What can this be?!?!

[ramclan]

My 8 month old lab about a week ago, started getting weaker and in pain.  I took him on a 2 mile walk and he was fine and happy.  The next morning when I went to water and feed him, he was walking with his head down and acting a different. I didn't think a whole lot of it-he was a strong minded little thing.  But ut has progressively become a seriuos problem.  He started developing these cysts in his muscles on his shoulders and legs.  The vet told me he had an infestation of parasites, but not worms.  She put him Clindamycin, but he isn't able to walk at all.  It is the saddest thing.  I want to relieve his pain so he is able to at least walk to the water dish.  has anyone ever heard of or experienced this?  The vet was a little baffeled at what EXACTLY it could be.  I don't want to have him put down.  Any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful.

[ginger899]

You poor thing. I am so sorry about this. My heart goes out to you.

[ramclan]

Thank you both so much for responding. I am sad to say that my sweets little angel was put down the day before yesterday.  His lab results came back and he had a very rare form of cancer that they are still researching.  Our family is heart broken., I just hope that he is able to help the vets learn more about this.  Thank you again for your feedback.

[Ghilly]

It sounds to me like Sarcocystosis.  Do you know if he has had contact with the poop or maybe contaminated meat of ANY type of animal?  There are MANY different forms of Sarcocystosis, the type depends on what type of animal he might have picked it up from.  

Sarcocystis is a genus of one-celled protozoan parasite that forms these cysts in the muscles of various animals and can even affect humans.  I don't understand a whole lot about it, but from what I do know, I believe that in some animals as well as in humans, it manifests itself as a form of coccidia, but it can and does form cysts in the muscles of dogs.

Even though you have gotten antibiotics from your vet, I would still seek a second opinion from another vet, in fact, just to get a totally unbiased opinion, I would go to a totally different hospital and not just make an appointment with a different vet from the same hospital you have already taken him to.  You are more likely to get a more honest opinion, since seeing another vet at the same hospital might lead to the vets not wanting to contradict each other or worry about making their colleague look bad.

Please stay around and keep us up to date on what is going on with your puppy.  Here at MedHelp we are very good at helping to keep morale up, and someone always manages to come up with a good suggestion that might make something difficult go a bit easier.  We care about you and your puppy.  Please post back and let us know what happens.

Ghilly

[ginger899]

My feeling is, if the Clindamycin didn't work, they need to try something else. Poor dog cannot go on like this. He needs another medication.
I do not have enough knowledge of parasitical cysts. I have heard of them, but that's all. Try posting in the "Ask a Vet forum" You might get some more help there.