Narcolepsy in Dogs

Video of untreated and of immunosuppressed narcoleptic dogs during food elicited cataplexy tests (FECTs) and the play behavior of the treated dogs.The first segment shows the administration of the FECT to three untreated narcoleptic littermate dogs, age 2.5 months. Dogs are labeled by shaved bands on their backs. Cataplexy is visible as a loss of muscle tone in the hind or fore limbs, drooping tail, sagging posture, wide stance, swaying, drooping eyelids, or interruption of eating caused by jaw hypotonia. The second segment shows the same test administered on the same day to the treated littermates of the dogs shown in the first segment. Little or no cataplexy is seen. Finally, the play segment, also filmed on the same day, shows that the lack of cataplexy in the treated animals is not accompanied by a behavioral depression. Play behavior is vigorous and normal.