What could this possibly be?

[LindaTX]

Our 12-13 yr old Great Pyrenees, JJ has developed some strange symptoms.  We were out of town and had a caretaker checking on him and our 10 yr old Barney.  When we got home, he was exhibiting these symptoms:  Listless, excessive drinking of water, third-eyelid covering eyes so that he appears to be blind, not really able to eat solid food, just laps at a soupy mixture of wet and dry food mashed.  We can't imagine what must have happened to him....the caretaker had no clue what it could be.  No fever, anyone ever run into anything like this? We do live out in the country, no close neighbors so don't think he got into something poisonous. Possibly a snakebite..... but couldn't see any puncture marks anywhere.

[Ghilly]

Linda, I'm so sorry about JJ.  There are no adequate words at a time like this.   At least you have the small comfort of knowing that JJ is no longer suffering and that he lived a long life for such a large breed.  I know that he will be missed.  Somehow I think he'll still find a way to mentor Big Ben and Beau.

I would be interested in reading the printout.  I am not familiar with this disease and now I'm interested in learning more about it.  

May your memories of JJ console you through the holidays and the antics of the puppies add some joy.  Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Ghilly

[Misfits4Me]

Oh Linda...I'm so sorry...Please accept my sympathy for ALL your losses.....You went above and beyond to help JJ & I for one, appreciate it.....I wish all animals could have such wonderful homes.....

I'd be interested in reading your printout......Would this disease have shown up on any type of testing or only by examination? I'm curious...I'm glad you found a doctor to help you.....Just knowing what was wrong makes a big difference.....Not knowing is awful....

I do hope the Holidays bring you some comfort...Even if it's small, it's better than none.....I'll be thinking about you......Have a blessed season, you deserve it!  Merry Christmas    Karla

[LindaTX]

Later yesterday morning his eyes looked worse and worse.  My husband and I decided to take him to a Dr in Temple who has an excellent reputation and has been in practice for 42 yrs.  He took one look at him and diagnosed him as having Masticatory Muscle Atrophy and Dropped Jaw.  Bad prognosis...in fact horrible prognosis...it would take more IV fluids, tube feeding for a long time, then steroids for the rest of his life with side-effects and that was no guarantee that he would get better.  He just was not strong enough to go through all that.  JJ was a big dog who liked to be free and he enjoyed our wide-open spaces.  We knew we couldn't confine him like we would have had to....so we made that heartbreaking decision to say good-bye.

I want everyone to know how very much I appreciate the support  you've all given me on here.  The Dr said he had only seen a handful of these cases.  He gave me a print-out about this diagnosis if anyone has any questions.  The symptoms are actually almost identical to rabies.  JJ had his rabies shot Aug. of 2010 and had had one or two in the years subsequent.

We've had a really bad couple of years...we lost 2 of our cats thanks to a stray dog that we took in.....2 cats this past summer to predators, probably coyotes and our donkey, Shrek to laminitis.  We have our 10 yr old, Barney (JJ's best friend) our 2 new Great Pyrenees puppies, Big Ben and Beau, who were 3 mo old on the 9th of this month ( we were planning on JJ being their mentor/trainer) and our 3 cats.  We sold all our cattle about 3 weeks ago because there is no food left in the pastures because of the horrendous drought Texas has been in for the past year.  Then 2 weeks ago it started raining and pretty much hasn't stopped...I guess I'm rambling but I guess I just don't know what could possibly happen next...

[Misfits4Me]

Hi Linda....Are you sure his bloodwork was normal? Do you have a copy that you can read & evaluate yourself? Can you get one?

My first thought was "Tick Borne Disease", too. Doesn't matter if it's this year without ticks or not.....

Has his throat been xrayed for blockage or tumor?

I'm also curious about Vaccines.....Had he just been vaccinated when this began?

Anyway, I like Connie, am brainstorming, but keep coming back to above mentioned..

Either way, I've been praying for your guy ever since you posted......I'm hoping that this can all be resolved......I'm thinking about you, too....Karla

[opus88]

hi Linda...just reading about poor JJ...sending you a link to a good site. could it be associated with HypoThyroidism? there can be laryngeal paralysis with this..also click on Megaesophagus further down the article..sure hope your Vets can get to the bottom of this for poor JJ...♥

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_laryngeal_paralysis.html

[LindaTX]

Thanks, Tony and Connie, I so much appreciate your support. Connie, first thing I thought of was a snake bite but no puncture marks.  Our Vet mentioned big frog, which is still a possibility, they can be poisonous.  No ticks to speak of because of the fire ants which have almost been erradicated by the drought.  I thought brown recluse (my daughter said no because there would be much more damage to him at the bite site).  I thought maybe black widow, we do have them.  Whatever it is has his throat area still "paralyzed. His drinking water was completely brown from lapping after trying to eat his soft dog food.

His eyes looked a tiny bit better this morning but still very red.  It's early so I haven't called our Vet yet but after I do I will post again.