Dizzy And Stiff Grey

[Guest Rak41]

New here, but have been here reading a lot. Searching for some help and guidance for my 8yr old grey, Arlen. For the past 4-5 months we have been managing what we believe is a disc issue in his back with Gabapentin, Rimadyl, and Tramadol (if needed). Many x rays of his back have shown no significant arthritis or any other visible issues. He has issues laying down and getting up and has trouble walking without tripping over things. He also likes to walk into narrow spaces and just stand there in the corner staring at the wall (very spacey). Hes just had a general out of it and depressed mood since all of this has started, but we have been managing the best we can. Within the past few days he has developed a very stiff neck, and his balance has gotten much worse. He has even fallen over a hand full of times on tile/slick flooring. We decided to take him to the vet hospital today as he was especially wobbly and spacey. They we able to get a lateral x ray of his neck which did not show any apparent issues. There were mentions of possible brain tumor/stroke/cancer given his imbalance, and recommendation of an MRI. I declined the MRI because I dont believe that is going to give us any new information that would change course of treatment unless it were something very serious (tumor,cancer, brain bleed). Blood tests did show low WBC and RBC (on greyhound scale) which is a bit concerning. We are stopping use of rimadyl for a few days so that it can wash out and then we can begin Prednisone. We are at a complete loss of what to do and just feel like we keep hitting dead ends. We hate seeing him like this and wish we could get him back to somewhat resemble how he used to be. Any help/ideas/thoughts would be greatly appreciated

[greysmom]

Did they check for any vestibular disease? That can make them very shaky and unstable due to the vertigo it causes.

 

The muscle stiffness sounds more like meningitis or a stroke symptom, or perhaps a brain tumor. However the only way to diagnose that would be an MRI, though you are right in that doing one seems viable only if you are going to change your treatment options if you find something.

 

The other thing to check for easily are Tick Borne Diseases (TBDs). If he's been exposed at any time in his life, it can remain dormant until it crops up at some future time. They can also cause symptoms such as you describe, and the treatment is fairly simple once disagnosed.

[Guest Rak41]

Did they check for any vestibular disease? That can make them very shaky and unstable due to the vertigo it causes.

 

The muscle stiffness sounds more like meningitis or a stroke symptom, or perhaps a brain tumor. However the only way to diagnose that would be an MRI, though you are right in that doing one seems viable only if you are going to change your treatment options if you find something.

 

The other thing to check for easily are Tick Borne Diseases (TBDs). If he's been exposed at any time in his life, it can remain dormant until it crops up at some future time. They can also cause symptoms such as you describe, and the treatment is fairly simple once disagnosed.

I’m not sure on the vestibular disease as I don’t know what that is. We are actually going into our primary vet tomorrow or Tuesday so I’m going to mention the tick borne diseases and see if what he says. I’ve read a few things about that and have wondered.

[greysmom]

Vestibular disease is a problem with the inner ear - humans get it too.

[JohnF]

TBD is a distinct possibility. Lyme, untreated, can do horrible things to people in late-stage.

 

What about his sight? May he have suffered a stroke affecting that part of his brain about 5 months ago? It would be awful if he felt continuous motion-sickeness becase info from sight, motion sensors and balance mechanisms is no longer in synch. Slow-growing tumour is possible.

I have a different take on doing an MRI (if it can be afforded) in that it may stop you continuing any unnecessary and/or ineffective treatments. When you start knowing what something really is, it provides quality time and calm assessment of what needs to be done, even if it's euthanasia.

[Guest Rak41]

TBD is a distinct possibility. Lyme, untreated, can do horrible things to people in late-stage.

 

What about his sight? May he have suffered a stroke affecting that part of his brain about 5 months ago? It would be awful if he felt continuous motion-sickeness becase info from sight, motion sensors and balance mechanisms is no longer in synch. Slow-growing tumour is possible.

I have a different take on doing an MRI (if it can be afforded) in that it may stop you continuing any unnecessary and/or ineffective treatments. When you start knowing what something really is, it provides quality time and calm assessment of what needs to be done, even if it's euthanasia.

Yeah I definitely want him tested for a TBD.

 

We’ve been managing, I think, pretty well over the past 4-5 months. It’s just over the past few days that he has gotten worse, and now won’t eat. With the MRI - my POV is that If it’s a slipped disk then we could be testing him medicinally the same exact why we are now. He would not do well with surgery emotionally so we would manage his pain and quality of life until it didn’t make sense anymore. If the MRI told us it was a stroke or tumor then it wouldn’t really change anything. We are still going to monitor his quality of life the same and make the decision based on that. No different than if I found I had a brain tumor today - I would not just end it there. You can get opinions all over the place on this but at the end of the day I would not make him suffer. I think he will let me know that he is ready when the time comes.

 

We are going to his primary vet today. He has no appetite, and seems anemic based on blood results. I also want to ask about starting prednisone sooner because he isn’t going to make it much longer in this condition, from both a quality of life and physical point.

[tbhounds]

Absolutely run the MRI-it will yield tons of information. Have them run the brain and the cervical area. They can rule out tumors, ivdd and inflammatory disease (meningitis).

Please do the mri.

[Guest Rak41]

Absolutely run the MRI-it will yield tons of information. Have them run the brain and the cervical area. They can rule out tumors, ivdd and inflammatory disease (meningitis).

Please do the mri.

The reason Im not totally convinced to do this is that I dont know that it is going to change to course of treatment. It seems like $2,200 that isnt going to change any actions that we are already doing.

 

We saw our regular vet today and we are going to begin prednisone tomorrow if his neck does not significantly improve by then. He seems to be doing just slightly better today but we have to get him to eat. I managed to get him to eat a few small bites of wet food. Just started a medication on him to spur an appetite as well. I believe it is called entyce

[greysmom]

The pred will help with his appetite too. It tends to turn them into food fiends in addition to them needing to pee every hour. I hope that this will do the trick and he can turn a corner for you.

 

Did your vet do the TBD testing?

[3greytjoys]

Welcome to GreyTalk.

 

Aside from Arlen's painful injuries, it's possible his medications might appear to magnify certain symptoms. It's helpful to read and watch for side effects for all pet medications. Example: Gabapentin doses can vary significantly. Even low doses of strong drugs can cause dogs to feel dizzy, wobbly, spacey, more sleepy, appear depressed, affect appetite, etc.

 

FWIW, our area vets seem to be having good success with Entyce.

 

If you have yet to experience prednisone, please read about it thoroughly before starting the drug. (Some Greyhounds are more sensitive to steriods than others; watching for side effects is important. Prednisone must be tapered off very gradually.)

 

If you don't already have floor coverings, it's important to provide Greyhounds with runner rugs and area rugs (with rubber gripper mats placed underneath each rug) in a home's walkways and rooms that Greyhounds frequent most. Slips/falls on hard surface floors can be very dangerous for our long-legged Greyhounds, more so as they age. Also, thick, dense dog beds are helpful (vs. folded blankets/quilt).

 

Wishing Arlen relief and recovery soon!

[Guest Rak41]

Arlens appetite isnt improving and his overall condition is declining. We were supposed to wait until this morning to start the prednisone but decided to start last night because he was in such bad shape. We honestly thought he might pass last night. It just seems like hes given up. Wont eat and is wasting.

 

This morning he is walking around slightly and drinking more (assuming due to the prednisone). Might make a very very liquidity food out of the wet food and see if he drinks it that way. Really at a hard crossroad here. He is only getting 7.5mg prednisone per day (first dose last night) and I just dont know how quick that will help or if it will help a lot. The dosing feels low to me but he was on rimadyl for months with last dose on sat night so doc was worried about introducing steroids at a high level before that washes out. Im just torn because I want to give him a chance on the prednisone I just dont know what to do. Hes very tired and I dont want to push him more and more for no reason. Hardest decision Ive ever made. We might have to just let him go tonight

Welcome to GreyTalk.

 

Aside from Arlen's painful injuries, it's possible his medications might appear to magnify certain symptoms. It's helpful to read and watch for side effects for all pet medications. Example: Gabapentin doses can vary significantly. Even low doses of strong drugs can cause dogs to feel dizzy, wobbly, spacey, more sleepy, appear depressed, affect appetite, etc.

 

FWIW, our area vets seem to be having good success with Entyce.

 

If you have yet to experience prednisone, please read about it thoroughly before starting the drug. (Some Greyhounds are more sensitive to steriods than others; watching for side effects is important. Prednisone must be tapered off very gradually.)

 

If you don't already have floor coverings, it's important to provide Greyhounds with runner rugs and area rugs (with rubber gripper mats placed underneath each rug) in a home's walkways and rooms that Greyhounds frequent most. Slips/falls on hard surface floors can be very dangerous for our long-legged Greyhounds, more so as they age. Also, thick, dense dog beds are helpful (vs. folded blankets/quilt).

 

Wishing Arlen relief and recovery soon!

Considering all of those things. Please see my updated post

[NeylasMom]

If you are going to continue to try treatment, I agree with the MRI in this case. I get where you are coming from as my girl has suspected disc issues and I've chosen not to do one at this time, but out situation is very different. We're pretty confident we know what's going on based on seeing multiple specialists and one abnormality on x-ray and she is doing well with PT, acupuncture, and meds. In your case, something much more serious may be going on and knowing what it is will dictate how you treat.

[Guest Rak41]

If you are going to continue to try treatment, I agree with the MRI in this case. I get where you are coming from as my girl has suspected disc issues and I've chosen not to do one at this time, but out situation is very different. We're pretty confident we know what's going on based on seeing multiple specialists and one abnormality on x-ray and she is doing well with PT, acupuncture, and meds. In your case, something much more serious may be going on and knowing what it is will dictate how you treat.

Thanks for the thoughts. I dont think he would make it through anesthesia at this point and we cant get him to eat much at all so its too late to do that at this point. If we can somehow get him to turnaround tonight or tomorrow morning with another dose of prednisone then that might become an option. Otherwise we are making that tough decision tonight . I just want to give him and the world one chance tonight to turn it around. I think we owe that to him. He will let us know when its time

[claudiav]

i'm sad to read this... unfortunately, i don't think one dose of Pred is going to turn things around, at this low dose or higher... i would put in a feeding tube and give him a chance to recover... i did that with my Sarge and we had a wonderful 4 months due to the feeding tube... then infection set in, and kidneys/liver broke down... sounds like you've given up, but have the vets given up?

[Guest Rak41]

i'm sad to read this... unfortunately, i don't think one dose of Pred is going to turn things around, at this low dose or higher... i would put in a feeding tube and give him a chance to recover... i did that with my Sarge and we had a wonderful 4 months due to the feeding tube... then infection set in, and kidneys/liver broke down... sounds like you've given up, but have the vets given up?

Arlen crossed the rainbow bridge today. He won the race of life. Hold your dogs close tonight. We came home early today planning on giving him the night to get better. Its a beautiful day, blue skies in Ohio today. We got him out to lay in the sun because he loved that more than anything. He stumbled on his front feet on the way out onto his head. We got him up an just layed with him. You could see it in his eyes just how tired he was so we made the decision. When we got to the vet he said we made the right decision. He said he has declined so much since he just saw him Monday morning. The tech mentioned that it looked like he was just out of it. Arlen the great

[Rickiesmom]

I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Arlen.

[Houndtime]

I am so sad and sorry for your loss.

[BatterseaBrindl]

[Batmom]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

Godspeed, sweet boy.

[Riverhound]

I am so very sorry. Its clear how much you loved your boy.

[FiveRoooooers]

I am so terribly sorry. You've tried so hard to help him and Arlen knew how much you loved him.

[greysmom]

I'm so sorry you lost your boy. {{{hugs}}}

[Guest Rak41]

We love him more than anything. We traveled across the country twice with him on two moves and he was the best. Planned everything to include him. Were mentally exhausted from all of this. We tried our best and I cant think of anything else we could have done differently to change the outcome. Loved him to the very end and super thankful for the amazing day we had to get him out in the sun and drive with the windows down one more time. Thanks everyone for all the support. It feels so empty in our home. Arlen won the race of life

[MP_the4pack]

[NeylasMom]

I'm sorry