Remy's journey with encephalitis
 

hello

I wanted to share Remy's progress with encephalitis to date. I know I have learned a lot just reading post and I want to share my experiences so they may help another. It has take me awhile until I felt I could write the story ... it hasn't ended and I am very hopeful for a happy ending.:)

I am a teacher and the last weeks of school I was very focused on just finishing the year. There is no tired like the end of the year teacher tired....
it had been a challenging year -- my dh lost two brothers and we lost our oldest dog, Sam, to Kidney failure (he was 12 so we did a good fight for several years). I did notice Remy was walking "funny" and would not go up and down the stairs. I honestly thought it was LP. My dh took her to the vet on my last work day and when I got home I was told the diagnoses.

Our vet said Remy was completely blind and had a brain tumor.
I lost it... I cried for three days. I could hardly function... just cry.

I researched and researched and found there were some other possibilities. I made an appointment with Southeast Veterinary Neurology Michael A. Wong, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology). He had treated my shih tuz for back damage a few years past.

I was given hope-- so we did a MRI and spinal tap. It was very very expensive and No I could not afford it... but I made it happen.

Diagnosis was vestibular disease and blind due to encephalitis. Dr. Wong said 40% of dogs do very very well with treatment, 40% do well but have relapses and ups and downs, 20% do not do well.

Remy had a encephalitis that is auto immune ... she was blind, had a head title, her eyes flickered and she could not control her hind legs and walked to the left.

she started treatment

High does of Prednisone -- the dosages will be reduced in time and her symptoms improve. She is always hungry and has gained close to 2 lbs.

Cytarabine -- it suppresses her immune system. She has to take two shots (one a day for two days in a row) every three weeks for 4 times.. then every 4 weeks for 4 times so on and so forth. Hopefull she will improve enough that after 6 rounds she can stop. We have to do a cbc after each time to check on her health.

At this point she is doing very well -- she has recovered most of her vision. I think she ins 90% blind in one eye but the other is doing well.

She walks well, plays and is very happy. I am sure the loss of vision in the one eye doesn't really bother her too much. She runs up and down the stairs and plays with her brothers. I am blessed!!! I do worry about the weight gain and don't free feed her anymore. I feel bad because when I though she was gong to die I let her eat stuff off my dinner plate.. I though if it made her happy why not??? Not anymore... I am hoping to keep my baby for many more year.

At this time she is on the third week of the first round of Cytarabine-- she improves each check up. We still have a long way to go but I have lots of hope.

Shinja just saw this now. I am so sorry, but happy to hear she appears to be improving. I have no words of wisdom, but lots of hugs for you n your gal.

Bless the Lord!!! All is possible with His Help....thank God you ended up with the expertise and the vets you are with now....Thank God your little girl is doing so well with the treatment you made happen regardless of what it cost you.....I am so thrilled for you and your little girl, I could just cry!!! I will add you to my prayer list, praying for additional strength and wisdom and courage for you, as well as your baby girl!!!

Shinja i am so sorry for all you are going through, but so happy that Remy continues to get better...hugs to you both

Thank you. I wanted to share because encephalitis is a horrible and I wanted to give hope to others if their pup has it. I also wanted to list the symptoms and the treatments....

Thank you. Yes I am blessed that I have hope to have my girl for her normal life span. I was lucky that such an amazing doctor with his training and abilities was not too far. He is the same neurologist we took Bailey to about 4 years past with his back.... It makes you think I had to go through Bailey's illness (which turned out fine and simple to treat) to know Dr. Wong in my time of more serious need with Remy

Thank you. I think we ALL have our Trials that we go through. Mine is not easier or harder then others.... I am lucky to have a place to vent.

Yes, thank God he gives us hope by way of knowledge. My little Titan had GME was treated in the same way. GME is an autoimmune disease too, it was found in his brain. Basically his brain was deteriorating. Hardest & most expensive experience ever. He did live a good life for 2 years. He died one week after his 7th birthday. Prayers for your little one to have a much longer life with this horrible disease.

thank you-- I read a lot of your posts and that is what gave me the courage to try to save Remy and not give up

Thank God for you too. We try our very best for these bundles of fur joy. Yes, the MRI's spinal tap all the blood work countless trips to Vets. & teaching hospitals, (U.T.) was most painful on our pocket book. But, God forbid, we would do it again. So very happy your baby is getting back to normal. It was the hardest thing to live through for me. Just make everyday count & spoil, spoil, & spoil.
Please keep me updated.

Shinja, I am so sorry Remy is going through this but it does sound extra, extra hopeful. I'm glad you are such a wonderful pet mom. Hugs and prayers for continued good news.

Oh yes ... spoil that we do:)
I have a sort of sad story. When the vet first told us she had a brain tumor that night Remy was "begging" as I was eating a snack sitting on the sofa. I feed her some food off my plate....I thought she may pass and I was going to giver her every thing she wanted until then. When Dr. Wong said she may recover I wouldn't feed her my food anymore... she didn't understand :cool:

Thank you LIsa. I know you are an amazing pet mom too :kiss:

Shinja, I'm so sorry to read this about sweet Remy, I do understand how terrifying it is to get such serious news on our babies. She is making amazing progress and back to being a happy girl. She is blessed to have you as her mama. Praying for Remy and you. Bless you both.

Shinja, I am very happy to hear that Remy is making progress and improving. I'm so glad that you have a good neurologist. You have been through so much and I can't even begin to imagine the emotional rollercoaster.

Keeping Remy and you in my thoughts and prayers for continued good news.

thanks... I think a lot of us have stories and rollercoasters rides... often not fun but part of life. I feel I have been lucky that for the most part I land on my feet.

I wanted to tell my story with Remy because reading post on here and other places is what gave me the hope to fight for Remy. I hope her story will possibly help another person. The moral.... do what you feel is best and always accept that you have done all you can.

Just checking in to see how you both are doing. I am thinking of you and sending healing thoughts your way.

thank you Gemy. She is doing well.... just getting a bit fat from the prednisone. I do not think she will ever recover site in one of her eyes but otherwise she is just fat and sassy for now. It is early in treatment so she may even show improvement.

Yes, I believe she will show even more improvement as the meds stabilize in her system. Don't worry about the weight gain that too will stabilize. From my experience with Titan, weight gain was the least of my worries.
Titan never lost his eye site, but there were other issues cropping up all the time, which were manageable.
Thinking of you often.

Indeed it will! That is how YT works .. the sharing and caring. Thank you, Shinja, for sharing Remy's story. As Kristin said, you have really had so much on your plate.

Remy is lucky to be so loved. It is indeed a huge sacrifice to pay for such expensive diagnostics on a pet. I am SO glad she is responding well to the treatment! :)

Hi all

Just a quick update... Remy isn't doing very well. I am not sure if the problem is the treatment, the encephalitis or something else. My dh took her to the last check up yesterday but did not get any answers.....

I am on the way to our general vet .. send prayers it is something simple. I am a bit scared

Oh no...prayers coming your way Shinja. I hope she is ok....

I pray it is a quick and easy fix. Maybe medicine needs tweeted. How was she not doing well? Prayers are with her & you. Please let us know.
Sharon

well...it seams Remy has a pulled muscle. It may be from when I picked her up. I put my thumbs under / behind her front legs, she is a bit chubby and I may have hurt her. This after x rays and blood work.

The odd part is the prednisone she is taking may have "masked" the pain until a couple of days past when the dosage was reduced. The vets do not want to increase again nor give her any additional pain med because she is receiving so much meds and her liver could be damaged. She is on crate rest and being pampered even more then before.

I do see her pain, I think it also may be reaction to the chemo drugs.

I am so glad it seam not to be from the encephalitis. What a roller coaster!!!

Thank you so much for the texts and concern... I know the prayers and Positive energy is what gets us through this. I don't know what I would do without some of you guys!.

Poor Remy! Glad to hear that it isn't something more serious. Remy and you remain in my thoughts and prayers.

My boys have both pulled muscles in their neck and shoulder region. I understand how scary that can be, especially on top of all of your other concerns. Very gentle massage helped my boys recover. The massage increases the blood flow to the region to aid recovery.

Sending gentle hugs to your sweet girl.

thank you.... I will try massage. I am sure she will enjoy the loving at the very least.

I'm sorry Remy is in pain but so glad to hear it wasn't something much more serious. I'm so glad you could get the extra testing done when Remy first got sick and that she's doing better! You two have been through a lot lately. It is heart wrenching when they are so sick. Make sure you take care of yourself while you're taking care of her:)

So glad all is well with Remy. Light massage is a great idea...you could also try a heating pad on low.

thanks guys... I hate to say it but it has to be more then a pulled muscle. The vet did say maybe a pinched nerve? Anyway my gut is saying more, I am taking her to the neurologist tomorrow, I would do ER but I don't think that would do any better then our regular vet.
Please pray for Remy

What makes you doubt a sore or pulled muscle
Now, I'm worried.