Personality change

[Carouselfish]

6 year old collie cross was wormed Tuesday before last. He had the low mood you'd expect for a couple of days. On Saturday, four days later he was normal, playing chase with the lawnmower and playing with my daughter. Sunday he was withdrawn. Hiding under bushes. Not joining in with games, lawnmower or chasing bubbles. Eating fine, happy on walks, but sleeping more. Took him to vets, urine and blood fine. Now he's weirder. There's a look in his eye and I suddenly don't trust him, he looks anxious and different. Hard to explain. Still not playing. It's like he's been affected by the toxicity or something of the wormer. I don't know. He doesn't seem in any pain. Anyone had anything similar after worming? It's so strange and sad because he was just the perfect dog. No recent trauma or anything to make him depressed. He lost his companion dog over a year ago and we are getting another dog in a couple of months.

[CaptSkippy]

What brand did the vet use?

A few years back there was some scandal about an anti-flea and anti-worm medication that turned out to be toxic for dogs. It made some very sick. I'll try to see if I can find the name.

[CaptSkippy]

Was it Bravecto by any chance?

[Carouselfish]

Thanks for replies. No it was Milbemax. Been googling like mad and reading lots of research. Might be a collie gene mutation esp as he's a collie cross huntaway (New Zealand shepherding dog). Worth getting that checked at vet. Looking at treatment and seems to be intravenous lipid infusion of combo of soy bean oil, egg phospholipids and glycerin to mop up toxins. Think I will feed him a lot of egg and soy bean while we wait for vet. Neither are poisonous to dogs far as I can see.

[BorderlineExperimental]

Milbemax (which is milbemycin) is safe to use in dogs with the MDR1 mutation, whether they have one or two copies of the mutant gene, as long it's being used at the standard dose. I've got an MDR1 carrier and she is wormed with Milbemax.

Any dog can have a reaction to any kind of medication though and if you're concerned he's having an ongoing reaction he really needs to go back to the vet.

[Booboostwo]

Maybe stop focusing on the wormer and mysterious toxicities.

Just look at his symptoms: he is sleeping more and is less playful. What does the vet say? It could be just a virus, but presumably the vet ruled that out from the bloods? Was he examined for pain, e.g. spinal pain or similar? Any lameness? Have you changed his food recently? Is he getting more exercise? Presumably the vet listened to his heart and lungs and all was OK?

[Carouselfish]

Literally the only thing that's different is the wormer. And as above he's not in pain or off food. I know the severe reactions are from a larger than normal dose but the severe reactions are coma and paralysis and death. So milder reaction could seem likely as described. Shall try diet until we can get test.

[Carouselfish]

Never takes Mumsnet long to get the acid tongues out does it? Thanks to helpful posters who don't assume I've got the brain of a gnat and actually read my posts.

[Booboostwo]

OK but to be fair you mixed up Bravecto with Milbermax with respect to the MDR1 mutation, you seem very confused about how toxins are dealt with by the body and you seem to confuse an IV soy/egg treatment for weight gain with something that might 'mop up toxins'.

Symptoms of overdose of Mylbermax include neurological symptoms like ataxia and tremors, vomit and diarrhea and lethargy...none of which are what you describe and they would not occur four days after treatment. Not to mention that to qualify as an overdose it would have to be a massive amount and your vet would have seen signs of the problem in the bloods.

But, yes my tongue is the main issue here.

[BiteyShark]

I don't use that type of wormer but the ones we have had issues with (mild side effects) affected him usually that day or the day after so very close to when he was wormed.

There are others on the market so nothing to stop you swoop

[BiteyShark]

Grrr hit post by accident.

Nothing to stop you swooping next time but I waited a few times until I was sure the side effects was due to that and nothing else.

[wombatron]

I don't really understand why you're so defensive OP, no one has really had a dig at you, they have had a different suggestion - those are guaranteed on an Internet forum. Acid tongue would be someone suggesting you're a typical AIBU type poster who asked for an opinion, but only wants opinions that align with their own.

I too would suggest the wormer being a red herring. Having had a dog that recently underwent emergency surgery to remove 50-100 bladder stones that had caused a major blockage, they are marvellous at hiding symptoms and pain until it really cannot be hidden any longer, she literally had a bag of gravel for a bladder. It could be that the wormer has triggered something, but unlikely that long after and for as long .... but at the moment, unless you are a vet or have actual knowledge of animal medicine I would leave doctor google alone and not mess around with anything until the vets advise.

I hope you get to the bottom of it soon

[picklemepopcorn]

Is it possible that she is picking up on your anxiety? If you have started looking at her suspiciously, she may feel anxious too.

[tabulahrasa]

Go back to the vet... if your dog still seems unwell nearly a week after being seen you need to go and get a more thorough examination.