Horner's Syndrome - Any Familiarality?

[DD4MSpock]

As you (and particularly you @PhilT and @Viemarangelrock ) may recall, I made a few threads about two of the UK based "Huskamutes" named "K'eyeush" and "Sherpa." Today's thread is an update on Sherpa (from Cornwall) who just turned 13.

Apparently, Sherpa's owner noticed a problem with his left eye. And upon going to the Emergency Vets, Sherpa was diagnosed with "Horner's Syndrome," a neurological condition where the eye "droops" and the lid doesn't open/close, properly, as noted below.

According to Jamie (Sherpa's owner), unless the condition improves on its own, it is lifelong. Supposedly, MRIs can help, but I don't know how, if it's "neurological."

Has anyone heard of Horner's Syndrome? Is it prevalent in Dobies?

 

[Ddski5]

I immediately thought of and am hoping this is misdiagnosed. It would be fantastic if this is Bells Palsy. I’ve seen it a number of times in humans and with treatment, rest and time….it will go away.

According to Jamie (Sherpa's owner), unless the condition improves on its own, it is lifelong. Supposedly, MRIs can help, but I don't know how, if it's "neurological."

Horner’s syndrome is more serious because if the condition is secondary to a more pathological condition such as stroke, tumor, or damage to the nerves that serve the eye, then it is most likely permanent. This is where a MRI would come into play, it would determine the cause of symptoms presented. Inflamed nerve, tumor pressing on nerve, blood clot in brain, physical trauma to nerve, etc….

Getting the MRI is really up to the owner. Would it change the symptoms or what the dog is experiencing? No it would not. So why spend the money for it? If one is able to definitively identify the reason, then that can focalize the specific treatment for recovery.

Some folks don’t have the money or want to ongo an MRI. So they start on a couple courses of treatment and then go with what presents for progress.

 

[DD4MSpock]

I immediately thought of and am hoping this is misdiagnosed. It would be fantastic if this is Bells Palsy. I’ve seen it a number of times in humans and with treatment, rest and time….it will go away.

From what the above video is telling us, they don't believe it's a stroke. Maybe something pushing on the nerve that may go away, but not a stroke.

Some folks don’t have the money or want to ongo an MRI. So they start on a couple courses of treatment and then go with what presents for progress.

If I know this owner, he'll do the MRI eventually. He loves the dog too much. And he has a "go-fund-me" like channel to help with the dog's medical treatments. He'll do it. And Sherpa has a huge enough fan base that they'll get the financing for whatever he needs.

 

[DD4MSpock]

Update:

I am very pleased to report that Sherpa's Eye seems to have improved, as evidenced in this video. He still has some basic issues for being a 13 yo dog, but I think that since his hydro has resumed, he's also doing better that way. At one point, Jamie was going to sell the Mini (cooper) because Sherpa couldn't get in/out of it properly. It would appear he might not do that at this point but we'll see. I'm so happy for Sherpa, given the grief we are experiencing over the loss of Phil, of the Matthews Malamute family.