Canine Chorea is a condition that causes muscle spasms. It can be associated with encephalitis and distemper in dogs. It is caused by muscles that have been weakened in the body, usually due to distemper or another underlying cause. Muscle spasms occur in the weakened areas, and can cause many issues in your pet's health. Certain cases of chorea can be fatal, so it is important to understand the symptoms of the condition.
What Causes Canine Chorea?
Chorea can be caused by various different underlying etiologies. Sometimes, chorea can be caused by an injury or severe blow. Intestinal parasites can also damage the organs of the digestive system, and cause chorea. These types of chorea are almost always curable. Chorea caused by distemper, on the other hand, does not have a good prognosis. In rare cases, chorea in canines can be caused by tainted vaccines. This type of chorea is generally a fatal condition.
Symptoms of Canine Chorea
Pet owners should look for the following signs and symptoms of chorea in their pets:
- Strange involuntary twitching of the muscles
- Muscle twitches all over body
- Head bobbing up and down
- Loss of strength
- Stiff limbs
- Inability to jump
- Facial twitching
- Head jerking
- Depression
- Twitching during sleep
As stated previously, chorea can be a potentially life-threatening condition. If you notice any classic signs of chorea in your pet, contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.
How Is Chorea in Dogs Treated?
Distemper often occurs in kennels, but canines that have been treated in the proper way for distemper are not as likely to get the disease than those who have been administered remedies that are actually too powerful.
If your pet has been diagnosed with chorea, the first thing to do is to make sure the pet is kept in general good health. Feeding the proper diet and looking after bowel habits are crucial. If worms are present in your pet, have them treated as soon as possible. Worms can cause severe damage to the nervous system and are especially harmful to dogs suffering from chorea.
If your pet shows signs of constipation, it is recommended you feed him a diet that contains one or more of:
- oatmeal
- broiled beef
- stale bread
- chopped raw beef
Feed your dog a condition pill to help the digestive tract function. Cod liver oil may also be given if your pet is showing signs of weakness or lack of energy.
Medications for chorea can be used, but the disease is slow to react to medicines. Pet owners should always be persistent with medications and treatments, as it is easy to give up when treatments don't work quickly. In addition, some cases of chorea are more curable than others.