15 Month Old Greyhound Is Very Sick`~update Post #99

[Guest crazy4greys]

WAG is caring for Becky a 15 month old greyhound. Becky was treated for Heart worm back in July. She was in Mississippi then went to Oklahoma before coming to us. Apparently her sister went to the vet to for the same thing this week.

 

She was taken to an Orthopedic Specialist on Friday because she is having problems with her joints. The vet is testing for all TBD and beyond.

 

Here are her symptoms:

 

Fluid and swelling in all of her joints

Very hard time getting up

Dragging her back legs and hind end when trying to get up . It is almost like she is paralyzed. (this started a few days ago)

 

 

She still has good spirits and is feeling a bit better on Doxy.

 

Has anyone had any experience with this before?

 

Becky needs all your good thoughts and prayers. She is one sick girl.

Edited September 19, 2008 by crazy4greys

[Guest GreysAndMoreGreys]

I was talking with my vet about TBD and she mentioned

Hepatozoonosis

 

Might want to check it out and find out some info on it. I don't recall the tell tail signs but it's worth looking into.

 

On just a quick search found this

Diseased dogs are often febrile, stiff, lethargic, and depressed. Gait abnormalities and muscle wasting are usually obvious, as is copious mucopurulent ocular discharge. Atrophy of head muscles is especially noticeable. Dogs may eat readily when food is placed immediately in front of them, but they often refuse to move to food and water, presumably owing to intense pain, which derives in part from periosteal bone proliferation and inflamed muscles

 

site found was here

site

Edited September 1, 2008 by GreysAndMoreGreys

[Guest Winterwish]

Gee I don't know. Some kind of inflammatory crisis?

Sending prayers and thoughts of healing for Becky!

 

Here is a link to Joint Effusion:

 

Joint Effusion

[carronstar]

Sending lots of prayers and good thoughts to Becky.

[Guest LadyChester]

Sending healing thoughts to Becky and her caretakers

[Charlies_Dad]

What about tick or parasite diseases? Here's hoping Becky gets better soon.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Charlies_Dad

[greyhndz]

It certainly could be any of the TBDs, and hopefully the vet has her on a large enough dose of doxycycline to adequately cover Lyme, ehrlichiosis and anaplasma.

 

If she has fluid in her joints, it would be helpful if the orthopaedist could aspirate some of that fluid for analysis. This can be used to identify infection (including TBD) as well as inflammation. Another possible diagnosis would be immune-mediated polyarthritis which can present with lethargy, migratatory lameness, swollen joints, fever, etc. My iggy is being treated for this, and it took 3 months to reach the correct diagnosis.

 

But first and foremost, have your vet pursue tick panels - and repeat them every couple of weeks to see if any of the titres are increasing. Your vet can also send blood down to NC State for PCR testing.

 

Good luck with this little sweetie!

[Guest crazy4greys]

She did have a temp of 103.8 when she had this a week and a half ago.

 

It was drained by WAG's usual vet.

 

 

 

Thanks for all the advice, I will pass it on.

Edited September 1, 2008 by crazy4greys

[TheFullHouse]

Poor baby, I hope they find out what's causing her problems and she gets better soon. Dang, it's bad enough she had to go through heart worm treatment and now this! Many prayers for this sweet baby.

[Guest jerrybird]

Poor pup, maybe the DVM treating her sister and your vets can consult with each other? Hope they both improve quickly.

[HopeForHounds]

Have both vet's get in touch with the Greyhound Health and Wellness team at OSU.

 

greyosu@osu.edu

 

 

[2hounds]

YES! This is exactly what we went through with Mia Bella. She had erlichea, which after we got that treated turned into immune mediated polyarthritis. She is still on a low dose of prednisone and azathiaprine and it has been over 16 months ago that she was treated.

 

Talk to Dr. Couto, he offered to consult on Mia's case and he gave us some more ideas for tests to run.

[4greyhounds]

Poor Baby, Sending lots of prayers and white light. I am sorry I have no advise.

[Guest crazy4greys]

YES! This is exactly what we went through with Mia Bella. She had erlichea, which after we got that treated turned into immune mediated polyarthritis. She is still on a low dose of prednisone and azathiaprine and it has been over 16 months ago that she was treated.

 

Talk to Dr. Couto, he offered to consult on Mia's case and he gave us some more ideas for tests to run.

 

 

Thanks Alisha!

[Guest Luvgreys]

It certainly could be any of the TBDs, and hopefully the vet has her on a large enough dose of doxycycline to adequately cover Lyme, ehrlichiosis and anaplasma.

 

If she has fluid in her joints, it would be helpful if the orthopaedist could aspirate some of that fluid for analysis. This can be used to identify infection (including TBD) as well as inflammation. Another possible diagnosis would be immune-mediated polyarthritis which can present with lethargy, migratatory lameness, swollen joints, fever, etc. My iggy is being treated for this, and it took 3 months to reach the correct diagnosis.

 

But first and foremost, have your vet pursue tick panels - and repeat them every couple of weeks to see if any of the titres are increasing. Your vet can also send blood down to NC State for PCR testing.

 

Good luck with this little sweetie!

 

Becky was seen by Dr. Dudley at VCA Northboro in MA and Dr. D did aspirate fluids from two of Becky's joints and she started Becky on a pretty high dose of Doxy. Dr. Dudely also send out blood for a complete tick panel (checking for 12 different tick borne diseases).

 

I just went to see Becky to let her out for her foster Mom who is away today and it's just heartbreaking to see her. Becky can only barely get up on her own, she collapses back down after just a couple of wobbly steps, she has to be carried outside to potty She really wants to interact with people but just does not have the strength. She is being fed as much food as we can get into her little body.

 

Please send white light Becky's way, she really needs it.

 

 

 

 

[iluvgreys]

Poor lil' pupster. Sending loads of prayers and light her way.

[ShantisMom]

Shanti had a lot of these symptoms (and still does). She had Babesia, IMPA and now we are medicating for Valley Fever. Have them run a full panel. A joint tap may help finding any infection in the joint.

[Guest LindsaySF]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

I hope we can get Becky healthy soon.

 

I totally fell for her when we picked her up at the hauler.

[Guest SoulsMom]

Oh, poor little girl Sending lots of gentle, healing thoughts

 

 

Edited September 2, 2008 by SoulsMom

[Guest Annie]

This is heartbreaking... wishing all the best for the little sweetheart...

[LuvAPuppy]

It doesn't sound like any of these, but these are the large/giant breed diseases I know from Danes so I'll throw them out there. Maybe they'll cause someone to think of something else they've heard of!

 

Panosteitis

 

Osteochondritis Dissecans

 

Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy

 

[Guest argolola]

Many prayers for sweet Becky and her sister.

[Guest crazy4greys]

An update from Becky's foster mom.

 

Becky’s bloodwork has not revealed any answers. Her CBC was w/in normal limits, the 4DX test was negative (other than heartworm which was expected), the fluid tap was negative for infection, and the TBD panel was all negative. John just brought over more Rimadyl, and he carried her outside. She was able to pee while I supported her w/a towel under her belly. Without that, she really can’t walk. I’ll bring her to Bolton tomorrow & will ask they contact Dr. Couto at Ohio State. Please send good thoughts her way.

 

The tech at VCA Northboro just called to say her stool sample was positive for giardia. This wouldn’t be causing her problems, but something that obviously needs to be treated.

 

Thanks.

 

 

[carronstar]

Sending lots and lots of prayers for Becky.

[Guest LindsaySF]