Myasthenia Gravis in Dogs
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- Опубліковано 10 тра 2024
- Myasthenia gravis is a condition affecting dogs (and occasionally cats) in which the animal does not have normal receptors on their muscles to receive signals from the nerves. This results in muscle weakness and fatigue, including loss of motility in the esophagus, which can lead to regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia.
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00:00 Introduction
02:00 Acquired Myasthenia Gravis
03:14 Megaesophagus
04:26 Treatment
05:59 Signs - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
I myself have Generalized MG. I found this very informative and was unaware that they could get this.
Thank you for bringing awareness to the disease. ❤️
My dog was FINALLY diagnosed. I noticed intermittent changes in him 2 years ago, like lethargy, laying down when going for rides, which he never did before, eating grass often, difficulty or hesitating to jump in the truck, & just sensing he didnt feel well sometimes. Even after reporting all this over a year ago after some occasional vomitting, the vet could never find anything wrong & just said to try another protein food because he was probably becoming allergic to the current one, but not taking all the other noticed changes I reported. Recently he began having difficulty eating & drinking, excessive drooling, vomitting, and was diagnosed with esophogitis, & stomach issues. Two weeks later he developed extreme weakness because of aspiration pneumonia, but still didn't explain some of the other symptoms he had been having the whole time like sitting down every few feet he walked, his bark is different, his walk is different, his jowls were hanging low, & other things that just didn't seem related to the digestive tract. Took almost 3 more weeks before a specialist diagnosed him with MG. It's such a relief to have an answer & start a treatment plan. I just wish it was recognized sooner. Its been an exhausting few weeks for both of us, with the special feedings, all the meds, timing things out, but especially hard to see him so weak, lose so much weight & feeling so crummy. This is a very good video to share with family or friends that love him & want to understand what MG is. I understand it can be a tricky diagnosis, but I hope more vets become aware of the signs & symptoms. Thank you for such a straight forward informative video.
Hi we’ve just been diagnosed the same .. how’s yours been you started treatment
Very nice, I like the graphics. Real good effort.
Thank you very much!
I loved it . 🙇🏻♂️
Great video, going thtough this with my dog
Glad you found it useful!
Same
My dog diagosed this past Dec, now in April she is showing signs of remission. She is on a medication for this and a med fir mega esophagus ( viagra generic)
How long does this disease take to progress? My 5 month old husky suddenly got megaesophugus a few weeks ago and he used to take many breaks during walks but not anymore. He takes alot of naps at home but he's still a puppy which is normal.
Thanks for this video, what about if the dog has a tumor in the chest at the same time as all of this. Is 12yrs old. Also has degeneration of kidney, liver, spleen and gall bladder and has had hyperthyroidism for several years managed by medicine. Kidney disease diagnosed 5yrs ago but levels are good and under control. I'm lost as to whether it's worth continuing to fight all of this or to let him go. Cytology came back as either MCT or Thymoma.
Wearing a HARNESS vs a COLLAR seems to help our dog. Any restrictions around the neck seem to cause her to choke and get weak. She looks cute in her bandana but it's not worth the risk of causing complications.
1. Introduction to Myasthenia Gravis
- Speaker: The speaker is not identified in the transcript but is presumably a veterinary professional.
- Point: Myasthenia gravis is a condition that affects dogs and occasionally cats. It interferes with the normal communication between nerves and muscles, which is facilitated by a chemical substance called acetylcholine.
2. Congenital Myasthenia Gravis
- Speaker: The same veterinary professional.
- Point: Congenital myasthenia gravis is a form of the disease that animals are born with. It is characterized by the absence of normal receptors on the muscles to receive signals from the nerves. This form of the disease is common in some breeds, such as miniature dachshunds, but not common overall in dogs.
3. Symptoms and Diagnosis of Congenital Myasthenia Gravis
- Speaker: The same veterinary professional.
- Point: Animals born with myasthenia gravis are generally weaker than their littermates and tire easily. The condition is diagnosed through a muscle biopsy of the muscles that lay on the outside of the chest. There is no cure for this disease in animals that are born with it. However, in many cases, miniature dachshunds with the condition resolve on their own without treatment.
4. Acquired Myasthenia Gravis
- Speaker: The same veterinary professional.
- Point: Acquired myasthenia gravis is the more common form of the disease, occurring in mature dogs, typically between two to four years of age, and sometimes in older dogs around nine to ten years old. It is characterized by an immune system attack on the receptors in the muscle belly, which hinders the reception of signals from the nerves.
5. Symptoms of Acquired Myasthenia Gravis
- Speaker: The same veterinary professional.
- Point: Dogs with acquired myasthenia gravis easily tire, walk several steps and then want to lay down or sit down, and are reluctant to move forward. They may also experience difficulty swallowing and keeping food down, which can lead to pneumonia if the food enters the airway and lungs. The esophagus not working well can be seen on x-rays as dilation or enlargement of the esophagus, known as megaesophagus, which is one of the most challenging aspects of the disease to manage.
6. Diagnosis of Acquired Myasthenia Gravis
- Speaker: The same veterinary professional.
- Point: Acquired myasthenia gravis is diagnosed through a blood test that measures the levels of antibodies a dog is producing against its own receptors. An additional test involves the administration of a drug called neostigmine, which prevents the normal neurotransmitter acetylcholine from breaking down, resulting in better signals between the nerve and muscle. However, this is just a test and not a permanent treatment, and it does not work in all dogs.
7. Treatment of Acquired Myasthenia Gravis
- Speaker: The same veterinary professional.
- Point: Treatment includes oral supplementation of a drug that increases the receptor in the junction between the nerve and the muscle, taken multiple times a day. It also involves changes in how a dog is fed, as they are often fed elevated to prevent the aspiration or inhalation of food and water. Most dogs resolve on their own within six months with the treatment, but many have megaesophagus for the rest of their lives even after their other signs improve.
8. Complications and Management of Acquired Myasthenia Gravis
- Speaker: The same veterinary professional.
- Point: The worst thing about this disease is complications related to megaesophagus and the risk for pneumonia developing. Up to 50% of these dogs may develop pneumonia multiple times. However, in many cases, the signs from myasthenia can be successfully managed, and clients are able to make adjustments at home to manage the megaesophagus.
9. When to See a Neurologist
- Speaker: The same veterinary professional.
- Point: If your pet is showing signs of general weakness, tiring out easier than usual, as well as vomiting or regurgitation of food and water, those would be indications to take your pet to see a neurologist.