What a relief!

So they suspect idiopathic epilepsy? That's what Lady has had for ten years. It is generally very manageable with seizure medication.

So glad you received good news! Now you can kick back and really enjoy just hanging out with him! yaaaaaaaaaaay!

they said they found nothing abnormal in the spinal tap, but I suppose they want to do it again to be sure.

No diagnosis yet. I think we can deal with epilepsy.

Oh. They can only do certain tests on site... the lab has other equipment that they can run other tests on it. Have to look it up to get the specifics.

I had to read that twice too. :D

No more research...I just called because now I'm confused and they said the Doctor will call me in 1/2 hour to discuss all the results.

Made total sense to me... I had to read it twice or thrice to figure out what you all were talking about!

Maybe a regional thing?

Or a Cooper thing! :D

All I can say is, Thank God! :)

Oh don't be upset... they can look for bacterias and junk (malformed cells: like in GME) in the CSF under a microscope as soon as they draw it. They need to send it to a lab to do specific toxicity studies and fungal or growth type studies on it; the labs have all the equipment to do these things.

Sorry my brain is not all here with me...

Karen i am so proud for all the good news that you have got today, praying that it just keeps coming, you are a real trooper with true devotion to your baby
big hugs to you Cooper & Max

This is fantastic news! I was afraid to check the thread but I'm glad I did :)

Yep - you could be like me - some normal dogs, and one that bobbles! Teddy bobbles all the time, we think his are "intention tremors."

it's ok. i don't understand 1/2 the stuff you say to me anyway.

Spoke with the doctor. She said they do see a very mild change in part of the brain due to the focal seizures but there is no obvious reason why.

Checked for lead - came back normal.

She believes it is either idiopathic head bobbing or focal seizures and wants to start him on epileptic medication.

Somehow distemper is NOT ruled out. They are sending blood work and she said it could possibly be residual distemper ??? She told me not to worry too much because she really doesn't think it is.

She is NOT convinced that it is not Sentinel. She does not think it is, but is not convinced it is not. He is not going to have Sentinel again.

Gee, now I'm afraid of distemper.

However, she said these are the best possible test results I could have.

Bless yr Hearts......both you & Max, what you have gone through. This is great news! What a wonderful new Mommie you have been to Max. HUGS!!

Yes,Yes,Yes,

Karen, Don't let them do a 2nd spinal tap too soon after the first, wait atleast 2 weeks in between taps. My little Brooke was diagnosed with GME at UC Davis in California and they tapped her a few days after the 1st tap and they herniated or sucked out part of her brain. They caused permanent damage from it and she was twisted into a C position and couldn't walk, sit up or raise her head. Luckily, with acupuncture and chinese medicine she is now walking and running and happy. Just be careful with those taps, his brain is still swollen from the first one. Take care.

I'm sorry that happened to Brooke. I was confused about the spinal tap. They did it once and they are only doing it once and it came back normal.

It's maddening when you don't get a definite diagnosis. Sorry to hear you didn't get anything definite, but at least some things are ruled out.

I was curious if the vet wants to start him on epileptic medication right away. Since they haven't ruled out the Sentinel, would they not want to give his system a chance to recover on the chance it was that? If he's on the meds, there's no way of telling if it's the meds or just his system recovering.

I'm not trying to play vet, just worried for Max. I would be very concerned about giving meds to a young pup such as him as his organs haven't fully developed. Have they mentioned the drug they want to put him on so you can look it up? With an indefinite diagnosis, it seems that he's being treated syptomatically. Are the episodes debilitating enough to warrant putting him on this at this time?

Though this isn't the same thing, I once got a pup that had kennel cough. The vet treated her with the mildest antibiotics possible as she was afraid to give stronger meds to a young pup. Max is still not 3 months old yet and I have to think the same logic would apply.

I would hope that you would at bring this up with your vet before starting Max on any drug regimen. Best to both of you as you sort this out.

Still praying and following... I hope you find out what caused all these troubles for poor Max.

Feel better little Max...

Hopefully it's the half I'm right about!:D


Woogie Man:
I'm thinking with the frequency of these seizures they may be thinking it more important to get them under control, as seizures can cause more problems. Hopefully they can give him something that won't affect his growth.

My daughters Cavalier King Charles male has focal seizures. He's head bobbles like he is watching something flying and then he snaps at it. He is three years old now and has been doing this since he was a little puppy. Her vet didn't put him on any medication and he is doing fine. He is a happy, healthy beautiful little guy.

Well, I'll be the first to admit this is beyond my experience. I do know that there are risks with some meds and young pups. The same is true with humans. There are many things that can't be given to babies that adults can take. I just wanted to bring it up so the OP could be aware of the potential for risks and maybe discuss this with Max's doc.

I totally agree with you! There are very important questions that need to be answered. We all owe it to ourselves when we see our human doctors to ask for and receive full and understandable explanations....and we also owe it to our pups to receive the same from their doctors!

Karen, my suggestion is to take some notes about what Woogie Man said and have them in front of you when you speak with the vet!

I would want to know the risk of the meds, versus the risk of the seizures. Do they indeed think there is a risk with these seizures if he is not medicated? What are the meds and what can they do to a developing puppy? And, IF it is due to the Sentinel, do they think it is possible it will dissipate; and how will they measure that if he is medicated.

Always ask questions like this...and if they talk over your head, let them know that you do not understand. Make them tell you in lay terms! That is something I learned as a nurse....you always speak to someone in a language that they understand. Not everyone has medical knowledge.

I'm sorry you are going through this. I can't tell you what to do, I can only tell you what I would do. Personally, as wrong as it is that she won't help you I would not allow the little guy to die. I would do whatever necessary to fix him and I can tell you that he will give you ten fold back. They know when you help and save them. I have five rescues, and each had a sad story, each cost me money, and I'd do it all over again. What I would say to you though is that I would keep all the vet bills and take the SOB to court. I have a link to a website called caps. It is consumer's against pet shop abuse. Libby gives good advice, she not only goes after pet shops but also after bad breeders. She can give them a lot of bad press and help lead you in the righ direction. There are also places that may be able to help you with the cost for the liver shunt surgery or if you simply do not want the responsiblity (not judging you) I hope you'll consider just then turning him over to a reputable rescue that will pay the cost to get him well and in turn place him in another home. By returning him to the breeder, you'll seal his fate. She won't try to fix him, she'll resell him to someone else or just simple let him die. I'm not trying to guilt you, just trying to give you the facts. If I can help you in any way, with info etc. please feel free to pm me. and I'm sorry you are going through this. Elaine

I will ask all questions tomorrow morning when I pick him up.

That is AWESOME! I'm sure it's frustrating not to have a definite answer or diagnosis, but I am so thankful. Yay, Max!

I think you are being very level headed---get the tests done with out blaming or throwing mud at the breeder. Things happen---even when we do our best---send test results to the breeder 'IF" the problem is found to be from her side---and may be it could be the sentinel--which you gave thinking it was for the best for the little guy ! You were doing your best also. My OPINION is place no blame till the problem is pin pointed---then discuss it privately between you and the breeder. I know I would REQUIRE Vet reports and want my Vet to review Vet reports before I made any refund OF ANY amount of the purchase price ! BUT if the problem was with MY breeding I'd refund the whole purchase price and allow her the choice to keep the puppy or return him (I would require the AKC paper returned--to make sure he was NEVER BRED!) But people this Vet bill could run wayyyy up ! Way more than the breeder ever thought of charging for the puppy--if the new owner does NOT want to return it then I think they are responsible for the bills ! JUST MY OPINION !!!

That is AMAZING news!!!!

Wow!!!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Glad to hear that Max will be back home with you tomorrow. We are still praying for you and Max. Thanks for giving us the updates on him. :heart to