My dog is poorly and I’m scared for him. Help

[Saddogmum]

Signs

2 episodes of shaking uncontrollably
head twitches
sometimes lethargic showing little interest
off food and drink
runny eyes
iv not seen any diorhea or bowel movements but plenty of wees
random yelping sounds when he moves

this morning he went floppy so i toon to vets after his second instance of shaking when it wasn’t cold
doctor took tests blood glucose was fine but had low potassium and some other minerals
he said perhaps gastro (even though he def hasn’t had diarrhoea and I don’t think he has been sick nor in front of me anyway)
well he was kept in on iv but wouldn’t eat
his bloods got better so iv brought him home
he’s still a bit twitchy
he’s eaten some chicken with me but his head is twitching a bit and he’s refusing water. He has made a random yelping sound too when moving

the vet is waiting a second opinion on his kidneys but hasn’t offered anyt other diagnosis other than gastro which I don’t believe to be true

any ideas what this could be? I have also realised I’m a month late with his updated vaccinations abs now terrified it’s distemper although it doesn’t match all the symptoms

I hate to say it but the insurance company won't be able to help you here - you can't use an increase in cover on something the animal is already being treated for, otherwise everyone would pay for the cheapest cover possible and just increase it when the animal is unwell.

They can sometimes treat spinal issues conservatively. It maybe worth seeing if an orthopedic specialist consult is affordable even without MRI diagnostics it can still be useful due to their extensive experience.

Ours happened to be covering practice emergencies and was able to pinpoint dodgy disc by feel and suggested pain relief and because that helped when saw him at referral practice few days later he decided to put her on crate rest for a month to give it chance to heal rather than do MRI diagnostics ( was insured so we could have).

I knew someone who had back problems in their dog operated on at a vet school. Fully supervised but part of teaching so therefore a significantly reduced cost. That may be something worth looking into.

Our dog was young had a spinal issue so was lots of bed rest. He recovered. We've no idea of the age of this dog which may make a difference treatment wise even to a charity

He will be given pain relief and strict 6 weeks rest anyone have any experience of this being effective?
i just can’t stop crying he has honestly given us so much love and laughter in his time he doesn’t deserve to be in this pain.

He is only 3.
that’s great news about your dog how old was he and what breed?
mine is a 3 year old
shih Tzu

That’s a great idea

Have they ruled out a foreign body ?
Bloat?
Pancreatic problems?
Any unusual liver /kidney levels?

I was wondering about bloat

Liver and kidney was fine
what’s bloat?

Yes to this.

My dog had exactly the same symptoms you are describing when she was 2, I was sure I was going to have to get her PTS. MRI and CSF showed nothing, the vet basically said you can try her on steroids but be prepared to let her go.
One week on steroids and she had completely bounced back, she’s still fit as a fiddle 13 years later at age 15. Try steroids, you never know. Keeping everything crossed for you

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/bloat/

Another one here recommending they try steroids.

SRMA is common in my breed (beagles) but lots of vets don't appear to recognise it or what treatment it needs - but the sooner you get them on steroids, the better.

It can come back but again, steroids will solve it. Some can be weaned off but others are on steroids for life.

Mine was 7 it's hard on them no walks, no running around the house, no jumping up and down. Then when you start walking it's on a short lead even in the garden no going up and down steps at all. We've been very careful with him since and touch wood he hasn't relapsed in the last three years. The painkillers are good.

My dog was misdiagnosed with a neurological condition by the OOH vet on NYD this year and it has panned out that his problem was high blood pressure . Have they done your dogs BP @Saddogmum , just in case it’s something similar .

I was thinking possible SRMA too, one of my dogs had it/has it - after a long time on steroids he came off them and is generally fine, happy etc but the lasting damage is any time he picks up an infection/new germ etc he spikes a high temp and goes 'flat' and needs an anti inflammatory jab, course of antibiotics and pain meds which tends to have him back to normal in 48 hours or less.

It is now so predictable that we have an emergency 'flat dog reboot' kit here to give as soon as he shows the signs, which is typically always on a bloody weekend, ideally a bank holiday.

It is easy to manage now however the costs for getting to dx and long term treatment were huge and though our insurance covered it... only just!

Ours showed up as flat, lethargic, in pain in his neck, high temp,panting. I would mention it to your vets for sure!

Everyone is telling me this!

so this is what he has
https://www.broadstreetvet.com/site/blog/2021/08/15/ivdd-in-dogs-surgery-cost-recovery

here’s where I need advice
the emergency vet has charged me £800 for a wrong diagnosis on Monday. I wa smoky insured for 1k (how stupid I know I don’t know why I didn’t look into vets costs). On Monday o increased it to 7k
today i Got this diagnosis the vet says if she’s asked by insurance she will have to say it’s linked even though he was diagnosed with anorexia and could walk fine on that appointment on Monday.

tjat leaves me and my boy well and truly fuckkkkkked as I can’t claim anymore
vet said 2-3 k for mri £8-12 k for surgery
I have no hope of doing that
tried pdsa and blue cross they don’t cover my area
vets solution is try pain meds abs rest and if that doesn’t work out him to sleep. He is 3 years old!

any ideas? She’s not very hopeful pain meds will work permenantly

I know this sounds dramatic but I could t live with myself I put him to sleep he is 3 years old
he’s like my son I just can’t but also I cannot see him in pain

I told vet quite bluntly that no I don't have insurance so £3k for an MRI was off the table. The option was a big shot of antibiotics just in case. A big shot of painkillers. Then a very big bag of pills. I had to write down each pill time of day. I had painkillers, steroids and something else. I got through many packets of cheese slices. He recovered with bed rest, no walks on the lead in the garden. We couldn't pick him up, let him on the sofa or bed. I spent a lot of time on the floor. He did recover £300 later.

Not sure if you saw this yesterday. My dog had this surgery a few weeks ago. He’s recovering very well. The total cost including the MRI was £7500 at the vet hospital plus out of hours fees and checkup at our vet. Nearly £8000.
I hadn’t heard of it before yet another local dog has the same and is on cage rest. She seems to be recovering well.
small short legged dogs most susceptible to this type.

my dog is only 5 and very active. I struggled with the decision to operate due to the cost and because I’m a worrier and worried everything conceivable and non conceivable. Turns out I made the right decision as it was a severe compression.
we went to see a specialist neurologist who did a very thorough examination to diagnose. It was compressed disc in his neck and he was in pain looking up or down.

Thanks for this
it just really scares me as if it’s severe there’s going to nothing I can do and I just can’t think of that right now
I don’t qualify for any help from charities
I don’t earn a lot
I’m in debt
the insurance is a joke I. Just so scared it’s severe l,
he’s got all sorts of painkillers and stuff I am hoping and praying it works iv spent £700 plus all my insurance this week

Do you think that can work if it’s severe

My boy was in awful pain so I did wonder myself. But yes it can work.

Well after all the pain relief he was able to walk a bit but his back legs are unsteady
he really deteriorated from Saturday to today. Yesterday he could walk but today he coukd t I’m hoping that it was a short period so May recover
mom so disgusted they told me he was panting and breathing fast last night due to bloating now that I know iDVv all the signs were there and really obvious!
min taking comfort in the fact this painkillers are working, he is sleeping and He’s still poking his tongue out at me when I do the same, which is something he’s done since a pup. It tells me he still knows

He was too I really thought he was dying this morning it’s crazy how quickly it can come on. I’m never moaning about the dogs again I’d give anything for him to be annoying me again