Nightmare 3 weeks with Poorly Whippet
Discussion
Thought I would share this tale to raise awareness in case it helps anyone else.
Our Whippet puppy, 7 months, started to become a little quieter than normal on 23rd December. Nothing specific, no vomiting/diarrhoea but not zooming around like her normal self.
By Xmas eve she was off her food but still no specific symptoms. She pooped in the house during the night and by the morning she was really poorly. No energy, refusing to look at food or drink. We called the vet who was great and met us at the surgery immediately.
Ruby was found to have a high temperature and the vet diagnosed collitis. Gave us antibiotics and a gel to bind her up.
She continued to get worse and we had to call the vet again on 30th December. vet did X rays and found her whole colon impacted with poo but no foreign bodies. Gave the poor dog an enema and send her home.
The whole time the dog is getting thinner and thinner, not eating/ drinking. She was very reluctant to move at all, not able to go up/down stairs at all. Temperature still sky high, becoming dehydrated.
Back to the vet who now thinks there may be a partial blockage in the gut not showing on the X Ray. Exploratory surgery revealed nothing abnormal at all.
Vet now out of ideas so offers to refer us to a specialist. Went to Cave veterinary in Wellington. We weren't in there more than 10 minutes when the vet says " I'm 95% sure this dog has meningitis"
Another GA and a spinal tap, revealed inflammation in the CSF (spinal fluid). Its definately meningitis but we are still waiting on blood work to confirm which type.
Ruby now on steroids and improving rapidly
Total vet bill accumulated since 23rd December now just over 3K.
Take home messages
1. If you possibly can, have pet insurance and 2. If your vet seems stumped, ask them if they have considered meningitis. Its not all that common but it DOES happen and peak incidence is in dogs under 2 years.
Our Whippet puppy, 7 months, started to become a little quieter than normal on 23rd December. Nothing specific, no vomiting/diarrhoea but not zooming around like her normal self.
By Xmas eve she was off her food but still no specific symptoms. She pooped in the house during the night and by the morning she was really poorly. No energy, refusing to look at food or drink. We called the vet who was great and met us at the surgery immediately.
Ruby was found to have a high temperature and the vet diagnosed collitis. Gave us antibiotics and a gel to bind her up.
She continued to get worse and we had to call the vet again on 30th December. vet did X rays and found her whole colon impacted with poo but no foreign bodies. Gave the poor dog an enema and send her home.
The whole time the dog is getting thinner and thinner, not eating/ drinking. She was very reluctant to move at all, not able to go up/down stairs at all. Temperature still sky high, becoming dehydrated.
Back to the vet who now thinks there may be a partial blockage in the gut not showing on the X Ray. Exploratory surgery revealed nothing abnormal at all.
Vet now out of ideas so offers to refer us to a specialist. Went to Cave veterinary in Wellington. We weren't in there more than 10 minutes when the vet says " I'm 95% sure this dog has meningitis"
Another GA and a spinal tap, revealed inflammation in the CSF (spinal fluid). Its definately meningitis but we are still waiting on blood work to confirm which type.
Ruby now on steroids and improving rapidly
Total vet bill accumulated since 23rd December now just over 3K.
Take home messages
1. If you possibly can, have pet insurance and 2. If your vet seems stumped, ask them if they have considered meningitis. Its not all that common but it DOES happen and peak incidence is in dogs under 2 years.
What a horrendous time but so glad you got a diagnosis. Not a common condition to discover.
My Jimmy whippet (who I lost in June
) was tested for this amongst other things early in the year. I so so wish it had been positive. At least I could've treated him and hopefully recovered but it wasn't (he had a degenerative nerve condition). This forum was amazing support for me at the time . He stumped the specialists so my vet could not have predicted it what she did do was refer him the next day (his onset was a bit more acute though)
You are right about insurance Jimmy's bill was approx 3,5k by the end. Ins paid. I'd have found the money somewhere though, he was worth every penny and.
I hope the recovery is swift, would love to see some pics
My Jimmy whippet (who I lost in June
) was tested for this amongst other things early in the year. I so so wish it had been positive. At least I could've treated him and hopefully recovered but it wasn't (he had a degenerative nerve condition). This forum was amazing support for me at the time . He stumped the specialists so my vet could not have predicted it what she did do was refer him the next day (his onset was a bit more acute though)You are right about insurance Jimmy's bill was approx 3,5k by the end. Ins paid. I'd have found the money somewhere though, he was worth every penny and.
I hope the recovery is swift, would love to see some pics
Edited by bexVN on Sunday 12th January 22:06
Thanks Bexs.
I did read your posts about Jimmy sometime ago, my heart goes out to you both. Nice to see Bryn has a great home. I will put some nice pictures of Ruby up when I can get her out ie 75% sunshine no rain forecast for the next twelve hrs temperature reasonable you know what i mean.
And will expect some of Bryn too in return.
All the best
Pat.
I did read your posts about Jimmy sometime ago, my heart goes out to you both. Nice to see Bryn has a great home. I will put some nice pictures of Ruby up when I can get her out ie 75% sunshine no rain forecast for the next twelve hrs temperature reasonable you know what i mean.
And will expect some of Bryn too in return.
All the best
Pat.
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riosyd said:
Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery (I never knew dogs could get meningitis).
Your not the first to say that [hence post] how's this for bad luck my sister some 30 plus years ago was diagnosed with it too, one of only a handful of cases a year at the time with the strain she had. Made a full recovery in the end.
Nice to see a happy whippety ending!
We lost our boy whippet Monty over Christmas. Completely heartbreaking. He'd been ill with one thing after another for years, and we've no idea how old he really was. I think he just thought "I've had enough of this" and went on his way. The moment I finished patting down his grave a rainbow formed over our house.
We lost our boy whippet Monty over Christmas. Completely heartbreaking. He'd been ill with one thing after another for years, and we've no idea how old he really was. I think he just thought "I've had enough of this" and went on his way. The moment I finished patting down his grave a rainbow formed over our house.
Yertis said:
Nice to see a happy whippety ending!
We lost our boy whippet Monty over Christmas. Completely heartbreaking. He'd been ill with one thing after another for years, and we've no idea how old he really was. I think he just thought "I've had enough of this" and went on his way. The moment I finished patting down his grave a rainbow formed over our house.
I'm so sorry to read this We lost our boy whippet Monty over Christmas. Completely heartbreaking. He'd been ill with one thing after another for years, and we've no idea how old he really was. I think he just thought "I've had enough of this" and went on his way. The moment I finished patting down his grave a rainbow formed over our house.
. You were so helpful to me when Jimmy was ill, I could never thank you enough. RIP Monty, maybe him and Jimmy will meet at the Rainbow Bridge.
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