Phenotypic features of paroxysmal dyskinesia in Dachshund dogs: 62 cases (2017-2025).

Dachshund PxD often presents with pelvic limb dystonia mimicking spinal cord disease; prognosis is generally favorable regardless of treatment.

This retrospective, multicenter observational study characterizes paroxysmal dyskinesia (PxD) in Dachshunds for the first time, describing 62 affected dogs diagnosed between 2017 and 2025. The median age at presentation was 3.2 years. Episodes most commonly featured shifting limb dystonia (88.7%), cervical dystonia (45.2%), tremors (40.3%), and truncal sway (32.3%). Autonomic signs including ptyalism, lip smacking, and vomiting were frequent (approximately 37–40% each). Notably, pelvic limb-predominant or exclusive dystonia occurred in a subset of dogs, potentially mimicking spinal cord disease—a diagnostically important finding given the Dachshund breed's predisposition to intervertebral disc disease. All cases were classified as presumptive idiopathic paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia. The most frequently employed treatment was a gluten-free diet (67.7%), followed by levetiracetam (14.5%), phenobarbital (8.1%), or no treatment (29%). With a median follow-up of 543 days, 53% of dogs showed decreased episode frequency or intensity and 38.8% showed no change, regardless of treatment modality. The overall prognosis appears favorable, as most dogs improved over time independent of therapeutic intervention. This study establishes the clinical phenotype of PxD in Dachshunds, highlights the risk of misdiagnosis as spinal disease, and suggests that spontaneous improvement may occur, warranting a conservative treatment approach in many cases.

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