my dog is in hospital

[bernhund]

Tuesday, Madge my 11 year old Bully went to bed as normal. Wednesday morning she steps out but doesn't eat (unheard of!), by Wednesday evening she can't get out of bed to go out. She yelped when I try to move her. She's now in hospital, had blood tests and ultra scan. Vets can't find anything but she's now on a drip & antibiotics. There's no improvement, possibly even worse. Costs to the weekend £1200!(got Petplan, but they're bound to wriggle) Vets now talking about sending her to a special place near Potters Bar and/or euthanisation. What do we do? Any suggestions what could be wrong that the vet wouldn't find easily? Bullies are good for 12 years average. Bernard, my other one just missed his 14th though this year.

[bernhund]

Latest update from the vet today. They've found a tender spot on her neck and think it may be meningitis, but need to carry out more tests. Madge managed a pee today so they've got a sample. We'll see what comes back later.
The specialist isn't so easy for us to get to, but if we have to, then we will.

[bernhund]

bexVN said:

If they suspect meningitis they may want to do a csf tap which is usually a referral job Jimmy was checked for that, however they may just treat on suspicion which I think is with I/v antibiotics. Metronidazole comes to mind but I may be wrong. It'd it would be good of they do that asap.

Really hope they have the answer for her

Thank you. She is on iv antibiotics, so they got onto that one quickly. She also has a temperature. It is looking like meningitis, but I think we're going to have to wait to see what comes back from the urine tests I suppose.
i'll post again when we hear next. Cheers.

[bernhund]

Today is Madge's last. There have been tears here this morning but we've had to make the decision. Vets can't diagnose what's wrong with her, though they've taken x-rays, urine and blood samples. They know Madge is in pain and discomfort even though she's dosed right up. I can't see that sending her to Potters Bar will make any difference, I would expect they might tell us that euthanisation will be best. That just means we've made her even more uncomfortable and stressed for the same end result.
So today I either sit with her while she slips away or I say goodbye while she watches me go. Either way, today is going to be very very bad.

[bernhund]

telecat said:

We are talking an English Bulldog here? If so have you put an SOS in at Bulldog rescue on Facebook? They may have somebody whose Bulldog had the same problem.

English Bull Terrier. We contacted the breeder who knows these dogs inside out, but she didn't have any answers either.



Thank you for your support people. I'd better get over to see her now.

[bernhund]

Gonna be a very strange house this Christmas as we lost our other Bully too (old age) just a couple of months back!

[bernhund]

It's done. I waited in a room on my own while they went to get her. Five minutes later I could hear whimpering heading my way & my eyes started to well. They settled her on a towel on the floor & I held her head while the drug was administered. The whimpering got softer & her head heavier. Then that was it..gone.
I hope this keyboard is waterproof ffs!
I'll be facing my teenage daughter in the next 15 minutes & I doubt I'll even get any words out.

Thanks for your kind words people.

[bernhund]

She's not sat here patiently waiting for the tiniest morsel of my toast this morning. The tiniest things really get to you!

[bernhund]

AB said:

Absolutely.

The thing I missed the most was coming through the front door to nothing... no waggy tail, or her sleepily waking up at the top of the stairs.

Chin up mate, she's better off now, suffering is over etc. I hope your daughter is OK.

Yes, all the above. You even miss the annnoying things too!
What's really haunting me is that we never knew what the problem was & I keep thinking that maybe is wasn't critical and I had her life ended.