Flaves Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 glad to hear you now have a diagnosis. Hope Davey recovers quickly and well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 (edited) Well, after speaking to quite a few vets and specialists today, the consensus is tetanus, even though it's not full blown (yet). Apparently it can present within a few days to a few months of initial infection.So it's off for anti-toxin jabs this afternoon and to change meds yet again. Keep fingers crossed for the poor little fella. Em Let's hope this nails it Enmark.. did you tell the specialists your DOLer mates thought it might be tetanus!! We have had one of our dog club members have a dog suffer from tetanus. The dog recovered well. Edited January 22, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacyk Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Have PMd a link to thread/forum i posted of my experience. GOOD LUCK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Good luck, poor pup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missymoo Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 How is the little man doing? Thinking of you and pup. xox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saram Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Thinking of you and your little pup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I have not read all the posts but has Encephalitis been discussed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InspectorRex Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Send Dr Charles Kuntz( Charles Kuntz on DOL) a PM. he is a superb specialist Veterinary Surgeon and hwe will help yu as much as you can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacyk Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Em how is your boy today? positive thoughts!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 yes- how's he doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoL Posted January 23, 2009 Author Share Posted January 23, 2009 Not fantastic :rolleyes: I went to another vet today - the one recommended to me and the one who was very helpful to me yesterday. I wish he had been recommended 3 weeks ago Anyway, he has said that Davey is actually quite a classic and severe case of tetanus and he couldn't understand why he had been misdiagnosed for so long. To the original vet's defence, she had never seen a case before and she did everything she could and was probably confused by the fact that Davey can still walk around, is eating etc (as was I), lending her to believe it was more parasitic. So he's basically taken him off the Metrogyl and wanted straight penicilin, which you apparently can't get now (or is so expensive as to make it almost unobtainable), so he's loaded me up with a bottle of compound penicillin and syringes with instructions to jab him twice a day, more anti-toxin and also toxoid at the vet's house tonight and then its up on the valium stakes, nice and calm environment (which is going to be VERY hard in my house!) close observation and many fingers and toes crossed. He said that we probably wouldn't see any significant improvement for about 4 days or so and that in a weeks time we should see which way this was going to go. Any deterioration will land him in hospital on a gastro tube etc. Whilst the situation has been made clearer to me for the worse, I am happy he is now being treated with the right meds by a vet experienced with solving a case of tet. I just hope we aren't too late. I'm also going to invest in some earplugs: the penicillin is very thick and makes him yelp somewhat! Poor kid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Not fantastic :rolleyes: I went to another vet today - the one recommended to me and the one who was very helpful to me yesterday. I wish he had been recommended 3 weeks ago Anyway, he has said that Davey is actually quite a classic and severe case of tetanus and he couldn't understand why he had been misdiagnosed for so long. To the original vet's defence, she had never seen a case before and she did everything she could and was probably confused by the fact that Davey can still walk around, is eating etc (as was I), lending her to believe it was more parasitic. So he's basically taken him off the Metrogyl and wanted straight penicilin, which you apparently can't get now (or is so expensive as to make it almost unobtainable), so he's loaded me up with a bottle of compound penicillin and syringes with instructions to jab him twice a day, more anti-toxin and also toxoid at the vet's house tonight and then its up on the valium stakes, nice and calm environment (which is going to be VERY hard in my house!) close observation and many fingers and toes crossed. He said that we probably wouldn't see any significant improvement for about 4 days or so and that in a weeks time we should see which way this was going to go. Any deterioration will land him in hospital on a gastro tube etc. Whilst the situation has been made clearer to me for the worse, I am happy he is now being treated with the right meds by a vet experienced with solving a case of tet. I just hope we aren't too late. I'm also going to invest in some earplugs: the penicillin is very thick and makes him yelp somewhat! Poor kid Yeah, it's gluggy. If you're taking it from the fridge, fill the syringe and give it 15 minutes to come to room temp - will lessen the shock a bit. I hope all goes well.. positive vibes coming your way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappie Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Sorry to hear the update We have recently had a lovely young Cocker Spaniel with tetanus in intensive care for a week, and saw another case about a month ago in a 6mth old pup. Unfortunately, the Cocker developed severe respiratory difficulty and the owner chose to let him go. It was a hard slog for everyone involved - the vets I work with have successfully treated a few cases but as I'm sure your new vet has told you its (sadly) a matter of treating the treatable and waiting for time to show us which way things are going to go. The fact that he's eating, drinking and is mobile is a positive sign at this stage. If you want to PM me, feel free. I can't guarantee a quick reply though - I am going away over the weekend and will be back on Monday night. I will have net access but you might have more luck sending me an email through DOL. I hope you have some good news over the weekend :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Oh dear... you now know exactly what you're up against. I am sorry that you are the one having to give the needles... it does sting Hoping very hard for Davey to respond well and show improvement as the textbooks say It's definitely not YOUR fault.. so don't get the guilts. Vets need to look at all possibilities.. and sometimes pay attention to what their eyes are telling them... NOT so much what the books say one 'should' do. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoL Posted January 23, 2009 Author Share Posted January 23, 2009 Hi guys Well just a quick update. Went round the vets house last night after hours where he gave Davey an IV anti-toxin and I gave him another penicillin injection. The vet was relieved to see him shake, wag his tail, do a wee (clear) and run in the opposite direction when we went to pick him up LOL He said that he's seen worse cases survive but that we're not out of the woods by any means. This morning he was his happy self, wagging his tail alot and even managed the steps by himself, so I'm taking that as a good sign. However, he's getting very fed up with the needles, has become very suspicous of hand-fed food as they usually contain more meds and is off his food a little. To top it off, after his needle this morning, we let him out to toilet and the little shit bolted under the house and hid there for a good 10 mins. We've blocked it off best we can but Sunny is on heat and our block-head Chester keeps ramming through the baracades to try and get to her so we're forever trying to close up the gaps! Who'd have 'em?! The vet rang up this morning (this guy has a new client now with 8 dogs!) to check up on Davey and he's asked that I give him daily updates. So basically, no deterioration, ears still drawn. I don't know whether it's my willing it to be so or whether it's the effect of the Valium but he did seem more fluid in his gait today. Maybe it is my imagination as I don't think all the meds would have taken effect yet. Onwards and upwards hopefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 The valium will help it will be hard to keep him under-stimulated! Sounding ok.. it's good he is wagging tail still Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoL Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Ok, we may be at a bit of a corner here ... Ears still drawn but third eyelid not coming over when startled or turning head. Muscles a lot more relaxed, feet can touch when lying down on side, leg actually bent today whilst lying down and he can now scratch his head with his hind foot (something that was impossible a couple of days ago). He's also getting cheeky - nicking bits of my son's toast this morning and running (yep, running!) off with them. I'm taking all of this as very good, though def not out of woods just yet. Just have a query to those more experienced than me with injections: The penicillin is given subcutaneous however because it's so damn thick it keeps blocking in the syringe making it impossible to depress the plunger, meaning I have to withdraw, squirt and stick him again, turning one jab into about 3. The medicine is shook up properly and air is tapped out and the I make sure the needle goes under the skin. Any tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Ok, we may be at a bit of a corner here ...Ears still drawn but third eyelid not coming over when startled or turning head. Muscles a lot more relaxed, feet can touch when lying down on side, leg actually bent today whilst lying down and he can now scratch his head with his hind foot (something that was impossible a couple of days ago). He's also getting cheeky - nicking bits of my son's toast this morning and running (yep, running!) off with them. I'm taking all of this as very good, though def not out of woods just yet. Just have a query to those more experienced than me with injections: The penicillin is given subcutaneous however because it's so damn thick it keeps blocking in the syringe making it impossible to depress the plunger, meaning I have to withdraw, squirt and stick him again, turning one jab into about 3. The medicine is shook up properly and air is tapped out and the I make sure the needle goes under the skin. Any tips? Larger gauge needle, slowly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laeral Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 emmark, I haven't given a penicillin injection to a dog before, but I have given heaps to horses I know with the larger horses and needles it was easier but for a pony I have had difficulties. When you stick the needle in draw back the needle a little before trying to syringe the penicillin in. I would definitely ask for your vets advice though if you are still having difficulties, especially since my advice comes from horse experience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saram Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Good to hear your seeing improvents! Fingers crossed for more positives! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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