Strange injury/illness

borderlinemeath

First off, not looking for veterinary advice, just want to know has anybody had anything similar happen to their dog or one they know.

Coco has a problem with her jaw, she cannot open it fully, maybe 25%. Under sedation to try and open even causes her pain and under a full GA the vet can only open it maybe 50%. Xrays have been sent to UCD for opinion and even still they cannot categorically say whether it's a small misalignment or a hairline fracture, the only thing that will confirm whether it's a bone problem is a CT scan, which has to be done in UCD by referral.

A bit of a back story - 2 weeks ago, Coco was out of sorts, she wouldn't eat her breakfast but ate a bit when I lifted the bowl up to her mouth. I though maybe she had a sore neck but come dinnertime she wouldn't eat anything at all, I said I'd wait until the morning and see if she ate before going to the vet.

At 9.30 that night she was asleep on her bed and immediately I noticed her eye had swollen quite considerably. It was the soft tissue around the eye (almost like a boxer after getting a punch) and her third eyelid was almost closed over the eye. I rang the vet first thing the following morning and brought her straight in, after a full examination they concluded there was no ulceration or damage to the eye itself, or anything in it to cause the swelling. It seemed like she had gotten some kind of head trauma - perhaps out running in the fields, or a clash of heads when playing, although himself was adamant that nothing happened to her on her walk. So she was in much better form after an anti inflammatory injection and some eye drops and she was to go back to the vet 3 days later to check up on it.

Roll on 3 days later and her check up went fine, the eye was healing, the swelling had gone down considerably and her 3rd eyelid was barely visible. Problem was when she came home she seemed much more out of sorts again and refused food, and again the following morning. So I rang the vets to get some pain relief and it was concluded that the manipulation of her head during examination had caused her some pain. She finally ate a small amount of wet food that evening, after much cajoling and different types of food offered.

After a day or two she was much better again, and I had been humouring her with food so she had been eating stews and soft foods as it was likely that biting down on food put pressure on her eye. At this stage it was 8 days since the original swelling of the eye, so I was getting worried. She wouldn't let me open her mouth at all, it was just not happening. She did let me put my fingers in her mouth and rub along her gums, just not open her mouth. Turns out that she can't open her mouth. There is a muscle wasting condition but it's highly unlikely to be that, it's a gradual muscle atrophy whereas this is sudden onset. There's no temp, bloods are clear, but there's a problem in her eye/jaw area and the vets are flummoxed by it.

Right now she's in fairly good form, eating (slurping) and going out for walks. The only thing that she can't do is play with the ball as she can't pick it up, she runs after it and stands looking at it when it's thrown.

Anybody ever come across anything similar?

intheclouds

IS Coco a cat or a dog or other?

Something similar happened to a GSD that belonged to a friend of mine, almost the exact same story, vets were flummoxed, UCD referral for scans etc...

Unfortunately it was never resolved and a multitude of other health issues suddenly occurred resulting in the dog passing.

borderlinemeath

She's a 9yr old red setter.

What were the other conditions that happened to the GSD?

intheclouds

borderlinemeath wrote: »

She's a 9yr old red setter.

What were the other conditions that happened to the GSD?

She started vomiting blood and lost control of her bowels and then went into a coma like state. She crashed all of a sudden. She had been getting treated for the mouth thing (they noticed because she wasnt picking up her ball) and the vets were prescribing a variety of meds - the owner felt the vets were over medicating the dog with no clear diagnosis.

borderlinemeath

All the meds we've got so far are some eye drops, and a small dose of anti inflammatory and a small amount of pain meds. No antibiotics as there's no sign of bacteria or infection as yet.

intheclouds

borderlinemeath wrote: »

All the meds we've got so far are some eye drops, and a small dose of anti inflammatory and a small amount of pain meds. No antibiotics as there's no sign of bacteria or infection as yet.

Fingers crossed, its a strange one if the vets dont know what the problem is.

tk123

Poor Coco!

The swelling sounds a little bit like that weird infection Bailey got under his chin out of nowhere. It swelled up and his mouth was clamped shut - obviously for anyone who knows Bailey or has seen a photo of him his tongue is usually hanging out from the missing piece of jaw so this raised major alarm bells(!) We thought his jaw was broke!! He was in a lot of pain but still able to open his mouth...vet didn't think it was a sting because the swelling was localised and gave him and anti-inflam. shot and said to give it 24 hours. Over the course of the evening it did get bigger easily to the size of a golf ball if not bigger - to the point it looked like he had a fat normal chin instead of the half one he has..but it did go back to normal by the following evening. Over the next few months he got an infection in the same spot twice out of nowhere - a proper gross infection which has never happened before with any wounds he's had from surgeries etc. The first time he had 3 types of antibiotics and second time they removed it completely and he still needed a few courses of antibiotics until it was completely cleared up. Lab results came back as chronic inflammation

borderlinemeath

tk123 wrote: »

Poor Coco!

The swelling sounds a little bit like that weird infection Bailey got under his chin out of nowhere. It swelled up and his mouth was clamped shut - obviously for anyone who knows Bailey or has seen a photo of him his tongue is usually hanging out from the missing piece of jaw so this raised major alarm bells(!) We thought his jaw was broke!! He was in a lot of pain but still able to open his mouth...vet didn't think it was a sting because the swelling was localised and gave him and anti-inflam. shot and said to give it 24 hours. Over the course of the evening it did get bigger easily to the size of a golf ball if not bigger - to the point it looked like he had a fat normal chin instead of the half one he has..but it did go back to normal by the following evening. Over the next few months he got an infection in the same spot twice out of nowhere - a proper gross infection which has never happened before with any wounds he's had from surgeries etc. The first time he had 3 types of antibiotics and second time they removed it completely and he still needed a few courses of antibiotics until it was completely cleared up. Lab results came back as chronic inflammation

I nearly wish it was a bacterial infection, then at least we would know what it is. Most of the stress is not knowing what the problem is.

muddypaws

I'm really sorry, I've not had to deal with anything like this before, but just wanted to say that I hope you and your vets get to the bottom of it soon and get it sorted

tk123

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I nearly wish it was a bacterial infection, then at least we would know what it is. Most of the stress is not knowing what the problem is.

Sitting around and waiting is the one of the worst things - the worst is leaving them behind and then waiting for the phone to ring! Bailey flipped out when I left him and then there was photos of him having a great time charming everyone on FB lol!!
He didn't cope well with the handling/CT Scan when he got it - we had to stop hydro because he just isn't comfortable being lifted any more which was unfortunate

borderlinemeath

tk123 wrote: »

Sitting around and waiting is the one of the worst things - the worst is leaving them behind and then waiting for the phone to ring! Bailey flipped out when I left him and then there was photos of him having a great time charming everyone on FB lol!!
He didn't cope well with the handling/CT Scan when he got it - we had to stop hydro because he just isn't comfortable being lifted any more which was unfortunate

I know! In the past 2 weeks she's had 2 sedations and a full general anaesthetic! The heart palpitations when the phone rings! She was so out of it when she got home after GA she peed herself:(

aonb

All sounds like nightmare stuff, fingers crossed for Coco - its so upsetting when the vets cant find the problem - is she going for a CT scan? Is she insured???
Im sure they checked for such things as insect bites/grass seeds/foreign objects?

borderlinemeath

aonb wrote: »

All sounds like nightmare stuff, fingers crossed for Coco - its so upsetting when the vets cant find the problem - is she going for a CT scan? Is she insured???
Im sure they checked for such things as insect bites/grass seeds/foreign objects?

The eye got a full check at her first visit, absolutely nothing in it. And it has healed pretty much perfectly. Unless there's a dramatic improvement over the next week or so then she'll have the scan. She's not insured but we have a fund for the dogs and Coco has barely needed it, she's been exceptionally healthy pretty much her whole life. Benson has got his moneys worth out of it and Buddy hasn't needed it so far!

This evening though, for the first time she chewed some biscuit, she doesn't have much room to chew, as she can only open her mouth maybe 25%, but it was the first time she did it since this all started. She also came looking for seconds of her dinner and had some small biscuit treats which was another first. Her form has also improved somewhat today, she was dancing around the place and is less clingy. She has been looking at us with big eyes, as if to say, "Eh, there's something wrong" but that has somewhat abated today.

SillyMangoX

I'm sorry I've nothing constructive to add but I really hope it turns out okay and it'll be nothing serious!

sdp

Poor You and Coco, such a worry, again sorry have not experienced anything like that, but thinking of you, and pray it will be revolved soon

Dubl07

What a rotten situation. It's quite rare for dogs to get lockjaw from tetanus, but not unheard of. Has your vet considered it?

borderlinemeath

Dubl07 wrote: »

What a rotten situation. It's quite rare for dogs to get lockjaw from tetanus, but not unheard of. Has your vet considered it?

The vet was fairly certain it's not lockjaw. There's no bacteria present, no temp, no lethargy.

Kizzywizzy

A friend of mine has a 5 year old lurcher. Every so often her jaw gets locked, and she cannot chew. The vets think it is a type of arthritis, probably from starvation as a young dog. They give her a course of steroids and antiinflammatories, and my friend gives her liquidized food. The condition usually resolves in less than a week, but the bouts do recur, especially in cold weather. Hope this is of some use to you.

borderlinemeath

So, just back from a long weekend away. Coco was in good hands while we were away, the dogs stay at home and our neighbour cares for them. I also had my other neighbour and friend on standby as she knows our vet and would have been bringing Coco in should she have needed it.

We got back at 5am this morning and the dogs were delighted to see us, and one of the first things Coco did was a big wide yawn!! I couldn't believe it!! :D And then of course she refused to do anything else before we nodded off for a few hours sleep. Roll on this morning and she has lifted a ball and a cuddly toy so is hugely improved. She's not perfect, but getting there. The only worry may be that it the initial problem is a symptom of the muscle disease - masticatory muscle myositis, as the vet says it can come in waves as such. Although the fact that her jaw issue was in conjunction with the eye problem does point to a trauma injury. But for now, hopefully she is on the road to recovery!

tk123

Yaaay that's great news!

DBB

I was getting worried that you hadn't updated this thread for a few days blm
Relieved that Coco is OK... And don't leave us hanging like that again

borderlinemeath

I didn't really have much to update as nothing had changed much since I posted last and then we were away since last Thursday - first time we were away for a weekend on our own without the baby, and I was more worried about Coco than I was about the baby .

Even though she was in good form and eating well, I was worried that if the situation didn't resolve itself, which the vet had told me could be the likely outcome, that the emotional and psychological impact on her would be very tough as she loves to play with balls and toys. I was also thinking it might leave her feeling very vulnerable around new or strange dogs, as without the ability to use her mouth, she couldn't defend herself if she found herself in a threatening situation, and she gets to meet so many dogs everyday that it could make her withdraw away from them.

I'm looking at her out the window here now and she's climbing the tree picking apples off it! The joy you get out of the little things

kathleen37

I don't know in regards emotional impact. Animals aren't people, they just get on with stuff.

We had a cat that had a bone tumour grow in her jaw that stopped it opening gradually. She was fine, just meant we had to adapt in regards food she could eat. (I got a liquidiser) Her quality of life was excellent (until the day it wasn't, and then she was PTS)

As long as your pup is still eating, and is obviously otherwise healthy, then you should be fine. She'll still be able to play - she'll just learn to push the ball with her nose. Animals are very adaptable.

All the best

borderlinemeath

kathleen37 wrote: »

I don't know in regards emotional impact. Animals aren't people, they just get on with stuff.

We had a cat that had a bone tumour grow in her jaw that stopped it opening gradually. She was fine, just meant we had to adapt in regards food she could eat. (I got a liquidiser) Her quality of life was excellent (until the day it wasn't, and then she was PTS)

As long as your pup is still eating, and is obviously otherwise healthy, then you should be fine. She'll still be able to play - she'll just learn to push the ball with her nose. Animals are very adaptable.

All the best

While animals, and specifically dogs, might not be able to feel the full spectrum of emotions relative to humans, I do believe that if a dog who had a previously fulfilling life playing catch and running after, and retrieving a ball, would struggle to deal with the fallout of not being able to engage with her humans in the same way. She would certainly feel frustrated and certainly sad to a degree and Coco is one of those dogs that is motivated by play rather than treats. While she may have adapted, it still would have been hugely frustrating for her, plus the fact that the 2 other dogs here wouldn't have the understanding to leave a ball that she would perhaps be rolling (if that's what she adapted to do).

She's probably at about 85-90% capability now, so hopefully she'll continue to improve and not regress. She's absolutely more playful now, particularly with her brothers, even though she was in good form with limited jaw movement, she was certainly reluctant to engage in play.