Which Lab For Tbd Panels And . . . Help! - Balance Issues Again

[Guest LovesDoggies]

Which lab is it that is recommended for full TBD panels? I think I read in the past that there is some lab that does additional work/spends additional time waiting for results than others, and it therefore produces more reliable results than other labs. I *assume* my vet has some standard lab that they use. Should I expect them to freak out if I politely request that my full panel be sent to this other lab???

 

My poor foster turned adoptee, Bruce, is again experiencing balance issues. This happened before, a few months ago. He had balance issues which gradually culminated in his losing control of his back legs. It got progressively worse. When he was under the care of the adoption group, he was treated agressively with steroids and returned to normal. A full tick panel was never done. He was never diagnosed. His symptoms were treated in lieu of complicated and expensive testing. The e-vet had referred him to a neurologist, but this was not pursued at the time, as his regular vet and then a grey-savvy vet recommended treatment.

 

Since then, I adopted him and half expected that his condition would return, although I was so hopeful that it would not. So, now, I will take him to my vet, assuming they will want to do a tick panel. I don't know if I should just skip my regular vet though and go straight to a neurologist because I know she will not be able to diagnose him on her own. This is either neurological (which I am betting it is b/c steroids can treat symptoms in people suffering from neurological conditions) or it is a TBD (I have no idea what effect steroids have on symptoms caused by a TBD). Whoa is me. My poor boy.

[ShantisMom]

I just finished treatment on the TBD Babesia on Shanti. You can search H&M for TBD. Here is a lab that was recommended to me.

 

Most people use NC State for PCR testing.

 

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/ticklab.html

 

 

Prototek is another that was mentioned. I believe my vet used Prototek. The total cost, with all the fed ex charges was about $200 for the panel.

 

 

I do know that dogs with the tick born disease Babesia are not suppose to take prednisone.

 

I hope you find some answers. The not knowing is so frustrating! Good luck!

 

 

 

 

[Guest vahoundlover]

We used NC State, can't tell you the cost, my vet hasn't sent me the bill yet

 

Bruce has some of the symptoms Boss had, started walking "off" progressed to walking drunk to losing his backend. It was a bulged disc. We treated with steroids, physical therapy and acupuncture. The acupuncture has helped immensely, 1+ years later and Boss still gets acupuncture about every 6 wks.

 

 

[Guest LovesDoggies]

I just finished treatment on the TBD Babesia on Shanti. You can search H&M for TBD. Here is a lab that was recommended to me.

 

Most people use NC State for PCR testing.

 

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/ticklab.html

 

 

Prototek is another that was mentioned. I believe my vet used Prototek. The total cost, with all the fed ex charges was about $200 for the panel.

 

 

I do know that dogs with the tick born disease Babesia are not suppose to take prednisone.

 

I hope you find some answers. The not knowing is so frustrating! Good luck!

 

Thank you so much. I will do more research on here as you suggested. I hope Shanti is feeling better now!!

[Guest LovesDoggies]

We used NC State, can't tell you the cost, my vet hasn't sent me the bill yet

 

Bruce has some of the symptoms Boss had, started walking "off" progressed to walking drunk to losing his backend. It was a bulged disc. We treated with steroids, physical therapy and acupuncture. The acupuncture has helped immensely, 1+ years later and Boss still gets acupuncture about every 6 wks.

 

Wow! That is exactly how things have progressed. I guess Bruce's first steroid treatment could have relieved the bulged disc somehow. It would be wonderful if that's all it is!!

 

How was Boss diagnosed? X-rays? I remember the e-vet examined his spine, but did not think it was a disc issue because Bruce showed no discomfort when the vet examined his spine.

 

Who does the physical therapy? Your regular vet?

 

Oh, and, the TBD test that you had done, that was recently, for a different issue?

 

Your post has given me a sigh of relief!! It could be something simple and treatable!! Thank you for posting!!

[Guest LovesDoggies]

Oh and Bruce is only 2 - could it still be a bulged disc or is that something that happens over time?

[inugrey]

I'm a huge fan of acupuncture/chiropractic and other non-traditional treatments but that's for you to determine. Good luck figuring out his balance issues.

 

I will say I attended a lecture given by a vet who presented findings from a study that the number of positives from Protatek was statistically, abnormally high...

 

I had both of my dogs tested and their blood was sent to NCSU. Both for a full panel and then one had the PCR done too.

 

[Guest vahoundlover]

We used NC State, can't tell you the cost, my vet hasn't sent me the bill yet

 

Bruce has some of the symptoms Boss had, started walking "off" progressed to walking drunk to losing his backend. It was a bulged disc. We treated with steroids, physical therapy and acupuncture. The acupuncture has helped immensely, 1+ years later and Boss still gets acupuncture about every 6 wks.

 

Wow! That is exactly how things have progressed. I guess Bruce's first steroid treatment could have relieved the bulged disc somehow. It would be wonderful if that's all it is!!

 

How was Boss diagnosed? X-rays? I remember the e-vet examined his spine, but did not think it was a disc issue because Bruce showed no discomfort when the vet examined his spine.

 

Who does the physical therapy? Your regular vet?

 

Oh, and, the TBD test that you had done, that was recently, for a different issue?

 

Your post has given me a sigh of relief!! It could be something simple and treatable!! Thank you for posting!!

 

Boss was DX with xray and a MRI?? I know we talked about an MRI but now I can't remember if one was actually done. I did see the x-ray and you could see the area of the disc and it did look bulged. My regular vet also does physical therapy. Boss was noticably uncomforable when she examined him. He spent a week at the vets before we could get him stable enough to come home. I don't think age is a factor.

 

Yes, the TBD panel was for another dog, it came back negative on all of them...if you do the TBD panel you might consider sending enough serum so if a PCR test has to be done they already have it there.

 

Diane (Burpdog) posted this link recently, it's the Tick list

 

http://saluqi.home.netcom.com/ticklinks.htm

 

I hope this was a one time thing!!

[Burpdog]

What are his platelets and HCT? I know lots of people who use Protatek without any problems.

[Guest daisies5]

Here is a snippet from notes I took from a lecture given by Dr. Couto:

 

We then talked about Tick Borne Diseases (TBD). There are around 10 different types of TBD, and the doxycycline (?) that is normally given only treats 2 of them. The titer tests only tells us if a dog has been exposed to a certain virus, not if the dog has the disease. The only way to know for sure is to do a Preliminary Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Don't treat for TBD if your dog has no symptoms, normal blood work but a positive titer. Dr. Couto does not recommend having a titer done if there are no symptoms, because he wouldn't treat it anyway. There is a lot of debate on this topic.

 

For TBD titer tests, the Protatek (?) lab returns 50% positive results. North Carolina State returns 1% positive and Ohio State returns 1% positive. Dr. Couto has tried contacting Protatek numerous times to discuss their method of testing, but they will not return his calls or emails. Bottom line - North Carolina State is the best for TBD titer testing.

 

 

[Guest LovesDoggies]

What are his platelets and HCT? I know lots of people who use Protatek without any problems.

 

 

Hi There,

 

I don't know if you remember us, but you tried to help us on our last round of this back in October. You probably remember, but I know there are lots of us on here that you are trying to help, so just wanted to make sure.

 

Anyway, I am taking him to my vet at 4:15 today. I have his bloodwork from October (not sure if this is at all relevant, but considering the symptoms were the same) Platelet Count was 219, and Hematocrit was 51.3. Everything was within "normal range", except Bilirubin, which was 2+.

 

I'm hoping that because he was treated effectively with steroids that it is not a TBD. he was treated with Dexamethasone, Tramadol and Prednisone.

 

I also read for the first time today, in one of the vet notes -- "Both ears filled with small ticks." He also had ticks removed from his body before he came to me, and I recall taking one tick off of him and seeing one crawling up the wall near his crate. But, I am not going to get on my soapbox about how terrible is the tick/track situation, because the last time I did that, I was apparently being unreasonable. So, I guess my point is -- poor thing was full of ticks so a TBD is certainly within the realm of possibilities.

 

Here is a snippet from notes I took from a lecture given by Dr. Couto:

 

We then talked about Tick Borne Diseases (TBD). There are around 10 different types of TBD, and the doxycycline (?) that is normally given only treats 2 of them. The titer tests only tells us if a dog has been exposed to a certain virus, not if the dog has the disease. The only way to know for sure is to do a Preliminary Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Don't treat for TBD if your dog has no symptoms, normal blood work but a positive titer. Dr. Couto does not recommend having a titer done if there are no symptoms, because he wouldn't treat it anyway. There is a lot of debate on this topic.

 

For TBD titer tests, the Protatek (?) lab returns 50% positive results. North Carolina State returns 1% positive and Ohio State returns 1% positive. Dr. Couto has tried contacting Protatek numerous times to discuss their method of testing, but they will not return his calls or emails. Bottom line - North Carolina State is the best for TBD titer testing.

 

Thank you Daisies, I will discuss with my vet today!!

[Guest LovesDoggies]

Just got back from my vet. She recommended that we start with a neurologist and to try to get an appointment soon. There is only one neurologist in CT. She will not be in the office tomorrow. I cannot get an appointment til the 15th. I could bring him to the vet hospital where the neuro practices on an emergency basis on Monday morning and maybe get an in house consult with her that morning, which means there is no guarantee she will see him unless we have a set appointment. Uggh.

 

So, I could take the day off from work tomorrow and try to get a neurologist in Mass to see him, but I haven't even started looking them up yet. I think I will start a new post asking for recommendations because there are a lot of Mass folks on here.

 

I called my vet's office, and they think I should wait until Monday and convey to the e-vets that we need the neurologist to review his case. If he is getting progressively worse though, maybe I should just try to find someone who will see him tomorrow, but there's still no guarantee in that case. Plus, I have to take the day off (unexpectedly) to bring him to Mass, and they (work folk) already think I'm crazy because I brought him to Mass for his neuter surgery. That was about a month ago.

 

My vet did not examine him at all, but did not suspect a TBD b/c she did not think there would be a recurrence of the paralysis and she did not suspect a disc issue because of his age. Her point was that she wanted a neuro consult. This is what the first e-vet recommended, but it was decided by the group that he should be treated by a greyhound specialist. And, he was successfully treated, but now with this reoccurence, my vet thinks a neuro consult is required and that the neurologist should do the x-rays so they can see everything firsthand.

 

Help?

Edited January 3, 2008 by LovesDoggies

[Burpdog]

Searching the tick list archives, paralysis, weakness and ataxia all symptoms of a tbd. Would your vet start on doxy at 5mg per # of body weight while you wait for a tbd panel results and the neurologist? What will it hurt? I'd try a shot of doxy and follow up with oral. I would also consult with a neurologist.

[Guest LadyChester]

How's your guy doing? Don't know if I've missed updates in another post or something. If you haven't seen a neurologist already, check Angell Memorial or Tufts. Bauers Mom on GT went to Angell and had an excellent experience, from what she has said.