5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Jillian Hall — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:15:33 GMT

Cool!

Must be nice to have a proper treatment plan rather than just a diagnosis that describes the symptoms but doesn't get you much closer to a solution.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Helen Bowes — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:28:33 GMT

Just to update everyone.

Spec has been seen at the referral centre. Turns out she has an exercise induce bronchoconstriction with eosinophilic bronchitis. This is basically the same as exercise induced asthma in humans. Starting on steriod and salbutamol inhalers with the hope she will be able to do more than 10mins of exercise in the long run.

So pleased I referred

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Helen Bowes — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:15:36 GMT

Have now spoken to a referral centre who think malignant hyperthermia is the most likely. Owner is considering going for referral as they are desperate for an answer

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:52:49 GMT

Raised temp could go with endocarditis, but the rest of this dog's history doesn't sound like it

Wynne

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Kate Dawes — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:21:17 GMT

We have a springer that we see regularly that has a similar problem,a suspected diagnosis of exercise induced hyperthermia was made (several years ago now). On discussion with our lab they advised measuring pre and post exercise lactate levels. They advised exercising to the point of exhaustion, which was a bit scary as the dog did collapse with a temp of 106 and we had to cool him down pretty rapidly. Pre and post exercise lactate levels were hi in this dog, which apparently is very suggestive, if not diagnostic. As far as I can remember when he collapsed he was floppy rather than with muscle rigidity. Unfortunately there is no treatment, but the owner is very aware and manages it very well - not exercising in warm weather, and limiting exercise generally.

I would advise speaking to your lab or a medicine specialist.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:34:49 GMT

[quote user="Helen Bowes"] Am considering an echo to make sure no underlying heart disease although she has no murmur and HR at start was 88 and during exercise was 120-140.[/quote]

Not sure you can tie raised temperature and a bad heart.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Helen Bowes — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:28:54 GMT

Update on the case.

One correction - she is a full springer not a cross

Saw her yesterday. Took bloods prior to exercise for haem and biochem, all results within acceptable normal limits.

Temp on arrival was 39.3C after an hours journey in a car in 20C heat. Ran her for 5 mins but not a full speed. Temp increased to 39.9C

Then ran her for a further 5 mins with another dog and tennis ball. Her temp jumped to 41.6C. Decided to abandon at this stage and took in her to cool her off in a shower. At this temp she was starting to seek shade and lie down.

According to the owner when she collapses she goes flaccid and is unable to lift herself up and is panting furiously. Indeed, when she was with me yesterday after just 10 mins of play she was heavily panting, much more so that the other dog who we played with for a further 5 mins after stopping Spec.

She would not urinate after so sent O home with urine specimen pot. She sent me a photo of the urine which was normal in colour.

Have adv O not to exercise the dog which she says will be difficult as mentally she needs to be worked.

I am running out of ideas as she doesn't seem to fit anything. Am considering an echo to make sure no underlying heart disease although she has no murmur and HR at start was 88 and during exercise was 120-140. She seems to best fit exercise induced collapse but is the wrong breed. Muscle flaccidity is wrong for malignant hyperthermia (muscle usually rigid with this). No myoglobinuria as far as I can tell post exercise as you would expect with PKF. Plus this collapse and hyperthermia ONLY occurs with exercise never with any other form of stress like kennels, vet etc.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Luciano Nebiante PGCertSAS — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:50:40 GMT

[quote user="Richard Carter"]

Just seen my first case of PFK deficiency in springer - presentation collapsing/ weak on hind quarters after very mild exercise. Temp very slightly up at 40C. Within 30 min urinating haemoglobin in spectacular amounts. when looked at blood smear found strong regen RBC including normoblasts yet the PCV was normal low so had obviously been having previous sub clinical episodes. Mucous membranes normal colour but serum on blood sample interesting colour. Making me revise the other exertional myopathies I have seen over the years

[/quote]

As suggested by Richard could be PFK deficiency. And rhabdomyolysis could be developed.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Richard Carter — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:56:03 GMT

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Glen McIntosh — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:24:50 GMT

Could "hunting dog hypoglycaemia" be a possibility?

Sorry - have reread your post and can see that you have ruled this out.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

plantagenet — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:02:28 GMT

I have a case of what I have assumed is malignant hyperthermia in a springer. The dog has always been 'wobbly' after stress and got veryquite up tight at vaccinations. The last time I vaccinated - or did anything to it - the temp was 106 and rising. The owners manage it by avoiding all stress - no walks, food straight under its nose (no build up of packet noise) and certainly no visits to the vet. Two years down the line its seems a happier, cooler dog.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Utlendigur — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:46:49 GMT

Bradycardia and episodic collapse would hint at addisons but that wouldn't explain the hyperthermia. I suppose other ddx would be insulinoma (insulin release can be episodic so it may be worth an insulin glucose ratio even though she had normal glucose), cardiac, myasthenia, myopathy. There was a letter in Vet Rec a few years ago recruiting dogs to a study on episodic collapse in working gundogs which I think was being run at Edinburgh, I'm not sure if it ever got off the ground as the general response of various long distance running vets was along the lines of... what do you expect if the dog's running for hours without food, they're probably "hitting the wall" - check the glucose. A quick google of hyperthermia and spaniel produced quite a few hits so there may be an inherited malignant hyperthermia in the breed.

I've also come across this but I'm not sure whether it would work with a typical spaniel coat http://www.caninespirit.co.uk/master_products/swamp-cooler

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Laurence Webb — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:30:20 GMT

Possibly bit of a long shot but if none of the above could it be PFK deficiency? Any +ve urine dipstick for haemoglobin/myoblobin following episodes? Just thinking of the Springer aspect, although I think it's a recessive gene so less likely in a cross breed.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

katja wagner — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:22:54 GMT

could exercise induced collapse be a possible diff diag.? I had a similar case ,labrador retriever from usa,performed all possible work up in house then refered for 24hours ecg without abnor. finaly diagnosed as exercise induced collapse ,can be hereditary in some breed ,not sure about sprocker. dog is fine but needs restricted excercise.

katja

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

Simon Neuhoff — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:49:11 GMT

Interestingly Helen a friend was chatting to me about a very similar sounding case over the weekend - after much workup at two referral practices they are so far none the wiser! I don't have all the details but it was a working dog, seemingly completely healthy but collapses after 6-7 minutes of work with marked hyperthermia. Currently they have sort of admitted defeat and "retired" the dog to pet status and it seems to cope ok with normal life.

Re: 5yo FN Sprocker with episodic collapse

ilanit — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:41:17 GMT

A heart problem would be my first bet, for example AV-blockage?

Myasthenia gravis, but that's maybe a bit far fetched.

Or maybe some upper airway problem obstruction which could explain the high temperature?