Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > General Forum for cats and dogs

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old October 8th, 2003, 04:40 AM
Gemelas's Avatar
Gemelas Gemelas is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NEW JERSEY
Posts: 1
DOG SICK 7 MONTH- cause is unknown after several tests

I have a female 6 years old chihuahua. She had been for seven months with several problems. She started with tremors,
continuos fever-105 f, rapid breathing, lethargic, weakness and large quantities of urination. Provided an antiobitic she got only a little better for a few weeks.
Again fever cameback. Very evident she was in pain, crying,
tail between legs. She was grabbing her head with both paws
showing pain, also rub her head against objects and cry.
Listlessness, spaced out, trouble getting up, NASAL DISCHARGE,
nose twitching, a lot of scratching and licking herself.

Test performed on her: MRI of brain-OK
blood work- OK
ultrasound stomach-OK
serology- OK
Fluid tap-ABNORMAL

The fluid tap showed ahigh count ofwhite cells indicating
possible BACTERIA, VIRUS , ETC.
After this SEROLOGY test did not show the cause of her encephalitis.

Antibiotics such as BAYTRIL, CLAVAMOX AND PREDNISONE
only aggravated my pet's condition. Her tremors and pain
and difficulties moving had increased.

Doctors told there is nothing else they can do. They do not
know cause of her high count of blood cells. Is there any other tests?

I am afraid her immune system is too weak to continue Prednisone. Is there a homeopathic medication
that could help her encephalitis?
Please help me save the life of my little baby.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old October 8th, 2003, 07:25 AM
Carina's Avatar
Carina Carina is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,244
Poor little dog!

I have no clue - it sounds like she needs something more than anything you could buy at a health food store. I'm a big believer in second opinions - but it sounds like you've already seen more than one vet.

Don't have the link handy, but go to altvetmed and look for listings for homeopathic/alternative vets in your area. Sounds like you've nothing to lose at this point

Also there is an excellent discussion group on Yahoogroups - some real experienced alternative medicine people can perhaps give you some help. Email me at mortheda@yahoo.com and I'll give you the link.
__________________
Carina
Cooper The WonderDog
Daphne The Destructo-Rott
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old October 8th, 2003, 04:48 PM
QuinnsMom's Avatar
QuinnsMom QuinnsMom is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Calgary, ALberta
Posts: 25
If she has a brain infection (enchepalitus) she could be having SZ. This is VERY common in children and adults. As well the listlessness and the fatuige could be contributing to the behaviors you are noting (trouble getting up, crying ect.) Have you seen a dog neurologist? He might be able to add some light.

DO you know what else was in the fluid tap. They test for quite a few things. What was the pressure? it could be ecessive fluid pressure in the brain.

Has she had an EEG? It tests for Brain activity.

Honestly this could be a variety of things. I am a neurology technologist and I'll ask one of the pet loving docs here and see what she has to say.

I'll post again tomorow or tonight

Good luck - thoughts are with you

Samantha
__________________
Sam
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old October 8th, 2003, 06:09 PM
QuinnsMom's Avatar
QuinnsMom QuinnsMom is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Calgary, ALberta
Posts: 25
OK the verdict from the neurology residents is that it is probably a menigeial or enchephalitus causing secondary seizures.

The other seconday diagnosis is seizures causing fever and menigitus like side effects. (the high white count in the CSF can be found in this diagnosis). In that case an EEG is in order.

Cultures need to be done on her urine, blood and CSF fluid. I would still like to know the pressure of her CSF but that might not be available. Cultures would tell us the exact virus (they take about 2 weeks to do)

She should be treated with IV antibiotics. She needs to be under vet care. IVIG antibiotics would be what we treat humans with. It is a combination of different natural antibiotics from the blood of many humans - I don't know if they have this for dogs.

The fatality rate for this untreated is not good. Please have your vet refer you to an animal neurologist. An EEG would really help in the diagnosis. SPikes would show for seizues and slowing would show for encephalitus.

I am sorry that I cannot do more - you have all my hope and vibes. I hope she gets better.

Samantha
__________________
Sam
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old October 9th, 2003, 09:54 AM
QuinnsMom's Avatar
QuinnsMom QuinnsMom is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Calgary, ALberta
Posts: 25
Another Doc thought...Could it be West Nile Virus? Are you in a WNV area?
__________________
Sam
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old October 28th, 2003, 04:44 PM
Luba's Avatar
Luba Luba is offline
Sadie's Chefomatic
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 7,303
Unhappy Wow poor doggie

Sounds like how I got sick with WNV last summer! SHEESH

I'd consider WNV or LYME disease as a possibility



My dog had some things happen to him similar to this a couple yrs back and it was treated as an ear infection by the vet
Serolan (spelling) drops in the ears and oral antibiotics repeated for a 4 week course did the trick.
Sometimes reoccurs and has to be repeated. It did help him, but
there was an underlying problem we didn't know that lead him so vulnerable to the infection and that was cancerous tumours.

Be careful and cautious I wish you luck it can be frightening!

I'm not sure how it works where you live BUT if you have a 24 hour emergency clinic that has 'specialists' in it for dogs and cats it may be worth while to take your lovely little one there.


Luba
__________________
Cats only have nine lives because they stole them from dogs!Teehee
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:29 AM.