Plea to help Diego the dog chew his toys and play

Diego the seven-year-old Dalmatian was recently taken into rescue care. However during his initial examination at the centre, it was noticed the gorgeous pooch had physical challenges with his face and mouth.

The fun loving spotty dog is currently being looked after by the team at the Cotswolds Dogs & Cats Home. During Diego’s intake examination, hearts sank as the team noticed significant muscle mass loss in his temporal and masticatory muscles.

While Diego appeared bright and cheerful, this muscle loss raised concerns to the veterinary surgeon. It was then considered and felt important to rule out a potential immune-mediated disease called Masticatory Muscle Myositis.

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Animal Care Assistant, Beth Barker said: "Diego is an incredibly sweet and affectionate boy, and getting to know him has been a delight. He's extremely playful, always ready for a game of tug-of-war or fetch, but above all, he cherishes spending time with his favourite people."

This condition can go on to cause excruciating jaw pain, making simple joys like eating, chewing, and playing with toys unbearable for affected dogs. We carried out thorough blood tests, however, unfortunately, the results couldn’t rule out this debilitating disease for Diego.

Our next step is to provide him with a short general anaesthetic for muscle biopsies. These biopsies will reveal whether inflammation is present and the extent of fibrosis, giving us a better idea of what to expect in the future and producing a tailored treatment plan to ensure Diego’s comfort and well-being.

He is always up for exploring and going on adventures where he can discover new sights and smells. He is super playful who loves a game of tug of war. Diego is a very sweet-natured boy and thrives on human companionship.

The Cotswold Cats and Dogs Home are asking for your support to help Diego, your generous donation will fund Diego’s biopsy procedure and subsequent treatment that may be needed, providing him with the medical care he deserves.