Masticary myositis is a veterinary medical condition that affects dog. The condition causes the muscles that the dog uses for chewing to become inflamed, reports Michigan Veterinary Specialists.
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Types
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There are two main types of masticary myositis: acute and chronic. The acute form comes on quickly and responds rapidly to treatment, while the chronic form has a tendency to linger on or disappear only to reappear again.
Symptoms
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The most common symptoms of acute masticary myositis is excessive drooling and a loss of appetite or lack of interest in eating. Chronic masticary myositis usually occurs after repeated bouts of the acute form of the condition, with its most noticeable symptom being a sunken-in appearance of the dog's cheeks accompanied by difficulty opening their mouths.
Causes
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Veterinarians do not fully understand the causes of masticary mysotisis, but believe it is tied to the immune system.
Prevalence
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Masticary myositis affects all breeds of dogs, but is most common in large dogs, such as German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. The condition affects young or middle-aged dogs.
Diagnosis
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Veterinarians typically diagnose masticary myositis through physical examination as well as blood work and electromyography or EMG to rule out other possible causes of symptoms.
Treatment
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To treat masticary myositis, veterinarians typically prescribe oral corticosteroid medications.
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