my dog Milo is not doing well.

[Lana Prieto]

Milo has just been diagnosed with encephalitis. I was told he has three to six months to live. Does anyone know anything about this disease? He is three years old. I love him so much.

[kalina82]

i'm sorry milo has encephalitis. its a tough and sad disease to deal with. i wish you guys all the best in his last few months. make them count.

[friesianlady]

I am so sorry to hear about Milo... ..Please spend as much time with him as possible.........I don't know much about encephalitis..

[Rudys Mom]

I feel so bad for you and Milo. Three years isn't near long enough. I'm sorry I don't know anything about that disease. Only God knows for sure how long Milo has and he's the one who creates miracles. I pray that Milo has much, much longer than the Dr. told you.

Rudys Mom (Dawn)

[LuvMySissy]

I am so sorry you will have to deal with this. I don't really know anything about it, just that many pups have lived a long time with it. I hope your vet is wrong and you have much longer with Milo. But, since known of us know how much time we have - please make each day count.

[LunasMomma]

Oh that's just too sad I'm sorry

I sincerely hope that your vet is wrong. Is there no cure?! I know zero about that condition, only that it can be picked up from an infected mosquito's bite,is that correct?

Anyway, prayers on the way for your darling Milo

[sammiz]

Originally Posted by Lana Prieto

Milo has just been diagnosed with encephalitis. I was told he has three to six months to live. Does anyone know anything about this disease? He is three years old. I love him so much.

HYPOGLYCEMIA
Many puppies are lost unnecessarily each year, simply because breeders know too little about hypoglycemia and many veterinarians find it difficult to diagnose. My Vet's opinion is that too few background facts are given to a Vet when the sick puppy is brought in for help. Usually the puppy is comatose the first time a Vet sees him and since he usually responds immediately to intravenous or subcutaneous dextrose injections, the Vet often diagnoses the problem as an acute viral hepatitis or encephalitis, (the reaction is the same in all of these cases).
However, in a young puppy, or a very tiny toy dog, this condition is usually hypoglycemia, brought on by stress or shock in some form. Also, it usually occurs in puppies from 4 to 5 months of age but CAN occur in mature toy breeds when they are subjected to STRESS. The stress usually causing this condition is:

1- Overhandling young puppies and not letting them get enough rest and sleep.
2- A puppy refuses to eat for over a period of 8 hours due to change of home and/or food.
3- Exposure to low room temperatures for a period of time or sleeping in drafts.

The puppy will appear limp and lifeless with the gums and tongue usually grayish blue in color. Often the eyes are unfocused and barely open. They may appear to be slightly sunken in. Temperature will be sub-normal and the puppy will be shivering and trembling in the early stages. As condition worsens, the puppy either goes into a coma or convulsions. Hypoglycemia is a metabolic disorder and death will result, unless properly DIAGNOSED AND CARED FOR IMMEDIATELY, if the case is severe. The level of the blood sugar must be raised at once and the stress condition treated.
My Vet recommends an injection of 5-10 cc of a five percent solution of dextrose with added B-12. He gives this subcutaneously as it provides a longer lasting action and, also, it is almost impossible to locate a vein in a tiny puppy.
With this dextrose or glucose, my Vet also gives an injection for shock and stress. He says that many Vets use a form of cortosteroid for this stress factor. It is produced under many trade names, but your Vet will be sure to have it on hand. When these injections are given in time, the puppy may regain consciousness promptly. If the seizure is bad or not CARED FOR IN TIME, the puppy may REMAIN IN A COMA FOR DAYS. When this happens, you must feed him, keep him warm and quiet and see that he has proper eliminations.
Usually the bowels will move without help, but an older puppy may struggle to be supported erect on his feet for elimination. Check carefully for urination as the pup is in trouble if the kidneys cease to function. Wash genital area with cotton soaked with warm water if the puppy is comatose. If partially mobile, put his feet on a towel at the edge of a wash basin. Support him with one hand and turn the water on in the basin. Hearing the running water usually makes them urinate.
Also, Mix the Glucose Solution shown in "Whelping Supplies" or Mix Honey, Sugar or Corn Syrup with equal amounts of water and feed with syringe 10cc four times a day.
When hypoglycemia is caught in time, there is no reason why a puppy won't come out of it and never have it again if the stress factor is eliminated.
Even if this never occurs to your puppy, or adult, it is important that you know about this to aid your Vet in diagnosing the problem. This usually affects Tiny Toy Breeds and Most of them outgrow this danger by 6 months of age. However, it can happen to a tiny dog even as an adult and careful attention must be paid to the diet of any TINY TOY DOG.

[Monday]

Originally Posted by Lana Prieto

Milo has just been diagnosed with encephalitis. I was told he has three to six months to live. Does anyone know anything about this disease? He is three years old. I love him so much.

Oh No, my heart goes out to you ... Find a good doctor and pray that all that can be done will be done ...
I feel SO sad for you .... my thoughts shall be with you ...

[RoxyJosMom]

I'm sorry you and Milo have to go thru this. Make the next months the best he could ever possibly have. Have you considered a second opinion?