GME in dogs is an inflammatory neurologic condition that can cause a range of problems from seizures to blindness. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for GME in an effort to help support and empower dog parents whose dogs may be facing this difficult diagnosis.
Most dog parents have a general understanding of the common illnesses that can affect their beloved furry friends. If dogs have been part of your family for a while, you’re probably no stranger to gastrointestinal upset, urinary tract infections in dogs, and skin issues like wounds or pyoderma in dogs. Neurologic problems, however, can seem like a whole different—and much scarier— beast.
Watching your dog suddenly start stumbling around or having seizures is hard enough. It is even harder if you discover your dog’s tentative diagnosis is something you have never heard of—granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME).
After a diagnosis like that, it can be easy to fall down the research rabbit hole and wind up feeling overwhelmed and confused. That isn’t a fun place to be, so I hope that this article can offer you a bit of clarity and hope.
What is GME in dogs?
Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (i.e. granulomatous meningoencephalitis) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). If we break down the name, it gives us an overview of what is going on.
“Meningoencephalomyelitis” refers to an inflammation (“itis”) that affects the brain (“encephal”), spinal cord (“myel”), and the covering of these structures, which is called the meninges (“meningo”). The term “granulomatous” indicates that the predominate types of inflammatory cells in these patients are white blood cells like monocytes and lymphocytes.
Which dogs tend to get GME?
Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis primarily affects middle-aged small breed dogs, and there is no sex predisposition. On average, a dog might develop GME around four to eight years old. GME can technically affect any breed. However, it is possible there is a hereditary component as it is most common in the following breeds:
- Chihuahua
- Dachshund
- Maltese
- Miniature Poodle
- Rat Terrier
- Toy Poodle
- West Highland White Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
What causes GME in dogs?
Unfortunately, GME is still a condition that is not entirely understood and the true underlying cause is unknown. Thus, in the early stages of diagnosis, the veterinarian or veterinary neurologist may refer to it as meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) or meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE).
Most researchers who study GME have suggested that it is an autoimmune disorder. In other words, the immune system starts attacking nervous system cells which are normally hidden from it. Many agree that GME can be multifactorial. There may be congenital and environmental influences combined with delayed reactions to things like vaccinations or infections. At this point, researchers do not believe GME is contagious.
Whatever the true trigger may be for GME, the result is an activation of T-cells. These are special cells the immune system normally uses to fight off infections and attack cancerous cells. However, in the case of GME, T-cell activation leads to the uncontrolled release of inflammatory mediators. The end result is oxidative damage, neurologic cell toxicity, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a kind of filter that prevents infectious and harmful agents from entering the brain through blood vessels.
What are the types of GME?
GME cases are typically classified based on the location of the lesion within the CNS. In most cases, the type of GME will influence the kind of clinical signs the dog shows. The three types of GME are as follows:
- Focal—The inflammatory lesion is located in one place instead of being more diffuse (i.e. widespread). It usually affects the deeper tissues of the brain (i.e. the white matter) and can sometimes look like a tumor on imaging.
- Disseminated—In this type of GME, the inflammatory lesions are more diffuse or multifocal (i.e. occurring in multiple separate locations). For example, dogs may have disease in their brain and spinal cord.
- Ocular—The least common type of GME, the ocular form, tends to affect the back of the eye where the retina meets the optic nerve.
What are the symptoms of GME?
As you can imagine based on the description of GME, it generally causes neurologic signs. These symptoms can start very rapidly or can gradually intensify over time. And they will vary based on the location of the inflammatory lesion.
In the ocular form of GME, blindness is usually the only clinical sign. In some ocular cases, a dog may have asymmetrical pupils (i.e. anisocoria) or the pupils may respond abnormally to bright light. This happens because ocular GME affects the nerves that send the signal for the muscles to dilate and constrict the pupils.
Sometimes the inflammatory lesion appears at the center of the brain or affects the brainstem. This can lead to an altered mental state or a tired or lethargic dog. It can also affect a dog’s ability to walk normally, resulting in a dog who is wobbly and off balance (i.e. ataxic).
When GME impacts the cranial nerves, the dog might have an impaired sense of balance, resulting in a head tilt and difficulty standing. This can look a lot like vestibular disease in dogs (i.e. doggie vertigo). Additionally, sometimes GME may cause seizures in dogs.
Is GME in dogs painful?
Symptoms like ataxia and head tilt might not affect a dog’s overall quality of life, but GME in dogs can be painful in some cases. It is possible for dogs to experience neck pain. Also, if a dog cannot correctly sense the position and movement of his or her lower extremities—a neurologic sign known as a deficit in conscious proprioception in dogs—he or she may experience knuckling in dogs. As a result, the dog may drag his or her feet, causing painful sores to develop.
Seizures may not be painful, but they can be harmful if a dog suddenly falls near steps or off of furniture. Also, dogs with prolonged seizures can experience a dangerous increase in body temperature.
As you can see, GME can cause a variety of concerning symptoms. If you suspect your dog could have a neurological issue, please contact your vet immediately.
How is GME diagnosed?
Unfortunately, GME can be tricky for your veterinarian to diagnose. There are many different disorders that result in neurological symptoms, and no easy test for GME.
Your veterinarian will probably start by gathering a bit of information about your dog and the symptoms you are seeing. Then he or she will perform a complete physical exam, neurological exam, and additional diagnostics.
Baseline lab work such as blood and urine testing can be useful for ruling out infectious causes that can also lead to neurologic symptoms. Some of those conditions include:
- Tick borne disease in dogs
- Fungal infections
- Canine distemper virus (Distemper in dogs)
- Leptospirosis
- Toxoplasmosis
Based on your dog’s medical history, clinical signs, and the absence of an infectious cause, the vet may presumptively diagnose your dog with GME.
Unfortunately, reaching a definitive diagnosis of GME requires a biopsy of the brain tissue. This is very difficult to achieve in a living and breathing small animal. As a result, confirmation of the diagnosis via brain histopathology is typically only performed postmortem.
However, there are a few tests that can help solidify the presumptive diagnosis of GME. Your vet may refer your dog to a veterinary neurologist for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI testing can look for other problems like brain tumors and can help distinguish GME from other meningoencephalopathies like necrotizing meningoencephalitis.
Another helpful test is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. CSF is the fluid around your dog’s spinal cord. In dogs with GME, the CSF may have increased mononuclear cell types like monocytes and lymphocytes or increased levels in special types of proteins like beta- and gamma-globulins.
What is the treatment for GME in dogs?
After reaching a presumptive diagnosis of GME, your vet will discuss the treatment options with you. Vets often treat GME with immunosuppressive therapy. This is primarily achieved with steroids in the initial phase, but most studies suggest that multi-agent therapy (usually a steroid plus one or more immunosuppressive drugs) is the best course of action.
Prednisone for dogs with GME
Steroid medications like prednisone for dogs and dexamethasone are useful for GME because they help maintain the blood-brain barrier, suppress T-cell activity, and reduce inflammation. Veterinarians use high doses of steroids to achieve these effects. Unfortunately, the downside is that this also increases the risk of side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, increased thirst in dogs, and increased urination.
Dogs with GME should stay on steroids for at least three months. Stopping steroids abruptly increases the risk of a relapse.
Immunosuppressives for dogs with GME
There are several different immunosuppressive medications your veterinary neurologist may consider when treating your dog’s GME. Cyclosporine is one of the most common immunosuppressives used for GME because it is well absorbed when ingested. It also works fairly quickly. This is advantageous because other immunosuppressive agents like azathioprine can take eight to twelve weeks to take full effect.
It is important to know that the resolution of clinical signs doesn’t mean that your dog’s GME has been cured. Ideally, the vet would repeat the MRI and CSF testing before discontinuing immunosuppressive medications. Otherwise, if the lesion hasn’t completely resolved, stopping the medications often results in a relapse.
Additional therapies for dogs with GME
Dogs with seizures may need to start taking anti-seizure medications like zonisamide and levetiracetam. Veterinary neurologists prefer both of these over other anti-seizure medications because they cause less sedation.
Additionally, dogs with the focal form of GME may benefit from radiation therapy. Radiation works much better for focal GME than disseminated since for focal GME the radiation only needs to be directed at one area.
What is the prognosis for dogs with GME?
Dogs who undergo treatment for GME can have a fair to good prognosis. However, left untreated, GME can be fatal. It is estimated that 44% to 75% of dogs show a positive response to therapy. Many dogs require lifelong therapy, but it is possible for some dogs to go into remission once treatment is complete. However, those dogs may not be truly “cured” of GME as relapses are common.
Overall, studies indicate that the survival times vary from 14 to 1,063 days post diagnosis. The odds of a good prognosis and longer life expectancy are better when patients have a clean MRI within three months of diagnosis. On the other hand, patients with a poorer prognosis tended to have dull mentation, seizures, and multifocal signs. And prognosis was better for all dogs who were taking at least two different immunosuppressive drugs.
Finding hope in the midst of GME
I know it can be scary when your dog suddenly starts showing neurological signs and your vet mentions granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis as a potential cause. No one wants to hear their dog has a difficult to diagnose condition that often requires multiple potentially lifelong medications. However, the good news is that GME is treatable. And some dogs may even go into remission.
If your dog has GME, work closely with your veterinarian and a veterinary neurologist. This partnership is a great way to give your dog the best possible chances of continuing to live a good life despite GME.
What advice do you have for dog parents who are facing a GME diagnosis with their dog?
Please share your insights below.
Hi my Golden Winnie is 6 months old and was diagnosed with MUE on 11/10/24. When she was 16 weeks she had a reaction to her vaccines. She couldn’t walk for a day and a half. This all started about a week before her diagnosis. She had some behavior changes like chewing threw her stuffed toys. I thought she got stuffing stuck in her throat because she was coughing that night. That stopped so thought she fine. But then she started eating grass, sniffing all over everywhere, and circling. Her walk seemed off and she was shaking a little. I took her to the vet and she puked in the office. She had a tag from her toy in the puke. She was still doing the sniffing, circling, and shaking in the office. The vet said she had a virus and gave her mucinex. The next day my husband was home with her and she wasn’t any better. Her appetite declined and when she didn’t eat dinner we took her to emergency vet. They didn’t find anything in her stomach on xrays. She still wasn’t walking right and she was still shaking but worse. I was so upset I left my vet a voice mail. They had us take her to their other site. They did blood work but that was normal. That vet said she should see a neurologist so we took her to Cornell University Animal Hospital. On the way there she fell over twice when we stopped to let her pee. They admitted her and she had an MRI with spinal fluid testing. They said she had lesions on her cerebellum. They started her on prednisone and she had an infusion treatment of Cytosar. We brought her home 2 days later and she couldn’t walk for 2 days. She seems to be responding to the meds. She was also on gabipenton. She started to play again this week. Her eyes don’t look the way they used to. She’s scheduled to have another infusion on 12/10/24. I feel so bad for her. She can’t go on walks anymore or play with her neighborhood friends. She’s just a baby. I’m hoping and praying she is the 1/3 that survive and live a normal life.
Dear Lisa,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with Winnie. I can only imagine your worry and concern for her, especially with her being so young. I hope the specialists at the University will be able to find a way to restore her quality of life. Praying for your comfort and strength and wishing your sweet girl all the best at making a full recovery. ♥
Hi,
In mid-May, our 6-year old dog suddenly seemed to have balance problems and was falling over on his right side. We took him to Emergency vet, and they diagnosed him with Idiopathic Vestibular Disease. Over the next four days he got markedly worse. I took him to our regular vet, who put him on Cefpodoxime and a short course of Prednilosone (3-4 days) for what she thought could be inner ear infection. He totally got better within a week and seemed fine.
Five weeks later, he suffered a relapse of head tilt, head tremors and wobbly gait again. Took him back to emergency vet and neurologist who scheduled him for MRI. Said he had inflammation with multi-focal lesions on right brainstem and bilateral cerebellum. They tested his CSF fluid which came back with high proteins. They ran a battery of infection tests which came back negative and said he had MUO. They wanted to give him Cytarabine, but I wanted to wait to get infection test results back first.
There was a week long delay with infection tests, so he was on 10 mg/prednisone along with clindmycin for possible infection. Just like before, he totally got better and seemed normal again. We kept him on the 10 mg prednisone, and he was doing fine except seemed a bit lethargic. Didn’t know if that was the GME or the prednisone. So we started to drop the dose to 7.5 mg/prednisone and he has had a relapse.
My two questions are is this definitely GME with the onset and the getting better on antibiotics? Also, we live in a rural area, and giving him oral immunosuppressants is more something that we can manage — are they less effective than cytabarine? We have a follow-up appointment scheduled with the neurologist and want to make sure I’m covering all bases with her.
Hi Leslie,
Goodness, your poor boy has been through so much over the last few months. I am glad you were able to get some answers and noticed an improvement with medications. Without playing a personal role in his medical care it is hard to make specific conclusions, and honestly with a case this complicated I would defer to the specialist for their expert opinion. What did you find out from the neurologist? Hoping you have a good plan in place for long term management of your boy’s condition. Feel free to leave an update and let us know how things are going. Best wishes to you both.
Hi! Can a GME look like a brain tumor on a CT scan? In February 2024, I noticed my dog’s tail looked really bony and it was painful to the touch. She also started having some mentation changes like not wanting to go into the yard. This eventually progressed to ataxia with proprioception of her front paws and a slight head tilt. We did a full blood work up and CT scan. The blood work up showed she was positive for a fungal infection called Valley Fever with a 1:2 titer, and also had a lesion in her brain. The valley fever can apparently cause lesions, and each oncologist/neurologist I’ve spoken with have different opinions on what the lesion is. One said he thinks it’s a choroid plexus papiloma, and the other said it could be a valley fever lesion or even cancer. It is interesting that she did test positive for Valley Fever (which can either be a respiratory illness or disseminate into joints and/or the brain) and that her tail is bony. Could the tail being bony be due to a lack of flow of CSF? Nothing showed up on her spine in the CT scan. Could this look like a deep brain tumor on a CT? She has vastly improved since being on flucanazole 500 mg/day and 30 mg/day of prednisone. Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Tarin,
I am sorry your girl is struggling with these strange symptoms. I am glad the veterinary team is taking things seriously and looking for answers. GME can definitely look like a brain tumor on CT, but I am not sure how you would differentiate that from Valley Fever lesions. So glad you have seen improvement since starting the fluconazole and prednisone. Hoping for brighter days ahead and praying for a positive outcome for your sweet girl. Please keep us updated on her progress!
Thank you for such an informative article!
Our 11 year old Westie has been through the ringer with symptoms that we think is probably indicative of GME (multifocal, she has circling, ataxia, stiffness in walking, and had some facial paralysis and some problems with her vision…. we’ve never witnessed an obvious seizure however).
Unfortunately her brain inflammation got really bad (specifically her blood pressure was high and her heart rate very low) the morning she was scheduled for an MRI, so we didn’t end up going through with it because they said there was an increased risk in putting her under (and they said they wouldn’t even do the spinal tap when she was under since the risk of herniation was too high). So we still haven’t done the MRI and the spinal tap to know for sure whether she has GME versus a brain tumor versus some infectious cause of the inflammation…
The good news is that we chose to hospitalize her the day she couldn’t get her MRI, and they dramatically reduced her inflammation with mannitol treatment (along with antibiotics and steroids). She continued the antibiotics and steroids at home and was improving really well for a little over a week. The neuro vet at the hospital then recommended we try to taper the steroid dose a bit and she relapsed a little, but after they told us to return to an even higher dose of steroids than before she seems to be improving again.
Now we’re wondering if we should still try to finally get the MRI and the spinal tap to be more certain about her diagnosis. Do brain tumors and GME have the same long term treatment (steroids and immunosuppressive drugs)? It seems like the spinal tap would only help us determine if the cause of her neurological problems was infectious or not, but the vets made that sound like the least likely scenario given her breed. Does an infectious cause still make sense if she’s been improving now on steroids despite the fact that her initial antibiotic course has run out? We’re worried about the risk of putting her under for these diagnostics.
Dear Alissa,
I am sorry you are facing this difficult situation with your senior girl. I understand your concern and think it is great you are searching for answers to better advocate for your pup. I agree the odds of this being infectious are much lower after all that has happened, but I guess it is still a possibility (even if a small one). If you were just trying to decide whether to pursue a spinal tap or not, I’d vote for no. But if your girl will already be under anesthesia for the MRI, it might be worth it to go ahead and get the spinal tap done. Wishing you strength and comfort as you navigate this unknown path. Praying for answers and a clear path forward for your sweet girl.
My best friend Rocky (Chihuahua) passed away in 2017 from gme.I would like to know if there are still studies going on that there is a link to vaccinations triggering gme. I know most vets will say no but back then I did a great deal of research (as much as I could find at the time) and talked to several different vets, both “regular” and holistic. Most of the holistic vets were a yes while the rest were no. I also think there should be more study about gme being contagious, the reason I say that is because I had two dogs at the time and my mixed breed Buddy came down with it first, (didn’t know what is was then) but he had all the classic signs of disseminated gme. He went fast, but the point is they ate together and played together. I was more aware with Rocky and got him to the vet as soon as he started showing signs of walking funny and I did everything the vet could think of including having a custom drug made. I never got to try it, Rocky passed away the afternoon I picked up the drug. This a nasty, nasty disease and I am hoping there will be a cure one soon.
Dear Mike,
I am so sorry you have lost two beloved pups to this horrible disease. Scientists are still researching GME and trying to determine if it is contagious after all. Also, as the article mentioned, GME is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means anything that stimulates the immune system could be a potential trigger (such as vaccines). So, we have learned a lot about GME over the last few years but there is still much to be explored. Thank you for sharing your experience. Buddy and Rocky will never be forgotten and may their memories be a blessing in your life.
I’m sorry for your loss. My 6 month old Golden Retriever Winnie was diagnosed with MUE on 11/10/24. She had a reaction to one of her vaccines at 16 weeks old. She could hardly walk. That was better within 2 days. I wonder if the vaccines did this to her also.
thanks for your write up it’s really good. our 3 year old pup was diagnosed with GME I don’t know what kind but we saw dark matter in a few spots on her CT scan and CF tap. she got treated with a one of dose of chemo and then was put on very high 15mg dose of prednisone… the good news is we have over the period of a year tapered her down to 1.25mg a day.. none of our vets will agree to do another CT scan or tap to confirm if the GME is gone.
now we are in a stage of confusion if we should take her off of steroids or not. she has zero lingering effects but we are seeing side effects from the steroids such as weight gain which we are dealing with and a luxating patella, our pups get brain foods and a weight maintaining diet and probably eat better then we do.
I just wanted people who read this to know there is hope and our pup was one of the worst cases of GME seen she was basically uncontrollably seizuring in the form of a crocodile roll before chemo was suggested.
they can come back you just need to treat them and make sure you get great advice like the wrote up here. thank you!
Hi Maxine,
What a blessing your pup was able to beat this awful disease! I understand your concerns with the prednisone side effects. I am hopeful that you will be able to discontinue the steroids at some point in the future. Thank you for being willing to share your story with our readers. I have no doubt this will offer hope to others when facing an unknown path after a GME diagnosis. Wishing you and your sweet girl the best. Bless you both!
Are the medications to treat this expensive?
Hi Lynn,
I am sorry I can’t give specific information. It really depends on what medications your vet recommends and what your dog requires based on their case details.
My dogs had problems the recent weeks he’s had a CT Scan and a CStap they originally thought it was this disease and had told be to be prepared for the worst within 2 to 6 weeks but from that point onwards he’s gone from strength to strength so now they’re unsure and think it’s possibly meningitis.
What are the clear signs of this disease
Hi Matthew,
I understand your concern for your dog and know how hard it is to not have a definitive diagnosis. Unfortunately, there are no “clear” signs of this disease. Like the article states, this condition is not entirely understood, and the underlying cause is still unknown. That is why it can be so hard to diagnose. I am glad your pup has been improving. That is such great news! Hoping you can continue to partner with your vet to ensure your boy makes a full recovery.
Our little rescue dog appears to have GME.
The MRI shows multiply lesions but spinal tap is clear.
We have him on prednisolone and waiting to hear from vets where we go from here in regards to dosage and other drugs.
He started taking seizures and is on 2 lots of seizure meds and had not had one since but he is circling to the left and the left side of brain had most lesions ,
I have not been given a specific amt of prednisolone to give.
He is 7 kgs and nearly 13 yrs old.
What dosage rate of prednisolone is normally recommended ?
He is blind and we have had him 6 mths .
He started taking seizures out of the blue 16 days ago..
Before that he was like a 12 mths old puppy.
😢
Dear Dawn,
I am so sorry your little guy is facing this difficult diagnosis. Without playing a personal role in his medical care I am not able to make specific recommendations on how to dose his medication. Please contact the vet that prescribed the prednisolone and ask what dosage they want you to give. If the dose is not listed on the label of the prednisolone bottle, it may be written in some of your discharge paperwork. Hoping your boy can continue to fight and praying for a positive outcome. Bless you both.
It is now 52 days since Marty took his first seizure.
After being told it appeared that Marty had either GME or NME
we took Marty to have a procedure called GA for CSF tap (cisterna magna) and intrathecal chemotherapy.
This involved doing a spinal tap where Cisternal CSF is collected first attempt, it was clear and 2.5 mL withdrawn via gravity
Leur lock syringe attached and cytosine arabinoside given at 0.2 mL per 30 seconds. Resistance felt at 1.8 mL and
needle withdrawn.
I chose this procedure in hope that more of the cytosine arabinoside would reach the effected areas in his brain.
I was told with the 24 hrs infusion only 15% of the cytosine arabinoside
reaches the brain.
He made it through the procedure and it is now 2 weeks since the procedure.
At home medication:
Gabapentin 100 mg to reduce anxiety/pain up to every 8-12 hours as needed.
Phenobarbitone 15 mg every twelve hours (this dose may be adjusted pending the blood
results)This has been increased slightly
Prednisolone give 10 mg morning and night for 1 week, then 10 mg in the morning and 5 mg in
the evening for 2 weeks and if he is doing well then reduce to 5 mg morning and night for 4
weeks. the goal is to potentially decrease to 2.5-5 mg once daily but we will taper this down slowly.
He is still circling when he does a poo or a pee or is tired. He is walking a lot straighter for longer periods.
He is getting some tummy pain so he has been put on kids panadol when needed plus he has Pro-Kolan when needed.
He is eating and drinking and can come off our bed by walking down the doggy ramp. Remember Marty is blind.
He does get confused in the house and will have an accident if I am not watching.
We are taking him back to have a 24 hr fusion of cytosine arabinoside on the 10th June 2024.
His Prednisolone will be hopefully down to 10mg /day.
I am giving him heptoadvanced and pentavite to support his liver.
I am praying we will see more improvement. He has not had anymore seizures to date so again praying it stays that way.
Marty will 13yrs old on the 7/7/24.
We have now owned him 8mths and he is such an amazing will old man.
This is such a hard thing to treat and so stressful as nothing is really known and you have to deal with problems as they happen.
I will update as we progress
Hi Dawn,
I am glad to hear Marty has shown some improvement since starting his treatment. It sounds like the specialist is being very thorough and staying on top of things. Hoping for continued healing and praying for a full recovery. Best wishes to you and your sweet boy.
Hello. Our 5,5 year old chihuahua was diagnosed with multifocal GME after MRI, 2 months ago. We started treating him with prednisolone (2mg/kg/day) immediately and so far the symptoms are under control. There are still some ”worse days” when he is walking in circles for short time and sometimes he can be confused. We also started adding krill oil (to increase omega-3 fatty acids which are good for brain) and B-complex vitamins (for nervous system) to his food, and I hope we will benefit from all that medications. Anyway I would like to know if there is any other way to increase the treatment result? I hope current treatment will be successful, and the symptoms won’t get any worse.
Hi Spela,
I am sorry your little pup has received such a difficult diagnosis. I am glad to hear his symptoms seem to be under control most days and he is doing well with his current treatment regimen. I am not sure I have any specific advice to give. You seem to be doing everything I would normally recommend. The only other options you could try would be treatments/supplements that aim to reduce inflammation. Here is a link to another article with more information: Natural Pain Relief for Dogs: 13 Methods
I know this article is addressing pain, but most of these treatments also reduce inflammation as well. Since GME is inflammation in the Central Nervous System, some of these therapies may be able to help. I hope this info will give you something to discuss with your vet. Wishing you both the best of luck and many happy days ahead.
My Puppy (6 month old, labradoodle) has just been diagnosed with this horrible disease (focal). I have been researching GME for the past 3 weeks and this is one of the best descriptions I have read. Thank you!. She is currently just on prednisone. 3 weeks and no ‘wobbly’ episodes. Do you have any other info or experiences you can chat with me about? One Dr. recommends getting her into ketosis and using MCT oils. Thoughts? Thanks, Jill
Hi Jill,
I am sorry your young puppy is facing this difficult disease. I am glad the prednisone seems to be helping and there have been no wobbling episodes recently. I am afraid there isn’t much I can add, and it is hard to make recommendations without examining your dog myself. I don’t have any experience using ketosis or MCT oils to treat this condition. With that being said, it might be a good idea to reach out to a holistic vet or one that practices alternative medicine to see if they have any additional recommendations. Also, you may want to schedule a consult with a specialist. I hope your sweet girl can make a full recovery. Wishing you both the best.
I am following up on my Pup Gidget. She is a survivor. It has now been 9 months since her first episode of her Focal GME. She started with Prednisoe, then Cyclosporine was added. I was making her food (anti-inflammatory diet), Then the seizures/episodes continued. Her Dr. prescribed anti seizure meds: first Keppra, and eventually we had to add Phenobarbital. At this time her Dr. also recommended Purina NeuroCare kibble. I had a hard time embracing the kibble idea, but it seems to be helping and way easier than cooking for her.
Yes this condition is quite expensive to treat. I think her meds are around $180 a month (cyclosporine is the most expensive, but there is a generic pill available), plus any dr visits/blood tests. We have good pet insurance (Embrace)
Unfortunately she is still having these horrible episodes a little more frequently now, So we are going to try Cytosar radiation therapy. Im praying this gets the inflammation down and we might be able to get her off some of the other meds (now this treatment is very expensive! good think we have pet insurance!).
The good news is her episodes, though they last around 4-6 hours and sometimes longer (about every two weeks-2 months) all the other days she is a happy, ball chasing, loving pup. I have noticed that she does get tired easily, so I need to limit the distance of her walks and do one in the morning and one in the eve, instead of one long walk.
Treating a dog with GME, can be very expensive and very time consuming, but the joy of the pup when she is well…which is most days, is well worth the effort! Im not sure how much time with will have with her, but I am now realizing that the meds really do help and it’s just something we will have to deal with for the rest of her life…Many dogs live long full lives with GME., and some go into remission.
I hope this information can help any others with a GME pup.
Hi Jill,
I truly appreciate you being willing to share your experience with our readers. This is such helpful information and may be the hope someone else needs while dealing with a similar situation. It makes me so happy to hear that Gidget is doing well and loving life most days. I hope she continues to tolerate her medications and pray you both have many happy years ahead. Thank you for the update! ♥