Facial Myokymia With or Without Concurrent Neurological Deficits in Seven Dogs and Two Cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Comparative Neurology

Background:

• Myokymia, a peripheral nerve hyperexcitability, presents challenges in veterinary medicine due to limited data on focal presentations.
• Understanding facial myokymia (FM) is crucial for diagnosing and managing neurological conditions in animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, treatments, and outcomes for dogs and cats diagnosed with facial myokymia (FM).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study reviewed clinical records from six referral institutions for nine animals (seven dogs, two cats) with confirmed FM.
• Data collected included signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic results, treatments administered, and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Facial myokymia was a presenting sign in most cases, often accompanied by vestibular signs.
• Diagnoses varied widely, including neuropathies of unknown origin, neoplasia, otitis, meningoencephalitis, and traumatic injuries.
• Prednisolone treatment led to improvement or resolution in most cases, though relapses were frequent.

Conclusions:

• Facial myokymia is an uncommon, nonspecific clinical sign in dogs and cats, indicative of diverse structural disorders affecting the facial nerve pathway.
• Effective management and prognosis for FM are contingent upon identifying and addressing the primary underlying cause.