My bitch is around day 41. This morning  I noticed one side of her head was sunken in and her eyes red. Took her straight to vet who said it could be many things.....Such as masticatory muscle myositis. She advised me to abort the pups straight away. My girl is still running around with her tennis ball, eating, drinking and can open her mouth wide so no jaw pain. Anyway she has given her eye drops as said the only thing she can find wrong with her ATM is red sore eyes. She said that if no change in a week she needs to do further tests for brain tumor etc. I'm devasted as this litter has been planned for ages and jusr wanted some advice. She sent me home to think about it but said I would need to go back tomorrow if I choose to abort.

I'm afraid that I would be asking for much more from my vet before making any decisions.  Do they have an ophthalmic vet there?  At my vets they all have different specialities.
I wouldn't be content at being told it could be many things

Wouldn't accept that with no further investigation.

Have you thought about a second opinion? Did the vet do any blood tests?

I would want to see an ophthalmologist before I would make any decision. I would request that you see someone tomorrow over this matter to know one way or another or call around other vets to see if there is an eye specialist on duty.

> masticatory muscle myositis.

I have a 9 year old bitch who developed this a couple of years ago only affecting the main muscle across the head, no problems eating, in fact a major chewer.

What is the reason the vet wants her pups aborted???

Surely unless the condition worsens then waiting and observing until pups are born would make sense even if it means steroid treatment may mean early weaning.

I asked my vet why i should abort and she said it was unkind to the bitch to continue the pregnancy if she had some serious illness. I asked why she wasn't doing blood tests and she said there was no need at this stage as she was only showing signs of eye infection......so I said why abort if only an eye infection to which she replied.....I'm not certain it's an eye infection and surely u don't want it bitch to undergo all the tests with a belly full of pups.. I have rang another vets and I'm going in morning. Thanks for your replies.

Wow, how unethical of your vet.  In one breath she says it's only an eye infection, in another she is almost accusing you of not doing right by your bitch.  In another she admits she hasn't a clue.

My opinion?  You came across yet another vet who is against breeding.  Hoping you are going to change vets permanently.  And stand your ground.

I really don't get it, on the one hand we have had posters who aren't advised about terminating an unwanted litter and encouraging owners to have the pups, and the poor bitch dying, as C section left late.

Then you have someone being told to abort a well planned litter, without knowing if there is a serious enough problem, that pregnancy may impact on.

I think it's more about what is easier for the vet - far easier not to have to deal with the puppies and protecting the puppies when prescribing meds or tests.  Much easier just to get rid of them. 

Honestly, what is the world coming to...

Referral to a specialist pronto needed and avoid that vet!!

Wow, I hope the new vet has a bit more of a clue!! Either she has a serious illness in which case they should be doing tests, or she doesn't in which case no need to abort. Shocking!!!

Here is a decent description of MMM http://www.hungarovet.com/?p=1684

Causes can be

1.) Allergens
2.) Idiopathic, unknown
3.) Immune mediated

I would do as everyone is saying and wait.............

It does sound more muscular related, but you never know do you?

Tbh if it were a tumor or mini stroke I would terminate as any kind of pressure could kill your girl, whelping being the most strenuous thing she could do, however there is always the option of a c-section if that worry really does exists, thing is by the time tests get going and come back the litter would be here anyway, so seems pointless aborting whatever the reason.

I hope your new vet will have a better idea, trouble is vets might be qualified, but so many today have no experience they are always looking things up in books, or doing a million tests, costing owners a fortune whilst putting the fear of G*d into them........... when one good experienced vet will know it is one of two things, they are so hard to find today though.

Wishing you and your girl all the best, let us know how things go, we'll be thinking of you at this worrying time.

Thank you. We are off to the vet soon. Its an hour away but they have many different specialists work there and it's where she was heart tested. I will let you all know what he says.

She is fine this morning....had her playtime and small breakfast. Fingers crossed.

Fingers, legs and toes crossed for you, x

Hoping for good news for you

Just to add, without seeing her, for me having a head that's 'sunken in' on one side suggests way more than an eye infection?   It sounds like some major trauma (which needs to be identified without putting her litter at risk if possible) before you make any decision about her and her puppies.   If you are not getting the information/advice you need to be making this, yes, taking her to another vet would be what I'd be needing to do.

"Tbh if it were a tumor or mini stroke I would terminate as any kind of pressure could kill your girl, "     I couldn't agree more!   Heartbreaking as it might be to have to abort this litter, for me the welfare of my bitches was ALWAYS my first consideration.

Hoping you get some answers!

Could this not be Horner's syndrome? My Golden Retriever developed that last year. The vet said it would eventually sort itself out. Took about 6 months but the eye is now 95 % normal. It was sunken in and very droopy, at times the third eyelid was 100 % across the eye so it looked awful.

Fingers and paws crossed here for you.  Sending positive vibes.

Any update? Hope its good news for you all x

Hi all. Well the vets today were completely different to yesterday. She was seen by two as the main vet I saw called in the eye specialist who said her eyes are not infected and it looks more like an allergy....she has thinning of hair around eyes too. He put dye in her eyes and gave her a thorough check. They said she hasn't any common signs of a brain tumor such as behaviour changes, head tilt, strange eye position etc.
They we're both petty sure it is MMM. They said her immune system may have dropped due to the pregnancy and also mentioned that it can be caused by allergies.

They both said there was no need to abort. My girl is not in pain, they advised me to keep a close eye on her for any changes but said they did not feel the need to subject her to all these tests while she is so well in herself. Also the fact that her pups are due in 3 weeks he said careful monitoring of my girl should be all that is needed until pups are weaned. Obviously if she changes in any way or cannot open her mouth to go back straight away.

I feel a lot better and I'm happy with the vets they explained things fully to me.

> They both said there was no need to abort. My girl is not in pain, they advised me to keep a close eye on her for any changes but said they did not feel the need to subject her to all these tests while she is so well in herself. Also the fact that her pups are due in 3 weeks he said careful monitoring of my girl should be all that is needed until pups are weaned.

Exactly what everyone here has thought.

Such positive news, enjoy the pups once they arrive x

I would agree with the second opinion reply.  I cannot  imagine the bitch doing well after aborting her babies for no definitive reason.  Good   luck and I hope it  all turns out well xx