Malignant Histiocytosis
Malignant Histiocytosis is the biggest killer of Bernese Mountain Dogs.
It is also very hard to diagnose and can be a very devious disease, it will often look like other cancers such as lymphoma.
Malignant Histiocytosis is completely different to Histiocytosis which is non malignant and can be treated. Malignant Histiocytosis has no cure and no effective treatment, typically the dog dies usually within 3 months.
Some of the symptom's of MH are:
If your dog displays any one or more of these symptom's it is important to ask your vet to look and test for Malignant Histiocytosis. This can only be done by sending samples to one of the main veterinary hospitals, such as UCD, and looked at by specialists. The forms should request possible Malignant Histiocytosis as if it does not have this on the form it is not always looked for.
I have lost 2 Bernese with this devastating disease. If anyone would like to contact me for any advice and information I may be able to help, or just for someone to talk to.
Please feel free to contact me, Linda O’Neill 086 8119136.
It is also very hard to diagnose and can be a very devious disease, it will often look like other cancers such as lymphoma.
Malignant Histiocytosis is completely different to Histiocytosis which is non malignant and can be treated. Malignant Histiocytosis has no cure and no effective treatment, typically the dog dies usually within 3 months.
Some of the symptom's of MH are:
- Weight loss that is unexplained i.e. if the dog is still eating
- High temperature that does not go down with antibiotics ( this is often a key symptom)
- Cough (not always present)
- Any tumor (not always present)
- Abnormalities with liver
If your dog displays any one or more of these symptom's it is important to ask your vet to look and test for Malignant Histiocytosis. This can only be done by sending samples to one of the main veterinary hospitals, such as UCD, and looked at by specialists. The forms should request possible Malignant Histiocytosis as if it does not have this on the form it is not always looked for.
I have lost 2 Bernese with this devastating disease. If anyone would like to contact me for any advice and information I may be able to help, or just for someone to talk to.
Please feel free to contact me, Linda O’Neill 086 8119136.
