Our Viz is 4 in August. Has always been healthy and is a strong dog.
He got what we thought was an eye on infection in his right eye in march 2021 Swells up and looks sore. He was shivering like he had a fever and was looking pretty sorry for himself. Treated with antibiotic and metacam and went away. This happened again in July 2021 and same signs but I noticed he couldn't pick things up the same with his mouth. Very slight though. Same treatment and no understanding of what it could be by the vet.
June 2022 his left eye swelled up like the second time in the right. Metacam and antibiotics again.
I noticed his jaw not being the same. Can't carry a sock anything this time. I had a good look at his gums and teeth. All looks perfect and uniform gum colour. Press his face and head anywhere and no pain reaction. If I open his mouth over half way he yelps. So is in pain. Took him to the vet and she checked him over and agreed with my check over. I suggested MMM ( as the vets were inconclusive of his previous visits). Also I googled vizsla can't open his mouth properly and swollen eye. The vet said his head has suffered muscle loss one side but I thought it was the other side swollen. She admitted she knew nothing about the MMM but said he was obviously losing muscle and it looked fitting. Had a blood test visit was £290. 3 weeks later test was inconclusive/borderline.
He made a bit of recovery over the last few weeks with retrieving and carrying things. But he still can't yawn properly. Last night his eye has swollen a little. Mouth is not working properly and can't carry anything. Wet food to eat as well. Where his spine meets his head, the bone is becoming more prominent. Between his ear and eyes is starting to sink inwards. So he is losing muscle fast. Now I really think we have an issue with MMM. The muscle loss in 4 weeks is alarming to see.
Again speak to the vet, she isn't sure as she hasn't ever seen it and so we seem to twiddle our thumbs again. She spoke to the pet hospitals. Muscle biopsy that was suggested the labs can't test. Then derby want to carry out tests quoting £4500-£6500 for diagnostics. Donnington was looking less invasive and wanted to check him when he was looking ill. We were told £350. This is doable, but that was just to walk in the door. Then if the specialist wants him checking they said £3400 on top and pay in full before leaving.
Solihull were yet to give a price. But it's to far. They all said they were very interested in treating him. No discounts offered for them learning or researching though. I did ask.
Abscesses and infections have been said. But it swaps sides and we are getting muscle loss. So I don't know if this can be true of an abscess.
We are insured for £3000 a year. So these figures are just not possible for us.
We know from a Facebook group that is only for vizslas with MMM or possibly having. It is invite only. People there obviously have a lot of knowledge and it's a hard thing to identify. Bit pictures and reactions are all identical with varying extremes on the page. The wife does this. I don't do Facebook.
I know that it can help to treat with steroids to reduce the muscle loss. But our vets won't give them him. We are in the very real situation of having a dog that can't eat as his mouth won't work. So the outcome will be death or feed tube. We won't do a feeding tube, so it's death.
I really can't understand why the vet won't try steroids, they said they have side affects but no details. People on the FB page said their vets tried steroids as they agreed it was fitting with internet research etc. Ours won't but don't really say why.
I look at it with the view his prognosis isn't looking good, so best to try it and see if it helps. At the moment we are doing nothing but listening to theories that come with huge costs. Turns out £3000 doesn't do much for a poorly dog. We have never claimed. 2 or 500 pounds here and there is ok. But thousands we don't have.
My question is, have any vets dealt with this? Can someone tell me why steroids are so bad in this situation?
I have now said to my wife, find out where these people's vets are and we will travel. I just thought I'd throw it out here just incase we can get answers to the above questions or any advice.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this.
Some pics of what he looks like when not well. The solo pic you can see the loss on his right side of his head. The left side is the same now the swelling has gone.
He got what we thought was an eye on infection in his right eye in march 2021 Swells up and looks sore. He was shivering like he had a fever and was looking pretty sorry for himself. Treated with antibiotic and metacam and went away. This happened again in July 2021 and same signs but I noticed he couldn't pick things up the same with his mouth. Very slight though. Same treatment and no understanding of what it could be by the vet.
June 2022 his left eye swelled up like the second time in the right. Metacam and antibiotics again.
I noticed his jaw not being the same. Can't carry a sock anything this time. I had a good look at his gums and teeth. All looks perfect and uniform gum colour. Press his face and head anywhere and no pain reaction. If I open his mouth over half way he yelps. So is in pain. Took him to the vet and she checked him over and agreed with my check over. I suggested MMM ( as the vets were inconclusive of his previous visits). Also I googled vizsla can't open his mouth properly and swollen eye. The vet said his head has suffered muscle loss one side but I thought it was the other side swollen. She admitted she knew nothing about the MMM but said he was obviously losing muscle and it looked fitting. Had a blood test visit was £290. 3 weeks later test was inconclusive/borderline.
He made a bit of recovery over the last few weeks with retrieving and carrying things. But he still can't yawn properly. Last night his eye has swollen a little. Mouth is not working properly and can't carry anything. Wet food to eat as well. Where his spine meets his head, the bone is becoming more prominent. Between his ear and eyes is starting to sink inwards. So he is losing muscle fast. Now I really think we have an issue with MMM. The muscle loss in 4 weeks is alarming to see.
Again speak to the vet, she isn't sure as she hasn't ever seen it and so we seem to twiddle our thumbs again. She spoke to the pet hospitals. Muscle biopsy that was suggested the labs can't test. Then derby want to carry out tests quoting £4500-£6500 for diagnostics. Donnington was looking less invasive and wanted to check him when he was looking ill. We were told £350. This is doable, but that was just to walk in the door. Then if the specialist wants him checking they said £3400 on top and pay in full before leaving.
Solihull were yet to give a price. But it's to far. They all said they were very interested in treating him. No discounts offered for them learning or researching though. I did ask.
Abscesses and infections have been said. But it swaps sides and we are getting muscle loss. So I don't know if this can be true of an abscess.
We are insured for £3000 a year. So these figures are just not possible for us.
We know from a Facebook group that is only for vizslas with MMM or possibly having. It is invite only. People there obviously have a lot of knowledge and it's a hard thing to identify. Bit pictures and reactions are all identical with varying extremes on the page. The wife does this. I don't do Facebook.
I know that it can help to treat with steroids to reduce the muscle loss. But our vets won't give them him. We are in the very real situation of having a dog that can't eat as his mouth won't work. So the outcome will be death or feed tube. We won't do a feeding tube, so it's death.
I really can't understand why the vet won't try steroids, they said they have side affects but no details. People on the FB page said their vets tried steroids as they agreed it was fitting with internet research etc. Ours won't but don't really say why.
I look at it with the view his prognosis isn't looking good, so best to try it and see if it helps. At the moment we are doing nothing but listening to theories that come with huge costs. Turns out £3000 doesn't do much for a poorly dog. We have never claimed. 2 or 500 pounds here and there is ok. But thousands we don't have.
My question is, have any vets dealt with this? Can someone tell me why steroids are so bad in this situation?
I have now said to my wife, find out where these people's vets are and we will travel. I just thought I'd throw it out here just incase we can get answers to the above questions or any advice.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this.
Some pics of what he looks like when not well. The solo pic you can see the loss on his right side of his head. The left side is the same now the swelling has gone.
