Pheebs Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 (edited) Hi Guys, Just seeking your opinions (sorry, i've posted this also in the Health subforum as I need to weigh up my options before I make any arrangements in the morning and am seeking as many thoughts as possible). The situation is as follows: We have Tess (11.5 year old Weimaraner), Lucy (18mth old Great Dane) and Maggie (2yo Boxer X). I must admit i've been a bit slack in their heartworm prevention (usually get ProHeart injections) but we're without a car at the moment so haven't taken them to the vet in ages. Money is extremely tight as i've not been working all year (long story), so consequently I bought monthly nuheart heartworm preventative tablets. Wanting to get into a routine, I decided to treat them on the first of the month - I bought the packets for Large Dogs between 23-45kg. Tess is around 32kg, Maggie about the same and Lucy i'm guessing is around the 45kg mark (she's still got a bit of filling out to do). I gave them one tablet each (to be given monthly) of 272ug Ivermectin in conjunction with a 'Worm Rid' Broad Spectrum Wormer (Praziquantel 125mg, Oxantel Embonate 1355mg and Pyrantel Embonate 357.5mg) to be given 3-monthly. This was given to them around midday yesterday. Upon reflection perhaps I should have just waited, taken them to the vet for the heartworm antigen test and then treated accordingly. This evening at about 10pm, Maggie and Lucy are absolutely fine, but Tess (the elderly Weim) is having trouble walking, is stiff in the neck and is having trouble turning left. If you stand on her left and call her she moves full circle right in order to see you. She's bumping into the furniture, slipping, falling over etc. She's still interested in food and drinking, her gums are nice and pink and her ears feel a teensy bit hot but apart from that she's breathing fine. We just took her for a quick walk around the block to gauge her general wellbeing and she was still incredibly keen, but still couldn't turn left despite being on lead. I've called both the Lort Smith emergency line and the Werribee emergency vet who've both said it sounds neurological, not an emergency and to bring her in tomorrow morning. They've said I can bring her in straight away but basically there's nothing they can do for her until the neurologist can see her in the morning (which we need a referral for!!!) In sum... what the hell do I do? Does it sound related to the Ivermectin? I know some breeds (collies, sheps) have sensitivities to Ivermectin or does it sound like pure coincidence that she might have had a TIA or something of the like? Would it take 30 hours to show up a side effect such as this if it were connected? Any suggestions would be great as I feel like such a terrible Mum right now Edited December 2, 2010 by Pheebs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirty Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 I found this link, its about Collies but I'm guessing the symptoms would be the same if it was related to the ivermectin. I'd keep an eye on her and take her to the vet in the morning. If she gets any worse though, take her to an emergency vet. http://www.ehow.com/list_6018407_collie-iv...y-symptoms.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Try and stay calm Pheebs, you are not a bad mum. Can anyone here suggest the best Neuro specialist in Melbourne? You will have to wait until tomorrow to find out what is wrong. Is she resting quietly right now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheebs Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Thanks Kirty, I found that same link too in my panicky research and called the vets shortly thereafter. I forgot to mention that I adopted Tess at age four, so have no idea whether she'd been given Ivermectin before, as she's only ever had the proheart since she's been with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 It is likely that a good neuro specialist would practice within a large hospital that takes emergencies at night. So if you do decide to take her in tonight, that would be the best place to go, not necessarily the closest 24hr vet to your house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaJ Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall the weimaraner being on the MDR1 list (2 of my beardies were the first of their breed in the world tested).....As for the heartworm test....bloods will not indicate all cases of heartworm infestation. If the infestation is relatively new, or not mobile within the system at that time or if it is a single sex "community" and therefore not mobile, the test will not pick it up. From memory the test will only pick up about 60-70% of infestations. The symptoms sound similar to a friends old beardie recently - and that was a stroke. Let me know how you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheebs Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 She's been resting quietly ever since... which is pretty normal for her. She'll (slowly) get up when called and walk to the other side of the room, but will take any opportunity she can find to lie down. Really not looking forward to the vet trip tomorrow for a billion reasons. Predominantly i'm concerned for her wellbeing above all else, secondly she doesn't have pet insurance (the other two do thank dog) thirdly, I don't drive and fourth - Lucy screams and howls and carries on like an absolute lunatic when separated from Tess so I have no idea how im going to juggle it all. I've also been told I need to visit a vet to get a referral to see a Neurologist... im just hoping I can get it all sorted for her sake quickly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheebs Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Thanks Amanda, i've not been able to find any correlation between Weims and Ivermectin sensitivity... As someone who's been pretty bloody fortunate in her life to have never had to deal with illness in their pets until the end (touch wood), if she has had a stroke... should I be preparing for the worst? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheebs Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 It is likely that a good neuro specialist would practice within a large hospital that takes emergencies at night. So if you do decide to take her in tonight, that would be the best place to go, not necessarily the closest 24hr vet to your house. Fortunately for me my closest practice is the emergency 24 hour veterinary clinic in Werribee... where they have an on-site neurologist. But the receptionist advised me that they could monitor her tonight, but she'd have to then visit the general vet practice on site to then be scheduled to see the neurologist? *shrug* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaJ Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Not necessarily - my friends beardie took a few days to recover and she's fine now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazzapug Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 (edited) Tess's symptoms sound exactly like a friends Baby Pug who recently had her first vaccination and 10 days later displayed the same symptoms....staggering, couldnt turn her head, head and tail down, prefered to ly down. The specialist vets my friend went to could not diagnose her with any degree of certainty. So it was put down to a reaction to the vaccination and she had AB"s and some other medication and has taken a few weeks for all symptoms to subside. So dont jump to a nuero problem it may well be a reaction to something in the tabs or Ivermec. Good luck tommorrow at the vets. ETA..Thats what MDR1 is huh. Edited December 2, 2010 by Shazzapug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaJ Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 (edited) Just checked my notes - Weims are def. NOT MDR1... MDR1 breeds are: Aust. Cattle Dog Aust. Shepherds Aust. Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Collie - Rough, Smooth English Shepherd Golden Retriever Labrador Retreiver Long haired Whippet McNab (???) Old English Sheepdog Shetland Sheepdog Silken Windhound OOPS - forgot the German Shepherd Edited December 2, 2010 by AmandaJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 It is likely that a good neuro specialist would practice within a large hospital that takes emergencies at night. So if you do decide to take her in tonight, that would be the best place to go, not necessarily the closest 24hr vet to your house. Fortunately for me my closest practice is the emergency 24 hour veterinary clinic in Werribee... where they have an on-site neurologist. But the receptionist advised me that they could monitor her tonight, but she'd have to then visit the general vet practice on site to then be scheduled to see the neurologist? *shrug* That would be better than having to take her for an extra car trip. If she is very sick they can refer her without moving her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheebs Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 True... I just want her to be treated (if appropriate) asap Not much use staying up and fretting, she's out like a light on the bed (naughty!) curled up with the OH - looks like i've got the couch for the night Thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redangel Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Oh my how awful for you & Tess. I pray that tomorrow you get the answers you seek. **Healing vibes*** going your way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 could be vestibular syndrome, which is relatively common in old dogs and gets better with time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheebs Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Tess has either had a stroke or has a tumour on the right part of her frontal lobe as her pupil is somewhat fixed and her left aide is affected. I've left her there to see the neurologist who will most likely recommend an MRI to the lovely tune of $1500 (apparently needs an anesthetic in order to do this) so I have nfi what to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheebs Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 (edited) could be vestibular syndrome, which is relatively common in old dogs and gets better with time I too had thought (sadistically hoped for?) this but given her pupil is fixed that would indicate some kind of lesion or mass Eta. Vet said ivermectin reaction didn't present itself the way that Tess is Edited December 2, 2010 by Pheebs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverblue Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 could be vestibular syndrome, which is relatively common in old dogs and gets better with time My thoughts exactly, sounds the same as the symptoms my old Misty had. Would be very surprised if it was related to the tablets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Poor old girl.... hope she's ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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