Dysautonomia (DIS-auto-NO-mia)
is a condition characterized by a malfunctioning autonomic nervous system-the
system responsible for involuntary functions like the contraction of smooth
muscles, the heart rate, regulation of the pupil size, and so on.
Dogs suffering from the disease typically have dilated pupils that don't
respond to light, decreased tear production, and elevated third eyelids.
They may also suffer from vomiting or regurgitation due to decreased motility
in the digestive tract.
In the majority of cases, the disease is incurable and fatal.
Dysautonomia was first documented in horses in the United Kingdom in the
early 1900s. "Grass sickness," as the equine version is known, is still
a problem.
In 1982, researchers at the University of Bristol first diagnosed dysautonomia
in a cat. What at first appeared to be an anomaly soon became an epidemic,
with several hundred cats being diagnosed with feline dysautonomia across
the United Kingdom and Europe.
Cases of canine dysautonomia have been diagnosed throughout Europe and
in the United States. In most areas, it's a sporadic occurrence. But for
reasons that remain unclear, the highest incidence has been in Kansas and
Missouri.
Missouri's first dysautonomia case was diagnosed in a cat in 1986, and
only a handful of other feline cases have been documented.
The cause is unknown, and no one is sure why the incidence is so much higher
in Kansas and Missouri.
What researchers do know is that there are some common threads in the histories
of dogs afflicted with the disease.
The study confirmed suspicions that rural dogs tend to have a greater incidence
of the disease. When those afflicted with dysautonomia were compared to
rural control dogs, the affected dogs were more likely to have access to
pasture land, farm ponds, and cattle, and to have consumed wildlife.
Dogs with dysautonomia were also generally young, according to the study-the
median age was about 18 months. The disease occurred most frequently from
February to April, with only a few cases identified during the summer or
early fall.
The dogs who appear to be at high risk are mostly free-roaming dogs out
in the country.
For more information:
Canine dysautonomia site at the University
of Missouri
reprinted with kind permission from Roger Ross DVM
The above information is simply informational.
It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist
you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian
for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
