Paroxysmal Dyskinesia
Dyskinesias are disorders of movement in conscious individuals resulting from dysfunction of the central nervous system. Dyskinesias are characterized by episodic, usually self-limiting, abnormal, and/or involuntary movements.
Age of Onset: 3 months to 9 years (2-3 years of age most common)
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Clinical signs occur sporadically at variable frequencies. Most commonly episodes occur while the animal is relaxed, however episodes can also occur when the animal is excited or can be elicited by exercise. In the same animal, episodes can have varying presentations affecting different muscle groups at different times. Each episode can have varying length, ranging from a few minutes to more than 2 hours.
In between episodes, the animal has no other neurologic abnormalities
Clinical signs occur sporadically at variable frequencies. Most commonly episodes occur while the animal is relaxed, however episodes can also occur when the animal is excited or can be elicited by exercise. In the same animal, episodes can have varying presentations affecting different muscle groups at different times. Each episode can have varying length, ranging from a few minutes to more than 2 hours.
In between episodes, the animal has no other neurologic abnormalities
Clinical Signs:
Behavioral/Mental Awareness
Maintenance of consciousness during episodes
Attention seeking
Lip smacking
Lip dystonia
Posture and Appearance
Kyphosis
High-stepping gait
"Prayer" posture
Sternal recumbency
"Showing teeth"
Head turn
Head tilt
Retrocollis
Movement
Dystonia (limbs held in full or partial flexion for several seconds)
Choreoathetosis (exaggerated rapid flexion and extension of the limbs)
Muscle fasciculations
Licking and biting movements
Ataxia
Irregular head tremors
Truncal sway (titubation)
Shifting limb dystonia
Cranial Nerves
Facial dystonia (unilateral grimacing expression)
Ptyalism without foaming
Other
Vomiting
Behavioral/Mental Awareness
Maintenance of consciousness during episodes
Attention seeking
Lip smacking
Lip dystonia
Posture and Appearance
Kyphosis
High-stepping gait
"Prayer" posture
Sternal recumbency
"Showing teeth"
Head turn
Head tilt
Retrocollis
Movement
Dystonia (limbs held in full or partial flexion for several seconds)
Choreoathetosis (exaggerated rapid flexion and extension of the limbs)
Muscle fasciculations
Licking and biting movements
Ataxia
Irregular head tremors
Truncal sway (titubation)
Shifting limb dystonia
Cranial Nerves
Facial dystonia (unilateral grimacing expression)
Ptyalism without foaming
Other
Vomiting
Central nervous system, likely motor coordination/control regions
Unknown
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