Myasthenia Gravis

[foxylady]

A friends dog has been diagnosied this , does anybody have first hand experience of it?

[kshort49]

I woman I knew had it-I've never heard of it in dogs, but since I've joined this board, I've learned that there are many human diseases that dogs can get. Sorry I cant give you more info, but best wishes to your friend's pup.
Kathy and Maia

[Bosley Slave]

Sorry no first hand experience. Although it is one thing that the vet is going to test Bosley for.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...ia_gravis.html has some good info:
In older times, testing was more complicated. Muscles were biopsied. Response to rapid acting intravenous drugs (the “Tensilon test”) were examined. Nowadays, a simple (though not inexpensive) blood test can be done to check for antibodies against Acetylcholine receptors. This blood test is falsely negative in only 2% of cases. These same antibody blood levels can be used to monitor treatment progress. When antibodies drop to less than 0.6 nmol/L clinical signs generally resolve.
Once a dog or cat has been found to have Myasthenia gravis, it is important to consider that immune mediated conditions often go together. There may be other problems afoot.
A chest radiograph set should be taken to check for thymoma.
TREATMENT
Myasthenia gravis often goes into remission without treatment. In one study of 53 dogs, 89% went into remission an average of 6.4 months (and within 18 months) after diagnosis. The dogs in this study that did not go into remission all developed cancer within 3 years of their myasthenia diagnosis.
http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/demysgrav.html

[foxylady]

Thanks very much for your input. I will pass on the info. The dog in question is 13 mths and the vet wants to wait 6 mths for further testing.