[JeannieSouza]

My little Pom.. Mia has something really bad... she can't walk..

I'm thinking back to 2 to 3 weeks.... she is 10.. but always healthy.. all shots.. etc..

First I noticed her little voice.. her little back used to be .. well.. we all know what a pommy's bark sounds like... but it started sounding like she was hoarse.. then last 2 weeks ago.. she started waiting at the bottom of the steps for me to carry her up.. only 4 steps.. then Last Sat.. she steps out on the back porch and her front legs went out from under her.. and then her back legs.. like she was on ice.. Sunday her rear legs were really bad... then Late Sunday.. I saw her front legs were also collasping.. first thing Monday morning we were at the vets.. he thought it was just her back legs.. took X-rays.. yeah.. she's 10.. gave her steroids..by Tuesday she was worst.. and now.. she can't even sneeze.. bark.. stand.. nothing.. she's like a rag doll.. she was holding her head up pretty good... but now I can see that's getting weak... the Vet seems to think it may have been a tick bite.. but mostly he's puzzled..

Any Ideas.... suggestions... ???

[Todd]

Could the dog have gotten injured? Has it ever had a history of joint issues or arthritious? This seems sudden though. Could the dog have gotten injured when you weren't around by falling off of something or something? Old dogs have brittle bones. Sounds like this could be a fporm or paralysis from a possible sponal injury. Here's a vet answer from ask a vet where someone had a very similar problem;

This sounds like an injury to his back, more specifically, a problem with an interverteral disc. This is very common in dogs like the dachshund, but I've seen this problem in many different breeds as well. When the dog injures a disc in the back, the disc impinges on the spinal cord, and cuts off the nerve supply to the back legs (or back and front legs if the injury is in the neck). That may be why your dog cannot get up on his back legs. This is a serious problem which should be addressed by a vet ASAP. This means going to an ER since it is late saturday. If this is the problem, only prompt attention will help him recover. This longer you wait, the less chance he has of recovering. Unfortunately, this could mean surgery, depending on how severe the problem is.
Here is some info on this problem, with pictures of the back: http://www.gcvs.com/surgery/interver.htm

Another possible reason for these symptoms is severe arthritis. If your dog was very active today, and is now stiff and sore, he may have trouble getting up on his legs. There could also be some other sort of injury that is painful and making him not want to walk.

The best thing for you to do is take your dog to the vet. Once they examine him, they should be able to tell you what specifically is wrong and give you some treatment options.

Let me know if you have other questions.

*Hopefully this helps you. I'd get him back to the vet as soon as you can or an ER or other vet for a second opinion. Could be very serious. Good luck.

[cigwyllt]

It's only a thought - and I'm going by something that happened to a totally different animal - but could it be some sort of internal parasite? My daughter's rabbit went from being a happy, busy bunny to losing all strength and movement in her hind legs. The vet immediately gave her steroids and a worming medicine and within 48 hours she was fully recovered. I don't know if dogs can get similar symptoms but it is well worth asking a vet if that could be the case.

[JeannieSouza]

My vet says he is doing allot of research.. I watched him stare at her X-rays..
This condition is sudden.. but the more I think about it.. I think it was coming on for 3 weeks... and it came to a head on Sat...

My vet cannot find an injury ..

He did notice that there was some swelling under her chin... and checked her for anything in her throat or mouth.. he talked about ticks and the damage they can do...

She has had a recent hair cut.. completely shaved.. she looks cut like that.. and she likes to sleep with me.. so this keeps the shedding hair problem down.. and besides.. she thinks she looks cute like that.. me too... anyway..

I was able to do a really good search on her for ticks.. as you know deer ticks are really tiny...

As I was looking under her chin.. I did see something.. right where the Vet noticed it was swollen.. I found a little black thing.. was able to remove it.. I couldn't tell if it was a tick or not..even with a magnifying glass... I took it to the vet... he looked at it and thought it was a deer tick.. until he put it under the microscope.. no tick.. was a scab... but.. .a scab from what.. she does have a little bite there.. (no fleas) The vet says.. if it were a tick she will recover..

The only other issue I have is that one of my 8 chickens got sick... was sick for 3 days... and then she died... the only noticeable thing I saw was she had diearia .. I told the Vet.. he said. .. no connection..

Thank you so much for your comments..

Cigwyllt.... parasite ..... hummm.. my vet sort of mentioned parasite while he was thinking out loud...

so.. I think I will take that avenue.. for now..

As you may have guessed.. I am desperate to find an answer ...

[cigwyllt]

Again, I know it was a rabbit, not a dog, but the vet said that the only way to confirm the diagnosis was through blood tests. With the rabbit the symptoms came on over 24 hours or so and we were told to watch for signs of her front legs going and then an inability to lift her head but as I said, the meds acted like magic.

I do hope you can find a diagnosis/treatment really quickly.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by JeannieSouza

My vet says he is doing allot of research.. I watched him stare at her X-rays..
This condition is sudden.. but the more I think about it.. I think it was coming on for 3 weeks... and it came to a head on Sat...

My vet cannot find an injury ..

He did notice that there was some swelling under her chin... and checked her for anything in her throat or mouth.. he talked about ticks and the damage they can do...

She has had a recent hair cut.. completely shaved.. she looks cut like that.. and she likes to sleep with me.. so this keeps the shedding hair problem down.. and besides.. she thinks she looks cute like that.. me too... anyway..

I was able to do a really good search on her for ticks.. as you know deer ticks are really tiny...

As I was looking under her chin.. I did see something.. right where the Vet noticed it was swollen.. I found a little black thing.. was able to remove it.. I couldn't tell if it was a tick or not..even with a magnifying glass... I took it to the vet... he looked at it and thought it was a deer tick.. until he put it under the microscope.. no tick.. was a scab... but.. .a scab from what.. she does have a little bite there.. (no fleas) The vet says.. if it were a tick she will recover..

The only other issue I have is that one of my 8 chickens got sick... was sick for 3 days... and then she died... the only noticeable thing I saw was she had diearia .. I told the Vet.. he said. .. no connection..

Thank you so much for your comments..

Cigwyllt.... parasite ..... hummm.. my vet sort of mentioned parasite while he was thinking out loud...

so.. I think I will take that avenue.. for now..

As you may have guessed.. I am desperate to find an answer ...

Oh OK. So the vet already looked at the x rays and saw no injury? Guess that eliminates a possible spinal injury. I'll do some more research and get back with you.

[Lara's mom]

I have no idea what could be wrong with your little one. I'm going to light a candle in the hope that she recovers quickly. My thoughts are with you.

[Todd]

Are you sure this isn't due to athritis? I have heard of many dogs who have had this and their leg merely give out. It can seem quite sudden. The older a dog gets the weaker their muscles and joints which can excentuate this problem. What did you vet say about this? It may not always be clear of an x-ray. This is from the net;

On X-rays non-erosive arthritis usually causes very little changes to the bone so the joints look pretty normal except for soft tissue swelling.

This also could potentially be the result of a tick bite as you have been discussing. Your situation does sounds like there could be more to it considering your dog is unable to bark and maove much at all. Did the vet take his body temperature? Could this be lyme disease? it sounds like it very well could be. Here's some info on this from the net as well;

Lyme disease in dogs is caused by a bacterium that is carried by ticks. They attach to your dog and feed on its blood until the tick becomes enlarged. Ticks can cause local irritation, infections and Lyme disease.

Tick season tends to be highest in the spring and autumn. To survive at each stage of their lifecycle, a tick needs to attach itself to a host such as a deer (their favorite), a dog or a person. When they get their fill of blood they drop off until it is feeding time again. This is why ticks cannot be passed from one dog or person to another, but a dog can pick up a tick in one area and cause an infestation in another, including your home (not the most pleasant thought).

Ticks looks for the thinnest skin on the dog so they tend to attach themselves to the face, ears and abdomen. Ticks are difficult to remove because once they attach themselves they release a substance that glues their body to your dog. This is why the when removing a tick it is difficult to remove the body and the deeply attached head.

Dogs outside of high-risk regions have a 1% chance of getting the disease and are generally not given the Lyme Disease Dog vaccine. Only 5% of dogs in a high-risk area show any symptoms with 80% of dogs showing Lyme disease bacterium (called B. Burgdorferi). Note that it is not clear if in the long term being infected with no symptoms is a problem later in your dogs life - such as future joint problems.

What a Tick Looks Like
A tick that just attached itself to your dog will look like a small gray dot on the skin of the dog. As the tick grows it looks like a mark that just happens to appear such as a mole. The tick will attach itself for 5 to 7 days. You can tell it is a tick by the scales at its hind legs. As the tick drinks the dog’s blood it gets enlarged. When the tick is done drinking, it will fall off, consume the blood it drank, and then look for a new host such as another animal or person.

See our guide to tick and tick bite pictures.

Riskiest Areas to Contract Lyme Diesase Dog
Lyme disease dog is prevalent in the following areas:
High Risk
East coast from North Carolina to Maine
New Hampshire
Pennsylvania

Moderate Risk
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Michigan
Illinois
Missouri>br>Iowa
California
Oregon

All other states are low risk.

Symptoms usually appear 2 – 5 months after your dog is infected. 95% of dogs that are exposed do not show any symptoms.
If your dog shows any of the following symptoms, they may be been bitten by a tick:

Fever (some dogs do not develop a fever)
Loss of Appetite
Pain in the legs or body
Arthritis or joint swelling
Lethargic behavior
Depression
Cough
Enlargement of the lymph nodes (deer ticks) (didn't you say this arena was swollen on your dog???)
Symptoms such as heart disease, renal issues, seizures and aggressive behavior are extremely rare.

Diagnosis of Lyme Disease Dog
Blood tests are not particularly helpful in determining if your dog has Lyme disease as there may not be any change in the standard readings.
Instead your Veterinarian will use a four step checklist to make a determination including:

1. Has your dog had Lyme disease or a tick bite before
2. Symptoms
3. Responds to Anti-biotic
4. Serology Test (test of the fluid portion of blood for antibody content. Antibodies are your dogs way of fighting foreign cells such as bacteria)

Other diseases that look like Lyme include bacterial endocarditis rheumatoid, infectious or immune-mediated arthritis (lupus erythmatosis), osteopathies, degenerative joint diseases, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis.

Dog Lyme Disease Test

The Serology test looks for enzymes in the blood associated with Lyme disease. The problem is that there are two types of vaccines (whole cell/killed Lyme or subunit). The ELISA test can tell if your dog has the disease only if it has not been vaccinated or it if had the subunit vaccine. If your pet had the whole cell the test cannot tell if your dog has the disease or a reaction to the vaccination itself.
A newer test called the Canine SNAP 3Dx or the C6 SNAP test. It is done in your Veterinarian’s office and if positive a follow-up test is done and sent to a lab to confirm the findings.

Dog Lyme Disease Treatment

Lyme disease dog treatment is with the antibiotic Doxycycline, which is prescribed for 1 month. Longer treatment may be necessary for dogs suffering from kidney disease or inflammation.
You should see improvement in your dog in 1 to 2 days.

Even if it's not lyme disease it still could be from a tick bite because they suck blood and can be the results of legs giving out when they work on a particular part of the body. Def. have lyme disease test done though. it sounds like a very realistic possibility and can be very dangerous if not treated promptly.

[JeannieSouza]

Lara[SIZE="2"][/SIZE]
\
Thank you...

Todd

She had been vaccinated for Lymes.. and we were hoping for a tick..

and yes.. I'm in a very high risk area.. that's why she was vaccinated.. no fever.. she's eating and drinking... the vet ruled lyme out..

This morning I took her to my church.. where my Priest had me bring her inside the chapel where he gave her a special blessing.. St. Francis of Assisi ... then gave her a good sprinkling of Holy Water.. that was her favorite part...

then I stopped at the Vets.. we chatted some more.. I told him about the rabbit.. he ruled out parasites... he says.. it's neurological... and unfortunately even if we did find the exact problem and cause. .there was no cure.. He then gave me some strong steroids to try.. he said.. don't get you hopes up... if they work at all it will not be quick.. it will take time.. but his thoughts are they will not work.. but he knows I'm desperate ...

I decided to make a video.. in case I need to send it to anyone.. wish I had thought of that last Sat.. when her symptoms first started.. anyway.. it might help another little dog in the future..

I'll put the url here after I get it finished..

[Yogi]

Has the vet discussed an MRI with you. Unfortunately, x-rays will not show all things neurological. An MRI can be expensive but can divulge issues such as tumors on the brain. Has the dog come into contact with snail or slug bait? Toxins ingested can cause much of what you are describing as they effect the neurological pathways disrupting the signals from the brain to the nerve endings and can result in loss of motor skills. Good luck with the little one.

[JeannieSouza]

yes... my vet did discuss an MRI... and it may or may not show a cause.. she is very alert.. no rapid eye movement.. no enlarged pupils .. so the vet has almost ruled out a brain tumor..

My vet did say.. that he could send me across the Bay.. to a specialist.. and again.. it probably would not do any good... and he knows that I have a limit source of income and he would not want me to spend my money when he feels like it would be pointless..

Now what you said about snails.. hummm... I'll have to research that.. there is always the possibility of that that she ate a snail..

[Todd]

The next possibility I was going to suggest was in fact neurological because I came across it online but I though it would be important to rule out the lyme first. Neurological disorders can cause a dog to not be able to walk as a result of an alteration of the brain which stops the signal from the brain to the limbs to walk for instance. Could the dog have had a stroke? This can cause havoc of the central nervous system. Again as I said before, are you and your vet sure this isn't a spinal problem? This may not be apparent through an X-ray in some circumstances. Your vet needs to take a specific look at the central nervous system, and that means tests like advanced imaging (an MRI or CT scan) and possibly a spinal tap. I have read on various sites that certain spinal injuries only show up on X-rays 50% of the time so I would def. go for the CT scan and MRI or possible spinal tap. A spinal injury can be related to abnormal brain function as the two are related and apart of the nervous system. Either way, the CT scan/MRI or maybe spinal tap is you next step. I feel this will provide you with answers. Here's a link to a site where a vet has answered question regarding spinal injuries;

Orthopedic- Spinal problems in dogs

This could also be something completely unrelated to a spinal cord problem and just be some other type of neurological disorder. Either way the same tests need to be done and can determine both types of disorders. I would recommend going to an actual neurologist for he or she will be more knowledgeable than most general vets because of their expertise in that specific area. Here's a link about other neurological disorders in dogs where an actual vet answers questions from various situations;

Veterinary Information - Neuralgic Diseases and Disorders of Dogs

Financially, here is a link to a thread where we gave another individual pet financial aid resources;

Heartworm Positive

Good luck to you and your pup. I hope everything goes alright. I'm praying for you.

[JeannieSouza]

Todd

this is very good information... and yes.. my Vet has told me of the MRI and going to a neurologist on the other side of the Bay.. but these sort of test.. according to my Vet.. will sometimes expose the problem.. but there's almost never a cure...

At first he did think it was her spine.. the X-ray does show degenerative disc.. that was on Monday when only her back legs appeared to be affected.. but the following day.. her front legs so he threw that out.. yes her disc are showing age..

I will check out that site.. thank you so much Todd...

[Todd]

Originally Posted by JeannieSouza

Todd

this is very good information... and yes.. my Vet has told me of the MRI and going to a neurologist on the other side of the Bay.. but these sort of test.. according to my Vet.. will sometimes expose the problem.. but there's almost never a cure...

At first he did think it was her spine.. the X-ray does show degenerative disc.. that was on Monday when only her back legs appeared to be affected.. but the following day.. her front legs so he threw that out.. yes her disc are showing age..

I will check out that site.. thank you so much Todd...

Sure, no problem. Happy to help. If the x-ray did show degenerative disk than this could def. be causing or at least amplifying the problem. I would still def. have the MRI done though. Even if it turns out there's no cure to the problem you'll never know if there was or not if you don't have this done. It's a necessary step. The most important thing in this situation is to find a correct diagnosis as soon as possible. Also, even if there's no cure there are always alternative therapies and conventional ones that may not cure the disorder by can help alleviate the symptoms. Even if the dog never regains the ability to walk there are custom contraption now (I'm sure you've seen them) that;s almost like a doggie wheelchair. The wheels connect to the back legs to help the dog get around. If the front legs don't work either there may be less of a chance of living a happy life but remember, you never know exactly what's going on until you get an official diagnosis. There could be a cure or alternative. Have that MRI done as soon as you can.

Here's some info from the net regarding degenerative disks but this is simply something to discuss with your vet. This by NO means shoudl replace an official diagnosis. Even if this is an issue it may not be the only one going on here so the MRT and maybe CT sacn/spinal tap is still necessary.

Before I share the info I found, could your dog have ruptured one or more disks? It is not caused by an injury necessarily and usually happens in old age with smaller breeds in particular it seems. Again, a rupture may not have been visable with the x-ray. Read this I found online;

In some cases, plain radiographs (x-rays) may assist the diagnosis, but they may also be normal since neither the disk nor the spinal cord are visible. If the diagnosis is in doubt or if surgery is to be performed, a myelogram may be done. This procedures involves injecting a special dye around the spinal cord while the dog is under anesthetic. When radiographs are taken, the dye will be seen outlining the spinal cord. A break in the dye column means that there is pressure on the spinal cord. (Discuss this with your vet)

Here's a link all about degenerative and ruptured disks;

Canine Degenerative Disk Disease ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

Your dog could actually have Intervertebral Disc Disease which again may not be detected by x-ray in all instances. Here's some info on what this condition is;

Understanding Interbertebral Disc Disease in Dogs

If one of these is diagnosed and treatment is unsucessful please don't put your dog down until trying some alternative treatments such as accupuncture, magnetic therapy, or other alternative treatments. Let us know here on the forum when a diagnosis is made and I for one would be more than happy to give you information on alternative treatments for spinal injuries or whatever else is the problem.

[CorkyMax]

I was in the middle of writing a long post to you and my electricity went out (somebody hit a pole) so I lost the post. Was going to try again later but the electricity went out again so I gave up!

I have a Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook that is very good--over 600,000 copies sold--and that was 10 years ago--newer editions out now --written by James M. Giffin, MD & Liisa D. Carlson, DVM. So this is where my info is coming from!

YOUR QUOTE: then I stopped at the Vets.. we chatted some more.. I told him about the rabbit.. he ruled out parasites... he says.. it's neurological... and unfortunately even if we did find the exact problem and cause. .there was no cure.. He then gave me some strong steroids to try.. he said.. don't get you hopes up... if they work at all it will not be quick.. it will take time.. but his thoughts are they will not work.. but he knows I'm desperate ...
UNQUOTE
First I want to quote this: (and you are not going to like this, sorry!)
Antibiotics and Steroids
Steroids are often combined with antibiotics, particularly in topical preparations for the eye and ear, and on the skin. Corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory effects. By reducing swelling, redness and tenderness, they often give the impression the dog is getting better when he actually is not.
----Steroids have one other side effect that is undesirable: They depress the normal immune response. This can impair the dog's ability to fight the infection.

I am not going into all the info on ruptured discs that is in this book as I see (since I 1st started this post and lost it!) others have posted on this but to re-enforce this: The diagnosis of ruptured disc is made by neurologic examination and imaging studies including spine X-rays, a myelogram, and possibly a CT scan or MRI.


Neurologic Evaluation--
Diagnostic tests used in evaluating neurologic include x-rays of the skull and vertebral column, electroencephalography (EEG), and muscle and nerve conduction studies. A spinal tap is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal canal to remove cerebrospinal fluid for laboratory analysis. A myelogram is a spinal tap in which dye is introduced into the spinal canal so signs of spinal cord compression will be visable on X-rays. Computed tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allow a radiologist to see a computerized image of the structures in the brain, spinal canal and body cavities. These examinations are now available at vet. schools and many large veterinary hospitals. (Me talking here, and just my opinion---A 2nd opinion may be a good idea and getting tests done at a vet school may be cheaper--HOW ABOUT THIS, MR. VEGA!??
You would want all the 'paperwork' done by your vet to take with you--and x-rays, etc. You have a right to this info and will save you money from getting another x-ray, etc.

I also still wonder about that scab you found where your dog may of been bitten---tick or something else! Will quote my book here again:Encephalitis (Brain Infection)
Bacterial Encephalitis is caused by organisms that enter the brain via the circulatory system or by direct extension from an infected sinus, nasal passage or an abscess in the head or neck. Fungal brain infections (caused by cryptococcosis, blastomycosis and histoplasmosis) are rare causes of encephalitis, as are protozoan infections. Tick-borne rickettsial diseases, notably Rocky Mountain spotted fever and canine ehrlichiosis, are infrequent causes. These disease may also involve the spinal cord.

SEE 2ND POST----------------------------------------------->

[CorkyMax]

Again in regards to that scab you found--I wonder if there is a possibility that when you had the coat shaved--your dog got nicked there and may have gotten bacteria or something through this 'wound/opening---See above on bacterial encephalitis. Also will quote this from my book: Meningitis:
An infection of the surface of the brain and spinal canal. It is caused by infected bite wounds about the head and neck and bacterial infections that travel to the brain from the sinuses, nasal passages or middle ears.
The diagnosis of encephalitis and meningitis is based on analysis of cerebrospinal fluid obtained by spinal tap. Serologic tests may identify the cause of the inflammation.

The following 3 possibilities are quoted under the heading: Weakness or Paralysis:
Tick Paralysis:--The saliva of some common female wood ticks contain a poison that affects the motor nerves, producing weakness and paralysis. Signs appear about one week after a dog has been exposed to a wooded area. Over the next 48-72 hrs. the dog grows progressively weaker. Sensation to a pin prick is normal. In time, the paralysis reaches a level where the dog collapses and is unable to lift his head. Death can occur from respiratory arrest. (NOTE here that this is not about Lymes Disease!)

Botulism:--It is a paralytic disease caused by neurotoxins produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum.
The disease is acquired by eating spoiled carcasses or improperly canned vegetables and meats. The outlook for recovery is good if the disease does not progress rapidly. Antitoxins are available.

Coonhound Paralysis:-- (I know you have a pom but think this can happen to other breeds besides the coonhound--It is just more apt to be a coonhound!)
The cause of the disease is unknown. It is believed to be an immune-mediated disease with antibodies directed at the dog's own peripheral nerves. The agent triggering the immune reaction may be a virus or a bacteria.It occurs most often in hunting dogs one to two weeks after having had contact with a raccoon.
Paralysis begins as a weakness in the hindquarters and progresses forward until the dog is unable to stand. During this time the dog remains anxious but alert. The paralysis can affect the muscles involved in respiration and swallowing. It reaches its peak in about 10 days.
--Treatment: Good nursing care is the main treatment. Full recovery may take weeks or months.

A little more on infections (from my book): Infections of the vertebral bodies, discs and spinal cord are uncommon. Most bacterial infections occur after trauma or by extension from infected wounds close to the spine. Viral, fungal, rickettsial and protozoan diseases that cause encephalitis can also cause spinal cord infections (known as myelitis).

--And here is a paragraph---Another cause of nerve paralysis (usually temporary) is the injection of an irritating medication into the tissue surrounding a nerve. This problem does not occur frequently, but can be a cause for concern when it does.

The above leads me to ask -- Has your pom had any vaccinations in the past couple or so months--esp. rabies? There may be different kind of reactions to these--esp. rabies and it can take several months for the problem to arise---and one which your vet may not want to agree with as the possible problem for what is happening with your dog!


I have touched on as much as I could from my book that I thought may be worth looking into or to give you things to ask your vet about (and I still think a 2nd opinion is in order). Many of the things I have mentioned say that they are uncommon--BUT--as your vet can't seem to figure out what is going on---more reason to believe that whatever is wrong just may be uncommon!
Hope things improve and an answer is finally found. Give that poor baby a hug for me.---And keep us posted as we worry if we never hear back. Good luck!

About Possible Rabies Reactions:
This is not the entire article--just what may be of interest:

The other allergic reactions include skin problems, neurological problems, digestive disorders, paralysis of limbs, and muscular weakness.

The behavioral abnormalities can include destructive behaviors, Aggression, obsessive behaviors and separation anxiety. Some of the more serious reactions include anaphylactic attack, Fibrosarcoma, seizures, loss of consciousness, circulatory shock, diseases in the organs, autoimmune diseases, chronic digestive problems and sometimes, death.

Other disorders include IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia), IMT (immune mediated thrombocytopenia), polyarthritis which cause inflammation of joints or polyradiculoneuritis which is nothing but vaccine-associated-rabies.

Many vets warn you about the possible reactions. Hence, if you observe any of these symptoms in the dog, it is highly recommended to take your pet to the vet immediately. The pets should be given adequate nutrition after the vaccination to improve the health and sustain the reactions. The risk of rabies vaccine can be reduced by using killed vaccines and not the live ones.

Some of the side effects mentioned above can occur within minutes of the reaction but the initial symptoms may take about 24 hours to occur. The more serious disorders can occur in a few weeks or months after the vaccination. In case of acute swelling, antihistamines can be administered but with strict medical supervision.

[CorkyMax]

Here is a link to a thread in this forum that has 3 posts --see post #'s 5-6-and 7 done by Yogi and Todd- that name many places you can get some financial help!

Heartworm Positive

This thread may be about heartworm but the financial help is for any need connected with expenses and your dog!

[JeannieSouza]

Corky..

that was great of you to take the time to post all of that for me..

Yesterday I may have had some false hope... my little Mia got a little bit of a bark out.. not a real bark.. but at least a sound.. first time in 2 days...

She also had a really good BM... that was another concern...

When I shaved her.. I don't have the clipper's edge on her.. there's an attachment.. so no chance that I nicked her..

That stop where I took the scab off... it was a bite.. I have 2 other dogs.. another Pom and a terrior mix.. and no ticks... they never leave the yard ... however they will pick up a tick or two throughout the year.. as I have a few trees in my yard.. the woods here are really bad with ticks.. I don't use any poison on them to prevent ticks or fleas.. I have not seen a flea in so many years it's amazing... but ticks yes.. not many in the yard.. I had Guinea hens.. and they kept the yard clean of ticks... the Guineas are gone.. ..

I've read everything you've posted.. allot of it I just don't understand..

My vet said.. she does not have an infection... and she's alert with no rapid eye movement.. or large pupils..

There is something I've noticed.. a couple of these things in the post mention going through the nasal passage..

She is very weak... and has this little head shake.. I was thinking.. ears?? the Vet checked her ears.. and she's making this little gesture like she's trying to sneeze.. and I noticed that when she does this a couple of small drops come from her nose... clear.. I thought the pollen is getting to her.. it's really bad now..

She can lift her head.. but can't sneeze.. she can eat.. chew and swallow ..

I am going to finish up a video clip I was doing to document this condition.. I will put the url on here so you can see her..

I am making copies of all these post and taking them to the vet so we can discuss them...

Thank you again for all the helpful information...

I will post the URL as soon as I get the clip in my computer..

[Lara's mom]

Things don't sound good by your description of her considerable limitations. Her inability to eat is a grave indicator. Is she able to drink water at least? Unless her condition improves in the next day or two, you will have to do some serious soul searching. In my mind, this comes down to a quality of life issue. Sometimes, we keep a beloved companion with us even though any hope for a normal life is gone. It isn't fair to the dog or the owner.

What I'm trying to say is, sometimes you just have to accept that your baby has lived out her allotted years. I'm not saying that it's easy or that it doesn't hurt like hell but, this is when you have to talk seriously with your vet and understand what her prognosis is. You have to put your love for her first. I've been where you are now and I know how terribly much it hurts. All I can say is, sometimes you have to love your companion enough to let her go.

[CorkyMax]

First --I would like to say--You are welcome and if any info there can help in the least little bit--that is thanks enough for me--Love dogs!

Your quote]-- There is something I've noticed.. a couple of these things in the post mention going through the nasal passage..

She is very weak... and has this little head shake.. I was thinking.. ears?? the Vet checked her ears.. and she's making this little gesture like she's trying to sneeze.. and I noticed that when she does this a couple of small drops come from her nose... clear.. I thought the pollen is getting to her.. it's really bad now..

She can lift her head.. but can't sneeze..she can eat .. chew and swallow ..


This is a slim chance but you never know! A foxtail(s) (weed) may be in the dog's system and causing problems. Please check out this thread I did on the dangers of foxtails: Foxtails (A WEED) Can be Deadly to Your Dog! --Do you have this weed in your area? Maybe one got in her nose or ear and worked further in, but could go in through the paws or anywhere! The link I just gave will explain things better.

Hope that it is not a false hope you are having---sounds to me like some improvement!