Post by christina on Nov 7, 2005 20:12:45 GMT 1
Earlier this year I had been asked by the WCGB to write a short "beginners guide" on auto-immune diseases. AI diseases are very much on the increase worldwide and most dog owners have heard the term, but are unaware what is actually happening to those dogs and what is causing it. So hopefully this will shed a little more light for those, who want to know more. I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I do have nearly 10 years of dealing with those diseases 'under my belt', and I am still learning.
I have two dogs with different auto-immune diseases. The dogs are loosely related, and each came from a different, well reputed dealer in the UK and both dogs have an impressive ancestry.....but herein may just lie the answer - the "popular sire syndrome" mixed with breeding too closely..... I have been searching for answers for the past 9 years, and I am still only scratching the surface. So much is still unknown about them.
Has anybody else got immunity problems with their dogs? I would love to hear. - Anyway, here is my experience with those cruel diseases......
Christina
AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE - WHAT DOES IT MEAN ?
How many of us have heard the expression ‘auto-immune disease’, dismissed it as something that happens to other people’s dogs and not given it a second thought? Does it really only happen to others? - Let me tell you my story.
Over eight years ago, at the age of 11 months, following castration, our Weimaraner “Thomas” became extremely ill. He lost jaw articulation and his head began to swell in a grotesque and alarming manner. He was in very great pain and we were desperate to identify and treat his condition. After a series of clinical tests our vet concluded that Thomas was suffering from auto-immune disease or to be more precise “auto-immune mediated masticatory Myositis” (wasting of the jaw muscles).
At that time I knew nothing about auto-immune diseases in dogs or dog ailments in general. Of necessity I have since educated myself a little and would like to pass on the following in the hope that it might be of use to anyone unfortunate enough to encounter an auto-immune problem with their dog.
Auto-immune disease is a condition arising from the immune system’s failure to discriminate between “self” and “non-self”. Anything that is foreign to the body is non-self. When an organism's immune system is threatened by foreign intruders such as cancer cells, viruses, micro-organism etc., an immune response is triggered and the resulting antibodies attack the “non-self” intruder. In a well functioning organism the immune system does not fight against its own components, however, in the case of auto-immune disease the immune system misidentifies and attacks “self” cells – or to put it in a nutshell: auto-immune disease means that the immune system will no longer safeguard - it will now kill. It has gone haywire and is ‘re-programmed’, ready to destruct the body.
So what causes the immune system to malfunction in this way? Many theories exist but as yet there is no definitive answer, though there is little doubt that the disease is genetic in origin. The onset is often considered to have been triggered by multivalent modified live vaccines which over-stimulate the immune system, by hormones or by stress. Environmental pollutants and dog food preservatives such as ethoxyquin (an antioxidant found in most commercial dog foods) are also blamed. Their accumulative effect can overload the body’s system with toxins, resulting in a break down of the immune system.
All the evidence suggested that Thomas’s condition was initially triggered by the MLV vaccine. Immediately after his very first shot at 9 weeks of age he became extremely ill and developed severe Lymphadenitis. Unfortunately at the time I did not have the knowledge to make the connection. Antibiotics were prescribed and all went well until he was castrated, on vet’s advice, at the age of 11 months. The operation revealed that Thomas was born with only one testicle, a rare genetic defect. (Interestingly our vet told us that he had come across this condition only once before in his professional life – in another Weimaraner!) Most likely, the post-operative stress tipped the balance, and 10 days after the operation Thomas developed swellings all over his face, could no longer open his mouth, became very weak and nearly died.
The great variety of possible symptoms with auto-immune disease frustrate rapid diagnosis, which was doubly difficult in Thomas’s case because his loss of head and neck muscle was masked by local swellings. Following diagnosis it took about one week for the prescribed corticosteroids to take away the inflammation and swellings from areas of muscular damage. It was only after this that the full extent of his muscle loss became apparent. We also learnt around this time that muscle loss is an irreversible condition. Sadly, diseased muscle does not re-grow but is eventually partly replaced by connective tissues. In Thomas’s case he lost 15% of his entire muscle tissue permanently, all from around his neck and head.
For the past 8 1/2 years Thomas has been kept alive by Prednisolone (a corticosteroid) and a drug called Azathioprine, (an immunosuppressant). This combination therapy works very well and is the treatment of choice for the majority of auto-immune diseases. Both drugs suppress the immune system – a necessity to prevent it from destroying more healthy body tissue. The Azathioprine mitigates many of the side effects that present with use of Prednisolone alone.
It is a rocky road, caring for a dog with an auto-immune disease – one always worries if and when the next relapse may occur. It’s a roller coaster ride. There is no cure, only treatment. We have been lucky so far, Thomas is doing extremely well. But I know of many dog owners who are fighting losing battles. Two years ago I joined an Internet support group called CIMDA <Canine Immune Mediated Disease Awareness>. It is a support group for people whose dogs have or have had immune mediated illnesses. It was through this group that I began to understand the enormity of auto-immune diseases.
We brought “Kimber”, our second Weimaraner, home when Thomas was about 2 years old and his condition was stable… Yes, you’ve guessed it, Kimber also developed auto-immune disease. He was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism at the age of 2 ½ years, having been plagued with intermittent lameness, hind leg weakness, skin and coat problems as well as intestinal problems for the previous 2 years. About a year ago he also had to be put on steroids for an additional auto-immune condition called IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Until I joined the CIMDA list I thought auto-immune diseases in dogs were rare. Now I know better.
Of all the immune mediated diseases Hypothyroidism (low- or non-functioning thyroid glands) is probably the one that occurs most commonly. The good news is that Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed relatively quickly by means of an easy blood test (I am really simplifying here, some cases are not straight forward at all). As with all AI conditions, the list of possible symptoms is long - Hypothyroidism has got over 50 clinical symptoms! Coat and skin problems of any kind, symmetrical hair loss, unexplained weight gain, lethargy, muscle weakness, knuckling or dragging feet, eye problems, intestinal problems or seizures, to name just a few, could all be indicative of low thyroid function. One other newly recognised symptom deserves a special mention: sudden aggression in previously placid dogs. Often those dogs get castrated in the hope that this will “calm them down”… and it might indeed do that temporarily (because of the change in hormones) - but the underlying cause for the aggression could be Hypothyroidism.
I would like to add to this list a personal observation. When a Weimaraner becomes hypothyroid, the coat often takes on a distinct orange tinge. I have no explanation as to why that should be <nor does my vet>, but other Weimaraner owners from the CIMDA list have confirmed this. Kimber looked so orange at some stage, you could have been forgiven for thinking he was a Viszla. However, I know of one hypothyroid Weimaraner, whose coat did not get orange, but turned almost white instead… To date I have had only one owner of a different breed report coat colour changes with her hypothyroid dogs..... Irish Setters. The owner reported that the coats of her hypothyroid girls were changing from the deep reddish brown to a light orange ....
I would like to mention one further auto-immune disease, because research has shown that there is a pre-disposition for this particular condition in Weimaraners. It is often seen in association with Hypothyroidism, and is called Addison’s disease. Addison’s is thought to be caused by a gradual, immune mediated destruction of the adrenal glands. Though we know a lot more nowadays, it is still difficult to diagnose this disease before the adrenal glands are all but destroyed (about 80%). Clinical signs of Addison’s are weakness, lethargy, diarrhoea, vomiting, increased thirst, decrease in appetite and muscle tremor. These symptoms can wax and wane and sometimes the dog can appear quite well. If a dog with Addison’s exhibits signs of shock or collapse, known as Addisonian crisis, then the condition is life-threatening and very swift veterinary action is needed. Blood should be checked for high potassium and low sodium levels, which is a good indicator of Addison's disease. Addison's is often misdiagnosed and the dogs who are dying during an Addisonian crisis are often wrongly said to have died of "sudden heart- or kidney failure".
I have mentioned only four by name, but the list of auto-immune diseases is long, varied and very complex. AI disease can affect any part of the body, be it skin, coat, muscles, joints and bones, organs or blood. We don’t have DNA proof yet, but it is widely acknowledged that the pre-disposition for those diseases is passed down through the genes. But as in humans, not every illness that ‘runs in the family’ will befall automatically every member of it. And not every dog that has deleterious genes will actually get ill – but a 'carrier' may pass the diseased genes on to half of the litter. So it is not too difficult so see why auto-immune diseases are becoming a problem very close to home.
I have two dogs with different auto-immune diseases. The dogs are loosely related, and each came from a different, well reputed dealer in the UK and both dogs have an impressive ancestry.....but herein may just lie the answer - the "popular sire syndrome" mixed with breeding too closely..... I have been searching for answers for the past 9 years, and I am still only scratching the surface. So much is still unknown about them.
Has anybody else got immunity problems with their dogs? I would love to hear. - Anyway, here is my experience with those cruel diseases......
Christina
AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE - WHAT DOES IT MEAN ?
How many of us have heard the expression ‘auto-immune disease’, dismissed it as something that happens to other people’s dogs and not given it a second thought? Does it really only happen to others? - Let me tell you my story.
Over eight years ago, at the age of 11 months, following castration, our Weimaraner “Thomas” became extremely ill. He lost jaw articulation and his head began to swell in a grotesque and alarming manner. He was in very great pain and we were desperate to identify and treat his condition. After a series of clinical tests our vet concluded that Thomas was suffering from auto-immune disease or to be more precise “auto-immune mediated masticatory Myositis” (wasting of the jaw muscles).
At that time I knew nothing about auto-immune diseases in dogs or dog ailments in general. Of necessity I have since educated myself a little and would like to pass on the following in the hope that it might be of use to anyone unfortunate enough to encounter an auto-immune problem with their dog.
Auto-immune disease is a condition arising from the immune system’s failure to discriminate between “self” and “non-self”. Anything that is foreign to the body is non-self. When an organism's immune system is threatened by foreign intruders such as cancer cells, viruses, micro-organism etc., an immune response is triggered and the resulting antibodies attack the “non-self” intruder. In a well functioning organism the immune system does not fight against its own components, however, in the case of auto-immune disease the immune system misidentifies and attacks “self” cells – or to put it in a nutshell: auto-immune disease means that the immune system will no longer safeguard - it will now kill. It has gone haywire and is ‘re-programmed’, ready to destruct the body.
So what causes the immune system to malfunction in this way? Many theories exist but as yet there is no definitive answer, though there is little doubt that the disease is genetic in origin. The onset is often considered to have been triggered by multivalent modified live vaccines which over-stimulate the immune system, by hormones or by stress. Environmental pollutants and dog food preservatives such as ethoxyquin (an antioxidant found in most commercial dog foods) are also blamed. Their accumulative effect can overload the body’s system with toxins, resulting in a break down of the immune system.
All the evidence suggested that Thomas’s condition was initially triggered by the MLV vaccine. Immediately after his very first shot at 9 weeks of age he became extremely ill and developed severe Lymphadenitis. Unfortunately at the time I did not have the knowledge to make the connection. Antibiotics were prescribed and all went well until he was castrated, on vet’s advice, at the age of 11 months. The operation revealed that Thomas was born with only one testicle, a rare genetic defect. (Interestingly our vet told us that he had come across this condition only once before in his professional life – in another Weimaraner!) Most likely, the post-operative stress tipped the balance, and 10 days after the operation Thomas developed swellings all over his face, could no longer open his mouth, became very weak and nearly died.
The great variety of possible symptoms with auto-immune disease frustrate rapid diagnosis, which was doubly difficult in Thomas’s case because his loss of head and neck muscle was masked by local swellings. Following diagnosis it took about one week for the prescribed corticosteroids to take away the inflammation and swellings from areas of muscular damage. It was only after this that the full extent of his muscle loss became apparent. We also learnt around this time that muscle loss is an irreversible condition. Sadly, diseased muscle does not re-grow but is eventually partly replaced by connective tissues. In Thomas’s case he lost 15% of his entire muscle tissue permanently, all from around his neck and head.
For the past 8 1/2 years Thomas has been kept alive by Prednisolone (a corticosteroid) and a drug called Azathioprine, (an immunosuppressant). This combination therapy works very well and is the treatment of choice for the majority of auto-immune diseases. Both drugs suppress the immune system – a necessity to prevent it from destroying more healthy body tissue. The Azathioprine mitigates many of the side effects that present with use of Prednisolone alone.
It is a rocky road, caring for a dog with an auto-immune disease – one always worries if and when the next relapse may occur. It’s a roller coaster ride. There is no cure, only treatment. We have been lucky so far, Thomas is doing extremely well. But I know of many dog owners who are fighting losing battles. Two years ago I joined an Internet support group called CIMDA <Canine Immune Mediated Disease Awareness>. It is a support group for people whose dogs have or have had immune mediated illnesses. It was through this group that I began to understand the enormity of auto-immune diseases.
We brought “Kimber”, our second Weimaraner, home when Thomas was about 2 years old and his condition was stable… Yes, you’ve guessed it, Kimber also developed auto-immune disease. He was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism at the age of 2 ½ years, having been plagued with intermittent lameness, hind leg weakness, skin and coat problems as well as intestinal problems for the previous 2 years. About a year ago he also had to be put on steroids for an additional auto-immune condition called IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Until I joined the CIMDA list I thought auto-immune diseases in dogs were rare. Now I know better.
Of all the immune mediated diseases Hypothyroidism (low- or non-functioning thyroid glands) is probably the one that occurs most commonly. The good news is that Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed relatively quickly by means of an easy blood test (I am really simplifying here, some cases are not straight forward at all). As with all AI conditions, the list of possible symptoms is long - Hypothyroidism has got over 50 clinical symptoms! Coat and skin problems of any kind, symmetrical hair loss, unexplained weight gain, lethargy, muscle weakness, knuckling or dragging feet, eye problems, intestinal problems or seizures, to name just a few, could all be indicative of low thyroid function. One other newly recognised symptom deserves a special mention: sudden aggression in previously placid dogs. Often those dogs get castrated in the hope that this will “calm them down”… and it might indeed do that temporarily (because of the change in hormones) - but the underlying cause for the aggression could be Hypothyroidism.
I would like to add to this list a personal observation. When a Weimaraner becomes hypothyroid, the coat often takes on a distinct orange tinge. I have no explanation as to why that should be <nor does my vet>, but other Weimaraner owners from the CIMDA list have confirmed this. Kimber looked so orange at some stage, you could have been forgiven for thinking he was a Viszla. However, I know of one hypothyroid Weimaraner, whose coat did not get orange, but turned almost white instead… To date I have had only one owner of a different breed report coat colour changes with her hypothyroid dogs..... Irish Setters. The owner reported that the coats of her hypothyroid girls were changing from the deep reddish brown to a light orange ....
I would like to mention one further auto-immune disease, because research has shown that there is a pre-disposition for this particular condition in Weimaraners. It is often seen in association with Hypothyroidism, and is called Addison’s disease. Addison’s is thought to be caused by a gradual, immune mediated destruction of the adrenal glands. Though we know a lot more nowadays, it is still difficult to diagnose this disease before the adrenal glands are all but destroyed (about 80%). Clinical signs of Addison’s are weakness, lethargy, diarrhoea, vomiting, increased thirst, decrease in appetite and muscle tremor. These symptoms can wax and wane and sometimes the dog can appear quite well. If a dog with Addison’s exhibits signs of shock or collapse, known as Addisonian crisis, then the condition is life-threatening and very swift veterinary action is needed. Blood should be checked for high potassium and low sodium levels, which is a good indicator of Addison's disease. Addison's is often misdiagnosed and the dogs who are dying during an Addisonian crisis are often wrongly said to have died of "sudden heart- or kidney failure".
I have mentioned only four by name, but the list of auto-immune diseases is long, varied and very complex. AI disease can affect any part of the body, be it skin, coat, muscles, joints and bones, organs or blood. We don’t have DNA proof yet, but it is widely acknowledged that the pre-disposition for those diseases is passed down through the genes. But as in humans, not every illness that ‘runs in the family’ will befall automatically every member of it. And not every dog that has deleterious genes will actually get ill – but a 'carrier' may pass the diseased genes on to half of the litter. So it is not too difficult so see why auto-immune diseases are becoming a problem very close to home.
