GME Disease
- Harley
- Puppy
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 06 Nov 2020, 00:31
- First Name: Gary
GME Disease
My 5 month old puppy Harley just got diagnosed with GME (granulomatous meningioencephalomyelitis) disease. Doctor has him on prednisone and depending on how that goes might try adding other immune suppressive medications. My question is has anyone here had experience with this, what might have caused it, and is it hereditary?
- zeta1454
- Moderator
- Posts: 5136
- Joined: 19 May 2011, 16:58
- First Name: Leigh
- Dog #1: Magic
- is a: P/S Mini Bitch
- Born: 20 Apr 2010
- Dog #2: Trilby
- is a: P/S Mini Bitch
- Born: 15 Mar 2012
- Dog #3: Pip
- Born: 21 Feb 2014
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Re: GME Disease
Hi Gary - I am so sorry to read about little Harley. That must be a terrible shock to you and the family. I have no personal experience of a dog being diagnosed with this so hope that someone else on the Forum may be able to give you more specific advice if they have been through this.
From my reading about this condition online, I would say that there does not seem to be any suggestion that it is hereditary although there is always the possibility with any disease that a genetic factor is involved in some way and is simply triggered by other factors in the environment or through some trauma or infection. It is an autoimmune disease affecting the brain which seems to be currently regarded as of ‘unknown origin’ although there have been various studies offering possible causes from an inflammatory response to a virus or bacteria that a dog may have been exposed to in the environment to an adverse reaction to the Canine Distemper vaccine.* Whatever the cause it would not appear that it could have been predicted or prevented in any way and treatment of the symptoms and supportive care will be tailored to the individual dog.
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3113901/
It does seem as though it is a condition that may be misdiagnosed so a specialist diagnosis is important and also that it can affect a dog in several different ways, some of which are more serious than others in terms of how well they respond to treatment. I have put a few links below which may add to the information and advice from your vet:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ ... own-origin
https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/ ... ology-mua/
https://www.thesprucepets.com/granuloma ... gs-3384920
Sending hugs to you and Harley and hope that the medication / treatment is successful in helping your little pup.
From my reading about this condition online, I would say that there does not seem to be any suggestion that it is hereditary although there is always the possibility with any disease that a genetic factor is involved in some way and is simply triggered by other factors in the environment or through some trauma or infection. It is an autoimmune disease affecting the brain which seems to be currently regarded as of ‘unknown origin’ although there have been various studies offering possible causes from an inflammatory response to a virus or bacteria that a dog may have been exposed to in the environment to an adverse reaction to the Canine Distemper vaccine.* Whatever the cause it would not appear that it could have been predicted or prevented in any way and treatment of the symptoms and supportive care will be tailored to the individual dog.
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3113901/
It does seem as though it is a condition that may be misdiagnosed so a specialist diagnosis is important and also that it can affect a dog in several different ways, some of which are more serious than others in terms of how well they respond to treatment. I have put a few links below which may add to the information and advice from your vet:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ ... own-origin
https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/ ... ology-mua/
https://www.thesprucepets.com/granuloma ... gs-3384920
Sending hugs to you and Harley and hope that the medication / treatment is successful in helping your little pup.
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras
Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud
https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/C ... 916994967/
Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud
https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/C ... 916994967/
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- Member
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- Born: 21 Dec 2002
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- is a: B/S Mini Dog
- Born: 04 Jul 2017
Re: GME Disease
Gary, I am so sorry that your pup has this condition, I don't know anything about it but there is a Facebook group for owners of dogs with the condition. So if you have not joined already here it is. https://www.facebook.com/FightGME
Good luck and hope it is a condition that can be managed satisfactorily.
Good luck and hope it is a condition that can be managed satisfactorily.
Man cannot survive with wine alone...
we also need a schnauzer.
we also need a schnauzer.
- Harley
- Puppy
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 06 Nov 2020, 00:31
- First Name: Gary
Re: GME Disease
Harley's 10.5 month update...
Hi everyone... I'm back to being a rambunctious schnauzer puppy! I've been off the vet prescribed prednisone for a couple months now and acting like nothing ever happened... go figure. I'm hoping and praying that maybe it was something else that caused my lethargy and fever. Anyway, just wanted to share the good news, Harley
Hi everyone... I'm back to being a rambunctious schnauzer puppy! I've been off the vet prescribed prednisone for a couple months now and acting like nothing ever happened... go figure. I'm hoping and praying that maybe it was something else that caused my lethargy and fever. Anyway, just wanted to share the good news, Harley
- zeta1454
- Moderator
- Posts: 5136
- Joined: 19 May 2011, 16:58
- First Name: Leigh
- Dog #1: Magic
- is a: P/S Mini Bitch
- Born: 20 Apr 2010
- Dog #2: Trilby
- is a: P/S Mini Bitch
- Born: 15 Mar 2012
- Dog #3: Pip
- Born: 21 Feb 2014
- is a: P/S Mini Bitch
- Location: North Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: GME Disease
Lovely photo and so glad to hear you are much better, Harley, and that maybe it was some other reason that you were unwell before. Great that you are no longer on the medication too.
Enjoy life to the full, sweet boy
Enjoy life to the full, sweet boy
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras
Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud
https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/C ... 916994967/
Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud
https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/C ... 916994967/