Forum Replies Created
Yes, I test my dogs three times a year for two reasons. One is to test for heartworm and the other is to test for exposure to tick diseases.
So I start with a SNAP 4DX test when it is still consistently below 50 degrees. Then I start the heartworm and the Frontline. Midway to fall I test again to insure that these have been effective. Then I test in late fall as temps begins to drop consistently below 50 to insure that there has been no exposure.
The tests costs $30 or so and it is a very effective yes/no test. The best money I spend! Every three years I titer their vaccinations and now Cassie, as a senior, gets a checkup twice a year with CBC, chem screen and a thyroid panel.
Linda,
I don’t have much time.
The 45 days between doses is directly related to the life cycle of the heartworm and the dosage. The dosage in a preventative is effective against the stage the heartworm is in from the day of infection until 45 days later.
If you start fresh with a SNAP 4DX+ test and it is negative for heartworm then, according to Dr. Dodds, you can safely extend the dosages to 45 days. You must adhere to this strict schedule, there is no wiggle room. If you are apt to miss a few days or a week, this won’t work.
This would be dangerous to give the preventative if there is an active heartworm infection because it can be dangerous to kill heartworms in an advanced life stage that are in active circulation as this can cause blockages. It needs to be treated under a vet’s care at that stage.
Most owners cannot remember to dose exactly every 45 days so manufacturers advise the 30 day dosing to make sure there is absolute coverage.
Start with the SNAP 4DX and then you are set.
my best, patrice
Tara,
I am so sorry this is continuing to be so severe.You must be just frantic with worry.
Please remember it has been exactly 10 days since this started. It appears that some dogs can have these symptoms for over 2-3 weeks before recovering sufficiently to be comfortable.
Did you stop using the antibiotic Baytril? Will he take some plain yogurt from you? That would help his digestive tract.
my best, patrice
Tara,
I am so sorry this is getting worse. Try to remember that your vet believes this has a peripheral root not a central, that is significant. Many dogs do have a rough few weeks in the beginning.
Baytril side effects can include:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Poor coordination: ataxia and possibly even seizures
- Others that are more significant but are tied to long term use or in dogs with other complicating conditions.
Drugs that can interact with Baytril can include:
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics
- Antacids
- Cephalosporin antibiotics
- Rimadyl (and other NSAIDs)
- Penicillin
- Aminophylline
- Cyclosporine
- Nitrourantoin
- Sucralfate
- Theophylline
I am not sure what all of the other drugs you are giving him are so perhaps one of these listed drugs is conflicting with the Baytril.
The whole point of using this drug, I assume, was to err on the side of caution if this is an ear infection. If it is making him sick then perhaps taking him off it for a few days might be quite revealing if he seems to improve. It would be helpful to see him eat.
Dogs can adjust to many things that we humans might find unbearable. This is probably because dogs don’t have the same vivid imagination humans have. He simply loves you and just wants to be with you. It’s only been a week or so, see the vet again about the antibiotics this week.
my best, patrice
Tara,
I would like both of you to watch Diablo’s eyes carefully as you carefully tilt his head side to side and up and down. Note what direction the eyes move as you tilt the head differently. This may be a diagnostic test to help a vet differentiate whether the cause is peripheral or central. Of course none of are vets so we can’t really properly diagnose this. However, if you gather this information and give it to the vet, they will be more forthcoming with you during the examination.
If he is acting normal and doesn’t seem confused or upset by this, then mirror that lack of concern yourself. Being upset will make him think he has done something wrong. Make the head tilting a happy game with some treats so he thinks this is just some new crazy human game.
Remember that the very inner ear is very deep from the outside ear. You won’t be able to see it from the outside. Inflammation in there could contribute.
By the way, have you ever given Diablo metrondiazole? This can be a side effect from high dosage long term use. This would be used for treating diarrhea for instance.
I had a friend in grammar school who had a nystagmus. Being a curious young child I asked her why her eyes were always moving side to side and whether it made her dizzy. She had it for a long time and said it just made her have a little trouble walking but otherwise was not a problem. Of course other children can be cruel and she was not very popular. I liked her and we were friends. Once my curiosity was satisfied, I didn’t think about it. I cannot tell you what medical problem she had, I never found out!
my best, patrice
Tara,
How frightening for you to come home to this. I am so sorry this is happening to Diablo. Let’s look at this carefully to see what we can figure out together.
The medical terminology that applies to the signs you are seeing may include nystagmus, head tilting and ataxia. In order, this would be involuntary eye movements, tilting of the head and walking to one side and the inability to voluntarily control movement.
These symptoms fall under the category of vestibular disease. The vestibular system helps us keep our balance and keep ourselves properly adjusted to gravity (coordination.) Several structures of the brain, the cranial nerves and the middle and inner ear work together to provide us with balance.
There are many causes for this to happen and there can be a sudden onset like this. If this continues a vet visit is important to determine the cause and then the treatment.
However, let’s start with the most direct and common cause in a dog which may be linked to an ear infection and possible rupture of the ear drum. Infections can lead to an disrupted processing in the middle or inner ears. This would be called a peripheral cause of vestibular disease. Simply addressing the infection may resolve the issue. This may include antibiotics and the short term use of prednisone to reduce inflammation in the inner ear. If he responds to this then you have your diagnosis.
In some cases a dog may have contact with a foxtail seed which can bury into the body, say the nose, and travel to many places inside the body. This is a difficult diagnosis and removal of the seed may be difficult.
Some older dogs begin to develop vestibular disease and it may be related to age . If a vet can rule out other causes this may end up being the diagnosis. The treatment is management and, while it looks awful, it is not particularly troublesome to most dogs. It may begin to cause nausea and loss of appetite and those symptoms would need to be managed.
Central vestibular disease is different and is related to changes to the brain structures (for instance a tumor.) Examining the behavior of the eyes and limbs can give a vet important clues about this. This may include many different tests which could be quite expensive or an experienced vet may be able to diagnose solely based on this exam.
So for now, Diablo is probably not suffering. If he isn’t vomiting or refusing to walk then you can schedule an appt this week with the vet. Examine his eyes to see if they are moving oddly. Think back to any previous ear infections, does he have a tendency to these? Make a list of these things and take a movie of him when he is walking oddly so you can show the vet. If you see any sudden negative changes take him to emergency. This might include refusing to move, vomiting, and collapsing.
I am really hoping this is just a garden variety ear infection. Is some cases these symptoms are temporary and resolve mysteriously with no intervention. Please don’t hesitate to email me if you need to talk more.
my best, patrice
Folks,
I am sorry I have not been around for a while. Cassie injured the knee she had surgery on last fall and we have both been very busy attending to her. The vet examined her carefully, did xrays, and said the surgery itself is fine but that the joint appears very swollen. So it could be a simple strain or the meniscus could be torn.
We are in a wait and see mode for now, treating with doggie NSAID and controlling her walking with a full harness to keep weight off the knee. If there isn’t improvement then it is likely the meniscus is torn and will need to be removed surgically. We just won’t know for a bit.
Our winter has been very tough also. This week we had a blizzard of proportions not seen in decades. I was stuck in a motel room near work. Luckily Mark got home before they closed the roads.
I have many things I want to do for the website and I promise I will get to all of them eventually. I am so glad the forum is up and working properly, that was what we all needed, so any more will just be icing on the cake. I read your posts everyday and I check to make sure the website is running under the hood ok. Our spam control is working fabulously.
my best, patrice
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
![Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4.jpg "Brigitte\'s Cleo, Ripley, Enzo and Guest \\"Rockin\\"")
