What Is Your Neurologic Diagnosis?

Bruxism in awake dogs as a clinical sign of forebrain disease: 4 cases

“…Similar to humans, AB also has been reported as a clinical sign in dogs with central nervous system degenerative conditions such as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), 15‐17 and in a miniature poodle with globoid cell leukodystrophy 18 . Border collies with NCL appeared to manifest episodic AB but also episodic jaw chomping and limb myoclonus among other behavioral signs, motor abnormalities and loss of vision.…”

“…16 The authors hypothesized that AB along with night restlessness and barking could be associated with the atrophied thalamus and basal nuclei detected on MRI. 16 Bruxism in the awake state also has been reported in Dalmatians with NCL along with other behavioral signs such as aggression, cannibalism, and self-mutilation. 17 In the dogs in our cases series, the presence of a degenerative condition such as NCL or globoid cell leukodystrophy was considered unlikely, because 3 dogs were >4 years of age and had a relatively recent onset of clinical signs, and the remaining dog had necropsy findings that excluded the presence of NCL or globoid cell leukodystrophy.…”

“…A Terrier-Poodle-cross with NCL manifested progressive AB which was exaggerated by stress, along with vestibular signs, head tremor, behavioral signs, urinary and defecation accidents, night restlessness and barking. 16 The dog underwent MRI of the brain which identified dilatation of the lateral, third and fourth ventricles, cerebral and cerebellar atrophy including decreased size of thalamus and basal nuclei and irregular shape and atrophy of the interthalamic adhesion. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis was diagnosed on histopathology.…”

“…2 In veterinary medicine, terminology describing teeth and jaw movements has been used inconsistently. The term bruxism has been used accurately to describe teeth grinding in case reports of dogs with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), [15][16][17] globoid cell leukodystrophy, 18 corpus callosum abnormality with hypernatremia 30 and carbofuran intoxication. 11 Teeth grinding 13 or jaw chattering 14 have been reported in idiopathic hypersialosis.…”

“…Border collies with NCL appeared to manifest episodic AB but also episodic jaw chomping and limb myoclonus among other behavioral signs, motor abnormalities and loss of vision. A Terrier‐Poodle‐cross with NCL manifested progressive AB which was exaggerated by stress, along with vestibular signs, head tremor, behavioral signs, urinary and defecation accidents, night restlessness and barking 16 . The dog underwent MRI of the brain which identified dilatation of the lateral, third and fourth ventricles, cerebral and cerebellar atrophy including decreased size of thalamus and basal nuclei and irregular shape and atrophy of the interthalamic adhesion.…”