Need help, advice and prayers for my little baby - YorkieTalk.com Forums

crzy4dogsxx21 · 01-06-2014, 07:28 PM

I have a little 2.5 lb yorkie named Keesha who is going to be 3 next month. She has been going through a lot for the past couple weeks. She first started out by being a little wobbly on her feet and sometimes she would stumble and fall. She was also having some issues with her teeth so I scheduled an appointment to get her teeth cleaned before this all started. About 2 days before her dental, she started to become a little unstable on her feet so I called my vet because I was concerned if she would be okay to go under the anesthesia to have her teeth cleaned. I took her in and they did some blood work on her which came back normal and started her on some antibiotics and then 2 days later she had her teeth cleaned and they also found out that her jaw was fractured so they had to wire that so it would heal. They were monitoring her for a few days after as well because she was still unstable on her feet and she wasn't eating well and she was also starting with high blood pressure. So they put her on a couple different meds and sent her home because they said I could do everything they were doing at home and maybe she would be more comfortable at home. My vet was suspecting that she either had meningitis or vestibular disease. So I took her to an ear specialist and she did have a mild ear infection but the vet said it was unrelated to her not being able to walk properly. So my next step was to see a neurologist. I had to take her into an emergency vet clinic because she was so wobbly on her feet that she had trouble going potty and once when she was trying to pee she fell and I didn't catch her in time and she bumped her head. So currently she is at an emergency vet where she saw a neurologist who wants to do a spinal tap and MRI. He suspects that it is some kind of immune disorder along with an infection and inflammation in the brain that is affecting her walking. He also said it was genetic so I tried to contact the breeder but have had no response yet. Has anyone ever experienced this before with a yorkie. She was completely healthy and fine in the beginning of December and before Christmas this started so I have no idea how she got this. I am going tomorrow to speak with the neurologist because he wants a payment before he does any tests on her. Her bill alone to stay there is a few grand. I am trying my hardest to get her the best of care and get better but I am just looking for some advice and feedback if anyone has saw this before?

kjc · 01-06-2014, 07:36 PM

Sorry you and your little one are going through this. Sounds like you have good vets... I've seen this plan many times for these symptoms, though not on my own dogs. Praying for good results....

ladyjane · 01-06-2014, 07:46 PM

Yes, I have seen issues like this. One thing I would suggest you ask the vets....if they have not done Bile Acid Testing on her perhaps they should before they do the MRI and spinal tap. I met a couple with their yorkie a few months ago in the waiting room of the specialist where I go and they told me a story about their yorkie. She started having neuro type symptoms and their vet sent them to a neurologist who did an MRI and spinal tap...and found nothing. They then did Bile Acid test and they were elevated...further testing revealed a liver shunt. Might be good to rule that out first. If it were a shunt, you would save a lot of money.
I will keep you and your Keesha in my prayers. Hope all goes well. Please keep us updated on her!

Marhcarter · 01-07-2014, 10:50 PM

Mine had very similar symptoms on 3 different occasions over the space of a year. The first 2 times, we immediately went to the vet, labs ok, etc. Vet told me she thinks he had a seizure each time because the symptoms resolved within 12-24 hours each incidence. The 3rd time it happened, though, I was able to directly relate it to his dose of Trifexis. The onset of symptoms was within 12 hours of the dose. I stopped the trifexis and notified the vet we were changing to Sentinal. She still thinks it was a seizure (they have a contract with trifexis-I had to get the Sentinal on-line), but I am a nurse and have never seen any seizure activity. So far, since the change in medication, he has had absolutely no neurological symptoms. (Knock on wood...it has only been 3 months). If he does, I plan to get a BAT and liver shunt testing, but until then, I am hoping it was a reaction to the medication. The point to this long story is, could Keesha's symptoms be related to her heartworm/flea preventative? I know the tiny dogs have more problems with this, and Trifexis users have had some pretty horrific stories. Huey was on it for a couple of years before the symptoms started.
I certainly agree with the liver shunt testing before an MRI or spinal tap.
I am just putting my experience out there as an alternative diagnosis/something that could easily be ruled out. Good luck & let us know how she is doing! Prayers for a quick diagnosis and recovery!

Fergiesgmom · 03-07-2014, 12:42 PM

Going through kind of the same thing right now with Fergie...Today is her 3rd trip to the Vet school and they are thinking she has meningitis...doing a few extra test to check her. Hers started by a slight drag of her back leg and not wanting to jump down from anything, then siezures and neck pain...How is Keesha now?

xFoxyx · 03-07-2014, 01:10 PM

Oh my gosh...hope your little one gets better soon. Sounds like you are on top of things, which is all you can do.

Boy these little ones are so fragile...her jaw broken...poor thing.

crzy4dogsxx21 · 03-07-2014, 07:46 PM

Hi everyone. Sorry I have not been on yorkietalk recently but thanks for everyone caring about my baby. She was diagnosed with necrotizing encephalitis at the end of December 2013. After a lot of vet visits and hospitalizations she is doing better but is not like herself yet before this happened. She was on pred 2x a day for about 2 months and she just had her monthly neurologist appt last week and her neurologist was very happy with her improvements and he decided to start to taper her off the pred. So now she is just getting it once a day. She still seems to be doing good but is a little more shaky again so I am going to have to talk with her neurologist if that is normal. I was a little hesitant to change her meds because I didn't want her to regress and get worse again. But now she walks good on her own and likes to go outside and walk with her harness. She just started to do steps again and she went up about 8 steps on her own which greatly surprised me. She can eat good on her own out of her dish now and goes to the bathroom on her own and doesn't have to be supervised as much as before. She also just started to with one of my other dogs today which she has never done since last year. She is definitely a fighter and is doing good. I still worry about her alot because she is becoming more outgoing and "brave" to try new things like jumping up on my leg and standing on her back legs but I am always worried that she could fall again. I don't know if she will ever get back to her normal self because the encephalitis I think damaged a part of her brain. But I love to hear what others have gone through and what their yorkies were on because my Keesha was only on pred and no other meds so I don't know if any other meds would have helped her. But as of now she continues to improve and do more things on her own.

crzy4dogsxx21 · 03-07-2014, 07:53 PM

Her symptoms started kind of suddenly.She was not acting like her self and was very wobbly and would walk in slight circles favoring her right side and she would occasionally fall over and was having trouble going to the bathroom on her own. Thankfully she never had any seizures which I know is common in encephalitis. But I first took her to my primary vet and they thought that it was probably meningitis but couldn't do any tests. So they started her on some meds and she was not responding well to them at all. So I went and found a neurologist and they were the ones to diagnose her with necrotizing encephalitis. I wish you have good luck in finding out what exactly your yorkie has so you can get them on the right meds.

kjc · 03-08-2014, 01:07 PM

Dr Sisson in Boston is a world renown specialist in this field...

ladyjane · 03-08-2014, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crzy4dogsxx21

Hi everyone. Sorry I have not been on yorkietalk recently but thanks for everyone caring about my baby. She was diagnosed with necrotizing encephalitis at the end of December 2013. After a lot of vet visits and hospitalizations she is doing better but is not like herself yet before this happened. She was on pred 2x a day for about 2 months and she just had her monthly neurologist appt last week and her neurologist was very happy with her improvements and he decided to start to taper her off the pred. So now she is just getting it once a day. She still seems to be doing good but is a little more shaky again so I am going to have to talk with her neurologist if that is normal. I was a little hesitant to change her meds because I didn't want her to regress and get worse again. But now she walks good on her own and likes to go outside and walk with her harness. She just started to do steps again and she went up about 8 steps on her own which greatly surprised me. She can eat good on her own out of her dish now and goes to the bathroom on her own and doesn't have to be supervised as much as before. She also just started to with one of my other dogs today which she has never done since last year. She is definitely a fighter and is doing good. I still worry about her alot because she is becoming more outgoing and "brave" to try new things like jumping up on my leg and standing on her back legs but I am always worried that she could fall again. I don't know if she will ever get back to her normal self because the encephalitis I think damaged a part of her brain. But I love to hear what others have gone through and what their yorkies were on because my Keesha was only on pred and no other meds so I don't know if any other meds would have helped her. But as of now she continues to improve and do more things on her own.

Many of these pups are treated with only prednisone. Each case is different.
Even Dr. Sisson says this...here is a link where he discusses the various meds that can be used.

Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases of the Central Nervous System of Dogs

chestermama · 03-08-2014, 03:53 PM

sending prayers that she continues to get better

01-06-2014, 07:28 PM	#1
crzy4dogsxx21 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Allentown,PA, USA Posts: 34	Need help, advice and prayers for my little baby I have a little 2.5 lb yorkie named Keesha who is going to be 3 next month. She has been going through a lot for the past couple weeks. She first started out by being a little wobbly on her feet and sometimes she would stumble and fall. She was also having some issues with her teeth so I scheduled an appointment to get her teeth cleaned before this all started. About 2 days before her dental, she started to become a little unstable on her feet so I called my vet because I was concerned if she would be okay to go under the anesthesia to have her teeth cleaned. I took her in and they did some blood work on her which came back normal and started her on some antibiotics and then 2 days later she had her teeth cleaned and they also found out that her jaw was fractured so they had to wire that so it would heal. They were monitoring her for a few days after as well because she was still unstable on her feet and she wasn't eating well and she was also starting with high blood pressure. So they put her on a couple different meds and sent her home because they said I could do everything they were doing at home and maybe she would be more comfortable at home. My vet was suspecting that she either had meningitis or vestibular disease. So I took her to an ear specialist and she did have a mild ear infection but the vet said it was unrelated to her not being able to walk properly. So my next step was to see a neurologist. I had to take her into an emergency vet clinic because she was so wobbly on her feet that she had trouble going potty and once when she was trying to pee she fell and I didn't catch her in time and she bumped her head. So currently she is at an emergency vet where she saw a neurologist who wants to do a spinal tap and MRI. He suspects that it is some kind of immune disorder along with an infection and inflammation in the brain that is affecting her walking. He also said it was genetic so I tried to contact the breeder but have had no response yet. Has anyone ever experienced this before with a yorkie. She was completely healthy and fine in the beginning of December and before Christmas this started so I have no idea how she got this. I am going tomorrow to speak with the neurologist because he wants a payment before he does any tests on her. Her bill alone to stay there is a few grand. I am trying my hardest to get her the best of care and get better but I am just looking for some advice and feedback if anyone has saw this before?

01-06-2014, 07:36 PM	#2
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	Sorry you and your little one are going through this. Sounds like you have good vets... I've seen this plan many times for these symptoms, though not on my own dogs. Praying for good results.... __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

01-06-2014, 07:46 PM	#3
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,451	Yes, I have seen issues like this. One thing I would suggest you ask the vets....if they have not done Bile Acid Testing on her perhaps they should before they do the MRI and spinal tap. I met a couple with their yorkie a few months ago in the waiting room of the specialist where I go and they told me a story about their yorkie. She started having neuro type symptoms and their vet sent them to a neurologist who did an MRI and spinal tap...and found nothing. They then did Bile Acid test and they were elevated...further testing revealed a liver shunt. Might be good to rule that out first. If it were a shunt, you would save a lot of money. I will keep you and your Keesha in my prayers. Hope all goes well. Please keep us updated on her! __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

01-07-2014, 10:50 PM	#4
Marhcarter ♡Huey's Human♡ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ringgold, Ga Posts: 3,333	Mine had very similar symptoms on 3 different occasions over the space of a year. The first 2 times, we immediately went to the vet, labs ok, etc. Vet told me she thinks he had a seizure each time because the symptoms resolved within 12-24 hours each incidence. The 3rd time it happened, though, I was able to directly relate it to his dose of Trifexis. The onset of symptoms was within 12 hours of the dose. I stopped the trifexis and notified the vet we were changing to Sentinal. She still thinks it was a seizure (they have a contract with trifexis-I had to get the Sentinal on-line), but I am a nurse and have never seen any seizure activity. So far, since the change in medication, he has had absolutely no neurological symptoms. (Knock on wood...it has only been 3 months). If he does, I plan to get a BAT and liver shunt testing, but until then, I am hoping it was a reaction to the medication. The point to this long story is, could Keesha's symptoms be related to her heartworm/flea preventative? I know the tiny dogs have more problems with this, and Trifexis users have had some pretty horrific stories. Huey was on it for a couple of years before the symptoms started. I certainly agree with the liver shunt testing before an MRI or spinal tap. I am just putting my experience out there as an alternative diagnosis/something that could easily be ruled out. Good luck & let us know how she is doing! Prayers for a quick diagnosis and recovery! __________________ Huey's mom, Marilyn :When a day starts & ends with puppy kisses, I can handle anything that comes in between!

03-07-2014, 01:10 PM	#6
xFoxyx Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 568	Oh my gosh...hope your little one gets better soon. Sounds like you are on top of things, which is all you can do. Boy these little ones are so fragile...her jaw broken...poor thing. __________________ _______________________________________ Proud Mommy to Presley (RIP), Ripley Skye . and Chloe Belle RIP my beautiful boy, Presley. 8/96 to 1/14

03-07-2014, 12:42 PM	#5
Fergiesgmom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Caldwell,Texas, USA Posts: 27	Going through kind of the same thing right now with Fergie...Today is her 3rd trip to the Vet school and they are thinking she has meningitis...doing a few extra test to check her. Hers started by a slight drag of her back leg and not wanting to jump down from anything, then siezures and neck pain...How is Keesha now?

03-07-2014, 07:46 PM	#7
crzy4dogsxx21 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Allentown,PA, USA Posts: 34	Hi everyone. Sorry I have not been on yorkietalk recently but thanks for everyone caring about my baby. She was diagnosed with necrotizing encephalitis at the end of December 2013. After a lot of vet visits and hospitalizations she is doing better but is not like herself yet before this happened. She was on pred 2x a day for about 2 months and she just had her monthly neurologist appt last week and her neurologist was very happy with her improvements and he decided to start to taper her off the pred. So now she is just getting it once a day. She still seems to be doing good but is a little more shaky again so I am going to have to talk with her neurologist if that is normal. I was a little hesitant to change her meds because I didn't want her to regress and get worse again. But now she walks good on her own and likes to go outside and walk with her harness. She just started to do steps again and she went up about 8 steps on her own which greatly surprised me. She can eat good on her own out of her dish now and goes to the bathroom on her own and doesn't have to be supervised as much as before. She also just started to with one of my other dogs today which she has never done since last year. She is definitely a fighter and is doing good. I still worry about her alot because she is becoming more outgoing and "brave" to try new things like jumping up on my leg and standing on her back legs but I am always worried that she could fall again. I don't know if she will ever get back to her normal self because the encephalitis I think damaged a part of her brain. But I love to hear what others have gone through and what their yorkies were on because my Keesha was only on pred and no other meds so I don't know if any other meds would have helped her. But as of now she continues to improve and do more things on her own.

03-07-2014, 07:53 PM	#8
crzy4dogsxx21 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Allentown,PA, USA Posts: 34	Her symptoms started kind of suddenly.She was not acting like her self and was very wobbly and would walk in slight circles favoring her right side and she would occasionally fall over and was having trouble going to the bathroom on her own. Thankfully she never had any seizures which I know is common in encephalitis. But I first took her to my primary vet and they thought that it was probably meningitis but couldn't do any tests. So they started her on some meds and she was not responding well to them at all. So I went and found a neurologist and they were the ones to diagnose her with necrotizing encephalitis. I wish you have good luck in finding out what exactly your yorkie has so you can get them on the right meds.

03-08-2014, 01:07 PM	#9
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	Dr Sisson in Boston is a world renown specialist in this field... __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

03-08-2014, 03:53 PM	#11
chestermama YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: washington Posts: 3,383 Blog Entries: 1	sending prayers that she continues to get better