Hi,
I have never posted anything on a forum before, but we have recently been involved in a situation that has caused me to reach in any area for some kind of help or that may trigger a similar symptom experience in someone. We currently have a 3 yr old little pug/wire russell terrier mix that is (was) a very healthy, active dog...long story somewhat short...

About a month ago (April 30), we noticed a limp in our young dog's hind left leg. After seeing a Veterinarian twice for possibility of pulled muscle or bone/acl damage, everything came back negative. 2 weeks went by, and our little dog became lifeless overnight, and the limp got even worse. Along with these symptoms, we noticed that the lymph node in her hind left leg began to grow. After many visits to the Veterinarian, and a virtually lifeless, shaking dog, they tested for lymphoma...negative. She was put on pain killers and anti-inflammatories. 5 days ago, bloody noses began to the point that her blood was not clotting and she had to get a platelet transfusion to get her blood to clot. We have been to the Veterinarian, an emergency room Veterinarian, an internal specialist, and nobody is sure of any diagnosis. We have heard anything from RAT POISON, SLIPPED DISC, TICK-DISEASES, CANCER, ETC. They are beginning to think less cancer but possibly some kind of poison or very bad bacteria that she may have contracted, but we have no idea how or at this point what. She would frequently visit a dog park in the city where she could have possibly eaten something but at this point we and the doctors can't figure it out.

She is deteriorating very quickly but is fighting. An ultrasound came back to prove that there were no tumors over her body, but they can't operate until the blood is for sure clotting on it's own, at which point they will look at the swollen lymph node and see what's going on.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS OR CAN SHARE ANY ADVICE FROM SIMILAR SYMPTOMS IT WOULD BE GREAT. HER SYMPTOMS AT THIS POINT DON'T SEEM TO BE MUCH PAIN, BUT REALLY NO MOVEMENT UNLESS FORCED, SHAKES, BLOODY NOSES, AND IS GRADUALLY LOSING HER APPETITE AND VOMITING. PRETTY MUCH LIFELESS, BUT NO VALID REASON FOR BEING SO.

ANY SUGGESTIONS TO ANY BACTERIAS/INFECTIONS/OR OTHER FORMS OF TREATMENT OR DIRECTION WE SHOULD LOOK FOR WOULD BE GREAT AS WE ARE AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO HELP OUR LITTLE BUDDY FIGHT AS SHE IS VERY YOUNG AND WANTS TO GO FOR JOGS ON THE LAKE AGAIN.

Thank you very much.

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear about your puppy, that has to be so frightening, and to not know why... I've never experienced anything like this, so I'm afraid to tell you that I can't help. But I really hope your baby is okay and I'll ask a vet friend of mine if they have seen anything like this. So sorry though, really. Keep us posted on how she's doing.

[Lara's mom]

There is a member here called I believe, VetGroomer (or something close). From the posts of hers that I've had a chance to read, she seems very knowledgeable. You may want to consider asking her. I so hope that your baby recovers.

[CorkyMax]

Just trying to catch you for you leave the forum! Sent you an email !

[chevy & karen]

I'm so very sorry this is happening to your pup and his family.. I have emailed you a link with information that will hopefully help..
Many Prayer's to your pup and family and please keep us updated, there may be someone who see's your post that has experienced this also and can help further......

this is terrible post. get better little buddy.

may the vets figure this out very very soon. this is frightening.

I have been in a similar situation but with my son. so I know how you feel about not knowing the cause of this problem. my son saw 7 orthopedic doctors, 3 neurologists which one thinks she knew what was wrong but the genetic counselor said no way. so we never did figure it out. he is fine now. so just a mystery.

hold in there. there are answers out there somewhere. please keep us posted. prayers sent your way.

[DoggieVogue]

I am so very sorry for you and your pup. I hope with all my heart she gets better soon. That has got to be the most frightening thing I can think of when it comes to pets. I wish I had more knowledge, but I don't. I just wanted to tell you that your pup is in my prayers.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by kbo888

Hi,
I have never posted anything on a forum before, but we have recently been involved in a situation that has caused me to reach in any area for some kind of help or that may trigger a similar symptom experience in someone. We currently have a 3 yr old little pug/wire russell terrier mix that is (was) a very healthy, active dog...long story somewhat short...

About a month ago (April 30), we noticed a limp in our young dog's hind left leg. After seeing a Veterinarian twice for possibility of pulled muscle or bone/acl damage, everything came back negative. 2 weeks went by, and our little dog became lifeless overnight, and the limp got even worse. Along with these symptoms, we noticed that the lymph node in her hind left leg began to grow. After many visits to the Veterinarian, and a virtually lifeless, shaking dog, they tested for lymphoma...negative. She was put on pain killers and anti-inflammatories. 5 days ago, bloody noses began to the point that her blood was not clotting and she had to get a platelet transfusion to get her blood to clot. We have been to the Veterinarian, an emergency room Veterinarian, an internal specialist, and nobody is sure of any diagnosis. We have heard anything from RAT POISON, SLIPPED DISC, TICK-DISEASES, CANCER, ETC. They are beginning to think less cancer but possibly some kind of poison or very bad bacteria that she may have contracted, but we have no idea how or at this point what. She would frequently visit a dog park in the city where she could have possibly eaten something but at this point we and the doctors can't figure it out.

She is deteriorating very quickly but is fighting. An ultrasound came back to prove that there were no tumors over her body, but they can't operate until the blood is for sure clotting on it's own, at which point they will look at the swollen lymph node and see what's going on.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS OR CAN SHARE ANY ADVICE FROM SIMILAR SYMPTOMS IT WOULD BE GREAT. HER SYMPTOMS AT THIS POINT DON'T SEEM TO BE MUCH PAIN, BUT REALLY NO MOVEMENT UNLESS FORCED, SHAKES, BLOODY NOSES, AND IS GRADUALLY LOSING HER APPETITE AND VOMITING. PRETTY MUCH LIFELESS, BUT NO VALID REASON FOR BEING SO.

ANY SUGGESTIONS TO ANY BACTERIAS/INFECTIONS/OR OTHER FORMS OF TREATMENT OR DIRECTION WE SHOULD LOOK FOR WOULD BE GREAT AS WE ARE AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO HELP OUR LITTLE BUDDY FIGHT AS SHE IS VERY YOUNG AND WANTS TO GO FOR JOGS ON THE LAKE AGAIN.

Thank you very much.

I just last night sent you an email and this morning was searching for some more info to give you. Before I give you 'directions' to find a thread in this forum that I think you might be interested in reading, I want to tell you this first: You mentioned checked for tick diseases--Did this include LYME DISEASE !!?? And if the vet did check for this (and I would specifically find out for sure if he checked for this type of tick disease. I have to say here I do not put too much stock in many vets---hopefully you have one of the good ones!! And speaking of vets----A holistic vet would be the best kind to see---esp. if you can't seem to get any answers to this mystery---They would start building up the immune system immediately to help the dog fight off whatever this is (a reg. vet only knows how to give dangerous meds to make the dog more comfortable and to mask the problem----You've got to find the root of the problem --not cover it up!! And all these meds (antibiotics) can even make the dog less able to fight as the antibiotics are really poison and they do stress the immune system and they also can add more things that can, bluntly, end up killing your dog or just making your dog sicker. There are many side effects AND THEY CAN MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE THAN THEy WERE TO BEGIN WITH!! ---The dog needs to have the healthiest immune system it can to do it's fighting (for it's life!!) I am so afraid for your baby! Even if the Lyme test was done --You should have it repeated again because it does not always show up as positive the 1st time!!!! Now that I have 'prepared you' before seeing this thread--Here is the directions: Go to the Dog Health & Nutrition section (forum)---Click on forum at top left of page(s) and click the above title--then go to page 5 and find the thread titled Worried Sick Dog any advice (easy to find--has 5 gold stars) I don't wish Lyme Disease on your dog but if it is that---you will be able to start bringing this poor baby back to health--And it is important for this disease not to go untreated for very long as it can cause (for one thing) permanent severe arthritis and the longer the dog has it the more problems and longer to get back to good health. [COLOR PLEASE GET THAT IMMUNE SYSTEM BUILT-UP IMMEDIATELY.

thanks everyone for your responses...the tick panel came back today and apparently it is negative, but we have heard those aren't always accurate...i did fail to mention 2 symptoms that we don't understand...she has uncontrollable shaking, almost like she's cold (but she's not), and it's not pain because she doesn't cry/whine or anything...and she also has never come back with a fever...we really are baffled but she is deteriorating...she is on Doxycycline which I believe is like Tetrocyline, and we are going to go see a holistic vet tomorrow and see if she has any direction cause if we can't diagnose this thing soon i think we may run out of luck...again, any suggestions or direction is much appreciated as we will be continually checking this thread as all suggestions have been very helpful.

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by kbo888

thanks everyone for your responses...the tick panel came back today and apparently it is negative, but we have heard those aren't always accurate...i did fail to mention 2 symptoms that we don't understand...she has uncontrollable shaking, almost like she's cold (but she's not), and it's not pain because she doesn't cry/whine or anything...and she also has never come back with a fever...we really are baffled but she is deteriorating...she is on Doxycycline which I believe is like Tetrocyline, and we are going to go see a holistic vet tomorrow and see if she has any direction cause if we can't diagnose this thing soon i think we may run out of luck...again, any suggestions or direction is much appreciated as we will be continually checking this thread as all suggestions have been very helpful.

My chevy has Lyme disease and Doxycycline is what was given to him for it. It was the protein in his urine sample that led us to the Lyme diagnosis... Please keep us updated on this precious pup and let us know what the Holistic vet says...
Many Prayer's to your pup and her family...

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by kbo888

thanks everyone for your responses...the tick panel came back today and apparently it is negative, but we have heard those aren't always accurate...i did fail to mention 2 symptoms that we don't understand...she has uncontrollable shaking, almost like she's cold (but she's not), and it's not pain because she doesn't cry/whine or anything...and she also has never come back with a fever...we really are baffled but she is deteriorating...she is on Doxycycline which I believe is like Tetrocyline, and we are going to go see a holistic vet tomorrow and see if she has any direction cause if we can't diagnose this thing soon i think we may run out of luck...again, any suggestions or direction is much appreciated as we will be continually checking this thread as all suggestions have been very helpful.

Just posted a couple of posts on Poisons to dogs---maybe be something there that she has been into--Prob. a long shot but hope you check it out. And the other post is about supplements--esp. the part about the immune system and also about the antibiotics.
Am glad to hear you are going to a holistic vet! Would prob.say more here but I'm hoping to catch you before you get out of the forum right now! Hope things go well--will have fingers crossed and keep us posted as we all are hoping for the best outcome and we do tend to worry!

[CorkyMax]

In my rush to catch you, I forgot to mention about the tremors---First some dogs tend not to show any pain and will be trembling because of it and there are a lot of reasons for tremors. It may even be a reaction to the meds/antibiotics. One of the reasons for tremors is that it happens when something is affecting the nervous system. Will tell you what my home vet book has mentioned on tremors--appears that a lot of poisons will cause tremors (prob. effects the nervous system?) Pyrethrin/Pyrethroids These compounds are in many insecitcidal (I think this book has an error on that word--think they meant the word-insecticidal--but I may be wrong!?) shampoos, sprays, dusts, dips, foggers and sprays. This is mentioned as a tremor cause too. Poisonous Plants, Trees and Shrubs can have tremors as a sign. Me talking-not the 'book'---Do you know if your dog is chewing on any house plants or any kind of plant outside? Lead poisoning? DISEASES OF THE CEREBELLUM RESULT IN LACK OF COORDINATION, UNSTABLE GAIT AND MUSCLE TREMORS!!
(The cerebellum is part of the brain--It has two lobes. It's primary function is to integrate motor pathways, coordinate movements and maintain balance).

Hopefully you will see all the latest posts (including Vetgroomers post/message.) And I imagine you have a long list of things to show the vet/or ask the vet about. Oh, I so hope they can help that little guy--have my fingers crossed. Let us know some good news as soon as you possibly can--We are worrying along with you! AND HOPING FOR THE BEST. GOOD LUCK!!

I know I sent you a private message about this, but I feel it's important for other readers to see this.

Have your vet check the dog for babesiosis. Babesia is a blood parasite. It can be seen in the red blood cells if they do a smear, and have a good eye. And the symptoms you report are very consistent with babesiosis.

Babesiosis is often overlooked, because it's not very common. But in this case, I think it's worth looking into.

It is treatable if you catch it in time.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

I know I sent you a private message about this, but I feel it's important for other readers to see this.

Have your vet check the dog for babesiosis. Babesia is a blood parasite. It can be seen in the red blood cells if they do a smear, and have a good eye. And the symptoms you report are very consistent with babesiosis.

Babesiosis is often overlooked, because it's not very common. But in this case, I think it's worth looking into.

It is treatable if you catch it in time.

Not trying to 'step on your toes' or anything. When I saw your post here--I looked up on this in my vet book and so thought I'd quote what I found---and I'm hoping you will check this info over, Vetgroomer and comment on anything that you don't think is right for the present day and age as this book is 9 yrs old and a lot can change in that amount of time! I just hope she checks out your post before she goes to the vet tomorrow as she won't have a clue about asking about this! You said you sent her a private message--wondering if you could send her an email too just in case she doesn't get on the forum tomorrow in her 'rush' to get to the vet! At least that way there are 2 chances she might get your message. Quote: This is an uncommon disease caused by a protozoan that destroys red blood cells, producing a hemolytic anemia One mode of transmission is by the bite of a brown dog tick. Natural hosts of this tick are various wild animals, particularly the white-footed mouse and the white-tailed deer. As these animals are also implicated in Lyme disease, both diseases can occur at the same time. Babesiosis can also be transmitted by blood transfusions.
In humans, babesiosis is called Nantucket disease because MOST CASES IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON NANTUCKET ISLAND AND NEARBY MARTHA'S VINEYARD. (don't know where you live?!) Outside the U.S. the disease is found in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. For reasons unknown, the greyhound is particularly susceptible to babesiosis.

Most infections in dogs are subclinical. With acute illness the signs are fever, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and abnormal blood tests indicative of hemolytic anemia. The signs of anemia are shortness of breath, exercise intolerance and pallor of the gums and tongue. The bone marrow and the liver can be affected.

Diagnosis is contingent upon finding the protozoan in blood smears. An IFA serum antibody test also is available.

TREATMENT: Antibiotics effective against canine babesiosis have not been approved by the FDA,(Is that still true, do you know-Vetgroomer?) but your vet can obtain FDA permission to use a nonapproved drug. [/COLOR]

I did not read thru all of the posts, but if your vet cannot find the cause of this, call Texas A&M they have ER vet's and regular office hours, have your vet fax them all the lab & test results, they can work with your vet, sometimes vets send out labs to Texas A&M and other teaching hospitals when they cannot figure what is wrong.

I hope your pet is doing better.