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Post by elvina on Oct 14, 2014 15:32:35 GMT
Hi All
My Jack Russell 5 year old bitch has been ill for over 7 weeks. We have had countless vet visits in that time and so far they have drawn a blank and are suggesting she gets referred to another vet 3 hours drive away but I am not certain that they have crossed all the ts etc yet and want to know if anyone on this site can please help.
First signs were stiffness in limbs. She then got very lethargic and when we took her to the vet her temp was up and lymph nodes enlarged, the vet put her on antibiotics and did blood test for lymphoma which came back as pretty near normal except that white blood count was a little low. After two weeks she still had fever, had lost weight, was off her food and very weak so then they put her on steroids which improved her however she didn't get back to normal, temp came down and lymph nodes went down but stiffness and lethargy remained, when steroids were reduced symptoms returned so she went back to higher dose. Antibiotics were dropped but when it became obvious that she was in pain, heckles on the back raised, we went to higher dose of steroids.
She improved and was nearly back to her old self. So again started to reduce the dosage gradually, OK when dosage halved for 1 week but within 2 days of halving dosage again stiffness and lethargy returned so upped the dose of steroids again. Within 48 hours she wasn't walking on her rear leg and very low. Vet put her back on antibiotics and did test for Lymes disease, negative.
The symptoms that she then had were:- lethargy, pain, muscle tremors, stiff legs (especially front and back on right side), seems to find swallowing hard (chokes on most food), funny breathing noise from throat (similar to a cat purr), muscles have shrunk especially in and around back legs and lower back, she now has a dip in her back just above her tail and a ridge above that which wasn't there before but I think this is because we can feel bones that were covered by muscle before.
Spoke to the vet again and she increased the dose of steroids so that she is on 10mg twice a day, she weighs 7.8 kg. We are on day 4 and she certainly looks a lot better, she climbed the stairs on her own for the first time in nearly 8 weeks! Pain appears to have gone as have muscle tremors and funny breathing, swallowing since being back on the higher dose of steroids.
Two new symptoms, if someone brushes, past her face, she lets out a noise as if in pain but I cant seem to get the same response by gently stroking her face, now sure if its a shock thing.
Also her trachea seems enlarged.
She has lost more muscle including in her face. I suggested myestina gravis to the vet but she didn't think it was that. I also raised the possibility of vaccine damage, she had the lepto vaccine 5 weeks before this all started and has never had it before.
The plan now is to keep on with the high dose steroids for another 10 days and then she says we will reduce to same dose but every other day, I am not at all sure about this.
We have spent hours researching on the internet and have come up with a few possibles including lupus.
Can anyone please let me know if their dog has had similar symptoms and if they have what happened please? Please someone help.
Many thanks
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Post by elvina on Oct 14, 2014 15:35:34 GMT
Sorry I forgot to say we have also put her onto soft food, good ones, Denes mineral supplement, fish oil and coconut oil to help boost her system.
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Post by scallywag on Oct 14, 2014 16:15:51 GMT
Hi elvina welcome to the forum, sorry its for such sad frustrating circumstances. Has meningitis been ruled out ? Just a thought. I hope you can get to the bottom of this. I was in a very similar situation with my previous Springer, went on for weeks with tests after tests etc, eventually I asked for a referral to the Queens Vetnary Hospital. Fortunately for us it was only an hours drive. But it was the best decision we made, we got to the bottom of his ailment and it was his pancreas This may not be much help to you, but what I'm saying is it may be a good idea, if they have suggested this then maybe they are at a loss ? We sadly only had another 2 years with him, but never regretted it. Good Luck and {{{BIG HUGS}}} to you x
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Post by zahada on Oct 14, 2014 16:31:32 GMT
Sorry to hear that your girl is so unwell. Haven't got any advice, but curious to know which lepto vaccine she had? Which manufacturer/supplier? Nobivac L4 by any chance? We've had a few reports of dogs reacting extremely badly to L4, but symptoms were very different. Usually included fits.
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Post by elvina on Oct 14, 2014 17:59:19 GMT
Hi
Thanks for the reply. Yes its L4.
I did ask the vet if it could be anything to do with the vaccine but she said unlikely but to be honest I know how unhappy vets and Drs can be when you question vaccines. But the funny thing is that although she says unlikely she hasn't come up with any explanation of what she thinks it may be other than autoimmune! In all this time all she has suggested was lymphoma but the blood test didn't support that and even her colleague said she doubted it! I really don't want them reducing her steroids without knowing what she has got because I am concerned that if she goes backwards again she will need even stronger drugs to get her back to where she is now.
Thanks again
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Post by scallywag on Oct 14, 2014 18:06:02 GMT
Hi
Thanks for the reply. Yes its L4.
I did ask the vet if it could be anything to do with the vaccine but she said unlikely but to be honest I know how unhappy vets and Drs can be when you question vaccines. But the funny thing is that although she says unlikely she hasn't come up with any explanation of what she thinks it may be other than autoimmune! In all this time all she has suggested was lymphoma but the blood test didn't support that and even her colleague said she doubted it! I really don't want them reducing her steroids without knowing what she has got because I am concerned that if she goes backwards again she will need even stronger drugs to get her back to where she is now.
Thanks again Hi have a little read of this CLICK HERE
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Post by smilesbetter on Oct 14, 2014 21:27:09 GMT
The muscles problems could be linked to fitting in a way though. I mean I would assume that whatever causes fitting would only be a step away from causing other muscle problems, so could still be caused by the vaccine.
Jeez, I have never heard a good thing about this vaccine (if this is the problem), would certainly be worried about using it. If I were you, I'd get a second opinion at the least. Your vet might be reluctant to question the vaccine as then it might seem like their fault, and they obviously believe the vaccine has a very low risk if they are using it so it would be questioning themselves really. It may not be the vaccine, but it's imperative that they look into it. Understanding the cause of the problem can help find a cure after all.
You should get to another vets as soon as you can, one un affiliated with your current one if possible. It's nothing against your own vet, but the more fresh minds looking at the case, the more likely you are to get to the bottom of it.
Hope she gets better soon anyway, and welcome to the forum.
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Post by alfiemummy on Oct 14, 2014 21:45:27 GMT
I'm getting very worried about vaccines now!
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Post by smilesbetter on Oct 15, 2014 21:43:53 GMT
I'm getting very worried about vaccines now! Me too. Rosa has to get hers every year because I like to bring her back to the UK & Ireland (and I do think UK & Irish summers are much better for her than German ones anyway, heat wise) so she needs them for her dog passport which is a shame I guess. I used to think that giving vaccines every year was the right thing to do and was a bit of an advocate for it haha, joining this forum got me thinking about it more though and now my cats are just gonna get these blood test things (anyone know what those are called?) to check for immunity levels instead. When it runs too low then I'll get them vaccinated again, but not before. Will speak to the vet about Rosas passport, maybe the immunity thing would work for that too. I hope so. In any case, I'd like to avoid this new vaccine! Never heard a good thing about it, and never seen so much posting about reactions to a vaccine before.
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Post by alfiemummy on Oct 15, 2014 21:47:34 GMT
smilesbetter, are they called titers? I also knew no better until joining here but have heard so many bad things and keep reading how we shouldn't do it every year. Alfie isn't due until around February. I doubt you would get away with not vaccinating if it's for travelling between countries Surely that would be pretty strict? Was wondering what would happen for going to kennels etc (not that Alfie really does anymore) as they require vaccination proof.
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Post by scallywag on Oct 15, 2014 22:08:37 GMT
All my pets have always been vaccinated every year ( 3 dogs in total ) touch wood, with no problems, Beau has to be done as we use kennels.
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Post by zahada on Oct 15, 2014 22:15:04 GMT
My dogs only get lepto and Parainfluenza every year. The distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines every 3 years.
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Post by zahada on Oct 15, 2014 22:16:49 GMT
I'm getting very worried about vaccines now! Just think what would happen if we all stopped vaccinating our dogs...
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Post by scallywag on Oct 15, 2014 22:17:29 GMT
Short of getting my bum off this mattress and disturbing Beau, LOL I cant say what, but there is one he has every other year too. Will check out his card tomorrow, remind me LOL
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Post by zahada on Oct 15, 2014 22:19:02 GMT
Don't forget to check Beau's vaccination card. LOL.
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