Siberian Husky - Shaking Puppy Syndrome, Type 1 (SPS1)
About the condition.
Shaking puppy syndrome refers to tremors in puppies that are caused by neurologic disease rather than a metabolic problem (like low blood sugar). Shaking puppy syndrome is not a single disorder but rather a general name given to a variety of disorders that cause similar clinical signs. Together with the University of California Davis, we have recently identified a genetic variant associated with one form of shaking puppy syndrome in Siberian Huskies, now termed Shaking Puppy Syndrome, Type 1 (SPS1).
Signs of SPS1 first become apparent at about 2 weeks of age when affected puppies begin to ambulate. Clinical signs are characterized by difficulty walking, tremors, and incoordination; these signs often resolve within a few weeks. Unfortunately, unlike most forms of shaking puppy syndrome in dogs, all SPS1 affected dogs evaluated to date experienced sudden death prior to 2 years of age.
We now offer genetic testing for SPS1, which allows owners to determine their dog’s status for this variant (clear, carrier, or affected/susceptible) in order to guide future breeding decisions and to more definitively diagnose affected dogs. Based on current data, SPS1 is most likely inherited in a fully penetrant autosomal recessive manner. Autosomal recessive means that two copies of the mutation are required to show signs of disease; fully penetrant means that all genetically affected/susceptible dogs will show obvious clinical signs in their lifetime.