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Sick Dog, Vets Don't Know What's Wrong


*kirty*
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So sorry to hear that. I think in the meantime, just keep her hydrated (if she doesn't want to drink, splash some water on your fingers and dampen her lips and see if she would lick it) and let her sleep. When you return to the vet, perhaps ask for an Xray and run more tests.

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Meningitis?

One of mine had similar symptoms but I don't remember the WCC numbers - ruptured gall bladder though - only a small amt of free fluid seen in the abdomen on U/S.

I was going to suggest meningitis too. My boy was flat, had a high temp and neck pain. Cortisone fixed him up quick smart (he had steroid responsive meningitis as opposed to the other kind)

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Many of those symptoms can be secondary to pyrexia alone but I would certainly consider something like a polyarthropathy or meningitis as a possibility. I have seen several little dogs that have a high temperature secondary to pain alone.

The lipase level doesn't mean very much alone, it would have more weight if it was the spec CPli that was elevated but it can reflect inflammation or dehydration and doesn't necessarily have any reflection on the pancreas itself (so much as the gastrointestinal system in general). Low creatinine may mean nothing except that the patient is an Iggie with poor muscle mass, we more commonly see a low urea in association with liver disease. I would do even a basic in house urinalysis even if the dog is on IV fluids, though it is much more useful if done prior. You really need to assess the renal parameters in association with a urine sample - preferably on paired samples collected at the same time.

Edit to add: In immune mediated disease like meningitis / arteritis the reponse to steroids is generally pretty rapid. Diagnosis is often based on clinical signs and ruling out other disorders because a positive diagnosis usually depends on a CSF tap (which can be non specific as well). In the case of polyarthropathy diagnosis, then positive joint taps (high WCC in joint fluid) is diagnostic but it depends on whether there is any effusion present).

Edited by Rappie
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Kirty there are so many different things it may or may not be I think that worrying about what is guessed at on a forum is actually worse. You can now worry about things you may not have even considered.

As frustrating as it is leave it to the vets. Sometimes it takes a while & lots of tests to get a diagnosis & sometimes you don't find out what it was but certain treatments like an antibiotic or steroid seem to work for whatever reason.

All you can do is have her carefully monitored & comfortable as possible & see what evolves next. Hope it all turns out ok. So distressing when they are ill.

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Would you expect to see pain when you manipulate a joint in polyarthritis?

My gut tells me it is meningitis and iggies are prone to it apparently. But regardless, the treatment for meningitis, rat lung worm and polyarthritis all involve high doses of steroids and that is our plan for tomorrow.

The other two differentials (pancreatitis and blockage) are trickier. :( I don't think its pancreatitis but I am giving her low fat food just in case. Hopefully the u/s tomorrow will reveal if there is a blockage.

Rappie, do dogs with blockages normally want to poo? Because she doesn't want to. She pees and wants to come straight in again. She also hasn't vomited at all which I would have expected since she has eaten today?

ETA: Christina, I'm asking because the vets aren't sure where to go from here. They have given me heaps of ideas but I wish someone would just say 'ok lets do this now'. They have suggested a spinal tap but they weren't overly keen on it and its a lot of money fir something that may not be needed. I think I will run more bloods tomorrow and get a urine sample too.

Oh and want to hear something ironic? I only took out insurance for her on Sat morning (when she was healthy as a horse) which of course means none of this will be covered. :(

Edited by *kirty*
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Thats what we are treating for at the moment. She can't start steroids until tomorrow morning though because of the metacam. How quickly did you see improvement ish?

From memory he was much brighter the next day, and (other than the side effects from the cortisone) he was back to normal by the next week. Obviously with high doses of cortisone comes some not so nice side effects but he eventually got weaned off totally, and now you'd never know he'd been sick.

Wishing you the best of luck with your girl

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Any news about Jolie? Hope that you are getting answers today.

Although I am a French Bulldog person I actually also own an Iggy, she is a sister to CBL's Oscar.

Have been checking in here hoping that we have good news, will keep on coming back in here.

:hug::hug: To you and Jolie.

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Good news! We are finally making progress! One of the vets at work chatted to a neuro specialist about Jolie and he agreed that it sounded like steroid responsive meningitis. We gave her the steroids this morning and within 2hrs she was a different dog. :) She is eating again, off the drip and now trying to play! I can't believe the difference already! :)

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Good news! We are finally making progress! One of the vets at work chatted to a neuro specialist about Jolie and he agreed that it sounded like steroid responsive meningitis. We gave her the steroids this morning and within 2hrs she was a different dog. :) She is eating again, off the drip and now trying to play! I can't believe the difference already! :)

Such wonderful news. :thumbsup:

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Good news! We are finally making progress! One of the vets at work chatted to a neuro specialist about Jolie and he agreed that it sounded like steroid responsive meningitis. We gave her the steroids this morning and within 2hrs she was a different dog. :) She is eating again, off the drip and now trying to play! I can't believe the difference already! :)

:thumbsup: Great news!

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