HELP - Sick Puppy

[lilLostduckie]

So Willa is a 10 week old GS. A few days after getting her, we took her into the ER for severe lethargy and no appetite, as well as no drinking. We will probably never know what it was, but she came home after a few days on an IV with antibiotics and nutrients, a healthy, happy girl.

Last night, she was screaming all night long. When I took her out again at 4 this morning, I noticed that her one ear and leg was twitching, seemingly uncontrollably. I let her walk a bit, and she was fine like putting weight on it, but she was obviously uncomfortable.

She would like run, when she would try to settle she would gnaw on the pads of her paws, front and back, and then scream, jump, and start running again. My husband and I naturally rushed her to our local emergency vet. They took xrays, suspecting panosteitis. We left with some NSAIDs for her, and that was that.

We gave her the meds, and she has calmed down. But the office called back about an hour ago say that that radiologist reviewed the films, and didn't think it was panosteitis, and told us to discontinue the NSAIDs (we were to keep going for 5 days).

So now, we have nothing. We are waiting to see if it happens again, and going to try and video it to take in to the vet.

Any ideas?

~~ A Very Scared Mommy

[GusGus]

Doesn't sound like pano to me, but I have no idea what it could be. I'm sorry I'm not of much help. Bit I hope they figure it out and your pup is okay. Have you tried a different E-Vet for a second look?

[lilLostduckie]

Originally Posted by GusGus

Doesn't sound like pano to me, but I have no idea what it could be. I'm sorry I'm not of much help. Bit I hope they figure it out and your pup is okay. Have you tried a different E-Vet for a second look?

We haven't yet, as this has all happened in the last 5 hours. We are close to Philadelphia, and could always go there for a second opinion, but I absolutely swear by our E-Vet. They are a specialty only practice with emergency hours, and are known for their neurologists and orthopedists. But at this point, there really isn't anything they seem to know to do. And I don't necessarily want to stress Willa out with unnecessary testing, but at the same point don't want to let her be uncomfortable.

I have worked it that I don't have to return to work until next week, and beside a 3-hour window tomorrow, someone will be home 24/7 to keep an eye on her. She's our little star. Her brother seems to know something is up as well, they usually play and are goofy, but today he is guarding her, for lack of a better word. Cuddling her, cleaning her, even letting her sleep in his crate with him (that is HIS house, he doesn't share well). I don't know if that is comforting or worrying....

[Courtney]

Pano at 10 weeks? I'm surprised that was their focus? I don't think Pano either.

Was she vaccinated recently?

[mandiah89]

Has she had her shots for distemper?

[jprice103]

Which E-Vet did you go to? VSEC or CARES? I live very close to you...do you think the snow on the ground was too cold for her feet, and since she's never seen snow before, she may have been reacting to it? We don't have much left on the ground, but there is some. And she isn't old enough to have weathered and calloused the pads on her feet yet... Just a thought.

[lilLostduckie]

Originally Posted by jprice103

Which E-Vet did you go to? VSEC or CARES? I live very close to you...do you think the snow on the ground was too cold for her feet, and since she's never seen snow before, she may have been reacting to it? We don't have much left on the ground, but there is some. And she isn't old enough to have weathered and calloused the pads on her feet yet... Just a thought.

We go to Metropoliton Vet on Van Buren Ave in Trooper, right off 422. She was vaccinated on the 12th, so 11 days ago. She was admitted and in the hosp from the 17th-19th, but they didn't give her anything besides an antibiotic and IV fluids.

I did think about the snow, but the twitching and jumping started before she went outside. We also sat and gave her ample time to warm up, we palpated her paws repeatedly and they weren't cold or sensitive to touch. The vet did say she showed pain on palpation of the bone.

[SukiGirl]

Does sound a bit like Distemper to me...

[mandiah89]

Originally Posted by SukiGirl

Does sound a bit like Distemper to me...

it sounds very much like distemper thats why I asked about the shots, the pads of her paws, the twitching, the "lethargy" which was described when she first was taken to the vets... I would definitely have her tested for distemper, I hope for Willa's sake that it isn't that!

[jprice103]

Not trying to scare you, but based on the symptoms listed below, the symptoms resulting in your going to the first E-Vet visit, and the most recent symptoms...it does sound like Distemper. I would recommend going back to the vet and have them specifically test for Distemper...

The first signs of distemper appear six to nine days after exposure, and in mild cases go unnoticed.
First stage is characterized by a fever spike of up to 103° to 105°F (39.4° to 40.5°C). A second fever spike is accompanied by loss of appetite, listlessness, and a watery discharge from the eyes and nose. These symptoms may be mistaken for a cold.
Within a few days, the eye and nasal discharge becomes thick, yellow, and sticky. The dog develops a pronounced dry cough. Pus blisters may appear on the abdomen. Vomiting and diarrhea are frequent and may cause severe dehydration.
During the next one to two weeks, very often the dog seems to be getting better but then relapses. This often coincides with the end of the course of antibiotics and the development of gastrointestinal and respiratory complications due to secondary bacterial invasion.
Second stage occurs two to three weeks after the onset of the disease. Many dogs develop signs of brain involvement (encephalitis), characterized by brief attacks of slobbering, head shaking, and chewing movements of the jaws (as if the dog were chewing gum). Epileptic-like seizures may occur, in which the dog runs in circles, falls over, and kicks all four feet wildly. After the convulsive episode the dog appears to be confused, shies away from his owner, wanders about aimlessly, and appears to be blind.
In cases with brain involvement in which the diagnosis is uncertain, a spinal tap and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid may be of assistance. But this is not always diagnostic. Another indication of brain involvement is distemper myoclonus, a condition characterized by rhythmic contractions of muscle groups at up to 60 contractions per minute. The jerking can affect all parts of the body, but is most common in the head. Myoclonus is first seen when the dog is resting or sleeping. Later it occurs both day and night. Pain accompanies myoclonus, and the dog whines and cries. If the dog recovers, the jerking continues indefinitely-but becomes less severe with time.