Narcolepsy - Dachshund

Narcolepsy is an autosomal recessive disorder of sleeping, characterized by shortened sleep latency and cataplexy. Affected dogs show first signs from 4 weeks to 6 months of age. The clinical signs include excessive daytime sleepiness, hallucinations, sleep paralysis, symptoms of abnormal rapid eye movement (REM), sudden loss of muscle tone without loss of consciousness (cataplexy), triggered by emotions, buckling of both hindlimbs and drooping of the neck. The disease is neither progressive nor life-threatening, the cataplexy can often even be treated with tricyclic antidepressants.

Inheritance: autosomal recessive

Mutation: HCRTR2 gene

Genetic test: The method used for genetic testing is extremely accurate and allows complete differentiation between affected animals, carriers and healthy dogs. DNA testing can be done at any age.