Hypomyelination
Hypomyelination is a neurological disorder causing muscle tremors and movement difficulties.
Key Signs
Action tremors, Locomotory difficulties
Age of Onset
At birth
Present at birth
Inheritance
Autosomal Recessive
For autosomal recessive disorders, dogs with two copies of the variant are at risk of developing the condition. Dogs with one copy of the variant are considered carriers and are usually not at risk of developing the disorder. However, carriers of some complex variants grouped in this category may be associated with a low risk of developing the disorder. Individuals with one or two copies may pass the disorder-associated variant to their puppies if bred.
Likelihood of the Condition
Moderate-high likelihood
At risk dogs are likely to show signs of this disease in their lifetime.
What to Do
Here’s how to care for a dog with Hypomyelination
Partner with your veterinarian to make a plan regarding your dog’s well-being, including any insights provided through genetic testing. If your pet is at risk or is showing signs of this disorder, then the first step is to speak with your veterinarian.
For Veterinarians
Here’s what a vet needs to know about Hypomyelination
The onset of signs typically occurs at 1-2 weeks of age. A characteristic sign of hypomyelination is muscle tremor. The severity of the tremor can vary between individuals, however body tremors tend to worsen with activity (action tremor) and decline during rest. Affected dogs are able to walk, but they may have a "hopping-like movement of the hind legs. Affected puppies usually improve by 3-4 months of age, although some dogs may continue to exhibit a mild persistent tremor of the hind legs.
Treatment is supportive care and assistance with daily activities as needed depending on the severity of the dog's clinical signs.
For Breeders
Planning to breed a dog with this genetic variant?
There are many responsibilities to consider when breeding dogs. Regardless of test results it is important that your dog is in good general health and that you are in a position to care for the puppies if new responsible owners are not found. For first time or novice breeders, advice can be found at most kennel club websites.
This disease is autosomal recessive meaning that two copies of the mutation are needed for disease signs to occur. A carrier dog with one copy of the Hypomyelination mutation can be safely bred with a clear dog with no copies of the Hypomyelination mutation. About half of the puppies will have one copy (carriers) and half will have no copies of the Hypomyelination mutation. Puppies in a litter which is expected to contain carriers should be tested prior to breeding. Carrier to carrier matings are not advised as the resulting litter may contain affected puppies. Please note: It is possible that disease signs similar to the ones caused by the Hypomyelination mutation could develop due to a different genetic or clinical cause.
Technical Details
| Gene | FNIP2 |
|---|---|
| Variant | Deletion |
| Chromosome | 15 |
| Coordinate | 55,928,287 |
All coordinates reference CanFam3.1
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References & Credit
Credit to our scientific colleagues:
Pemberton, T. J., Choi, S., Mayer, J. A., Li, F. Y., Gokey, N., Svaren, J., … Duncan, I. D. (2014). A mutation in the canine gene encoding folliculin-interacting protein 2 (FNIP2) associated with a unique disruption in spinal cord myelination. Glia, 62(1), 39–51. View the article
