X-linked canine muscular dystrophy

X-linked canine muscular dystrophy is the most common and studied inherited myopathy characterized by the absence, decrease or change of a cytoskeletal protein, the dystrophin. The clinical manifestations are usually observed between the sixth and eighth week of life, primarily involving members with progressive worsening. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, electromyography and muscle biopsy. It is a challenging condition because of the difficulty of identification, lack of proper diagnosis and effective therapy. Therefore, objective of this review was to clarify since the pathophysiology to possible treatments, allowing the veterinarians to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis, and thus establish interventions that result in a longer life expectancy, apart from detect carriers and prevent the perpetuation of this hereditary condition.