Re: NOT SO GOOD NEWS FOR CHASE

by Tail's a Waggin' on Mon May 14, 2012 1:21 pm

Keep up the good work Bianca. Chase loves you so much for it.... Smile

by lorie on Mon May 14, 2012 8:49 pm

Happy for you and Chase! Very Happy

by npp on Tue May 15, 2012 7:45 am

Hello, check out this.....Masticatory Muscle Myositis
It occurs in many breeds of dogs. We have had it in standard poodles. I have had clients with it also, eg; Setters, Cockers and Shihtzu's.
Usually treated with heavy doses of cortison(sp?)but, once the muscles have deteriorated, sometimes they don't recover.
Know of a Standard poodle that had it 3 times, but eventually recovered, but know of others that didn't recover.
Tony

by Chase on Tue May 15, 2012 10:46 am

Thanks Tony, that's what we originally thought he had because it's a very new disease within the vizsla breed only 3 recorded cases in Australia and only known since 2009.(I got chase in 2008 on year off from knowing better) Lucky it looks like he has what they call 'affected head' which is the muscle wastage in just the top of the head and a milder version of the MMM. He was on cortisone for a bit for his back but it had no effect on his head. He could have gone on a higher dose for longer but I wasn't willing to risk his organs being damaged just for something now considered cosmetic and something that only might work.

by npp on Tue May 15, 2012 11:39 am

Well, with due respect, those muscles control the bottom jaw and when they really atrophy, the dog can no longer eat, so, it is much more than just cosmetic.
I hope it doesn't get any worse for him.
Tony

by Chase on Wed May 16, 2012 12:41 am

No I know it can stop him from eating but he has not got it in those muscles . Affected head means only the muscle on the top of his head which are not part of the jaw muscle. When it's MMM it's the jaw muscles and sometimes the body muscles that are wasted. this is why I said his is only cosmetic I'm not talking about all dogs with this condition.
Don't worry I have done a lot of research into this when I first noticed it in chase and have even seen the horrific videos of the dogs who can no longer eat or even swallow water it is truly terrifying. But chase can still Play a good game of tug of war with me which shows his got a good grip in his jaw with no pain.

by npp on Wed May 16, 2012 7:14 am

Sounds like you're on top of it....good luck.
Tony