I wasn't sure where to post this. I have been around this site for a while. I am a lurker, lacking courage to post.
My 1 year old puppy is sick since fall. She has rotating joint pain. It cycles ever 15 days. Our local vet calls it a mystery. She has had every blood test posible. Exporitory surgery of intestants.
She looses energy first, limps on some paw, then the appitite goes. She is on augmetin 475mg 2x day. None stop for 25 days. Before they would only give 10 days worth and it would come back within 7 days. This time they gave more abx. I had her on Doxey and it didn't help at all.
I don't know where to turn.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Get this, a holistic vet I took her to said she was just looking for attention "It was all in her head".
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Its all in her head??? LOL!!
I have been a vet tech for 10 years and I will try to help you.
First- What breed of dog is she? Does she ever have a fever at the vet? Have her joints ever swollen? How big is she? Has she been tested for Lyme? what is her tick exposure like, like hunting etc? Any topical tick prevention?
If you can answer some of these q's it will be helpful.
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
| IP: Logged |
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
The first thing I thought of after reading your post was a bone disease of young dogs. Due to your dogs age and lack of response to antibiotics, I think this is a real possibility. If you vet has not thought of this as a possibility it is time for a new vet!!
I would ask your vet (or get a new vet) to take xrays of all 4 limbs.
Panosteitis is a bone disease of dogs that is characterized by bone proliferation and remodeling.
It is often painful and can last as long as 18 months, though more commonly it lasts from 2 to 5 months. It is characterized by lameness that often comes and goes and changes from leg to leg.
It is a common problem in several large breeds and the cause is currently unknown. The treatment is symptomatic but the outcome is usually very good.
Who gets panosteitis?
Panosteitis is most common in large breed dogs between 6 and 18 months of age. Occasionally, middle-aged German Shepherds will have a bout of panosteitis.
It affects dogs worldwide and has been recognized and studied since the 1950's. Male dogs are much more likely to get panosteitis then females.
There is a higher incidence in several breeds including German Shepherds, Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Basset Hounds
What causes panosteitis?
The cause of panosteitis is currently unknown. There have been many theories as to the cause of this disease. Originally, it was suspected that the disease was caused by a bacterial infection. However, several investigational studies failed to isolate any bacteria. I
n addition, the disease responds poorly to antibiotics, further suggesting a cause other than bacterial.
Other studies showed that if bone marrow from affected dogs was injected into the bones of healthy dogs, the healthy dogs would contract the disease.
It has therefore been speculated that a virus may cause the disease. The high fever, tonsillitis, and altered white blood cell count would also go along with the viral theory.
Another interesting twist to the viral theory is that panosteitis was first identified as a problem at the same time that modified live distemper vaccines became widely available on the market.
Since wild distemper virus can be isolated from bone tissue, some researchers feel that there might be a link between distemper virus vaccine and panosteitis, however, more research in this area will need to be done before any serious speculations can be made
Another theory is that panosteitis might have a genetic link. Because of the greatly increased incidence in certain breeds and families of dogs, it is very likely that there is a genetic component involved in this disease.
Lately, there have been some claims that nutrition, particularly protein and fat concentrations in the diet, may have an impact on the incidence of the disease.
But here again, more research needs to be done to substantiate these claims. Most likely this is a multifactorial disease that has several different causes including viral, genetic, and possibly nutritional.
What are the symptoms?
Presenting symptoms include a history of acute sudden lameness not associated with any trauma. It is usually a large breed male dog between the ages of 6 to 18 months. There are periods of lameness lasting from 2 to 3 weeks and it may shift from leg to leg.
The most commonly affected bones are the radius, ulna, humerus, femur, and tibia, though the foot and pelvic bones may also be involved. The dog may show a reluctance to walk or exercise.
When the affected bones are squeezed, the dog reacts painfully. Occasionally, affected dogs will have a fever, tonsillitis, or an elevated white blood cell count
How is panosteitis diagnosed?
Panosteitis is often diagnosed based on a combination of presenting signs and radiographs (x-rays). The presenting symptoms are listed above. If a dog is suspected of having panosteitis, then radiographs are indicated to confirm the diagnosis.
Individual radiographs of each affected limb should be taken. Often, radiographs of the unaffected limbs are also taken to compare the bone changes. In early forms of the disease, a subtle increase in bone density is observed in the center part of the affected bones.
During the middle part of the disease, the bone becomes more patchy or mottled in appearance and the outer surface of the bone may appear roughened. In the late phase, the bone is still slightly mottled, but is beginning to return to a more normal appearance.
How is panosteitis treated?
There is no specific treatment for the disease. Since this condition is often very painful, painkillers such as buffered aspirin or carprofen (Rimadyl) are recommended. (Do NOT give your cat aspirin unless prescribed by your veterinarian.)
These products are used as needed to help control the pain. Antibiotics are not routinely used unless there are indications of concurrent infections. In severe cases, steroids are used, but because of the potential long-term side effects of these drugs, painkillers are often tried first.
This disease is self-limiting and after it runs its course, there are very few long-term side effects or need for further treatment. As mentioned earlier, the disease usually lasts for two to five months, but can last much longer.
There are several conditions with similar symptoms, so if a dog continues to have symptoms after the normal period of time or is not responding to treatment, she should be reevaluated.
How is panosteitis prevented?
There is currently no way to prevent the disease. However, because of the potential genetic link, breeding animals should be screened to ensure that they are not potential carriers of the disease.
Despite the numerous puppy foods catering to large breed dogs, there is no current evidence that confirms that these foods will lower the incidence of the disease when compared to standard commercial puppy food.
If an animal shows symptoms of the disease, they should be promptly diagnosed and treated and exercise and activity should be reduced until the symptoms have gone away.
References and Further Reading
Brinker, W; Piermattei, DL; Flo, GL. Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Treatment. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 1983.
Ettinger, S. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 1989.
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
| IP: Logged |
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
I also am not sure about any Lyme literate Vets around you. The only thing I can think of is the University of Wisconsin. They have a veterinary hospital and I have worked with vets from there and they were very good.
The highest her temp went at home was 102.5. It was 103 at one of the vet visits.
They ran a whold tick panel on her and every thing was neg. Our vet tested her for every thing he could think of.
We found a tick on her in May and about 3 or 4 others though out the summer.
Here is a list of her symtoms:Tia- Female, spayed, has had all shots, 1/2 Golden Retriever, 1/2 Yellow Lab Born 2/9/07
Had Ticks on her, She camps out with me at horse shows in WI & MI
Beginning September-Limping right front
Mid September- Spayed
Beginning November-Right front, back and shoulder, sore Treatment-Ultra sound, laser, ABX for 12 days Started feeling better
Mid November-Right hind sore, Doxy 7 days No improvement, appetite gone, in pain, laying on back, odd position on couch (Hind legs on couch, front legs on floor and head hanging down)
Put her Clovomax 375mg for 5 days Improving Another 5 day Clovomax Almost normal Another 5 day Clovomax GREAT
Put her on Doxy for 1more week She was normal
Took her of Doxy 12-09-07
12-11-07, Tuesday, She was lame on left hind and went down hill since
12-13-07- suspected bowel obstruction and did exploratory surgery, all organs normal, no obstruction.
12-17-07-Brought her home. After all the test no one understands what is wrong, prescribed Amoxicillin, 200mg 2xday.
12-21-07-She started going down hill again. Got a prescription for augmetin 425mg 2xday. Started getting better gradually.
1-11-08- ate a rug (not normally a chewer) Bowel obstruction, surgery done, successfully. Kept her on Augmeten, she continued to improve. 15 days after surgery Completely normal puppy
1-25-08- Limping left front. 6 more days of Augmeten left Energy level going down hill each day after 1-30-08 appetite going down gave b-12 shot 1-30-08
Thank you for your time I am going to check out the stuff you posted.
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Wow you have a little "trouble maker" huh?
Poor baby!!
You might want to look into VPI pet insurance!
Anyway-
I really am thinking panosteitis! Blood test are pretty reliable in dogs from my experience.
If she has panosteitis it is very painful and pain alone can make a dog depressed, lethargic, and anorexic. I think that she needs some pain meds. A common pain med is Rimadyl. If that doesnt work then Rimadyl and Tramadol together would be good.
Also Clavamox/Augmentin can be hard on the stomach so that could cause some nausea.
Look into it and call your vet if you think it is a possibility. Maybe you could just go in for xrays since you have been there sooo much?
The other thought is to put her on doxy for 30 days straight along with some pain medicine like Rimadyl and see what happens.
Another possibility I am sorry to mention is bone cancer.Unfortunately Goldens get it and it can happen to young dogs. I really dont think this is what is wrong as the lameness shifts around and in my experience osteosarcoma it usually picks one limb.
I will keep thinking and let you know of what I ca come up with. Keep me posted ok? Feel free to PM me anytime.
I think you should get an RX from your vet for Rimadyl. Call and ask and hopefully since you were just there they will just fill it for you. Try and see what happens!
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic