Don"t like Vets answer

[roadboss]

I have a puppy. Her name is BB. She is a Chihuahua. She was recently diagnosed with what the vet thinks is Hydrocephalus (water on the brain). She was having seizures and acting like she was starving to death. Only a couple tests were performed because he did not have the equipment to perfom the other tests needed to actualy comfirm that is exactly what she has. Anyhow he put her on two different kinds of meds. One for fluid and the other for seizures. The seizures have subsided (Meaning 1 to 2 a day before going to vet to 2 in the last 3 weeks). The question I have is this, before she went to the vet she did have seizures but she was energetic and playfull. Now after being on the meds she just lays around acts like she has no energy and she still acts like she is starving to death. Also her stomach is bloated all of the time. The vet says this is what happens with dogs of her condition, but she was not like that before taking meds. He also says there is no reason to take her any were else because I would be wasting my money. Iam not worried about wasting my money we just want her to live. I dont want to let her die and then find out there was something simple that could be done to save her life. Can anyone shed some light on this because right now Iam really in the dark on what to do.

[Frenchy]

I don't think I can help you with this but others could. We would need the names of the meds she's on though.

I'm really sorry for you and your dog. :sad:

[meg4050]

roadboss, I'm not sure about the bloating, but if BB is on phenobarbitol for the seizures, that explains the lethargy.

My cat is epileptic and has been on meds for just over six months...it took him probably three weeks or so to really get his energy back once his system was used to the pills.

for you and BB!

[joeysmama]

My nephew's dog was very lethargic when he bagan his medication for seizures. They worked well though and he has been seizure free for almost 3 years and his energy came back.

I would still go for another opinion though. The bloated tummy worries me. It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. When we had our first dog, Joey, he had ulcerated corneas and the doctor gave us some ointment. He seemed to get worse, cried at night so we knew he was in pain, and he would get himself stuck in a corner and not be able to find his way out. I took him back and the vet said "They're healing nicely."

I was at another vet that same day and he was able to keep him from losing his sight. I'm so glad I followed my instincts and took him someplace else.

[growler~GateKeeper]

I think you should ask the clinic for the name of the equipment that would be able to give a definate diagnosis & call the larger vet hospitals, critical care clinics and emergency clinics to find one that has this special equipment. Make an appointment with someone who can give you a real answer.

I'm concerned about BB being on pretty heavy meds for something unconfirmed. And also about the bloated tummy.

for BB Let us know how she's doing

[roadboss]

Thankyou to everyone that responded. BB is on Dexamethasone 0.5 ML a day and Furosemide 0.3 ML a day. The equipment needed to diagnose what she has is Ultra-sound and MRI. None of the vets in this area have such equipment. Blood work and x-rays have already been done and everything came back normal. We do want to take her to another vet to get a second opinion. There are 3 in our area and 2 are either on vacation or at a confrence. So we have to wait untill one of them gets back. (next week). I hope the info I have given helps give you some more answers in helping BB and her family. Thankyou again!!!

[kandy]

I know when I suspected that my home town vet wasn't diagnosing my dog's orthopedic problem correctly, I took her to a veterinary teaching hospital. It was a 5 hour drive, but totally worth it as they not only correctly diagnosed her, but also did the needed procedure the next day. They were absolutely awesome - in fact I wish they took human patients.

I took the liberty of looking online for vet teaching hospitals in Maryland, and this one is in College Park - if that happens to be somewhere close to you:
http://www.vetmed.umd.edu/aboutUs.html

The good thing about a teaching hospital is that your dog gets a 'team' of doctors and students thinking about and working on their problem. They also tend to have the best equipment, including ultrasound and MRI's.

I wish you and BB all the best.

[Dr Lee]

Originally Posted by roadboss

Thankyou to everyone that responded. BB is on Dexamethasone 0.5 ML a day and Furosemide 0.3 ML a day. The equipment needed to diagnose what she has is Ultra-sound and MRI.

This is correct medical management of hydrocephalus. The dexamethasone is a corticosteroid which reduces inflammation and furosemide (AKA Lasix) is a diuretic and 'pulls water off of the system".

If the pet has an open fontanelle then ultrasound can be used to diagnose hydrocephalus, and in any situation, MRI can be used to confirm it. While MRI is often difficult to find, ultrasound should not be.

Definitive treatment consists of surgically placing a ventriculoperitoneal shunt to drain excess CSF from the ventricles, usually one of the lateral ventricles. This will have to be performed by a veterinary neurosurgeon.

I hope this helps.