Tynawon finally has a REAL diagnosis! Please read

[Kspurlock]

Some of you may have read my initial "Fainting goat?" post. That was when we were searching for an answer to why my little baby girl has the same characteristics of fainting goats.

Tynawon is now 5 months old. Although she shows a lot of improvement from 2 months she still has issues with wooden or concrete stairs, getting out of her cage, or rough play with her sister. She makes improvements everyday which makes me happy but I couldn't shake the thought that I wasn't satisfied with our vets prognosis. He had said that she was having seizures and we needed to monitor her diet and she would either have a full on seizure or she would stop altogether.

So reading over my initial post and a lot of the comments I finally thought of something. my AH HAH moment hit me right in the middle of work. I quickly got on the computer and researched why fainting goats faint. I knew it was something in their dna but the thought hadn't occurred to me that it might be present in other animals dna too. Sure enough I found my answer.

Fainting goats suffer from a hereditary disorder called Myotonia Congenita. It basically is a mutation of the cells in an animal or humans body. The most common canine sufferers are miniature schnauzers and (you guessed it) CHOWCHOWS! Hence why I am writing this post on the chow chow forum.

Common symptoms are: stiff gait, some uncontrolled slobber, excessive noise, abnormal bark, and trouble eating/drinking. Now I know chows can slobber and are pretty noisy when they want to be and they also have naturally stiff hind legs. But tynawon definitely was abnormal about all of her Chow traits. I was also shocked to hear that a lot of people euthanize their pets when they discover this disorder. How could anyone look in any animals eyes and think to put it down because they didn't want to work to help them out? There is no way I will EVER put tyna down because it is a minor inconvenience to me. Yes it can get tiresome carrying a dog up and down 2 flights of stairs every time she needs to go out but I do it because I love my dogs and I know if roles were reversed she would do it for me. I may not have kids but I am a mama none the less and if that means hauling a 60 lb dog up and down the stairs for 15 years, constantly staying by her while she eats, and being there to pick her up every time she falls thats what I'll do. I took on the responsibility of caring for her and she depends on me. Every time she trips she looks for me, I am always right there. (speaking of which I just had to jump off the bed because she fell getting out of her cage)

I am writing this in the hopes that everyone will see it and know what to do and maybe it will help someone else out. be responsible and buy from a shelter or a responsible breeder who cares about the breed not the cash. I bought tyna from a pet store (which I normally never do) but something told us that she needed to come home with josh and I and we couldn't leave her. It was the best decision. I have sometimes doubted whether we were a good fit for her. But right after I pick her up she looks at me and you can see the love in those pretty blue eyes. She makes us laugh and she makes us happy and thats what really matters. I love my dogs and would do anything I could to make their lives easier. We're even buying a house ONLY on the grounds that we bring tyna and make sure she can get around okay.

Best of luck to all the chow owners! They truly are a remarkable breed.

[Fozzbear]

What a great Mum you are!

[chowpups]

Wow, great research ! we have a farm down the road that raises fainting goats and english golden retrievers ! I have never met or talked with her before ,but now Iam interested to talk with her to see if she has heard of the relationship !

[Cocoa]

you are a wonderful chow momma!

[wokman]

Please be careful going up and down the stairs and always make sure you us your legs when lifting her; we only get one spine. I hope you can get a house with one floor or a split level with few stairs. I carry my one female (58 Lbs.) up the stairs and sometimes down because of her Arthritis. You are, as the others have said an exceptional Chow Mom.

[chowpups]

After posting I went on line and googled fainting goats and what a surprise I got Reading the information. I learned something new today!! I never knew dogs and cats could get this!
Thanks for posting

[Kspurlock]

Thank you!

Yes we are very careful when we carry her, Josh had a bulldog and is always worried about our dogs hips and legs because he had to be so careful with his bullys. But yes we are very excited this will be our first home and we have been very specific to our realtor that our dogs are our children at the moment so we need to think of them too. We're putting a bid in on a house with a nice big yard already fenced in and very easy steps but we decided to go ahead and buy a small ramp to cover them up to just make her life easier and our arms less sore! The master bed is on the main level so she can be where we are at night which is important to her.

Im just happy to finally know what is wrong with her and can continue to find more things to help her out. I coach so in order to give her extra exercise she has started coming to practice a couple times a week and running with the kids. They love it because she is so sweet and wants to follow everyone around. And I love it because she is getting really well socialized with the 30+ kids on the team. It works out best for both of us.

Glad i have helped anyone out and given new information!

[Rory's Dad]

Please stop stapling flowers to her head...it will not help.

Seriously though, nice job on the research. I am not familiar with it myself and not sure there are any meds that can help, but if you can control her behavior and adapt to it, fantastic.

[Boogie and Linda]

Good for you for doing the research and good for you for sticking by her no matter what. There are a lot of people who will discard a pet because of an inconvenience. Is there any kind of treatment for this condition?

[Kspurlock]

Haha yes she wasn't all that thrilled about her bows but my niece bought them for her so we HAD to put them on. She of course chewed them off about 5 seconds later..

There is no known cure for the disorder yet but exercise is by far the best medicine. Just getting her out there and moving everyday helps tremendously we go to the dog park twice a week and chase her around the yard everyday plus with the now added track practices she is one active pup!

There is a drug called procainamide that is typically used to treat heart arrhythmias that has been found to reduce the signs in a lot of dogs. Though this will never fully stop her stiffness it is supposed to help let her muscles relax so she doesn't have so many problems. I haven't given her it yet because I wanted to do some research on side affects first then talk with my vetnarian. I want to make sure she won't be harmed or anything else because of it. Hopefully it checks out alright and we can start giving it to her so maybe she can have an easier time!

[JasonandNat]

Great news and your a great parent. That said, ShenLung and FengHuang are licking their chops at the mention of goats. They really, really want one!!

[coleena]

Hi there - just noticed this post. I have a 14 month old chow and we suspect he has myotonia congenita also (our vet cottoned on to it after us taking extensive video of him). He had a blood test done by University of Pennsylvania where they specialise in this research and the test come back negative, however the Professor there suggested it may well be another mutuation of the disease which wouldn't show up..... He struggles to get up from his laying position (especially in the colder weather) and has done since about 5 months old. Now he has also developed an intemittent limp on his front right leg. Once moving though he is right as rain. I also have to carry (all 25kg) of him into the house each night! It is very confusing though as the symptoms all point to arthritis also. All I can suggest is that you persevere and keep an eye on things as we have done. The up side with they Myotonia (unlike arthritis) is that it doesn't give them any pain. Unfortunately no cure yet though, and long term prognisis unknown, although we were told there is no reason to suggest it is progressive (which I'm grateful for). Just thought I'd let you know you are not alone!

[Sirchow]

Coleena I am sure your vet must be basing this dx on more than the symptoms you mention but if not have they thought of panosteitis which your pup would grow out of?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panosteitis

[coleena]

Hi Sirchow, well it seems the vet is as flummoxed by it all as we are. I read about the disease you mentioned and the symptoms don't really correlate. ie; the lameness is not what I'd consider acute and doesn't change from leg to leg (always front right), and he did have x rays done. It was originally the strange problem he was having with getting up off his hindquarters after sitting/laying that had the vet giving the possible diagnosis of myotonia (at the time after the x rays he ruled out cruciate issues and the usual chow complaints), hence the tests (and subsequent inconclusive results). We have since (in the last few months) seen the development of the other issue with the front leg limp. Also the first issue subsided with the warmer weather but is now back again, which can be apparent with myotonia, but of course also with arthritis.... So all a bit tricky to diagnose. He is going back to the vet next month so we will have another chat about it then and possibly more x rays... I have been giving him the odd tablet (anti inflammatory) which the vet said to trial when he seems at his worst and see if it makes any difference. All seems a bit hit and miss unfortunately and doesn't appear the vets always have all the answers....! On the up side he is still a very happy and active dog, and doesn't appear to be in pain (although I know they can be quite stoic). Still loves his walks/playtime etc. In any case when we see the vet next I'll be sure to mention Panosteitis to ensure he has ruled that out. Many thanks.

[Cam Atis]

You are a responsible pet owner. And I also wouldnt euthanise any pet. Personal choice. The ribbons make her so cute though I feel sad for her. I havent heard of fainting goat. Anyway, keep it up. Just dont forget they are animals and not human. So that you can satisfy their needs much more correctly if your mindset is based in reality. Dont make them wear human clothes or doll them up. It is cute for us but not to them. Or insist a purely vegetarian diet.
i am saddened by the fact that the chow breed is soo unhealthy that many pwners are being made to suffer emotional turmoil because they pups have medical conditions. They were constantly being swindled by these irresponsible breeders and irresponsible sellers.
Where's the natural selection process? It doesnt work in the breeding world.

[Auddymay]

Interesting diagnosis. I watched a video of goats with this condition, and they are wild to watch. I cannot imagine what it took to find the correlation with your Chow. I too, hope you move into a bottom apartment or a one story home!