The congenital form of myasthenia gravis has been reported in Jack Russel terriers, smooth haired fox terriers, Springer spaniels, Gammel Dansk honsehunds, and Samoyeds.  Clinical Signs become evident in these dogs around 6-8 weeks of age.  The congenital form is considered a disease of young dogs.  The main sign is general muscle weakness and some show the presence of megaesophagus (smooth haired fox terriers only).

megaesophagus - great enlargement of the lower portion of the esophagus.  The clinical signs include regurgitation, increased drooling or salvation, and repeated attempts at swallowing with extension or twisting of the head or neck.

Acquired form
 
The acquired form of myasthenia gravis occurs in adult dogs.  Mainly larger breed dogs such as German shepherds, Golden retrievers, and Labrador retrievers are affected.  Clinical signs usually become evident in affected dogs that are older than two years of age.  The main sign is progressive muscle weakness with exercise.  Thoracic or pelvic limbs are predominantly affected which progressively shortens the stride of the animal and may result in refusion to move.    Facial muscles, eyelids, and ear flaps may droop, and the animal may have troubles holding its head up after fatigue.  The weakness may be restricted to certain muscle groups such as the esophagus, pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles, and ocular muscles.  Megaesophagus is frequently seen with impaired swallowing, drooling, choking, and retching.  Along with Megaesophagus, apiration pneumonia is commonly seen.  In older dogs, myasthenia gravis is usually connected with thymoma.

apiration pneumonia – bronchopneumonia resulting from the inhalation of foreign material, usually food particles or vomit, into the bronchi.
thymoma - a neoplasm in the anterior mediatinum, originating from thymic tissue, usually benign, and frequently encapsulated; occasionally invasive, but metastases are extremely rare; histologically, consists of any type of thymic epithelial cell as well as lymphocytes that are usually abundant.

Diagnosis

Myasthenia gravis is said to be a clinically obvious disease which does not normally require laboratory tests, however, there are many laboratory tests that can be done to confirm myasthenia gravis.
 
Edrophonium chloride (Tensilon) response test – One test that can be done is a endrophonium chloride (Tensilon) response test.  Endrophonium chloride is a short acting anticholinesterase. Animals that are not already collapsed are made to do some type of exercise until weakness develops.  After the exercise, the animal is  given an injection of the anticholinesterase endrophonium chloride.  Muscle strength following the injection of endrophonium chloride is evaluated.  If there is no response after the first injection, a second can be given 1 – 2 minutes later, but the total dose should range from  0.5 – 5.0 mg IV depending on body weight.  With a positive test, muscle strength improves within 10 – 30 sec after injection and decreases within 5 minutes.  If no benefit is seen after 2 minutes, the test is negative.  This test is not specific only for myasthenia gravis and other tests should be performed to confirm the disease.

Neostigmine methylsulfate (Prostigmin) response test – Other tests can be done in the same fashion as the endrophonium chloride response test using longer acting anticholinesterase drugs such as neostigmine methylsulfate.  The dose is 0.05 mg/kg IM.  Clinical improvements occur 15 – 30 minutes after the injection.  A prior administration of atropine is required.

Electrophysiologic testing - A electrophysiologic test is done by repetitive supramaximal electrical stimulation to peripheral nerves at 3 – 5 stimuli per second.  The decreasing response (action potentials) of the animal to the stimuli is observed.  Normal animals will show a decreased response if greater than 20 stimuli per second is present.  If there is a 10% decrease in response, it is suggestive that the animal has myasthenia gravis.  If there is a 20% decrease, it is very reliable that the diagnosis is myasthenia gravis.  If the decrease in response ceases after tensilon is injected, the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis is confirmed even more.

Measurement of antibody titer – There is a significant correlation between the amounts of antibodies to the acetylcholine receptors and acquired myasthenia gravis.  However, there is no correlation between amounts of antibodies to acetylcholine receptors in the congenital form of myasthenia gravis.  Animals with thymoma also tend to have high amounts of antibodies.

Immunocytochemical  testing – Immunocytochemical testing can provide evidence of acquired myasthenia gravis.  All that is needed for this test is a sample of the serum from the animal suspected to have myasthenia gravis.  The serum of the animal is incubated with sections of normal muscle tissue.  Antibodies from the patient’s serum that bind to the end-plates within the muscle are detected by enzyme- or flourescence-linked secondary reagents.  This shows the amount of antibodies that are aimed against the proteins on the end-plate of the muscle.  However, this test is not specific only for the proteins on the acetylcholine receptors.

Radiographs  all cases of myasthenia gravis should have chest radiographs due to the great incident of megaesophagus and resulting apiration pneumonia.  Also, the radiograph should be checked for the presence of cranial mediastinal masses due to the association of thymoma with myasthenia gravis.

LETHARGY / THE LOOK OF PREMATURE AGEING
MUSCLE WEAKNESS / POSSIBLE LAMENESS & LIMPING
DEPRESSION / INCREASED NERVOUSNESS SHAKING
VOMITING / DIARRHOEA POSSIBLY BLOODY
LOSS OF APPETITE
SLOW HEARTRATE / TOTAL COLLAPSE
REGURGITATING / BURPING
POSSIBLE ABDOMINAL PAIN
COOL EXTREMETIES
INCREASED WATER CONSUMPTION/PALE URINE

Be aware your dog could display only some of these over a period of time. Also note, although these symptoms could cover a multitiude of dog ailments, the key is if they are being treated for gastric problems and they do not improve after 48 hours max, suggest a blood test first and foremost (initially to check the electrolytes, high potassium & low sodium is a common indicator but not always present).

A confirmed diagnosis can be reached by assesing the dogs adrenal response to a stimulating hormone called ACTH which usually only shows positive after about 80% of the adrenal gland is destroyed and the results are only valid at the time. If there is destruction going on within your dog if the test was repeated a few weeks later, it may show a positive result.This is probably why sometimes it is difficult to diagnose until the dog is really poorly.

There is also atypical Addison’s where by the glucocorticoid prodcing part of the adrenal gland is destroyed before the mineralcorticoid part, in these cases the usual electrolyte imbalance is not present.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THE SYMPTOMS LISTED CAN SOMETIMES WAX AND WANE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE A FUSSY EATER OR LACK OR CESSATION OF APPETITE.

IF YOU OWN A STANDARD POODLE OR OTHER BREEDS LISTED PLEASE INFORM YOUR VET THAT THE BREED IS PREDISPOSED TO ADDISONS.

INFORM YOUR VET ABOUT THE RESEARCH IN THE USA AND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

ALTHOUGH ADDISONS IS MORE PREVELANT IN CERTAIN BREEDS( NAMELY STANDARD POODLES, BEARDED COLLIES, PORTUGUESE WATER DOGS, LEONBERGERS, WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIERS, POINTERS & WEIMERANERS) I HAVE ALSO HEARD PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF QUITE A FEW ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN ALL BREEDS INCLUDING CROSS BREEDS. THIS CONDITION IS NOT AS RARE AS OFTEN PORTRAYED.

Symptoms Of Pregnant Dog – Loss Of Want Of Food: Do you realize your female dog no longer wanting to eat as much as the female dog once wanted to eat? If so you would probably want to know that one of the earliest dog pregnancy symptoms is this symptom right here the low of want of food by the animal. This is not something that will hurt the female dog and this symptom of dog pregnancy will go away in later weeks of the dog pregnancy.

Symptoms Of Pregnant Dog – Less Active Female Dog: The female dog’s body is working on generating puppies and due to this the dog will often not move around or play as much this is something that is normal when the female dog is pregnant and not something that you should worry about at all. The dog’s activity will increase after the pregnancy is over and this is something that you can come to expect if you are a dog breeder or someone who just loves to have their female dog’s have allot of puppies.

Symptoms Of Pregnant Dog – Female Dog Chest Growth: When a female dog is not pregnant the nipples on the female dog’s chest will be all flat and dry against the female dog’s chest. This is one symptoms of pregnant dog that is hard not to notice with the dog is the growth of the chest of the female this is one of the clearest signs of dog pregnancy. If you notice that your dog is showing this symptom then you will know for a fact that your female dog is pregnant and you will need to figure out if you are going to keep the puppies or if you would like to give the puppies away.

Symptoms Of Pregnant Dog – Mood Change Of Female Dog: When a female dog is growing through the pregnancy the female’s dog body is going through allot of stress and due to this the female dog’s mood can change. This is not something to worry about as your furry friend is having to deal with allot at the moment and once your dog has the puppies your dog’s mood should return back to normal and this is what all dog owners love to see is there dog being happy.

Symptoms Of Sick Dog – Stinky Breathing: When a dog is not feeling well often the dog’s breath will smell bad normally a dog’s breath will have no smell at all. If you notice that your animal is blowing off really bad smells from their mouth then the dog that is doing this could be quite sick. With this kind of symptom of sick dog you can take your dog to the veterinarian and the vet will be able to give you some advice on how to cure your dog. One of the most likely treatments with this symptom of sick dog would be eatable dog toothbrushes as these are used in an effort to make the dog have better health and have better breath health as well.

Symptoms Of Sick Dog – Bleeding In Urine/Stool: When a dog uses the restroom outside normally pet owners will see this waste and be able to tell if this is normal animal waste or if this waste is not normal. One way in which your dog could be experiencing symptoms of sick dog is if you have noticed that your dog has blood in either the urine or poop then you will know that your dog could be in serious danger. This is one of the leading symptoms of dog Parvo and another symptom is the dog actually vomiting up blood if you notice that your dog is experiencing this kind of reaction you will want to take this animal to the vet right away to make sure that this dog will live and no die.

Symptoms Of Sick Dog – Discharging Stuff From Ears: When a dog is in great health the dog’s ears will be fine and there will be nothing that actually comes out of the dog ears. One symptom of sick dog is a dog having yellow puss coming out from the dog’s ear this is most likely an infection and will need antibiotics to get better. The only way to get the correct antibiotics for this sick dog is to take this dog to the veterinarian to make sure the dog will get te correct medication and you will not have to worry about your dog no longer being able to live.

Now that you know if your dog or dogs have Parvo symptoms that you should be taking the dog to the veterinarian I will explain what you can expect to happen when you take your animal to the veterinarian’s office and get the dog medical attention. When the animal is getting care given to it the dog or dogs should be showing signs of recovery within the first week that the dog is at the animal hospital keep this in mind when taking your own dog in after you have figured out that your dog is experiencing some dog Parvo symptoms. After the week if your dog or dogs have not recovered you can expect your animal not to be able to recover from dog Parvo symptoms, dog Parvo is a serious illness and never forget this when realizing that your dog has dog Parvo symptoms.

There are a few things that the veterinarian will do to try to up-keep the health of your dog or dogs, the methods which the veterinarians will use I will explain below so you have a better idea of what will be done to help keep your dog or dogs alive. The procedures mentioned below are not the only procedures that can be used to treat dog Parvo symptoms but these are some of the key things that can be done to help your dog get away from disease. Losing a dog can be hard and it is important to realize this is a possible outcome that can happen if your dog has contracted Parvo and is now dealing with the negative end of the symptoms.

A veterinarian often will administer to the dog or dogs some from of pharmaceutical that will help to decrease the amount of virus(s) that are in the dog’s body. These treatments that will be performed on the dog or dogs can be something hard to deal with if you are a pet owner who loves their animal a good amount. If you are one of the avid animal lovers it could be a good idea to not stay in the same room where your dog or dogs are being treated as this could cause you emotional problems and make you more sad then you have to be if your animal does unfortunately die.

Symptoms Of Dog Pregnancy – Increase Size Of Female Dog Body: A female dog is usually a size which is the same size as a normal dog and when the female dog gets pregnant the female dog’s body will grow larger. This is something a pet owner will be able t notice right away as the female dog will be much larger then the dog normally is if this is something that your female pup is experiencing this could mean that this dog is pregnant. At this point you should make plans for the puppies that the dog is going to have that or make sure the dog is pregnant by taking the dog to the vet and having the vet check out and see if the female dog is pregnant or not.

Symptoms Of Dog Pregnancy – Milk Forming In Female Dog: When a female dog is not pregnant the female dog’s nipples will not be large and the dog will not be producing any kind of milk. Although if you notice that your dog is starting to have larger nipples and looking like your doing is filling up with milk you should know that this is one of the symptoms of dog pregnancy and means there is a good chance that your dog is pregnant. When expecting puppies it is important to come up with a plan for these animals before they are born think about this if you are going to allow your female dog to have puppies.

Symptoms Of Dog Pregnancy – Puppies Moving Around Inside Pregnant Dog: After a certain amount of time after the female dog is pregnant you will be able to notice that the puppies inside of the mother female dog are actually trying to move. You may not be able to see this clearly but you will be able to put your hand on the female dog’s belly and realize that the puppies inside are moving and this is one of the symptoms of dog pregnancy that really can’t lie. If you feel that the dog has puppies inside of the dog’s belly chances are the dogs are in there and you should prepare yourself how you can for the new puppies that are to come.

Keep these symptoms of dog pregnancy in mind as if your dog is pregnant there are preparations that you will need to do to make sure that your dog will have the puppies correctly. The best way to deal with a pregnant dog is by taking the pregnant dog to the local vet, as this will ensure that your dog is not going to lose puppies when the puppies are being born from the mother dog.

Symptoms Of Dog Poisoning- Red Rash: Poison is a dangerous chemical that will negatively effect the way that your dog is going to react in a negative way. One symptom of dog poisoning is that your dog will get a red inflamed area in the area that your dog has come into contact with the poison. Noticing this symptom of dog poisoning is important because this kind of reaction could cause a major adverse reaction to the dog’s health and could block a major function of the dog’s body, take the dog to your pet doctor immediately if you notice this one of the many symptoms of dog poisoning.

Symptoms Of Dog Poisoning- Inflated Mouth: When your dog eats poison the dangerous chemicals inside of this product will make the dog’s mouth become red and inflamed this is because the poison is poisoning the dog’s mouth and therefore causing it to enflame. Without treatment this kind of symptom of dog poisoning can lead the dog to no longer be able to breath. The lack of air to the dog will end up causing the dog to no longer be able to live and this is something that no pet owner wants to happen to his or her dog so if you notice this symptom just get the dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Symptoms Of Dog Poisoning – Throwing Up: When a dog ingests poison the dog’s body will do everything inside of the dog’s bodies power to expel all of the poison out of the dog’s system. The dog will try to vomit out the poison in the dog’s body and this is why this is one of the symptoms of dog poisoning that you should look out for so make sure to. If your dog is throwing up this means the dog’s body can’t handle the amount of poison and at this point seeking immediate medical attention for the dog is key if you would like your dog to survive.

Symptoms Of Dog Poisoning – Convulsing: A convulsion is like a spasm that a dog can have, when your dog is having a spasm due to poison infection this could mean that the dog’s body is not been able to take care of the poison. Taking care of the dog at this point is crucial due to the fact if the poison is let to spread throughout the entire body of the dog then the dog would not have a good chance at survival. If you already have a dog anti-poison then this could be something that you use to help your dog get better and if you do not have one of these products during this symptom of dog poisoning you will want to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Symptoms Of Dog Worms – Coat Losing Glossy Shine: Often when a dog is healthy the hair on the dog’s body will appear to shine this is something that is normal and fine to have with the dog. If your dog has worms though one of the symptoms of dog worms it the shine of color moving out of the dog’s coat if you notice that your own dog’s coat has lightened in color. If your dog’s coat is lightening in color then you might want to get your dog a worm treatment to ensure that your dog does not pass this disease to other dogs or humans in the home that the dog is staying.

Symptoms Of Dog Worms – Loss Of Weight And Food Want In Dog: When a dog gets worms the worms are attacking the inside of the dog’s stomach. Due to the worms the dogs body will not be able to use allot of the nutrients that the dog is getting from eating and because of this the dog with worms will lose allot of weight. The worms inside of the dog’s body could also be causing pain to the dog and this is what is linked with a dog not wanting to eat as much because the worms inside the dog’s body are just making the dog to uncomfortable to eat. If you notice these symptoms of dog worms it is important to get some worm medicine for your dog as soon as you can to help your furry friend fight off the dog worms and not have to deal with this dog medical problem.

Symptoms Of Dog Worms – Dog Sneezing With Loss Of Energy: Often a dog will be happy to play around and eager to get into some activities that would allow the dog to have fun. If your dog is experiencing worms your dog could actually sneeze allot more then you the dog normally does along with sneezing. The dog will have a low amount of energy because the worms inside of the dog’s body are taking up all the nutrients and not allowing the dog to get the energy that it needs to be really active. If you notice this symptom of dog worms take your animal to the vet so your dog can get the proper medication to get rid of worms fast and not have to deal with dog worms for a long time.

Symptoms Of Dog Illnesses – Diet Change Of Dog: The dog you have you probably have known for a long time and due to this long time of you knowing the dog you are aware of the eating habits that your dog display. If you notice a dramatic effect where your dog is either eating more then the dog normally would or eating less then the dog normally would then you can consider this an symptom of dog illness and if this is happening in your animal the best procedure could be to take your animal to the veterinarian. If you suspect that your dog is experiencing small eating habit changes and this isn’t something that requires a vet visit you can monitor your dogs eating habits and if they continue to be off then it is important to get your dog to the vet to make sure that your dog remains in good health.

Symptoms Of Dog Illnesses – Blood In Urination Or Excretion: When your dog uses the rest room normally the dog is not shy about it and due to this fact many pet owners have seen their dog use the rest room. Either way all pet owners have to deal with the mess that the dog leaves behind when dealing with the dog’s urine and or leavings if you notice that there is actually blood inside either of these fiches then your dog could be sick. This kind of sickness symptom can be important to take focus to as often this can point to a dog kidney or other problem that can be quite serious if not taken care of right away.

Symptoms Of Dog Illnesses – Dog Cough: Normally dog’s will bark when an enemy is coming into the area of the dog’s home and this is normally the only sound that a dog will make. If you notice that your dog is “sneezing or coughing” then this is a sure symptom that your dog could be experiencing a medical problem. The way to figure out what kind of disease your dog has is by checking with your local animal doctor and getting advice from this doctor animal professional.

These symptoms of dog illnesses are something to pay close attention to as dog’s that are sick can often die if the disease is not treated. These are not the only symptoms of dog illness if you are looking for other symptoms of dog illnesses you can take a look around this website, as there are many articles dedicated to this subject to help people understand the symptoms of a sick dog and many other symptoms that could negatively affect your animal’s health.

Symptoms Of A Sick Dog – Dog Not Urinating Often: When a dog is sick one of the symptoms of a sick dog that you can run into is your dog not wanting to go pee as much as your dog could of normally wanted to use the restroom. This is a symptom that your dog is experiencing because the dog you have could be having an infection inside of the dogs urinary tract. The dog having a urinary infection can be something that puts your dog in bad health. This is why if your dog is experiencing this symptom of a sick dog you may want to make sure that you take the dog to the veterinarian before your furry friend’s health declines.

Symptoms Of A Sick Dog – Dog Whining And Side Hurting: If you notice your dog licking at it’s sides and growling out in pain the one symptoms of a sick dog that disease this does match is your dog having a kidney stone. A kidney stone is something that will normally pass directly through the bladder. Although there are certain cases where the kidney stone will get stuck and if your dog is whining in pain and you believe they are having trouble in their side then a kidney stone could be a problem you and your pet are going to have to deal with. Taking your furry friend to the veterinarian is something that you can do to ensure that your dog is going to be healthy and this is suggested if you feel that your dog is going through an extreme amount of pain.

Symptoms Of A Sick Dog – Dog Not Wanting To Eat Much: Normal large and small dogs are often known to have one of the biggest appetites among pets. Dogs will normally beg to have an amount of food when you are eating and this is something that is normal and even if your dog does not do this it is normal for your dog to eat a certain amount of food a day. If you notice that your dog is no longer eating the same amount of food that it once was then you are going to want to take the dog to the vet to see what is wrong you’re dog as it could be suffering from a doggy disease.

These are just some of the symptoms that you can watch out for there are more symptoms that your dog could be experiencing and other dog diseases that your dog could have. The main point is if you notice your puppy or dog is having some kind irritation that you should make sure that you take care of this problem so your dog does not run into any adverse health problems.