Myotonia Congenita (3 variants) – Cat

Myotonia Congenita (MC) is a hereditary neuromuscular disorder that causes muscles to be unable to relax after contracting, which can result in rigid limbs and falling over after startling. In cats, myotonia can be caused by several different recessive mutations to the gene CLCN1. This package tests for three different mutations.

Symptoms of MC can include a short-strided gait, protruding tongue, drooling and prominent muscle growth on the neck and upper limbs. After startling, affected cats may fall over, stiff-limbed, and be unable to rise again for several seconds. Veterinary pharmaceutical treatment with phenytoin has been documented to result in long-term improvement in symptoms in at least one case.