My 7 year oldish (got her from a shelter) beagle/shep mix (size of a shepherd, looks like a beagle - a beagle on steroids) is not doing well. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I have been to a doggy neurologist who, unless I pay him $2700 <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> for x-rays under anesthesia, a spinal tap, mylogram (sp?), and cat scan, is only able to tell me it is one 4 possible things:

1) ruptured disk
2) tumor pressing on the spinal column
3) tumor inside the spinal column or
4) inflamation in the spinal fluid (e.g., meningitis)

Her blood panel was all within normal limits except something liver-related which was elevated to 230-something. Both the neurologist and my regular vet said elevated level was nothing to worry about unless it persists for a few more weeks.

He prescribed a steroid, antibiotic and pain killer. How long does it take for these things to begin to work. The pain killer is giving her some relief, but she's had 3 doses and is still really out of it. She's not shaking anymore and only whimpers when standing up after being confined/laying down. But she is not well. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

So....I am now $800 lighter, my poor puppy is still miserable, and I don't know what to do....Any thoughts?

BB and Trixie

i'm not a vet but i am a dog lover!!

i would try to be patient and give the steriods and antibiotics time to work

when the doctor discovered that i was a step carrier (it was always in my blood-dormant and when i got run down, it built up and i got the symptoms) he had me take antibiotics and steriods for 10 days and when i still had the symptoms he had me take them for another 10 day cycle...it seemed to do the trick

although it's hard to see someone you love hurting-i think that with the pain killer helping your dog to feel better...you can afford to give it some time

ps
lemonman is a doctor, not a vet, but i'd bet he can give some advice!

I have had dogs all my life. No vet, but plenty of experiences, plenty of dogs, plenty of physicians in my family. Immediate family.

I am assuming that your dog has elevated liver enzymes.

You don't really say what your dog's symptoms are. My dog had leptospirosis; she had elevated liver enzymes. Before going through the expense and anaesthesia(which is life-threatening, make no mistake about it) of a spinal tap and x-rays, I would definitely make sure that the vet has tested specifically for Lyme disease and lepto. Has he/she done that? A general blood workup does not cover those diseases. Basically, the elevated liver enzymes are a concern, and I would not dismiss it for "a few more weeks", while you go broke ordering tests.

I could go on, but I don't want to sound like a curmedgeon.

Thanks Penaltykill,

It started 7-10 days ago. She became more and more withdrawn/quiet and seemed as if she were moping around. On Monday, I came home from work and she was whimpering and did not want to come downstairs (my living area is upstairs, downstairs is for entertaining) or go back up after going potty. She was also shaking furiously. Took her to our regular vet. He suspected viral meningitis, which is why he sent me to the neurologist. Both regular vet and neurologist say pain is very clearly in her neck and she is holding it down and guarding it. Pain seems to radiate down into her left front leg. Symptoms are worse after she has been laying in one place for a long period of time (i.e., at night while household is sleeping or during day while I am at work). While ticks are common in our area, my two dogs are primarily house dogs and only go out in my back yard. No signs of ticks and she was recently given a "buzz" cut to help cut back on shedding, so they would have been noticeable.

Neither doc was concerned about the elevated liver enzymes. Said it could have been the body's reaction to pain. They want to check it again next week when I take her to my regular vet (whom I am quite please with overall - he is very knowledgeable and caring. Texas A&M vet school.)

Disk problems in the neck are very common in beagles, which is why the neurologist suspects a ruptured disk. She now has a good dose of pain killers in her and she is pretty content. Even followed me downstairs even though I instructed to stay "up up." She is now laying here at my feet and has not been shaking. I guess that's a start.

Tomorrow, when she goes down for breakfast and to go potty, I am going to confine her downstairs. Tonight I bought her and her sister (not really her sister, but you know what I mean) a bed to soften it a bit for her as my downstairs is tiled and it is a bit cold here.

Thanks for caring and giving me some more to think about!

BB

BB, my H is not a vet but worked for many years as a vet tech. He said it sounds structural so it could be the ruptured disk. What area do you live in?

I am in North Houston - about an hour from Texas A&M.

I asked because he said if it is cold then that can irritate or activate arthritic symptoms as well. Hope your baby is feeling better.

BB,

Glad your dog is feeling better.

Regarding ticks, the worst ones are the ones you don't see. The nymphs are really small. But I digress.

Has she had a urinalysis done? That's how they found lepto in my dog, who was also shaking and incredibly stiff and lame and sensitive to touch after being in her crate.

How's your dog's appetite? Temperature?

They have not done a urinalysis. Vet wants to wait until next Wednesday to give time for meds to work. Her appetite is same as always - as in always wants to eat!!! LOL. She had a temp at the vets on Monday night (102, normal for dogs is 101-102), but by the time I went to the neurologist on Tuesday it was normal.

She woke me at 3 whimpering, but nearly as bad as she was whimpering Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I gave her her meds an hour early. Last night I went and bought both dogs nice cushy dog beds/pillows. She really seems to like it.

Thank you for caring,

BB

Well, antibiotic treatment varies depending on what disease you are trying to eradicate (I'm sure you know this) and I have to say that whether it's my kid or my dog, I'm not crazy about throwing broad spectrum antibiotics at things and hoping I get lucky. Better to know exactly what you're dealing with and the specific antibiotic needed. And let's face it; a urinalysis is a heck of a lot less expensive and invasive than the tests you are being told to do. But now that the antibiotics are in there....

And painkillers only mask the problem.

BB, good luck. You sound like a good, caring pet owner.

The big girl is doing better this morning. Only cried when she got up from sleeping all night and it was only 2 little whimpers. She seems happier. She is eating well, drinking lots of water (vet said the steroids would cause this) and going to the bathroom regularly. I called my regular vet to ask how long it takes for the steroids to really have an effect and he said up to 5 days - we are only mid-way through day 2 (I first gave her her meds Tuesday evening). Time will tell.

Many thanks, all.

BB