Sick dog, not getting better

this is when I'd suggest adding (not switching just ***adding***) something like a TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) vet.  http://www.tcvm.com -- the way they diagnose is very different.  It sounds like a really severe allergy (and yeah, meds can make them miserable, and steroids, in particular, can completely change their demeanor). 

You're in Canada, if I recall?  So on the left where the locator is    --UNDER THAT-- is a sentence link that will give a list of all the vets not in the US.  There are a TON of TCVM vets in Canada (both on the east and west coast).

Do you have foxtails up there?  (little tiny seed pods -- it's really easy for them to get embedded inside the nose and they are MISERABLE to remove because they are barbed and will work their way deeper and deeper)

Please emphasize -- this isn't to get her to 'switch' vets -- most TCVM vets do *not* want to be your only vet -- they deal with chronic, often inflammatory conditions.  But they aren't wanting to do the day to day stuff like vaccines, etc.

 The symptoms don't quite match but since the dog is part GSD have they ruled out pannus?

Is there a vet school near you? They might be able to at least provide a consult.

calliecritturs

this is when I'd suggest adding (not switching just ***adding***) something like a TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine) vet.  http://www.tcvm.com -- the way they diagnose is very different.  It sounds like a really severe allergy (and yeah, meds can make them miserable, and steroids, in particular, can completely change their demeanor). 

You're in Canada, if I recall?  So on the left where the locator is    --UNDER THAT-- is a sentence link that will give a list of all the vets not in the US.  There are a TON of TCVM vets in Canada (both on the east and west coast).

Do you have foxtails up there?  (little tiny seed pods -- it's really easy for them to get embedded inside the nose and they are MISERABLE to remove because they are barbed and will work their way deeper and deeper)

Please emphasize -- this isn't to get her to 'switch' vets -- most TCVM vets do *not* want to be your only vet -- they deal with chronic, often inflammatory conditions.  But they aren't wanting to do the day to day stuff like vaccines, etc.

Thanks Callie! I have passed your suggestions along to her and we looked up TCVM vets and closest one is Edmonton. Whether she goes or not I can't say, but she knows about it now. And she said the vet did check Rhea for foxtails, none up there :)

rwbeagles

Have they considered VKH or Uveitis? both of those are auto immune issues that affect the eyes...if there's been any whitening of the coat, or lesions or skin issues on the face, this is something I would really consider.

Thanks Gina. So far Rhea has no whitening of her coat or any skin issues at all. Whats VKH?

rwbeagles

Also, If they haven't yet I would recommend they see a Canine Opthamologist, not just a regular vet. The CERF website should have links to one in their area.

My boss said this is something she is going to do if our vet can't figure out whats wrong with her :)

Liesje

 The symptoms don't quite match but since the dog is part GSD have they ruled out pannus?

Thanks Lies for the suggestion, I asked her and she said they have not even considered Pannus, so she is going to ask the vet about that too.

FrisbyPI

Is there a vet school near you? They might be able to at least provide a consult.

Unfortunately we don't have any vet schools near us :)

I just wanted to add that the vets changed Rhea's meds yesterday to an Antihistamine to see if that helps at all. She has one more dose of Revolution that I think she gets in a week. After that I think she said they are doing some sort of swab or something in her nose? Not sure what she called it though. 

I wanted to send our get well wishes to Rhea and her family.  Hope they can get to the bottom of this very soon for them. 

  I'm sorry that Rhea is having these problems. They sounded like allergies until I got to the bottom of your post and saw that she has also became lethargic and doesn't want to eat. Whether or not it's the meds depends; certain antibiotics upset Jessie's stomach so she gets a probiotic when she's on them and it helps. Steroids should increase her appetite unless they have seriously effected her liver and kidney values.

  Was there something new in her environment around the time the problems started; new carpeting, air freshener, lawn or carpet treatment, etc? I know of a case where a type of mold from some new paneling made a dog sick and it took many months to find out that was the cause. (((hugs))) for Rhea and her owner; hope they find out what's wrong very soon.

There was nothing new that I know of. My boss hasn't done any renovations to her house, but we did renovate the store. There are no carpets though and we re-used the flooring that was already there. I will say, Rhea is a sniffer. She constantly has her nose to the ground. And at the Pet and Equine Expo in Sept my boss said Rhea had her nose right in the dirt. So not sure if maybe she caught something there.

I will say, today when I saw her it was a different dog. She was happily asking me to share my lunch with her and she hasn't done that in weeks. Her eyes still look bad though. My boss started Rhea on her Antihistamines the other day. She said Rhea's appetite it back and she seems happier, but the health issues themselves are the same. 

I'm just hoping this works, so hard seeing her not well 

 She sounds like a great dog; I hope she gets better soon. Your sig is beautiful!!!

Thank you

My boss took Rhea in today because although the hacking stopped her eyes got worse without being on the antibiotic. So today they did a biopsy on her eye . My boss is worried and a little frustrated they never suggested it before, but shes hoping this yields answers.

My thoughts are with Rhea and your boss. I hope they find some answers.

Wondering how Rhea is today?  Hang in there, your Mommy and your vet are trying to figure out why you feel so bad. 

Hey, just checking in. Rhea got her biopsy results back today, and nothing. Not a darn thing showed up. So tomorrow they are doing a Dry Eye test. If still nothing, then shes going to see an Ophthalmologist. My only concern is even if dry eyes does show up, I wonder if its a symptom or the cause. So I hope they don't just stop at that. My boss is very worried it might be Pannus, its something the Ophthalmologist the vet spoke to wants to test for. Rheas third eye lids are still very swollen and angry red. Shes no longer hacking though *sigh* poor girl.