Poorly mastiff but vets can't find anything wrong!

[Dr Meat]

Hi, I have a French mastiff,he is 2 and so far he has collapsed 3 times in his life unable to carry he's own weight, aways with a very high temp, vomiting & diarrhoea. He has also got bad skin where he gets bumps come up and some times burst & has tender hocks. He is very inactive and suffers with a sore mouth, he pants all the time and drinks about 4 to 5 litres a day.
He's been X-rayed twice, had skin scrapes, blood & urine tests all which have come back clear. We have done allergey tests and food trials but nothing has helped his skin,he's on steroids to control his skin but that is now becoming less affective. I would love to find a way to improve his life!
If anyone could offer me any advice or recommend a vet with knowledge of French mastiffs both me & Bronson would be very greatful.

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[JEA1K]

That's very sad. Have you tried other vets to your usual one? Sometimes a 2nd or even 3rd opinion could provide a diagnosis so you can treat and or manage.

Best of luck.

[Jasandjules]

Might be worth giving Ainsworths a call, you never know your luck.

[Dr Meat]

Ive tried three local vets because I couldn't believe they was unable to find anything wrong, but as I am getting the same results from them all I think I need to find a vet with greater knowledge on french mastiffs. Swollen hock syndrome(shar-pai fever as its commonly known) seems very similar but when I mentioned this to my vet she said that this was not possible as he was not a shar-pai.
You mentioned Ainsworths is this a vets? thankyou for the replies as any help is most welcome.

[bexVN]

Have you not yet been referred to a specialist medicines vets yet?

I asked about the Sharpei fever in other dogs they hadn't heard that this had been seen.

A place like Langford maybe worth looking into.

[GokTweed]

When did this first start? Could be auto immune but you should get referred really as it sounds rather complex.

[bexVN]

I know them better as Dogue de Bordeaux. I have met quite a few over the years but have never been aware of them having any conditions like you are describing. I don't think it's a breed specialist you need more a good medicines vet. I would be pushing for this tbh.

I really hope you get answers that can help soon.

[anonymous-user]

Might be worth trying either one of the referral vets or contacting one of the Vet schools, The Royal Vet College in Camden has a surgery and "interesting cases" are sometimes taken on by the experts.

[Piglet]

Our springer had (has?) an auto immune condition that used to come on in cycles. She had a high temp and would go from being well to collapsing in a very short time. Some auto immune conditions have very weird symptoms.

I'd get him to a Vet School - Langford in Bristol are fantastic but perhaps a bit far from you

Good luck

[Dr Meat]

Piglet said:

Our springer had (has?) an auto immune condition that used to come on in cycles. She had a high temp and would go from being well to collapsing in a very short time. Some auto immune conditions have very weird symptoms.

Have you found a way to manage you springer's condition,does she live a happy life?

This is Bronson having a cuddle with his mum.

[Digger]

That needs to be posted in the dog pics threads. But be prepared for a raft of responses!!!