Tilly Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 (edited) My almost 8 year old GSD has been a little off since about Tuesday - not specific but not his normal self. He then started with the shaking of the head so we assumed he was getting an ear infection - so we upped the cleaning until I could get him to the vet. He has had ear infection previously so we were not overly concerned. Thursday night he was not interested in going to work ... so we were rather concerned but apart from being a little sleepy and shaking his head occassionally he was ok. I wasn't well last night and this morning (my allergies going nuts) so I stayed home. After waking up about 10ish I decided to make an appointment to get his ears checked out rather then waiting until Saturday. He has a bacterial infection in his left ear and a temperature of 39!!!! He has been given tablets (cephalexin 1000mg) and ear drops (Canaural). His breathing was also a little heavy and laboured. His heart was good and his lungs where clear. Vet suggested the heavy breathing could be due to a sore throat which can be linked to the ear infection. Since getting him home I have given him his tablet and put the drops in ... but he has now gone wobbly in the back legs and is just laying on the concrete. I know that ear infections can cause dizzyness but how can you tell if he is dizzy and not something else? I can't possibly carry him to the car and he won't walk ... so I can't get him straight back to the vet. Edited September 20, 2009 by Tilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 PHONE the vet... send photo by email if needed- take his temp and pulse yourself and let them know...(ask the vet/nurse to tell you how if you do not know) Hope he's ok.. poor boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Roll the dog onto a blanket or piece of canvas and drag the dog to the car. Lift front feet and shoulders into the car floor and push the rest in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Call the vets. Sounds like vestibular disease. Can you put him on a towel/rug and drag him to the car? Or make a sling with a towel and help him to the car? Are any of your neighbours home that could help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 Vet has been wonderful and come out to see him. We managed to get him up walk around a little bit and he tended to start out strong then then quickly goes wobbly and weak in the back half and just wants to lay down again. He has taken some blood and I should get a call in the next half and hour or so. The poor baby is not himself in the slightest (didn't even growl at the vet in the slightest) and seems to be just wanting to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Possibly the most stupid question in the world, but have you checked for ticks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 Ok - blood tests have all come back "within normal range". Yes we have checked for ticks but haven't found any yet. Can't be ruled out completely but vet said he would expect him to be a lot worse by now if it was a tick (My boy hasn't been out of our yard since Tuesday morning). I have managed to get him into the hydrobath and give him a good bath (mainly to cool him down) and then given him a good brush over - and still can't find anything. I have checked him a number of times and just got back inside from going over him again. Vet has basically said give him 24 hours to see if he improves but at the moment I have not noticed any changes in either direction. He has also been given an anti-inflamatory. He can barely stand. I have him outside on the grass side of the house which is cooler and is flat so he can toilet easierly if needed. He is just so miserable... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Sounds awful I do hope he is feeling better in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Did the vet take into consideration vestibular syndrome/disease at all? The ear infection and loss of balance are classic signs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 Did the vet take into consideration vestibular syndrome/disease at all?The ear infection and loss of balance are classic signs. I did ask the vet and he didn't believe he had it (but again it can't be completely ruled out). Is there anything I can do for him if he has this? Or should the antibotics and anti-inflamatories help? My boy still has a good appetite and is drinking well. This afternoon he was having troubles toileting but this is becuase he can't lift his leg and is unable to squat properly. I have done a complete poo scoop and since he is the only dog home tonight I will be able to tell if he has gone to the toilet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Thinking of you and the Boofer - you guys haven't had a great run lately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all that glitters Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Ohhh poor bugger, I hope he's ok! What a worry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Hope everything is OK and he feels better soon, poor baby, hard to watch them like that when they are normally so robust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 The poor boy is sitting on the back lawn looking so sad - he is slowly moving around the yard but basically just sits or half bunny hopes around the area. I have just offered him some food but other then the little bit with his medication - he wasn't interested. He is still drinking but I need to take the water to him and encourage him to drink. He hasn't been to the toilet for numbers 2's his afternoon ... so I am getting more and more concerned. If he can't lift/hold his bottom off the ground - how can he toilet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Can you hold his back end up by folding a towel lengthwise and holding it under him? That was recommended to me when my boy had cruciate surgery. I know he spends nights outside but are you able to bring him inside tonight so you can keep an eye on him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 He has vomitted a couple of time now - hopefully he had his tablets down long enough to actually be of help. He is on his bed now so hopefully he will stay tucked in for the night. I did consider bringing him inside for the night but I would have to get him up the back stairs and he couldn't do it - and he just doesn't feel comfortable inside. I have managed to get him to walk a few steps (to his bed) if I am in front of him guiding him - otherwise he doesn't move. I needed to lift him up on to his bed - he can get one front foot on and then I need to support him to get his other foot up and then lifting up the back half. I have tried using a towel to support the back half but it doesn't seem to work for him - he digs his toes in and won't move. I might try again later to see if he needs to toilet and if it will help. I think it is definately looking more and more like vestibular syndrome ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 There has been no real changes in his ability to walk in the last 6 hours ... but he is wagging his tail and just barked at strange noise. When you walk up to him he rolls over for a tummy rub. I can't get him to stay on his bed and he keeps moving around the yard (slowly) in a half bunny hop. I am not sure if this means he is trying to toilet so I am currently waiting for my brother to come home from work to see if he can help me hold him up long enough to see if he will toilet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildatHeart Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 poor man, hope its nothing serious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 This must be so awful for you to watch, Tilly. If it is vestibular syndrome I understand it can resolve itself in a few weeks. However, I'd be inclined to consult with a top notch canine chiropractor and/or acupunturist or physio-therapist to have this checked. Do you know if there's been any zoomies that could have ended up with neck injury? What's your boy like when on lead (ie pre-symptoms)? I have no first hand experience or any great knowledge of this condition, however I have read bits and pieces. As they say though, a little bit of knowledge is dangerous so I say here clearly that I am no expert in the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Tilly, I really hope your dog gets better. I just wanted to mention Neoporosis. This is pretty rare especially in adult dogs but it was something they tested my Holly for when she was ill earlier this year. She started with rubbing her head on the ground or anyone's legs. I didn't think much of it but after a week or so she developed a cough and I took her to the vets. She diagnosed an ear infection and Holly also had a high temp. We treated that but then the symptoms appeared in her hind legs. She just started to lose control of them. She could just about walk but had great difficulty and I had to support her while she went toilet otherwise her legs would collapse. She had numerous tests including and ACTH test for Addison's and a blood test for Neospora. The Neospora test came back as a 'weak positive' and we put her on a long course of the appropriate antibiotics. Unfortunately they didn't work. Whether we were too late treating the Neopspora or not we will never know. She never had a definitive diagnosis, the 'weak positive' could have been nothing the vet said. We decided with heavy hearts to put her out of her misery in April of this year. I still miss her every single day. If you want any other info just let me know, there were other symptoms but I've mentioned the main ones. Take care, I will be thinking of you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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