The health of dogs is a well studied area in veterinary medicine.

Epilepsy in animals is a group of neurological disorders characterized by seizures, caused by uncontrolled, abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain. They can start and stop very abruptly and last any amount of time from a few seconds to a few minutes. Canine epilepsy is often genetic but epilepsy in cats and other pets is rarer, likely because there is no hereditary component to epilepsy in these animals.

Scottie Cramp is a disease in Scottish Terriers causing spasms and hyperflexion and hyperextension of the legs. It is caused by a disorder in serotonin metabolism that causes a deficiency of available serotonin. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.

White dog shaker syndrome causes full body tremors in small dog breeds. It is most common in West Highland White Terriers, Maltese, Bichons, Poodles, and other small dogs. There is a sudden onset of the disease at one to two years of age. It is more likely to occur, and the symptom is worse during times of stress. Nystagmus, difficulty walking, and seizures may occur in some dogs.

First reported in 1980 by J. Tuttle in a scientific article, feline hyperesthesia syndrome, also known as rolling skin disease, is a complex and poorly understood syndrome that can affect domestic cats of any age , breed, and sex. The syndrome may also be referred to as feline hyperaesthesia syndrome, apparent neuritis, atypical neurodermatitis, psychomotor epilepsy, pruritic dermatitis of Siamese, rolling skin syndrome, and twitchy cat disease. The syndrome usually appears in cats after they've reached maturity, with most cases first arising in cats between one and five years old.

CECS may refer to:

"Love Is A Weapon of Choice" is the sixth episode of the second season of the HBO comedy series Flight of the Conchords. This episode first aired in the United States on February 22, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rage syndrome</span> Neurological problem in dogs

Rage syndrome is a rare seizure disorder in dogs, characterized by explosive aggression.

Separation anxiety in dogs describes a condition in which a dog exhibits distress and behavior problems when separated from its handler. Separation anxiety typically manifests within minutes of departure of the handler. It is not fully understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others do not. The diagnosis process often leads to a misdiagnosis as it is difficult to differentiate from other medical and behavioral problems. The behavior may be secondary to an underlying medical condition. With chronic stress, impairments to physiological health can manifest. Increased stress in the dog alters hormone levels, thus decreasing natural immunity to various health problems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canine pancreatitis</span>

Canine pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that can occur in two very different forms. Acute pancreatitis is sudden, while chronic pancreatitis is characterized by recurring or persistent form of pancreatic inflammation. Cases of both can be considered mild or severe.

Brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome (BAOS) is a pathological condition affecting short nosed dogs and cats which can lead to severe respiratory distress. There are four different anatomical abnormalities that contribute to the disease, all of which occur more commonly in brachycephalic breeds: an elongated soft palate, stenotic nares, a hypoplastic trachea, and everted laryngeal saccules. Because all of these components make it more difficult to breathe in situations of exercise, stress, or heat, an animal with these abnormalities may be unable to take deep or fast enough breaths to blow off carbon dioxide. This leads to distress and further increases respiratory rate and heart rate, creating a vicious cycle that can quickly lead to a life-threatening situation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idiopathic head tremor in dogs</span> Animal disorder of unknown origin

Idiopathic head tremors (IHT) in dogs are characterized by involuntary lateral or vertical movement of the head. Idiopathic head tremors are ordinarily considered a benign disease characterized by uncontrollable head tremors of spontaneous initiation and cessation. These head tremors are considered idiopathic because the cause is not apparent, but nervous system disorders, seizures and head injuries may be significant contributors of idiopathic head tremors in dogs. Head tremors are usually not associated with any other symptoms, although some dogs have other signs of disease in addition to head tremors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly biting</span>

Fly biting refers to a type of dog behavior: episodes of intentional focused biting at the air, as if the dog is biting at imaginary flies. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels appear to be predisposed to fly catching syndrome, though it has been documented in many different breeds and mixes. Age of onset is varied.

References

↑ "CECS Info". Archived from the original on 2004-12-05. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
1 2 Lowrie, M. (2015). "The Clinical and Serological Effect of a Gluten-Free Diet in Border Terriers with Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome". Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 29 (6): 1564–1568. doi:10.1111/jvim.13643. PMC 4895653 . PMID 26500168.
1 2 Thomas, WB (2017). "Chapter 31: Movement disorders". In Ettinger, SJ; Feldman, EC; Cote, E (eds.). Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (8th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 9780323312394.
↑ Urkasemsin, G; Olby, NJ (November 2014). "Canine paroxysmal movement disorders". The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice. 44 (6): 1091–102. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.07.006. PMID 25441627.
1 2 Volk, HA (2015). "Chapter 7: Fit, collapse or strange episodes. Canine epileptoide cramping syndrome". In Maddison, JE; Volk, HA; Church, DB (eds.). Clinical Reasoning in Small Animal Practice. John Wiley & Sons. p. 102. ISBN 9781118741696.
↑ CECS Treatment/Control
↑ "Spike's Disease: Foodl". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
↑ "Spike's Disease". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
↑ "Spike's Disease". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-08-26.