Shakey puppy syndrome

[toolebox 1,573]

Has any one had a litter of running dogs that have had this condition,its passed on from either the Sire or Dam,vet advice is do nothing and by 5/6 months old those that recover will show no signs of the syndrome,it appears to be due to very close breeding ,but Im not sure .It appears to effect a number of breeds ,but whippets and greyhounds are not mentioned on any lists Ive seen   .

Edited September 26, 2018 by toolebox

[skycat 6,174]

Interesting: I looked it up and watched a couple of videos after reading your post. I have seen the odd shiver in very young pups, but nothing remotely like true cases of shaking puppy syndrome. One thing I did read was that puppies grow out of it in 5-6 WEEKS, not months, as your vet said: but, that's only what I've read so one can't believe everything on the internet, eh! I'd do a bit more research, try and speak to a specialist neurologist to get a better prognosis. I can't see that a pup that wobbles and shakes really badly would thrive if it was bashing itself around until 6 months old.

 

[toolebox 1,573]

1 hour ago, skycat said:

Interesting: I looked it up and watched a couple of videos after reading your post. I have seen the odd shiver in very young pups, but nothing remotely like true cases of shaking puppy syndrome. One thing I did read was that puppies grow out of it in 5-6 WEEKS, not months, as your vet said: but, that's only what I've read so one can't believe everything on the internet, eh! I'd do a bit more research, try and speak to a specialist neurologist to get a better prognosis. I can't see that a pup that wobbles and shakes really badly would thrive if it was bashing itself around until 6 months old.

 

From what I've read ,there are two possible out comes depending on which area is effected & the key seems to be the age that the syndrome starts .Some pups were badly effected so I put them down ,atm I have 3 left,of which  two are only slightly effected (now 6 weeks old ).I wont breed from the bitch or pups nor will I pass them on to anybody else ,just going to see what happens for the next days ,weeks ,months .

[skycat 6,174]

I wish you the best of luck with them. Hopefully they'll make a full recovery. From what I read it seems to be a failure in development of part of the nervous system. Sounds as though you've made sensible decisions. Good luck.

[Neobliviscaris1776 1,998]

Have they been vaccinated or not? 

Normally food, medication or vaccines are where the truth is to be found with most things, and that goes for humans too

[toolebox 1,573]

3 hours ago, Neobliviscaris1776 said:

Have they been vaccinated or not? 

Normally food, medication or vaccines are where the truth is to be found with most things, and that goes for humans too

No not at this stage ,but going by the the time frame ,vet and the symptoms Im sure this is what they have ,Its the very first time Ive ever heard about it .A mutated gene seems to be the cause of lack of a white coating around the nerves called myelin .When this protective sheath is too thin, as in hypomyelination, the electrical impulses can get lost between nerves and cause the nerves and corresponding muscles to malfunction.

Edited September 26, 2018 by toolebox
add more facts

[toolebox 1,573]

Quick up date ,two of the pups have stopped shaking and that only leaves one and shes not that badly effected ,they are  gaining weight and are starting to play & chew  bones just like normal pups .early days yet ,but its a good sign .

[toolebox 1,573]

Ive had the best outcome possible,I was able to give the smallest bitch to a friend who is another full time rabbitter ,and I kept a lovey brindle bitch and a black dog with white toes.By the age of 9 weeks old all 3 pups had made a full recovery.The bitch at this point is faster than the dog but a little smaller ,I doubt either one will be any taller than the average whippet .They have spent their days chasing each other at high speed around tree stumps ,kennels etc up till now . I started the bitch yesterday and will take one each day till they are fully broken in ,at this stage they have got a lot to take in .The bitch has plenty of drive ,she not only shares the same color as her grandmother but the same no nonsense nature. 

Edited February 6, 2019 by toolebox

[South hams hunter 8,935]

Well done for persevering and hope they come good 

[SeanEdgo 29]

Yeah good on ya for sticking with them

[Moocher71 4,050]

Wish you all the best with them mate,and good on you for staying with them..atvb

[skycat 6,174]

That's excellent news. So pleased for you and the pups. You must be feeling so good after watching them come through this and become normal pups. Well done for having faith in them.

[toolebox 1,573]

No Bundy89 ,it appears while their bodies did not make enough white myelin  ,which is the coating that surrounds the nerves ,once the lucky ones  get to about 9-12 weeks old the body starts  make enough and they fully recover ,however if it affects the spine and liver they outlook is grim .I will see if I can upload some pictures ,they are very very fast and seem to be able to run pass and around objects with slit second timing,they are honing the act of chasing and catching on each other. I usually start to take pups out about 5/6 months old but that depends on breed as I like to have they all schooled by by 10-12 months old ,once I get they going well enough I run them one out around the long net .Even though I run a big pack of dogs I like to have several dogs trained to do the whole job of flushing ,chasing  and delivering to hand . 

Edited February 8, 2019 by toolebox

[toolebox 1,573]

Another up date ,all three pups have shown no signs of this problem since they were 2 months and all 3 are now working .I still have my two ,who have been lightly worked till now .Both weight about 50lb at 9 months old  ,I will measure them today.