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Chinook Seizure Videos
What does a Chinook "seizure" look like?
Whether ultimately identified as a seizure or a movement disorder, every Chinook owner and breeder as well as those professionals working with the Chinook breed, should be aware that Chinooks
have an unusual disorder which is currently being researched at
the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine.
Our vets, trainers, and boarding kennels need to be informed of this condition should a Chinook "seizure" happen to a Chinook in their care.
It is helpful for anyone working with the Chinook breed to know what a Chinook seizure looks like.
RA Packer, DP O’Brien, JR Coates, GS Johnson, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
These videos show four different Chinooks experiencing a Chinook-type episode: each has its similarities and its differences. For more information on the Chinook "seizure" condition visit these research articles:
The Chinook shows leg curling, with both front limbs involved. There is pronounced head and neck trembling. The Chinook is alert, follows the child with her head, tries to get up, and at the end of the video she does get herself up on her feet.
This Chinook shows more right side involvement than left side - seen in other Chinooks, one side may have more involvement. There is the distinctive leg curling and head trembling pattern, there is panting, and right eye involvement as well. This Chinook is alert and is able to right herself from lying on her side to lying on her chest. This particular episode lasted several hours from start to finish.
This is an example of a mild Chinook-type episode - with front and rear leg curling, slight head trembling, and licking behaviors. The Chinook is alert and looking around, responsive to voices, and he attempts to move forward. This episode lasted just a few minutes and the Chinook was back up and steady on his feet, and looking for his dinner.
This video shows a Chinook having an episode that is somewhat different from the other Chinooks viewed on this page. The Chinook is still alert, he moves onto his side, pants heavily, but the rear leg paddling is fast and more repetitive than the other dogs seen in the videos. The front limb involvement does not show as much curling, but shows rigidity in both limbs - the leg movements being more similar to what is seen in some grand mal presentations rather than Chinook-type episodes.
Chinook "seizures" may be severe or mild, the same Chinook may have both types. Triggers are varied: exercise, excitement, arousal from sleep, vaccination (distemper) and feeding time are some of the triggers noted. A Chinook may have a single observed seizure in a long life-time spanning 14 years, or may have several episodes over the course of a few years, or several years, and then no longer have them. Episodes may last just a few minutes to one hour or more. There are Chinooks who experience just grand mal seizures, Chinooks with just the Chinook-type, and some Chinooks who experience both grand mal and Chinook-type episodes. The researchers at the University of Missouri are working with the Chinook breed to help correctly identify this disorder and to help find the genes responsible in order to develop testing.
If you have a video to share, or for more information, please contact the folks below:
