Need Advice Please......young Healthy Grey Suddenly Very Ill

[Guest daseff]

Hello fellow greyhound lovers!

 

I have looked at greytalk over the last few years and I have enjoyed reading all your posts about greyhounds and learning so much from you all! Thanks! Although some posts were too sad to read and would make me cry, so I had to learn to stay away from those. But now, I have a sad question of my own to ask and need some serious greyhound advice, unfortunately. So I apologize that my first message posted on GT is about my greyhound's health problems, but I am in need of advice badly.

 

 

Here are the details of my girl greyhound Bina (sorry it's long!):

June 19 she was extremely lethargic and had strange behavior at home. She had her third eyelids up and seemed disoriented. She had a new dry dog food a couple days prior to this but no other significant medical history. She went to an animal emergency hospital on 6/19 and was diagnosed with neck discomfort suspect meningoencephalitis. Sent home with Dermaxx and tramadol, she improved pretty well over the next couple of days. To follow up her progress with my usual vet clinic, we went for a visit to let them confirm Bina felt good and was getting better. Bina was due for her annual vaccines in July and I said to 'only give her the vaccines if she was well enough to receive them, and that her "neck" pain issue was number one priority and make sure she was progressing ok from that before deciding to give vaccines'. The vet thought she would be ok to get vaccines even though there was an underlying issue that we assumed was neck pain and was responding to her meds. So she got her vaccine shots in both rear thighs on 6/23 at my normal vet clinic. The very next day 6/24 she seemed a bit wobbly and off, then early morning on 6/25 she was severely wobbly and got progressively worse within hours. Could the vaccines have done this? Dr. Johnson said that her condition is due to an "immune" stimulated response from something.

 

Bina will be 5 years old in August.

CBC showed mildly reduced platelet and WBC count.

Tick profile from the rDVM were all negative. Creatinine was 1.9 mg/dl.

Her WBC count for the in-house spinal tap testing was WBC 673/cmm and RBC 373/cmm.

Titers for toxoplasmosis ana neosporosis were negative.

The only outstanding bloodwork test is distemper.

MRI of the cervical spine shows a hyperintense area within the spinal cord on the T2 weighted images from the mid-body of C2 to the caudal aspect of C3.

 

Questionable mentation from disorientation on physical exam, slightly reduced visual response on left side, deficits in the left front and left rear limbs and mild neck discomfort. The cervical MRI revealed a lesion/abnormality within the spinal cord from C2-C3.

Temperature 100.4 and HR 130.

 

CN exam showed mild reduction in menace OS, PLR's intact, no obvious head tilt or nystagamus, intermittent temporalis m. contractions primarily left side.

Gait showed moderate to severe ataxia in rear limbs with stiff/stilted and mildly hypermetric appearance. Occasional crossing of the front limbs. There also appears to be a mild truncal ataxia when standing. Spinal reflexes showed normal front limb reflexes, normal patellar reflexes and questionable withdrawl deficits in rear limbs (tone good.) Postural reactions showed mild CP deficits on LF and LR limbs. Questionable deficits on the right side. Palpatation showed mild neck discomfort. Radiology showed normal cardiac silhouette and pulmonary vessels and normal. There was no evidence of thoracic lymphadenopathy or metastasis. The pulmonary parenchyma is normal. There are no abnormalities within the mediastinum or pleural space. There are no radiographic abnormalities within the abdominal vessels.

 

Based on these findings, the neurologist at the e-vet is suspecting a primary inflammatory disease (meningioencephalomyelitis). The inflammation

can be due to an infection however it is more common to have a non-infectious form (immune-mediated, GME).

 

She still cannot stand or walk or go out to pee on her own or even really sit up on her own very much. She seems to have improved a bit since yesterday which is great news. She has lost SO much weight in the last week that her bones are showing and her rear thighs muscles which were so muscular and defined are already atrophying. I am supposed to call the neurologist back in a few days to update him on her status. Hopefully she will continue to progressively get better every day.

 

Thank you so much for your help and advice! I promise to post some happy good news soon to make up for this first "bad" posting.

 

 

Danielle and Bina

 

 

 

 

[Guest Machbragal]

I don't have any advice (I don't even have a greyhound yet), but I think you've come to the right place. I'm sure you'll get some great responses here. I just wanted to say that I'll be praying for your girl and hope that she turns around very quickly. She is young and hopefully can get a handle on whatever is going on.

 

Hang in there!

[Xan]

I'm also no help, except to maybe bump up your thread, but want to also say, hang in there!! I'll be thinking good thoughts for your girl and you.

Here's a chant for her:

*Bina-bina bo-Bina, you-you you are so fine-a! Neck pain and unhappy body will be all betta, and you'll be happy in no-time-a! Bina-bina bo-Bina, you-you you are so fine-a! Neck pain and unhappy body will be all betta, and you'll be happy in no-time-a! *

 

:bighug

[Guest mandm]

What was the tick profile?

 

I immediately think tick disease when I see a drop in platelets combined with other symptoms.

[Aerosmom]

Ask your vet to start her on doxy. Tick-borne disease can have neurological symptoms.

[HopeForHounds]

I would contact OSU's Greyhound Health and Wellness Program.

 

You can send the info here greyosu@osu.edu Someone will get back to you, so don't hesitate.

Edited July 1, 2008 by foxysmom

[carronstar]

I have no help to offer, I wish I did. Never apologize though, when asking for help. Everyone on here wants the best for these babies. I will send lots of prayers your way for both of you.

[NevadasMom]

Could someone email Dr Bill for his opinion?

[ahicks51]

Just a longshot- maybe someone with a VF dog can speak more intelligently to this- but did your pup ever live or race in areas in which Valley Fever (coccidiomycosis) is endemic- Arizona, New Mexico, California? (Maybe Mexico, too- Caliente dogs, anyone?)

 

You might read this bit by Dr. Stack.

 

http://www.arizonaadoptagreyhound.org/heal...lley_fever.html

 

Among other notes there:

 

"These ADR (“Ain’t Doin’ Right”) dogs inevitably go on to develop more specific signs if undiagnosed and untreated. The most common signs are poor appetite, weight loss, lameness, bone pain, spinal pain, and coughing. This is because in the early (“primary”) form, the fungus infects the lungs, then moves on to infect bones (“secondary” form). Lungs and bones account for most cases; other places cocci can go are the central nervous system, eyes, and rarely, heart or skin.

 

With greyhounds, we seldom see the coughing stage."

 

Not exactly what you're seeing, but it may bear investigating.

[Guest Flint]

What was the tick profile?

 

I immediately think tick disease when I see a drop in platelets combined with other symptoms.

 

I was thinking the same thing. Flint raced in Seabrook New Hampshire but some how contracted Babesia (which is not seen in our local ticks). It's suspected that a dog from the South brought the tick north. Make sure your dog has been tested for all TBDs, not just the ones that would normally be found here.

 

I'd also second the suggestion to contact OSU and check your dogs history to see if VF could be a possibility.

[Guest argolola]

I will pray for your precious pup.

[Guest VelvetEars]

Is she on any meds? Prednisone? Doxycycline?

[Guest PiagetsMom]

I'm sorry, I can't offer you any suggestions or advice, but, I know if this were happening to Piaget, I'd be extremely worred - to you and I hope you find answers quickly and your Bina has a quick and complete recovery!

[Guest TippyTy]

[Greytlady94]

I don't have any suggestions beyond contacting OSU's Greyhound Health and Wellness Program and if you within driving distance I would take her there. It doesn't sound like you have been given any real answers for her deteriorating condition. Sending prayers for Bina.

 

In my personal opinion, she should not have had the vaccines until she was totally back to normal, and even then, not all of them in the same day or even in the same week.

link on vaccines

 

 

 

[kudzu]

*Bump*

[Guest LynnM]

Hoping for some good news soon!

Edited July 2, 2008 by LynnM

[3greys2cats]

I am so sorry to hear this, GME is a horrible disease but treatable, my deepest sympathy to you and your family, Bina is pain free now.

[patricia]

I am so sorry to hear this, GME is a horrible disease but treatable, my deepest sympathy to you and your family, Bina is pain free now.

I'm confused? Looking for an update from Bina's family and sending more prayers.

[3greys2cats]

Sorry, I am confused too, I saw a post from Lynn that said that sadly she had passed and now it is not showing up here. Will say prayers for Bina, hope to hear some good news.

[Guest SoulsMom]

I've been following this thread too and am hoping she's doing better

[Guest MAXNAV]

I'm confused too? What's up?

[Guest daseff]

THANK YOU everyone for your kind words, advice and suggestions.

 

Bina is still recouping at this point in time. She is on doxycycline, prednisone, pepcid and clindamycin.

 

They did check for all TBD that I am aware of but I will ask them again just to clarify exactly which ones were included. My understanding is that they checked for all possible ones with an in house test and then sent out additional testing for more rare types.

 

I agree on the vaccine issue and will read that link thoroughly. I am a bit upset about the vet giving her the vaccines in that condition. She was a bit wobbly but it was so slight that only I could really tell since I see her everyday. Then the day after the vaccines is when her legs just didn't work anymore. Her beautiful strong back leg muscles have atrophied SO much in the last week, it is just scary!

 

I have emailed Dr. Vilar at OSU and will wait to hear back his opinions.

 

Someone suggested I take Bina to the Athens Vet School (since I live 1 hour away) and that I shoudln't have her healing and resting at home since she is unable to walk unassisted. But I tend to think that she is way more comfortable at home, not nervous and getting as much care as she would elsewhere. I just don't think that with all the diagnostics run at Georgia Vet Specialists (they are awesome BTW!) that anything else could be figured out about her condition but maybe I should take her somewhere else?

 

I just don't know what to do at this time except keep her happy and fed and at home with medicine. The neurologist didn't say it was 100% GME but he is leaning towards that strongly.

 

Thanks again for all your comments and advice. I appreciate each and every one so much!

 

Danielle and Bina

 

 

[carronstar]

Lots and lots of prayers for Bina, and for you. Crossed fingers and paws for the best possible outcome.

[3greys2cats]

Adding lots of prayers for Bina, her symptoms do sound like GME, my Sara who was diagnosed last year w/GME suffered the same conditions, the wobbly, truncal sway, could not walk w/out assistance, sounds like your vets were thorough, definitely should not have had vaccines in her condition. Sara was on the prednisone, antibiotics, pepcid, carafate, phenabarbitol(she had seizures from the brain inflammation, and cytarabine(a chemo drug, she was 5 yrs almost 6 when diagnosed, she was on medications for 10 months, almost a year and it pushed the disease into remission. She just celebrated her 7th birthday on Monday and she is doing great, after a week on cytarabine, she regained a lot of mobility in her hind legs and started walking w/out assistance. There is a Dr Sisson @ Angell Memorial in Boston, Ma who specializes in this disease(GME/ inflammatory brain disease. I will find the link and foward to you. Hope she is feeling better soon.