teekay Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 My poor Mya has had quite a year. After a liver biopsy in May she was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis. Treated with steroids, antibiotics and milk thistle she was doing really well. Her liver enzymes were so good she was taken off all medication. She then appeared to deteriorate so we put her back on the antibiotics about a month ago. She has had an upset tummy over that last couple of weeks and perhaps been a little less enthusiastic about life ( although still doing zoomies with Luka around the garden at least once a day) and her fur has been coming out in clumps ( this used to happen before the hepatitis treatment, stopped when she was on it and started agin about two weeks after stopping treatment - not sure how relavent that is) I don't know whether any of this has contributed but yesterday morning she tried to get up to go out to the toilet and her front legs wouldn't work. They just kept slipping out to the side. My husband too her out on the grass and she managed to stand but things were definitely not right her back legs were low and wide and she was shaking all over. She I did mange to wee. Straight to the vets, they kept her, took bloods, did a Neuro exam? Didn't think it was a tick, Throughout the day her legs got stiffer and she keeps panicking. So she was referred to a specialist. We took her there five o'clock last night. Vet there seems to think meningitis or brain tumour. She has had a spinal tap yesterday evening and is being transported to Brisbane for an MRI today. This is all so sudden, she was absolutely normal Sunday night and first thing Monday morning a complete mess. We made sure we said our goodbyes last night in case we don't see her gain. The poor darling looked so so terrified Things we've considered are tick, cane toad, tetanus, Larissa ( I remembered she did get a bat in her mouth last year and I did read it can take years for the virus to show up). my head hurts from trying to understand what's going on. I'm glad she is at the specialist now and I really hope they find some answers. We lost our beloved Labrador, aged 5, to an undiagnosed neurological condition and watching Mya yesterday has brought back all the horrors of seeing Holly deteriorate like she is. It is actually a blessing, I think, that Mya's has come on so quick. Whether she makes it or not at least she hasn't suffered for long. Now we are playing the waiting game. Oh how I hate waiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 How awful for you all . I hope there is an answer/treatment soon .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Hang in there teekay... she's in the best place to find out what's going on and to come up with treatment options... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papillon Kisses Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thinking of you and Mya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 So sorry to read this, teekay, and hope with all my heart that answers and cures are found. Many of us would remember Mya's story of how,she came to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoelace Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Teekay By any chance is the antibiotic Mya is on Metronidazole? If so, ask the specialist center to look at Metronidazole toxicity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 Teekay By any chance is the antibiotic Mya is on Metronidazole? If so, ask the specialist center to look at Metronidazole toxicity. Oh my god Shoelace. Yes that is the antibiotic. Just Googled and certainly some of the symptoms fit. My original vet just upped her dose because of her tummy troubles too. Gosh I hope that is what it turns out to be although I'm furious that a dog forum would mention this and neither vets have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoelace Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Let's hope I'm right. Get on to the specialist center and suggest this. Not many vets even think of it. Tell them to look at their textbooks. It has to work its way out of the dogs system. Diazepam (Valium) and IV Fluids are the only treatment. It will take a few days of the dog being in intensive care. Good luck with her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 I have spoken to the specialist and they are holding off on the MRI for today and staring treatment for the toxicity so see if she improves. God I hope she does. I'm scared to get my hopes up though. Specialist didn't seem to have her recent increase in dose in her records. Someone messed up but for now I don't care. if Mya recovers, that's all that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Bloody hell! I hope it is the meds! Would a blood test pick up the toxicity or just indicate something wrong with the liver? Without Shoelaces post it might've taken days and several intrusive tests to even consider this the issue! Poor Mya - sending her lots of strength to recover fully and quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoelace Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Unfortunately there is no test the vets can perform to confirm toxicity or not. With Ben, Metronidazole toxicity was only considered because the specialist he was being handed over to read his case file and saw he was on Metronidazole. She had seen a toxicity case before and she went and got her textbook. She told us he was a textbook case for severe toxicity and although she couldn’t guarantee that was his problem as there was no test for it, she would like to try treating him for it before trying anything else. So we also held off on the MRI and spinal tap. Initially Ben just suddenly couldn’t stand up and the emergency vets told us they thought he had ruptured a disc in his back. As they continued to give him his Metronidazole, by the time he’d had the three more doses he didn’t know where was, where up or where down was, he was on his back thrashing around and trying to run away. His eyes were continuously twitching so he couldn’t focus. He was panicking and stressing and the more he did that, the worse he was getting. At this stage we were also being told he most likely had a brain tumour or meningitis. Ben spent three days laying on the floor in intensive care unit because he would panic and thrash when they put him in a crate. I spent a lot of hours sitting on the floor with him just trying to keep him calm. It took 3 days for him to be able to stand up. When he came home, he was still wobbly on his feet, but he was home. I hope this is what it turns out Mya has and nothing more serious. If so, it will take time, but she will get over it. My prayers are with you and her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 Gosh Shoelace, that sounds so much like Mya especially the panicking and thrashing and the eye movement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I have spoken to the specialist and they are holding off on the MRI for today and staring treatment for the toxicity so see if she improves. God I hope she does. I'm scared to get my hopes up though. Specialist didn't seem to have her recent increase in dose in her records. Someone messed up but for now I don't care. if Mya recovers, that's all that matters. Oh ! I do hope that shoelace is correct, and that with supportive treatment, Mya is soon feeling much better !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Gosh imagine how scary this is for the dogs themselves to behave like that. It is sounding more and more like the underlying cause. I guess time will soon tell. Hope you are coping ok Teekay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I have a pup here at the moment on Metronidazole and Amoxyclav after a dog attacked her... only a 10 day course, no side effects so far and only 3 more days to go. Pup is around 6-7 months old going by the teeth. Appetite and agility still really good... I'll keep an eye on her until the course is finished... as she really needs them to counter the closed wound infections she had in a couple of the bites... swelling is almost completely gone and not warm to the touch any more thank dog. Everything crossed that Mya recovers quickly and comes home soon! T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Gosh imagine how scary this is for the dogs themselves to behave like that. It is sounding more and more like the underlying cause. I guess time will soon tell. Hope you are coping ok Teekay. yes- to being unable to move etc , but awake very frightening . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianca.a Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Keeping you both in my thoughts, I so hope it is what Shoelace suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 HE could also cause issues like that. With her recent liver problems I would look at that if going the antibiotic doesn't work. Amber had one fit due to HE and her legs were stiff and jerky after. Hope Mya is ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 What's HE Jules? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 Don't worry. I Googled. Hepatic encephalopathy right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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