Simplicity on this
page is a deliberate keynote. Our purpose is more to investigate
than educate.
If you would like to
know a little more then click on the name of each illness. A great deal further information is to be
found on our
More Reading
page.
Some of these illnesses
can be concurrent (ie happening together)
Polymyositis
is an inflammatory disorder and several muscle groups can be
involved. In
Hungarian Vizslas
it is those of the tongue,
swallowing mechanisms, pharynx, head and
esophagus that are principally affected. Lameness too is a
common finding. There is not a specific test for PM and
extensive investigation is required. This illness can be confirmed only after the
elimination of two similar diseases (Masticatory Muscle Myositis and
Myasthenia Gravis) and muscle biopsy submission to the
Comparative
Neuromuscular Laboratory in San Diego.
Masticatory Muscle Myositis (MMM)
(or eosinophilic myositis) is an inflammatory disease
affecting the muscles of mastication. There is a simple blood test
for this illness. It is called the 2M antibody test.
Myasthenia Gravis
is
an illness resulting in generalised muscle weakness that is
typically exacerbated by exercise. The esophagus
is often involved. A simple blood test (acetylcholine receptor)
detects specific autoantibodies.
Exciting news of a new genetic study!
IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
An illness where an abnormal mucosal immune response to
certain causative factors results in the recruitment of inflammatory
cells to the intestine. Chronic vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss
are common.
Polyarthritis
is an
immune-mediated inflammatory disease of joints.
Clinical signs include stiffness of
gait, lameness, reduced range of motion, crepitus, and joint
swelling and pain in one or more joints. The pain is usually very
severe.
IMHA (Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia)
An illness where the defective immune system attacks and
destroys its own red blood cells.
Anaemia and other complications
result.
IMT (Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia)
An illness where the defective immune system attacks and destroys
the blood system's platelets. This interferes with clotting
mechanisms and bleeding (and subsequent bruising) result.
Sebaceous Adenitis
An inflammatory disease process directed against the
sebaceous glands, resulting in their destruction. Sebum production
is compromised and so scaly lesions (affecting trunk, head and ears
particularly) and pruritis (itchiness) are symptomatic. A
veterinarily known predisposition in vizslas.
Pemphigus
An illness where the
defective immune system targets cells between the skin layers or in
mucous membranes. Ulceration, crusting and pustule formation result.
Lupus (SLE or Discoid)
SLE (Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus) is the most complicated autoimmune illness because the immune
system forms antibodies against the nuclear component of its own
cells. Multi-systemic disease results. Discoid Lupus is an immune
mediated skin disease primarily affecting the nose and face.
Addison's Disease (primary)
is caused by an autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands
resulting in the progressive loss of production of adrenal hormones.
Sodium:Potassium ratio <27 may be an indicator. Clinical signs may
wax and wane but might include lethargy, vomiting/diarrhoea,
anorexia, collapse. Once Addison's is correctly diagnosed, a
properly treated dog can live a normal active life.
Hypothyroidism is the most
common endocrine disorder in the dog and in 80% of cases is caused
by a progressive, autoimmune destruction of the thyroid glands.
Production and secretion of the thyroid hormone is impaired and
deregulation of metabolism results. Clinical signs are
diffuse.
Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy (SLO)
results in destruction of the nail bed tissue which causes the nails
to fall off and break
Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis
(SRMA) is an inflammation of the meninges (the membranes that cover
the brain and spinal cord) and is believed to have an immune
mediated pathogenesis. Clinical signs include fever, severe neck and
sometimes spinal pain, back arching and stiffness of gait. In the
vizsla we have also had reports of hypersensitivity to touch and
poor neck flexion.