Shed Tears Today :(

[dabroad]

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ok latest update... lui is been much better today only yelping every now and then! nicky 12 thanks for your comments .. it sounds like he may not have this as he is eating, drinking, playing etc. but when he yelps he goes stiff. Really not sure what it is. It's almost like spazems but vet said it could be a number of things. cant get to vet till snow clears as both mine and my bfs cars are stuck in snow and wont move. Lui has been on metacam for 48 hours nearly. x

 

[nicky12]

ok latest update... lui is been much better today only yelping every now and then! nicky 12 thanks for your comments .. it sounds like he may not have this as he is eating, drinking, playing etc. but when he yelps he goes stiff. Really not sure what it is. It's almost like spazems but vet said it could be a number of things. cant get to vet till snow clears as both mine and my bfs cars are stuck in snow and wont move. Lui has been on metacam for 48 hours nearly. x

sorry but just because hes eating and drinking and playing doesnt mean hes not got this you wont get all of these symptoms all at the same time ,if you look at my post on my gangs walk today you will see tia happily running around ....tonight however she is in agony and has to have extra meds to make her comftable ,it is hard as you think there getting better but then they relapse i really hope its not what tia has and is sumthing that can be sorted soon for him good luck let us no how he gets on at the vets :luck:

 

[jinnyfizz]

ok latest update... lui is been much better today only yelping every now and then! nicky 12 thanks for your comments .. it sounds like he may not have this as he is eating, drinking, playing etc. but when he yelps he goes stiff. Really not sure what it is. It's almost like spazems but vet said it could be a number of things. cant get to vet till snow clears as both mine and my bfs cars are stuck in snow and wont move. Lui has been on metacam for 48 hours nearly. x

sorry but just because hes eating and drinking and playing doesnt mean hes not got this you wont get all of these symptoms all at the same time ,if you look at my post on my gangs walk today you will see tia happily running around ....tonight however she is in agony and has to have extra meds to make her comftable ,it is hard as you think there getting better but then they relapse i really hope its not what tia has and is sumthing that can be sorted soon for him good luck let us no how he gets on at the vets :luck:

I agree with Nicky, the whole problem with SRM is that it can be an "intermittent" illness. Rosie never lost her appetite because she loves her food!! Metacam can mask the symptoms and the fact that Lui is still yelping with pain on occasions shows that he is suffering.

Spasms (breakthrough pain) are exactly what he will experience - excruciatingly painful for him! Remember, a dog will never show the true extent of the pain they are in as in a pack situation this would be considered a weakness and they would be left to die or rejected from the pack

 

[dabroad]

I'm still taking him to the vet asap no worries about that am just confused about whats going on with him. I understand metacam masks which is exactly what i thought. i just thought id mention what someone said? guess a receptionist isnt a vet eh. Im open to ideas and i just want him to be better again. If he has got srma then will he have it all his life or does it come and go? I know about the pain pack thing also as i watch good old cesar

 

[jinnyfizz]

This explains SRM better than I can :thumbsup:

"Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis (SRMA)

 

The cause of steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is unknown but is thought to be due to an autoimmune disease process causing inflammation of the meninges (the covering layer of the central nervous system) and peripheral nerve roots. It also affects arteries and tissues in many of the body’s systems.

 

Autoimmune disease occurs when something within the dog’s environment acts as a trigger factor, causing the immune system to become confused. This results in the immune system no longer recognising its own body parts as ‘itself’ but as foreign to the body, like bacteria. The immune system automatically mounts an attack to destroy the ‘invader’ but in reality it set to destroy part of its own body, resulting in an autoimmune disease. There are various autoimmune diseases that affect different systems of the body and SRMA is just one of these diseases. A genetic predisposition is required for a dog to develop an autoimmune disease, and is often more prevalent in certain families. Some breeds are more prone to SRMA than others, and an association with vaccination has been recorded in Weimaraners.

 

SRMA is a non-infectious, inflammatory disease usually affecting young animals. It can be cyclic in nature but the initial onset of the disease is usually sudden, showing symptoms such as: high temperature, neck stiffness, intense pain - especially around the neck and ears, general body stiffness, sensitive to touch and depression. Characteristically, the dog may stand with his neck stiff and held low, just below horizontal, almost as if frightened to move. Initially, a severe ear infection may be suspected, although speculative treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics will show no improvement in the dog’s condition.

 

Diagnosis is achieved by physical and neurological examination, and spinal fluid analysis, revealing elevated protein and white cells typical of central nervous system inflammation.

 

SRMA responds very well to immunosuppressive treatment of prednisolone (2mg/kg/day) or a combination therapy of prednisolone and azathioprine (2mg/kg/day or alternate days) reducing steroid therapy to alternate days and weaning off all treatment over a period of months. A dog on high dose steroids should be given a gastroprotectant, such as Zantac, to minimise irritation to the stomach.

 

The prognosis for patients with SRMA is generally very good, although relapses may occur at any time. Recovery is usually rapid and improvement can be seen with hours of giving immunosuppressive therapy, hence the name steroid responsive meningitis.

 

SRMA can occur with polyarthritis. The arthritis is symmetrical and non-erosive and confirmed by synoval fluid biopsy. Polyarthritis/meningitis syndrome is recognised in several larger breeds."

If Luigi does have this, the chance is he will make a full recovery and it may never recur as you have caught it early enough.

Sometimes it may persistently recur, as Nicky has found with Tia but in my Rosie's case, she was only on steroids for around 3 weeks and has not had any since, nor needed them. I do remain aware, however, that she could be more prone to SRM in the future as it is possible that her immune system is mildly compromised. She has been one of the lucky ones and this was due to my being aware of the condition from Tia having had it and there being able to act very quickly. It also helped to have a vet who was prepared to treat for SRM almost immediately, rather than do extensive tests first.

 

[jayp]

jUST SEEN THIS..

No dog should be given steroids UNTIL any infection has been ruled out The reason is the steroids will suppress the immune system and if the dog is fighting an infection it may well kill it

So while I agree to mention this condition to your vet please be guided by him, if the condition does not resolve with antibiotics and or anti -inflams then is the time to "consider" steroid treatment

Seeing your vet is a MUST

Hope he recoveers soon and is back to his normal self

Jan

 

[Jan Doherty]

Are you still unable to get to the vets because of the weather because if it is Meningitis then every day untreated is crucial. I would not be walking him, I would be keeping him in the warm and rested until you have a vets diagnosis. It could be as simple as an intermittent trapped nerve which could respond to metacam but for me the vet would be a priority today.

 

[dabroad]

Have taken him to vets today first thing as vet was in today so i carried him all the way up there. They have taken blood samples for a bio-chemistry. This needs to be done before anything to make sure it's nothing internal and if this comes clear then they will look into spinal fluid analysis. This bio-chemistry would need to be done anyway even if it is srma because they would need to make sure hes fit to go under before anything is done. I get results tomorrow. Vet has put him on anti-biotics for 5 days twice daily. lets pray. thanks for all your comments i read about srma days ago to clue my self up just incase this was the case all i can do now is wait. All i can say is lui seems alot brighter today and his normal self lets hope it's nothing serious! By the way he does have a tempreture! x

 

[dabroad]

GOT RESULTS! The bio-hemistry showed a high chemical in his blood showing inflammation of the liver! He is on anti-biotics! Lets hope this is all he has! Thanks for all comments! x

 

[Jan Doherty]

That is great, there is nothing worse than a poorly pup. Im sure he will continue to improve :luck: Good job you have a vet who can return the blood results so quick, it used to take a week being sent away.

Re the Meningitus for info, neither of mine has to have the spinal tap as they both responded immediatley to antibiotics. The spinal tap is the only way of absolutely knowing and confirming the diagnosis.

 

[dabroad]

Cool thanks. He has been so much better a few squeeks this evening though not nearly as loud though. Again hes only been on the anti-biotics 2 days today. He has his check up next week fingers crossed. I love the little mite to much! x