Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited disorder of Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a pharmacogenetic disorder that manifests upon exposure to volatile anesthetics and depolarizing muscle relaxants.
It is characterized by hypercarbia, rhabdomyolysis, generalized skeletal muscle contracture, cardiac dysrhythmia, and renal failure, which develop on exposure to succinylcholine or volatile anesthetic agents. Symptoms of malignant hyperthermia (MH) in dogs include tachycardia, hyperthermia, elevated carbon dioxide production, and can lead to death if the anesthetic is not discontinued.
The canine syndrome can be treated with specific interventions, such as the use of the calcium release channel antagonist dantrolene, which has been shown to be effective in reversing signs of MH. In most reports of MH in dogs, metabolic acidosis is moderate and muscle rigidity is minimal, in contrast to the severity of both in the swine or human condition.
