Hello, I am having some issues with my Yorkie, Bentley, and would love some advice.
Just a little background, he is 19 months old, and very active/happy dog. In the past few months, we have noticed some issues and have (of course) brought him to his regular vet and also another vet for a second opinion.
His symptoms are:
constant itching - of face, ears, legs, abdomen.
chewing of feet
muscle spasms
light muscle fluttering
oily coat - it becomes oily quite quickly
B had an ear infection about 3 months ago - it was fungal and was given an anti-fungal, which cleared it up. I clean his ears regularly, and they do, once again, seem a little pink.
The itching started when it changed to fall. But has gotten worse lately. This is combined with muscle spasms and twitching.
First vet -- who also sees the breeders other dogs/puppies, so knows the blood line well -- stated that he was having allergies and to change up his food and give him benadryl. The benadryl works for a short time and I switched him from Wellness small breed to a grain-free Orijen. She thought that the spasms were due to gas and stomach issues from the current food, but wanted me to monitor him.
Second vet - she believes that he was having allergies, suggested the same thing, but also left the horrible image of Bentley possibly having a degenerative muscular disorder, which is not curable. And stated that neurological testing must be done - which I am fine with, if it comes to that.
Logically, I shouldn't be obsessing, but Bentley is like my baby and I worry that I have no idea what is going on.
When he sleeps, his muscles twitch a lot - not viciously, but often. The last few days I have noticed that he spasms more when he is most itchy.
. His muscle spasms are in his legs and I have felt and tested his muscles to see if there was pain - which I found nothing, nor did the vet(s). He does have the normal physiological response of tensing up the muscle that we constantly touched. But humans do this as well.
Last night he had a twitch that turned into, what I can only describe, as a donkey kick. He then jumped off of me and kicked his leg out - chewed his paw, and all was fine.
Bentley loves walks (he gets a long walk daily - rain or shine), running, playing - doesn't seem lethargic, at all. He is a very happy Yorkie. He is just itchy and has spasms. His gate also seems fine, though when he is really itchy he will seem a little tense, but once he itches all is fine.
We use a mild oatmeal (professional) shampoo. He has Frontline on and has no fleas - nor do we have them in the house.
I am at a loss and am probably just freaking myself out because of the image that the second vet gave me. Has anyone else experienced this?
I do not wish to use steroid injections.
We would appreciate any advice. I am losing sleep and concerned due to not knowing what is wrong with him. He has another appointment tomorrow, for the first vet, to see if anything has changed.
Thanks,
Melissa and Bentley
