Lurcher in vets

[MamaSparkles]

Hi I'm looking for some advice or if anyone has had anything similar. My lurcher has just turned on. On Thursday he was quite unsettled, didn't sleep through the night. Friday I made an appointment at the vet as he seemed like he couldn't close his mouth properly and all saliva was dripping out. The vets kept him in over night, sedated him and checked him over. They couldn't see anything obvious there. They x rayed him and nothing there either. He cannot eat, its like his tongue isn't working. The vet said the next step would be vet school and a ct scan. My insurance only covers £2000. Has anyone ever seen anything like this. I'm absolutely desperate.

My friends dog bit and swallowed the top of a kong and was similar, but it did show up on X-ray

Have they thoroughly checked his teeth, mouth and gums?

tetanus? Dogs can get it and it affects the jaw muscles

Hi, thanks for the replies. Yes they sedated him and checked all his mouth and throat. Also x rays. What would cause the tetanus do you think? Been bitten? They vets update was it could possibly be an auto immune disease. So they are giving him an injection and he's coming home for the weekend to see how he gets on.

Yes I was going to suggest tetanus also. If it were my dog I'd be pushing for a referral to a specialist hospital if he is no better.

So he's currently sleeping next to me at home. I mentioned the tetanus to them, but they said the symptoms for that made it unlikely, but not impossible. So he's home until Monday when we go back to the vet for a check. I've managed to get him to eat half a tray of watered down dog meat. So if this keeps going we should be able to get in tablets for this auto immune disease.

Im assuming they have taken bloods and have ordered a full screening? Tetanus can get in via a cut or chewing sticks. But is very uncommon, there is a antitoxin that can be given.

Can I ask what autoimmune disease they suspect?

They haven't given me a name of an auto immune disease, just that his body is attacking itself. Yes they have done bloods to rule that out. He is so frustrated because he wants to eat but he just isn't getting enough to fill him

Do you have faith in your vets? Would it be worth getting a second opinion? Has he eaten anything in the garden etc?

Really hope he is on the mend soon. So worrying when you don't know what the problem is. Its a good sign he wants to eat though. Maybe boiled chicken breast shredded with a bit of the water?

Is he managing to drink? If so then could you try blending some food up into a sloppy consistency so he can eat it?

This reminds me of a case of mine where the dog had run onto a stick and it had gone into his neck but it didn't appear on X Ray. It was baffling until a part of it abscessed and we were able to pull the stick out. Is there a chance the dog has been playing with a stick?

Hi sorry for the late reply. Its been up and down over the weekend. We were back at the vets yesterday, and even she was shocked at the difference in him! He's still slightly holding his mouth, but he's eating! He's not drooling everywhere. We are now on immuno suppressants (sp?) And she thinks that it's more than likely a nerve issue, but things are really looking up 🤞

That's good news! Fingers crossed he continues to improve 🤞