[Donna Kerr]

Tuesday morning Trooper (6yr 4 months BLM) went for his normal 7 mile romp with Dad. Came home, ate his breakfast and went to bed (Dad works nights so he is never alone). Seemed perfectly fine until he woke Dad at 2:30 crying and holding his back, right foot up. Dad took him to the vet. They did x-rays and told us it was his hips, we were very surprised by this but hey, we will live with it. Gave us some pills, told us some options and told us to have him neutered. He has gone down hill drastically since. He lost total use of his hind legs, we took him to the Animal Referral Center in Appleton where he stayed overnight and has regained some use of his legs. He is VERY depressed and right leg is now swollen, also has a infection in the right eye that showed up on Wed. They ran a barrage of test on him but can not seem to find anything. Ruled out cancer. They did a joint tap and we are waiting for the results for that.

I am thinking of trying to scan in these papers to see if any of the vets on here could see something they are missing...

It just doesn't seem right for a big strong guy like him to go down like this. He is home now and can move around with help but not for long. He ate some chicken today, not much, but he wouldn't eat anything at the hospital. We have to sling him for any movement but he really doesn't want to move.

We have made the decision that if he doesn't make some progress by Monday then he doesn't deserve to feel this way. It is breaking our hearts...

Trooper is a GOOD dog, best I have ever had...Not just as a field dog but he is also our best friend...I can't even put it into words...
I know the power of RTF and am asking for it, humbly, today...not for me but for the Oopster, the beautiful one...please, please say a prayer for him.

 

[Rainmaker]

Donna, Trooper will be in my thoughts, I so hope they find what's wrong and get him some relief, it sounds terrible for all of you.

 

[ErinsEdge]

Have the ruled out FCE? http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_fibrocartilaginous_embolism.html

 

[Gerry Clinchy]

What about tick diseases?

 

[Becky Mills]

Here's hoping and praying for a huge and fast turnaround.
Hang in there!

 

[1st retriever]

Prayers sent! Meningitis comes to mind. Our neighbor's lab went down hill like this out of nowhere. They gave him prednisone and other than facial paralysis on one side and an occasional flare up he is fine.

 

[DogSquaw]

Sorry you are having to experience this, hope they figure out the problem quickly and that Trooper is able to heal. My heart aches for you. Prayers sent.

 

[copterdoc]

Get that dog to another Vet QUICK!

 

[Donna Kerr]

Nancy and Gerry,

That article sounds close and I will forward it to the vet but it still would not be a good outcome...not ever being able to do what Troop loves to do would be a fate worse than death for him... They kept asking us at the hospital if he had been tested for Lymes and we told them we didn't know but he has been vaccinated. I'll call and make sure he was tested. That may be an answer to the swelling and pain, he is on major pain meds right now...

Thanks to you all for your kind thoughts and wishes...we need them.

Donna

 

[Rainmaker]

Is he on any kind of antibiotics? I would have thought a tick disease maybe but figured any vet in WI would rule that out right off the bat when you said they ran a bunch of tests. Lyme vacc won't cover the other tick borne diseases and they can be nasty. Dogs can still get Lyme as well even if vaccinated. I hope it's something treatable and not FCE or anything else to keep him from living a normal life, hope you get some answers soon.

 

[ErinsEdge]

PM Pat F. She had a dog with FCE. Poor guy.

 

[gman0046]

Good thoughts sent your way. Had a similar problem once with the dog in my Avatar when out of nowhere she lost the use of her back legs. The Vet literally had no clue. Fortunately it went away as quickly as it appeared. Get well quick Trooper.

 

[HuntinDawg]

Donna,

It is very admirable that you don't want him to suffer and are so ready to do the right thing for him, but I would caution you to act so quickly, especially with so much question about the diagnosis. I would urge you to try to get a diagnosis that you have confidence in before you make any permanent decisions.

The decision is yours and it isn't anyone's place to say whether it is right or wrong, but I would hate to see you regret not taking a little more time to try to get to the bottom of it. It is a personal thing, but the way I look at it, if the animal suffers with no real hope of recovery, I should end the suffering. On the other hand, if the animal is suffering, but there is hope of recovery then it is potentially worth the suffering to get him healthy again and returned to a reasonable quality of life. If I don't have a diagnosis that I am confident in then I am going to try to make him comfortable and keep him stable until I feel like I can make a more informed decision. That is just me. Nobody can say what is right except you and your husband.

I'm hoping for many more good years for Trooper.

 

[2tall]

Oh Donna, I send my very best wishes. I have no idea what is going on, but I do know how it feels to have to watch your buddy ail. I do so hope there is a good outcome.

 

[Donna Kerr]

Right now he is on -

Neo-Poly-Bac Ophth Ointment, for his eye (please remember that the eye was fine until Wed. and he went down Tuesday)
Amoxoxicillin 875mg ,also for his eye
Gebepentin 2 @ 100 mg for pain and
Tramadol 4 @ 50mg for pain
and Prednisone 10mg for his allergies.

I'm looking through his blood work and I do not see anything that resembles a test for Lyme's...does anyone know what the lettering for that would be? It is to late to call tonight but I will in the morning. He has all the signs...he had a fever yesterday but it was gone today. Why would he have a fever?

 

[jeff t.]

He was seen by specialists at a veterinary referral practice, they ran some tests, then discharged him. Is that correct? I'm surprised they discharged him if he is still in such bad shape. What did they recommend?

Have you considered having him examined at the Vet school?

 

[Guest]

Donna,

Please have them run full scale testing for tick-borne disease asap. I cannot believe they did not do that first thing. It is not just Lyme you are looking for:

http://www.vintagegoldens.com/tick.htm

I am very disappointed to hear of the lack of vet attention Trooper has received so far. Please keep us updated!

Melanie

 

[croppiemstr]

will keep trooper in our thoughts and prayers

 

[ErinsEdge]

You said he got worse after he was discharged. I would take him back to Appleton-they are 24 hour. They know about sending tick panels to North Carolina for a full panel. Appleton will work faster than the vet school. I know this for a fact.

 

[JusticeDog]

Blastomycosis is what also popped into my mind. I know Drs. Schmidt and Vanesi, even though eye vets in your area saved a couple of labs lives by diagnosing it.... so it's in your area.

I'd get that dog down to the University ASAP. You'll spend less $$ and get a better look... and, they provide great care at the vet school. They are also familiar with blasto, cord strokes, tick borne disease due to its high prevalence in Wisconsin...

But, Nancy is right, if Appleton isn't aware of the huge change in Trooper's condition, heading back over there would not be a bad option either.

My prayers for you and Trooper...