I'm Worried Marty Is Sick

[Guest Bocephus]

Yesterday morning Marty didn't wake me up to go outside like he usually does and when I finally got up to take him out, he was incredibly slow to rise and looked like he had aged 100 years he was so stiff. He didn't express even a little bit of interest in going outside, but I took him on a very short walk so he could poop and pee.

 

When I brought him back in he laid right down on his bed, but he seemed really really stiff and it took him awhile. I made him stand up and examined all of his paws and legs. One of his back legs seemed a little more sensitive than the other. It was really stiff, he didn't want to bend it and when I picked up the opposite leg, it's like his one bad back leg couldn't support his weight. He didn't even raise an ear when I said the magic breakfast word which is incredibly uncharacteristic.

 

A friend from my adoption group suggested getting a full tick panel done at North Carolina, but the vet wanted to do more of a wait and see thing.

 

I took him to the vet last night and he wasn't nearly as stiff, in fact he jumped into the back of the car before I had a chance to lift him in. At the vet, he was a little more lethargic than normal but was alert and didn't show any stiffness at all. The vet ran a Snap 4 which came back negative and then sent me on my way with some anti-inflammatory meds.

 

Well this morning Marty is no better at all. He's not nearly as stiff, but it's like it's an effort for him to even get up and walk around. I took him outside again and he pooped ok, a little funny looking, but no diarrhea. However, when he peed, he only peed a bit and then kept the pee stance for a while after with nothing coming out.

 

I made another appointment for the vet today. I'm wondering if Marty might have a really bad UTI, if the bully stick I gave him a couple of nights ago is wedged in his gut (he's pooping fine though), if I should get the full tick panel done and get him started on Doxy. I've got no idea. Any thoughts?

Edited September 10, 2008 by Bocephus

[Guest gottaluvgreysindy]

No advice, but prayers that you get answers soon because I know how it is not to have answers. I'm certain someone will come on and give you some good advice.

[Madeara]

Oh I hope it is TBD and not something really horrible! At least you can treat TBD.

 

[carronstar]

No advice but sending lots of good thoughts for Marty.

[lothianjavert]

Marty's symptoms sound like Sebau's when she was first diagnosed w/ Lyme and when she has a flare up. She doesn't get the classic lameness, but obvious stiffness and is "off"-- not her usual obnoxious, energetic bossy self. The first time she went to the vet for it, her test came back negative. If it's newly contracted, that's fairly common, as the body needs time to create the antibodies. Once the body has had time to develop the specific antibodies, the test is quite accurate.

 

Because of how greys travel, it wouldn't hurt to have a full tick panel done. You could also discuss starting on doxy while you wait for results if Marty is still under the weather. Lyme is extremely common in this area.

[Guest trevdog]

I'd have a full blood workup done as well.

[Fiona3]

I agree with the advice from others that a full blood panel would help to figure out what is bothering Marty. At least you can rule out things when the results are in. It could be Lyme or something that will be easily treated. Keep us posted and hugs to Marty.

[turbotaina]

Hm. The pee thing is troubling. See if you can get a sample from him before you get him in to the vet. A bad UTI could result in reluctance to pee due to pain. A bad UTI can also make him stiff (though the stiffness would be more localized to the lower abdomen as opposed to his leg). You said his SNAP came back negative yesterday, but Rachael raises a valid point, too. I think I'd get him on doxy. Doxy also appears to have some anti-inflamatory properties, so even if he doesn't have a TBD, it may actually help with the stiffness in any event.

 

And, yeah, I'd get that panel off to NCSU

[Guest Bocephus]

Hm. The pee thing is troubling. See if you can get a sample from him before you get him in to the vet. A bad UTI could result in reluctance to pee due to pain. A bad UTI can also make him stiff (though the stiffness would be more localized to the lower abdomen as opposed to his leg). You said his SNAP came back negative yesterday, but Rachael raises a valid point, too. I think I'd get him on doxy. Doxy also appears to have some anti-inflamatory properties, so even if he doesn't have a TBD, it may actually help with the stiffness in any event.

 

And, yeah, I'd get that panel off to NCSU

 

 

Yeah, I should have just done what you suggested yesterday, but I kind of fell into a "Doctor as God" mentality.

 

Thanks for all the kind thoughts everyone.

[Guest MomoftheFuzzy]

Continued good thoughts for Marty. Hope he feels better soon.

 

[patricia]

I agree with a full tick panel and try to get some urine for a complete urinalysis and urine culture. Keeping your sweet boy in my prayers.

[iluvgreys]

Agree with the above posters to do a full panel tick test, including Lyme's and a blood test. Your boy is not even 6 yet! Sending lots of prayers for nothing serious.

[NeylasMom]

Nothing to add to the advice you've received, just sending some positive thoughts. I guess my only question is whether you were able to identify a specific part of hte leg that was painful. And have you checked and doublechecked for corns? (I know, doesn't make sense here, but I swear, those things doing nutty things). If you don't get anywhere with the bloodwork, a trip to Dr. Radcliffe to rule out muscle injuries might help.

[turbotaina]

If you don't get anywhere with the bloodwork, a trip to Dr. Radcliffe to rule out muscle injuries might help.

 

Yes, we LOVE Dr. Radcliffe for ortho issues

[inugrey]

Hey Nathan any sort of update after your visit?

[Guest Bocephus]

Well, we just got back from the e-vet. His normal vet wanted to run some x-rays because from the time I got home at about noon until the time we took him to the vet at about 5 he had started getting a lot of abdominal swelling. The x-rays were "cloudy" but the vet did an abdominal tap and came back with blood in the abdominal cavity, basically meaning that Marty was bleeding internally.

 

The e-vet said the internal bleeding could be one of three things, rat poisoning, blunt force trauma, or a ruptured tumor on one of his internal organs, probably the spleen. They're keeping him overnight to monitor his vitals and are going to do an ultrasound in the morning with the possibility of exploratory surgery.

 

I'm 99% sure that Marty didn't get into any rat poison and I'm 100% sure he didn't suffer any blunt force trauma, so it seems like we might be looking at a ruptured tumor. Unfortunately the vet said that if that's the case there's a 50/50 chance it could be malignant, and if it's malignant, the prognosis is not good. They could remove it, but at that point it would have already metastasized and spread so it might get Marty another 6 months but not much more.

 

We'll know more tomorrow morning, but it's not looking good at all right now.

[Batmom]

:( :(

 

Sending lots of prayers for Marty and hugs for yourself.

[macoduck]

Oh no. Thinking good thoughts for Marty.

[4greyhounds]

Sending lots of prayers and white light....

[Guest Vinnie]

Adding our voice to the prayers and healing white light. Sending very gentle hugs and scritches for you and Marty.

[CaliforniaGreys]

Lots of prayers coming your way! I know the waiting is the worst!!

[TheFullHouse]

I'm so sorry. I've been right where you are now. Saying many prayers for a good outcome.

[inugrey]

Oh man, thinking of you both while you wait for information about Marty-man.

 

 

[patricia]

Sending many more prayers and warm healing white light.

[Guest Tenderhearts]

:grouphug