Dog Community

What's wrong with Max? (intro too)

Posted : 8/2/2011 2:16:22 PM

I stumbled on this forum while searching for information about my dogs symptoms. He is a 15 yr. old mixed hound mutt, weighs 35 lbs. First a little history: The end of June, Max started to show a slight anemia, increase WBC and developed a lack of appetite the day after we started the sulcrulfate and pepcid. The vet thought the spleen looked odd. Nothing else shows up on the xray or ultrasound. About two weeks ago, he started twitching (Fri). On Sat he was so weak, he could barely stand and his rear end was not working as well as usual. He was twitching and trembling. I took him in to the emergency vet and he suggested stopping all pain meds. He perked up big time very quickly (in a few hours). Note - he had a slight temperature. Fast forward to this past Monday (last week), He starts twitching and acting miserable. Tues afternoon he is worse, he can barely stand, gums are white, go into vets. He is still a little anemic, WBC is still high and has a temp of 104. Vet sends home 3rd antibiotic and gives him a shot for pain. He is dopey, but continues to twitch. Wed I take him to another vet for a consult and we add in soloxine. He is a little better at this visit. Temp is normal. Wed Dinner he is perky and happy, his normal self, he tries to chase the cat! Sat his temp goes up to 105.7. He is miserable. Vet gives prednisone and doxyclycline. The pred is case it's cancer and the doxy is in case it's a tick borne disease. The pred brought the temperature down. Since Sat and the new pills he is doing much better. He is eating better and is stronger. Does this sound like cancer or a tick borne illness? He was tested for lyme and it came back negative. Any suggestions on what to try next? Sue Max, 15, 32 lbs. Mix hound, MD My goal is to not panic this week!

denise m

Posted : 8/2/2011 2:40:07 PM

I have no advice or insight but I wish you good luck. I know how frustrating and worrisome trying to get a diagnosis is, especially with a senior dog. Hope you can find out what's happening.

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/2/2011 2:50:28 PM

you probably need to have a more comprehensive tick panel done -- there are a ZILLION different tick diseases and they are all different. They use pred whether it is cancer or something like IMHA (which this sounds more like that actually) -- but did the twitching start before or after the prednisone? (it would not be at all unknown to have muscular/neural issues from the pred).

I doubt the pred alone brought down the fever -- that could definitely have been partly, at least, due to the doxycycline (if there IS any sort of infection, then a temperature is the body's attempt to throw that off).

In honesty, I'd probably tell you to go to your state's vet school (or whatever vet school is closest to you). They can be cheaper than a specialty vet (not always but often they are).