Muscle loss

[blhull]

I had to put my best friend to sleep last Thursday. She was only 5 1/2- a German Shephard/Beagle mix, about 32 lbs. A couple of months ago she started having trouble using her back legs. She was dragging herself around with her front legs. My vet said he believed it was a disc problem and I should wait for 6 months to see how she did- in the meantime, he gave me prednisone (20mg/2X/day) for her. The prednisone did not seem to work very well as she continued to get worse. Last Wednesday I noticed that her facial muscles seemed to have disappeared. Her cheek bones stood out and she was VERY lethargic. The vet said that there was nothing else he could do for her and that the kindest thing would be to put her to sleep.

My question is... what do you think happened??? I don't believe that it really was a disc problem. It seems as if she started losing all of her muscle tone and that is why she couln't walk. I would just like to know what it might have been. I miss her greatly and hope that I did the right thing.

Thank you.

[BamaSherill]

I'm sorry for your loss.  I am dealing with the same problem in my Japanese Chin.
Spinal disc problems can lead to muscle weakness by decreasing the blood flow.
It is the blood that breathes life into our muscles.  With a decreased blood flow,
there is a lack of oxygen, causing the muscles to weaken.  This usually causes numbness and or pain.
I think you spared your dog a great deal of pain by letting her go.
Hugs to you, I know it was difficult

[distrbdbutterfly]

Spinal disc problems actually produce muscle weakness by cutting off the communication of the nerve with the limb it's trying to control.  If the nerve can't talk to the muscles, the muscles can't move and they atrophy from sudden disuse (as they would if you're arm is in a cast and you can't move it).

The sudden disappearance of facial muscles sounds to be neurological in nature as well.    

So sorry to hear about your loss.

[moses1806]

Hi I have a 6 1/2 yr old male boxer...he has been on  and on for 2yrs he has had terrible problems with his skin for several yrs and that is why the steroids.  I was concerned so my vet called the dermatologist and he suggested melatonin 10 mg x 2 a day...that was great all the hair returned..then tumors came in his mouth and 5 were biopsyed and No cancer...had to leave 1 lg tumor in under his tounge....now he has lost 10 lbs since this past summer ( he loves to eat)  and has lost muscle mass..face spine chest..60 lbs my vet has told me maybe 6 good months left and his hair is coming out now..he is also on thyroid meds along with benadryl...IF anyone can help me PLEASE send me a message...my Moses is my little man...

[TwoBitsMom]

Was your boxer checked for Cushings Disease...?

[marksme]

I look for comfort here from time to time. I guess it is true misery loves company. I know how terrible it is to lose a young dog. Having a dog
can be the greatest experience, because they just love you and care
not who your are, what you look like, if you fat, short, tall or old, they
just think you are great. I have been so down after losing Jack. I have
two other dogs and they are fine dogs, but not Jack. It's hard to explain
other than you find someone special in your life and when they are gone,
you are left a big hole in your heart. I guess that pretty much explains it.
You accept the loss, but never forget, and still feel the pain from time to
time. Such is life.
Mark

[Ghilly]

Quite a few of the symptoms you list point to Cushing's disease, but the fact that he has lost muscle mass in his face makes me wonder if he has a tumor on a trigeminal nerve root.  Dogs do not tolerate steroids all that well and it is quite common for dogs that are on steroids for any length of time to develop Cushing's disease.  But again, since there are tumors in the mouth already makes me think that there's a possibility that there are more that have just not yet been discovered and maybe it's NOT Cushing's.  Have they done MRI?  

Ghilly