Dog's face thinning, vet says rare. Should I get a second opinion?

I'm wondering if Mopar is suffering from masticatory muscle myositis. This is an immune system disorder in which the dog's immune system identifies the dog's own muscle tissue as foreign and attacks it. This causes the sunken in appearance on the face. Because he has a good appetite, I think it's fine to wait until Monday to have him seen but do not wait any longer than that. I hope this helps!

It sounds like she should be examined by a vet to determine the cause of her problems. It is very concerning that she is thin and weak and your vet can run some lab-work to screen for kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine diseases, etc. Your vet can also take x-rays, if needed, to look for any abnormalities that would cause decreased appetite and weight loss. She could also have a problem with her teeth and your vet can do a dental evaluation. She may need an antibiotic to treat a conjunctivitis. Please call a vet and schedule a check up.

With signs of muscle weakness, I would definitely have her tested for a condition called Myasthenia Gravis. This is an immune mediated disorder that can cause a multitude of symptoms including facial weakness, regurgitation, neck weakness and exercise intolerance. It can be tested through your vet and also treated for. The only other possible cause that comes to mind for a pet with muscle weakness and a tight jaw, would be tetanus, but you would expect a multitude of other symptoms including vomiting, fever, severe lethargy and inappetence. I hope that they can find out the cause soon! If she still comes up negative for anything after the additional test, then I would consider an MRI or CT scan on Xena moving forward. Best wishes and take care.

Poor Marley! It sounds like he may be suffering from an autoimmune disease called masticatory muscle myositis (MMM). This inflammatory disease affects the chewing muscles in the dog, and causes the muscle around the mouth to atrophy. It becomes painful for the dog to open their mouth. This can be treated with high dose steroids, which can be prescribed by your vet. This condition can cause dogs to not eat and lose weight, so I would take Marley into your vet as soon as you can.

It appears that Hunter is losing his temporal muscles, which is giving that caved-in head appearance. Considering he is also sensitive to the area, I am suscipicious of a condition known as masticatory myositis https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/masticatory-myositis-in-dogs However, this could be due to general muscle wasting. It's expected that some muscle wasting will occur as they age, but if he seems to be losing a lot of muscle, then this could indicate a chronic disease from an infection or cancer. I don't want you to worry about Hunter having a terrible disease, but it's best to have him evaluated by a veterinarian. They will be able to tell if there are any potential major problems and can help narrow-down the cause of this. I hope that helps and Hunter gets better soon.

If the temporal and parietal muscles has been like that since you had him then I would not be worried about it as it may be due to congenital conformation. If otherwise you noticed a deterioration in the last month or so, then a check up would be ideal as lack of innervation (trigeminal nerve inflammation, or miositis of the masticatory muscles may be present).

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ludo. I am not sure about what you mean that your dog has lost 7 legs. As far as his head though, he appears to have significant muscle wasting. This can occur secondary to longterm steroid use, generalized muscle loss due to aging or an inflammatory muscle disorder known as myositis. When the last condition occurs, the dog can have difficulty opening it's jaw. Unfortunately, he will need testing to know for sure. I hope this information helps!