update on great dane w/ muscle wasting

Question
Thank you for the reply on my great dane that has the muscle wasting after a bout of idiopathic neuropathy.  Well we think she is getting worse , lately we have noticed that she must still be losing muscle mass, her spine and shoulder blade are becoming very noticeable now and she is shedding really bad and her coat isn't as soft as it use to be. She still eats but not as much as she use to. We have had blood tests done on her and her blood work has come back good, she has been tested for lymes, cushing, diabetes, thyroid and ect... all came back ok.  We are at a loss.  She doesn't act  like she is in any pain. She still likes to wrestle with our other dane and sheperd.  Today she was sleeping and on every exhale she would shake as if she was cold.  Her respiration were normal tho. Thank you again for the information you sent.  If you should come across anything else please keep me posted.  Thank you.
Shelli


Answer
Hi Shelli,
I am sorry to hear she is getting worse. Did you discuss myasthenia gravis with your vet? I don't think there is a test for it but it is more of a rule out than anything else. Wait, I found that there is a serum test for it. It would have to be sent out to a lab.

Shaking in a respiratory pattern is usually associated with pain. But she could just be cold since she is losing muscle mass and that's what keeps us warm with our fat layer.

I am at a loss as to why the vet isn't being more aggressive in finding out what this could be. Is she on any kind of supportive therapy or steroids at the least?
Those could be helpful in forcing a remission so you might have time to figure out what is going on.

All the reading I have done on it points to either myasthenia gravis or a nerve conduction problem that could be idiopathic but that doesn't mean it isn't stoppable if treated correctly.
Call me a patient advocate because that is what I am and I want the vet to do all that they can to help this dog.
Thanks for letting me know what was going on and how she is doing.
I am very disheartened to hear she is sliding down-hill.
If you find out what is going on please let me know as soon as you do.
Thanks,
Jana