Thanks everyone for being so concerned! It is heart breaking to watch this. I took her to the first vet and she said she had cerebrial vestubilar desease. I took her to the second vet who I have had for 30 yrs (he wasn't in when this first happened) He did take all kinds of blood tests--to the tune of $220.00. Everything there was fine. Liver, etc. Then he put her on prednizone which made her way worse. He didn't understand that, but she was banging her head and couldn't sleep for it. I was uop with her for two weeks straight just holding her body and rocking her. The aspirin has helped her the most, but I sure hate to keep her on it the rest of her life. The Dr. had me wean her off to one twice a week, but the symptoms returned so he put her back on 1/4 baby aspirin every day. Her legs are weak, she sleeps a lot, is really disoriented when she wakes up. Circles and when she gets excited she spins until she falls down. She will stare at things forever. Just stand there and look at it. Her legs in the back will cross one over the other, or one straight out behind her. I have to take her up and down the stairs to go potty, etc. He did mention a neurolgist 240 miles away, but doesn't think she would survive the anesthesia to under go the MRI! Also said there is a big possibility that it wouldn't show anything anyway. So, I am beside myself. Some times she will run to the fence--back legs like a rabbit.
Thank you hHa for contacting that Dr. for me! I truly appreciate it. The next time I talk to the Dr. I will mention liver shunt. Although I think he mentioned liver, and the blood work came back good. The only thing was something in the (I believe it was the Bun--urine) but said it was because she was so disoriented she wasn't drinking. She is no longer slamming her head, but is definently not good. He seems to just think to go with the aspirin and see how it progresses. I am beside myself. She certainly is not the same dog. kShe is not drinking enough either. Sometimes she goes to her bowl and stands there looking at it as if she doesn't know what it is. I am been giving her watermelon and other melons to get some fluid.
Thank you everyone! I will keep you informed as to this horrible thing that has happened to her!
Pat |