HELP! MY DOG HAS BEEN SICK FOR 1 MONTH. Are there any vets out there that can help?

Question

My dog has had a low grade fever and some lameness in her rear legs for 1 month. She has taken several blood tests and theyhave been normal. Even the lyme disease test came back negative. We decided to treat her for lyme disease anyway to see if this would work. She was treated with two types of antibiotics - amoxycillin for 28 days and doxycyline for 14 days. She has been improving, but she is not 100%. She has difficulty lifting herself off the floor/bed and sitting. Once she's standing she usually walks OK. However, when we have guests, like we did yesterday, she gets very excited. Therefore, she had a set back and began walking very slowly. Perhaps we over did it with the guests : ( She was also tested for immune mediated arthritis. This test also came back negative. However, the vet is now treating her with steroids. Not sure if this is going to work, but I don't know what else to do. I should also note that x-rays are normal. Any help out there?

Answer 1

You definitely need a second opinion!! Please get one for the sake of your dog.

Answer 2

You didn't mention what breed, but I had a Dobe with Wobbles, a light fever is sometimes caused by pain. I'm not a vet, but I've been through the same situation.

Wobbles is a condition that affects large breed dogs, including great Danes, Dalmatians, and Dobermans. It is a spinal disorder that causes shaky and weak hindquarters, and uncoordinated front legs. Sometimes, when the condition is found in and allowed to progress untreated in younger dogs, the dog becomes nearly paralyzed.
Dogs with Wobbles are simply born with the condition. Running too much or too hard, roughhousing, or swimming do not cause Wobbles. The dog’s spinal column is malformed so that it compresses the spinal cord.
At first, dogs with Wobbles may appear as just klutzy or careless. They may trip easily, or knock into things. Many of the breeds prone to Wobbles, including Dobermans are naturally somewhat klutzy.
Dogs with Wobbles also tend to walk with a lot of side movement in their hindquarters. This trait can be hard to recognize if the owner has no other dog of the same breed to which they can compare their dog. Since Dobermans are fairly uncommon, their symptoms may go unrecognized more easily.
Sadly, many of these dogs go undiagnosed during the early stages when the condition may be most effectively treated. Many veterinarians believe that the traits of Wobbles may be minimized with early treatment.
One way to test for the nerve damage is to turn the dog’s foot over while he is standing, so that the top of the foot faces the floor. If there is no damage, he should flip the foot to its normal position as a reaction.
Veterinarians can diagnose Wobbles by using x-rays and myelograms. The only treatment for severe Wobbles is surgery. This is about 55 percent successful. Various types of surgery are available to correct Wobbles, including the following: Ventral Spondylectomy (for dogs which have only one area compressed), Dorsal Laminectomy (this helps dogs with several compressed areas), Fenestration (to help prevent further compression), and Stabilization/Fusion (this surgery is surrounded by controversy because it does stabilize the dog, but it also limits his function). For less serious cases, owners can treat their dogs by limiting their activity and food intake. As with most other health conditions, extra weight exacerbates Wobbles. A veterinarian should approve dietary supplements. Whatever treatment, it success depends upon early diagnosis.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

Find a different vet the is something wrong with your dog and your vet should have found it by now. Tell him to check for diabetes , liver disese, pancreas cancer, luekimia, Ketoacidosis. I know this sounds like alot but i just lost my dog on thursday and it was a combanation of all these that did it. Also check the brand of food she was eating alot got recalled

Answer 4

my vote is a disorder called "wandering lameness" its a disorder that effects giant breeds mostly but any long legged breed can be effected, im pretty sure the cure is rest, light now impact excersize and baby aspirit

seriously talk to a great dane breeder and they will have some ideas for you

Answer 5

Has her kidney function been tested? Has she eaten any of the recalled dog food? That would be canned food manufactured by menu foods go to www.Menufoods.com/recall for a list of affected foods.

Answer 6

Ask your vet to do some research on coon tick paralysis