GME & Vestibular Disease

  I'm sorry Gizmo has GME. Jessie hasn't had it but I know it's very serious and hope the medications keep it under control. Gizmo is really cute, and very lucky to have you for her owner.

  Jessie had some strokes in the past. The first one was November 2011 and at that time the neurologist wasn't certain it was old dog vestibular disease (she was 13) or a stroke, but he thought a stroke was more likely. She was fine until June 2012; then she had 3 strokes in 2 months. A blood test revealed that she was hypercoagulable. She was put on a very low dose of aspirin (21mg) and a low dose of clopidogrel (generic for Plavix) and hasn't had anymore strokes. Every 6 months she is retested to see if she needs an adjustment in the amount of clopidogrel but she hasn't so far. When she had a stroke her eyes moved rapidly up and down, she was nauseous, and she would have problems walking and standing for a few hours but then improve quickly. She would be back to normal within a week or so. The strokes have left her with a slight right head tilt and she sometimes loses her balance on sloping surfaces like a small incline, if she stands sideways.

I've not had a dog with GME but I do know what it is -- and I *have* had a dog who had more than one bout of vestibular disease.  

My first question would be -- are you giving milk thistle to protect the liver a little from the prednisone?  Are you having the vet run bloodwork (with all liver and kidney values) every 2-3 months??  

The neural inflammation from the GME -- I would think acupuncture might be hugely helpful with both problems, and  could help take some of the load off the need for the prednisone.  My email is callieatcritturs@yahoo.com -- I've used acupuncture for my dogs many times with incredible results.  Typically as what they call "complimentary therapy" - in other words I am **not** suggesting you leave your vet ... rather adding a vet who can help with acupuncture, etc. to help reduce some of the need for the damaging steroids

its been a little over a year since her diagnosis and we went to the vet...learned she is vaccine exempt due to her neuro problems...oh and great news shes being tapered off her seizure meds!

Janelle -- where in the world are you?  (that's a straight-up question). You might find some real help with a vet who does TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) -- not a Chinese vet and I'm being totally serious here.  My pug has seizure issues and we've been able to use herbs on her (and we haven't had to go to meds yet).  Acupuncture and the oriental herbs are incredible to help reduce seizures (and they are incredibly helpful in neuro situations).  

I am not talking about you leaving your vet!!! Not at all. -- but adding a vet who did TCVM could help you wean off the seizure meds with less risk - my email is callieatcritturs@yahoo.com -- if you want to email me I will be glad to help you.  I've been using TCVM on my dogs for ... gosh ... like 12 years now ... and two of those have been seizure dogs.