Clinical diagnosis and different management of acquired myasthenia gravis in a Pekingese

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission disorder that occurs in two forms, acquired and congenital. Acquired myasthenia gravis is probably the most common neuromuscular disorder in dogs that can be diagnosed and treated. This report focuses on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease in a Pekingese using alternative dosages than those published in the literature. A 7-year-old Pekingese-crossbreed bitch was diagnosed with generalized acquired myasthenia gravis without any signs of megaesophagus based on physical examination, clinical signs, and response to IV injection of the short-acting cholinesterase inhibitor, edrophonium chloride (Tensilon test). All clinical signs were resolved in this patient within 2 months after referral, following treatment with pyridostigmine bromide and prednisolone. This communication is the first report in the diagnosis and management of acquired myasthenia gravis in Iran.