Initially an associate Vet at our reg. vets office (reg. vet off thAt day)
She did some blood tests to rule out things including a Liver shunt in which the shunts to Liver gets blocked and Liver can not detox too well so neuro symptoms show up....then sent me home with Metcam liq. (24 hr. non-steroid anti-inflammatory)
She had me come back in afternoon for Xrays....she also did physical exam both times very thoroughly and did not feel it was his joints or pinch nerve in spine or injury..he was not showing any signs of pain..just unable to use back legs to walk...would start to take a step and his left or right leg would jut out to his side and just stick out till you put it down..very weird.
More flat than usual but just figured it was due to all the exams and stress of the day.
All of his tests came back negative so she wanted me to come back again in morning to see our reg. vet. when the office opened..
She had also called a neuro vet and consulted in the phone and even she was not sure what was going on and was not able to see us because her schedule was so full...the only other neuro vet was over an hour away and she felt he was fine enough to wait to see what reg. vet thought in morning~Wednesday
Our reg. Vet examined him and did neuro checks just as other vet did and stated he felt it was probable steroid responsive meningitis where his immune system was attacking his body...and no need to get a bunch of very expensive tests because it is treated with prednisone....so sent me home with pred. 5 day full dose and five 1/2 doses and Baytril antibiotic.
The vet bill totaled almost $500 thus far soI was relieved!
Next morning he was taking steps..only about 5 but much better than none.
The following day he went 10 steps and collapsed and slept all day long..very lethargic.
By Saturday he was extremely sleeply and by that night he could not raise his head to look at me..it appeared his neck was very stiff and hurting..he would flinch if I touched him.
Called ER vet hosp. And was told they could only provide supportive care and could no treat without definitive diagnoses..like MRI and Cat scan..Spinal tap and that could only be done on Monday...all these tests could run up to $10,000 very easily!
By this time I had read tons on this type of meningitis and knew that initially they are given high doses of prednesone and Gizmo was on half of the recommended dose..so I gave him 2.5mg more of prednisone...by morning he was much better and ran a bit..still slept all day long.
By Monday he was about the same but walking totally normal albeit very slowly....called the vet and he wanted me to give only 2.5mg for 5 days and then stop it...when I told him how everything I read on it on the internet and that this required long term pred..and told him I was scared...he accused me of arguing and hung up on me...I instantly called neuro vet and set an appt. asap...went up next day to pick up Gizmo's records & Xrays..and confronted the vet about hanging up on me,lhe stated he had no time to listen to all the things people have read online,,he was a busy man.
No apology or remorse.
Asked him to justify doing on 5 full doses of pred. for SRM...he then stated he NEVER told me that it was steroid responsive meningitis..i told him he said "probable" SMR...and he even denied that!
It was a ton of back and worth after that but was able to get my point across of what I thought of him andcleft with my head up high.c
The neuro vet looked over everything and stated she felt comfortable treating him with the Prednisone and wanted to give him cyclosporine as well.land that 5 days only of Pred. for this condition is unheard of...because he had been on the Pred. & Baytril the MRI/cat scan/spinal tap was not be conclusive so he never got them...the advice was to watch him closely.
That was 2 weeks ago and each day he seems better except not as perky..no energy.
Getting bloated from the pred...hungry & thirsty all day.
At night he pants sometimes which I hate..and has fits of being restless a d unable to settle down,
But in no pain..and walks and runs fine..just unable to do either for more than a minute...I walk him around my backyard as he is terrified of leashes still.
We do one round and he stops before done and wants me to pick him up...he used to run around over and over like a jackrabbit just for fun..now just walks very slowly. Sigh.
This is such an agonizing thing to go through..the unknown is unbearable. I just hope he can recover and not need the pred. For the rest of his life...wish there were more stories on this..especially on those that have survived for more than a few years...seems like all go through several relapses before it is over with...
He is so young-10months old so hope that helps him.
Thanks for keeping me informed on your CoCo..we are right behind you so it is assuring to not be alone.
Take care!
Shelley
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