cranio mandibular osteopathy

[phxjay]

My parents 7 month old westie has been diagnosed with cranio mandibular osteopathy. X-rays show excessive bone growth starting behind and below left ear down to the jaw. The vet also indicated that the skull was thicker than normal.

According to vet, the growth could continue through 14 months and no treatment for this condition. Desperately hoping this doesn't end up affecting his ability to eat or cause neurological problems.

QUESTION
Anyone have experience with this condition? Any helpful or encouraging advice? Is there an approach that can be taken, in regards to his diet, that can perhaps slow the bone growth? He's currently about 12 lbs and pretty much reached full size.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[rigrunner]

Hi, my dog was also diagnosed with cranio mandibular osteopathy at the age of 10wks old he is now 10mths old, he has been in considerable pain on and off during that time, vet prescribed Rimadyl for when pain is bad and we opted to feed soft food and stopped playing tug games.
He as lost quite a bit of jaw movement but still manages to eat (luckily he is very food orientated.) He is a very happy dog and seems to manage with the restricted movement.  He has quite a mass of bone on left side of his head that is very noticable and a lumpy part on top of is skull. We just keep our fingers crossed that it does not affect it so much that he loses complete movement of his jaw before it  stops growing, hopefully in next 2-4mths. The most important thing for us was to try and control the pain for him and ride this horrible disease out. It felt hopeless from the diagnosis, but all you can do is love them and comfort them and eventually you feel there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Hope it helps!

[chihuahuagrandma]

Welcome to the dog forum, I see "rigrunner" has given experienced advice...
I personally do not have advice, but wish the best for you and your friends...
A tip: Surejell you use in the makin of jams/jellies
For humans: 1 Tablespoon daily in orange juice
For pets: you determine based on size
It helps w/ joints, cartlidge, arthritis, scar tissue
It takes a month to see any help, Most of luck to you....

[Jaybay]

Hello and welcome to the Dogs Community!  I'm so sorry your dog has to deal with such an awful condition.  If you haven't already discovered it, there is a vet-moderated board here at Med Help.  Dr. Cheng volunteers her time so participation is free.  She's great too!  Just click on the Ask a Vet link on the right side of this page to acces the forum.

[GLO530]

I am so sorry to hear about your puppy.  I went through this condition with my dog nine years ago and may be reliving it now.  I can come back when they reach an old age.  Since there is no cure keeping on top of the pain with anti-inflammatory drugs is important.  Boosting the puppies immune system is also important.  If a puppy is to beat this rare disease it will need to do it on its own and usually happens around one year of age when the immune system really kicks in.  Here is what I am using for my 85lb ten year old now.  Garlic 1500mg/day; Vitamin c 1000mg/day; Vitamin E 200 iu's/ day; Sangre de Drago.  I recommend running it by your vet first.  One of the most important things for us was getting him to the vet very quickly when we noticed an "attack" coming on. My dogs symptoms were things like pain while eating, foul smell from mouth, eyes **** eyed, legs weak and giving out.  We would rush him to the vet where they would monitor him and put him on an IV.  At exactly one year old he kicked it and has lived a good life.  He acquired early arthritis at six years old but could still get around, play, run, etc with glucosimine and condroitin.  Good luck !!!!!

[Ractom]

Our puppy, 5 months old, has this. She is a cairn terrier.  She had it when we bought her although we didn't know at the time.  She is at the very severe end of the disease apparantly, it having progressed very quickly and can only open her mouth about 1.5 cm. She is on steroids to slow the growth and is doing really well on them.  They seem to have helped enormously with the pain.
The vet thought about tube feeding her but can't open her mouth enough to intubate her for the op.  She does manage to eat very well though at the moment.
Her breath is very very smelly, probably due to food being left in her teeth etc as she can't clean them herself with tongue, according to the vet.  Trouble is we can't open her mouth enough to try and clean them for her.  Anyone got any tips/experience on this?

Thanks

Ractom

[kaz65]

This is a very sad and distressing disease.
I help run a Pit Bull Rescue and recently came across this in two Pit Bulls one of which sadly had to be PTS due to this condition. Now my puppy who is 6 months old is showing clear signs of this, I am so sad, should I get a professional diagnosis, thing is I am sure he has it. He is acting really lethargic today and has a discharge from his eyes and his breath is foul smelling.

Thanks
Karen

[LoveMyScotty]

My 7 mo. old Westie has CMO.  He can only open his mouth about
1-2 cm.  Here are some tips that are helping us:

Vet gave me a syringe that has a curved tip which I feed with.  It's
a 10 cc (Monoject 412).  Makes it pretty easy to insert right behind
the large canine tooth on the side.  He recommended Hill's A&D
dogfood.  My Westie weights 10.8 lbs and I'm suppose to feed to
cans a day.  Be prepared, it's pretty pricey ($40.00 case). He said
it's the highest nutricial food I can give him. I had been using milk,
yogert, even ice cream but the vet said use this only.  I put it in the
blender with a little water and blend till it's watery and I can easily
feed it with the syringe.  

Would like to hear from anyone else that has any helpful info.

[LoveMyScotty]

My vet has recommended I have my 7 mo old Westie with CMO to
be castrated under IV meds as he cannot be intubated to be neutered.
He says studies have shown that neutered males may do better.
Anyone have any experience with this?