Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
chorea
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Quick Facts
Also called:
Hyperkinesia
Related Topics:
dog
disease
canine
chorea
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

chorea

animal disease
Also known as: hyperkinesia
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

chorea, in dogs, a disorder in which muscle spasms are prominent. It is usually associated with distemper, encephalitis, or other diseases and often appears during the convalescent period. Jaw spasms may interfere with eating, and extreme exhaustion follows severe episodes in which the dog cannot sleep. Treatment involves good nutrition, vitamin supplements, and sedation. Antispasmodic drugs and muscle relaxants are used to relieve the symptoms.