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MUSCLE
CONTRACTURE IN DOGS
The Gracilis
muscle
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MUSCLE CONTRACTURE IN DOGS - The Gracilis muscle
Note for Pet Owners: This information is provided
by Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as
only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment
that is most appropriate for your pet
Description
Muscle contracture can occur at any site in the body, but there is a
recognised condition involving contracture of the gracilis muscle in dogs.
Surgical treatment has been reported to result in dramatic improvement in
100% of cases immediately post-operatively but there is recurrence in less
than 6 months..
Cause
The cause is not known.
Breed Occurrence
The disorder is seen primarily in German Shepherd Dogs and other large
breeds. It occurs in adults (2-11 years of age, mean 4.7 years).
Signs
Clinical signs include a chronic, gradual onset progressive hindleg lameness
resulting in a short stride, outward rotation of the hock and inward turning
of the foot and stifle. Usually it is not possible to fully extend the
stifle because of the lack of stretch in the affected muscle.
The muscle may be painful when palpated and it feels atrophied and like
a firm tendinous band running from the pelvis to the caudal and medial stifle.
-
Complications
No satisfactory long term treatment
Diagnosis
Physical examination of gait and muscle .
Treatment
Surgical resection of the tendon has been reported to result in a dramatic
improvement in lameness in 100% of cases immediately post-operatively
- but there is recurrence in less than 6 months..
Various medical treatments have been tried including corticosteroids,
colchicine, D-penicillamine and NSAIDs but without success.
Prognosis
Guarded.
Long term problems
Abnormal gait with secondary biomechanical effects on other limbs.
reprinted
with kind permission from Mike Davies
