[KimWeatherford]

Hello everyone- I am new to posting, and really need advice to help my sweet 7 year old Little Bit. I would like to say first that I really enjoy reading all the posts and I am sure it helps so many people. Little Bit had intense itching and a skin infection about a month ago and the vet gave us antibiotics, a steroid and some new medicine called apoquel since Bennedryl wasn't helping at all. So after taking all meds for a week or so her skin cleared and itching and paw biting all stopped. That was great!! So we finished all the steroids and antibiotics and continued on apoquel. Then about 2 weeks ago Little Bit started shivering and her belly felt swollen and tight. I had noticed earlier in that week that she would not jump up on couch and would stand and wait to be lifted. The next morning she was walking with her head hung really low, looking up at me but not lifting her head and she was swollen from the back of her neck down her back and her belly was tight and swollen. She would take 2 steps forward and then 2 backwards. Very odd. When I hold her she can't get comfortable and is breathing hard. The weird thing is it lasted about 45 minutes and then she seemed OK. How can all that swelling just disappear? Well I have been to her regular vet twice who put her on muscle relaxers and prednisone. I took her off of apoquel incase it may have been causing all this. She took xrays because bloodwork was fine and she thought it was back or neck related. Could not tell on xrays. Have since been to a new vet twice because now in addition to all the other symptoms when these episodes happen she looses her balance and falls over. The episodes last an hour to an hour and a half. When they happen I hold her and she looks at me like she's thinking, 'mom please help me!" I seriously thought this morning she wasnt going to make it. She is wheezing and just struggling. The vet did more blood work today and said everything was in the normal range. He took her off of prednisone and muscle relaxers.They gave her fluid in the office for dehydration and a shot for nausea. Also gave her Sucraifate to coat stomach and told me to get pepcid for her. She has not had any vomiting or diarrhea at all. She is not as regular as normal but she has solid bm's every other day or so. I am so scared of losing my best friend. If anyone has had any experience with these symptoms I would love to hear from you. Sorry post is so long!!!