Jimmy Whippet is really poorly :(
Discussion
Bex, perhaps you could get Jimmy a present from Alibar Dog Knits to cheer you both up. 
All proceeds to a very worthy cause ... and I cry with laughter at some of the photos of the hounds wearing their hats.
Cheers,
Eric
All proceeds to a very worthy cause ... and I cry with laughter at some of the photos of the hounds wearing their hats.
Cheers,
Eric
Edited by Kiltie on Friday 18th January 21:41
)
On another thread, she wrote (at 17:36 on Monday 21/01/13) ...
I hope the wee fella is ok and Bex isn't too worried or sad.
Cheers,
Eric
bexVN said:
Thank you for asking after Jimmy. Things aren't great. I can't walk him and just 5 mins playing sends him off balance. I've noticed tonight his 3rd eyelid is starting to show up in his L eye. That's not a great sign. s
t scared doesn't quite cover how I feel right now.
t scared doesn't quite cover how I feel right now.I hope the wee fella is ok and Bex isn't too worried or sad.
Cheers,
Eric
Hi thanks for thinking of him.
I wish I had something good to day but no one can seem to put a finger on what it is and believe me they are trying. Both vets ck'd him today and scouring the books. A few possible but no conclusions. The Neuro vet couldn't see anything obvious on the scan.
Jimmy is miserable. He spends most if his days in bed, he did make a play for a toy yesterday but stopped as he lost balance. His ear twitch has worsened and his eye looks a bit worse. He's been started on Gabapentin in case he is getting a neuralgia.
More bloods done (clutching at straws) My boss is genuinely worried esp as she has never had something like this where no answer can be found
At least he still wants his food!
I wish I had something good to day but no one can seem to put a finger on what it is and believe me they are trying. Both vets ck'd him today and scouring the books. A few possible but no conclusions. The Neuro vet couldn't see anything obvious on the scan.
Jimmy is miserable. He spends most if his days in bed, he did make a play for a toy yesterday but stopped as he lost balance. His ear twitch has worsened and his eye looks a bit worse. He's been started on Gabapentin in case he is getting a neuralgia.
More bloods done (clutching at straws) My boss is genuinely worried esp as she has never had something like this where no answer can be found
At least he still wants his food!
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 22 January 20:25
Oh Bex, that must be so hard to see
As Turn says, though, it's a good sign he's still into his grub!
Thinking of you - little Jimmy is a fighter, though, and he's got the best possible care. Couldn't have a better hand to fight this with!
Delayed edit to make the last part make sense! - still thinking of you and Jimmy, Bex.
As Turn says, though, it's a good sign he's still into his grub!
Thinking of you - little Jimmy is a fighter, though, and he's got the best possible care. Couldn't have a better hand to fight this with!
Delayed edit to make the last part make sense! - still thinking of you and Jimmy, Bex.
Edited by Karyn on Thursday 24th January 08:37
AdiT said:
Turn7 said:
Always hope if a dog is eating I reckon.....fingers crossed Bex.
+1 on this. Hope he feels better soon. My friends Whippet can go off his food if the weather changes so still eating has to be a good sign.
sadly these have to stop for a while as he now has diarrhoea. His L eye has worsened since yest and he now seems to be drinking more but balance (or lack of) seems about the same.Really appreciating the support, it does help.
Just a couple of thoughts..
Have they done a CSF tap, may be worth doing even if the MR is normal?
Atlantoaxial subluxation can occur in mature dogs and usually the neck is extended for the MR so it doesn't show - just need a lateral neck with a bit of flexion to rule out.
Sorry if this is all already done.
Have they done a CSF tap, may be worth doing even if the MR is normal?
Atlantoaxial subluxation can occur in mature dogs and usually the neck is extended for the MR so it doesn't show - just need a lateral neck with a bit of flexion to rule out.
Sorry if this is all already done.
fistofsteel said:
Just a couple of thoughts..
Have they done a CSF tap, may be worth doing even if the MR is normal?
Atlantoaxial subluxation can occur in mature dogs and usually the neck is extended for the MR so it doesn't show - just need a lateral neck with a bit of flexion to rule out.
Sorry if this is all already done.
Would he show any discomfort with this condition, in the neck? Would it cause the 'head' signs he's showing.Have they done a CSF tap, may be worth doing even if the MR is normal?
Atlantoaxial subluxation can occur in mature dogs and usually the neck is extended for the MR so it doesn't show - just need a lateral neck with a bit of flexion to rule out.
Sorry if this is all already done.
No tap has been done, what would this cover? (I know meningitis but not really much else) Any input appreciated, I really want to know what's going on
We've even run a complete thyroid profile as this condition can present with neurological changes. I know an answer may be bad news but at the same time I'd hate to miss something that could've been treated and we missed it.
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 24th January 09:55
We always do a tap if the MR is normal, so we don't miss anything, but I have to say I can't remember ever finding anything when the scan was normal. We sometimes do neospora / toxo titres but again as a straw clutching exercise.
AAS will definitely cause ataxia and frequently they are not really painful. It will not cause brain signs however (didn't see any mentioned above) so if you've cranial nerve deficits etc it won't be this. I assume the scan included some C spine to rule out a disc? AAS is a very easy rule out on a slightly flexed lateral, but if suspected do the lateral before the tap as you could pith the dog putting the C spine into full flexion for the tap.
Even if the brain scans look normal it is worth getting a specialist to see them. If I have one with central signs and a 'normal' MR I always send it to Fraser at liverpool, he'll invariably see something I haven't, even if it isn't the cause. You do need decent quality scans though.
I can't recall any weird storage diseases in whippets but I'll have a quick scan in work tomorrow.
Al
AAS will definitely cause ataxia and frequently they are not really painful. It will not cause brain signs however (didn't see any mentioned above) so if you've cranial nerve deficits etc it won't be this. I assume the scan included some C spine to rule out a disc? AAS is a very easy rule out on a slightly flexed lateral, but if suspected do the lateral before the tap as you could pith the dog putting the C spine into full flexion for the tap.
Even if the brain scans look normal it is worth getting a specialist to see them. If I have one with central signs and a 'normal' MR I always send it to Fraser at liverpool, he'll invariably see something I haven't, even if it isn't the cause. You do need decent quality scans though.
I can't recall any weird storage diseases in whippets but I'll have a quick scan in work tomorrow.
Al
Thank you for your reply. They did include all of his spine. The only sl change was sl dehydrated disc and a tiny bit of bulging. However they sent the MRI to Mike Targett (who I may see in a week) and he just felt there was nothing to match Jimmy's symptoms. Shame they didn't do a csf tap at the time.
I did read up re neosporosis etc, so I will bear that in mind. Thank you for your time.
Ironically he had a 2 week course of Antirobe just before all this for a nail bed infection.
I did read up re neosporosis etc, so I will bear that in mind. Thank you for your time.
Ironically he had a 2 week course of Antirobe just before all this for a nail bed infection.
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 24th January 17:18
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 24th January 17:22
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff