GENERALIZED TREMORS IN DOGS - 24 CASES (1984-1995)

Objective - To characterize clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment outcome for dogs with generalized tremors. Design - Retr ospective case series. Animals - 12 white purebred and 12 nonwhite mix ed-breed and purebred dogs. Procedure - Medical records of dogs examin ed for tremors between January 1984 and July 1995 were reviewed. Histo ry, signalment, abnormalities on physical and neurologic examinations, results of diagnostic testing, and diagnosis were recorded for each d og. Results were divided into the following 3 categories on the basis of the cause of the tremors: inflammatory, noninflammatory, and idiopa thic. Cause was determined by results of CSF analyses or a history of toxin exposure. Results - The only noninflammatory cause of generalize d tremors identified in these dogs was mycotoxin ingestion. Steroid-re sponsive tremor syndrome had developed in 22 of 24 dogs, half of which had abnormal results of CSF analyses. Most dogs were young adults bet ween 1 and 5 years old. More than half of the dogs were nonwhite mixed -breeds and all weighed < 15 kg (33 Ib). Eighty percent of the dogs re sponded to immunosuppressive treatment within 3 days. Clinical Implica tions - Inflammatory and noninflammatory causes for generalized tremor s in dogs result in similar clinical signs, so a logical diagnostic an d treatment approach is needed. Steroid-responsive tremor syndrome sho uld be considered in small-to medium-breed, young adult dogs, regardle ss of coat color. A rapid and complete response to immunosuppressive t reatment is expected.