I have a 9 year old yellow lab (Kain) who is my heart.
Sunday before last, we spent most of the day out side playing fetch.
Monday he was slightly sore, I did not think any thing of it due to the amount of exercise he got while playing in the yard.
Tuesday he was a little bit more sore, but still ran around playing.
Wednesday he was noticeably sore, he had developed a limp, and was panting much more than normal. I could not tell if it was coming from the front or back legs. I called the Vet. and they said to give him 1 baby aspirin twice a day for no more than 2 days (we have done that for him a few times in his life and he has had no problems), we saw little to no improvement after giving it to him for one day.
Thursday a few new symptoms developed, he vomited twice, had diarrhea, and became very lethargic (he would not even lift his head) on top of the pain in his legs and the limp.
Friday morning he could not even walk down the stairs and showed no interest in food, which is very abnormal for him. I tried to get him to eat his favorite treat (cheese) and he turned his head away and again showed no interest. I called the vet and told them all of what has been going on for the last few days and they advised that we bring him in right away, so we did just that. When we got there the took his temp. and he had a fever of 104.2. They advised that they wanted to keep him and start him on IV fluids and run some test to try and figure out what is causing all of this. They kept him overnight and called first thing yesterday morning and said that his white blood cell count was elevated and his fever continued to rise. They spent the day running more test and everything was coming back with no answer to what was going on him.
Today the Vet called and said again, no improvement, still not eating, very lethargic, pain/limp, and fever. She noticed that he looked to be swollen all over and would not put one of his back legs down. She did a joint tap, that came back with blood in the joint fluid and said that what ever is going on with him it is attacking his joints. She is going to send that fluid and his blood work off to a pathologist and hopefully get some answers.
She was thinking that he may have Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lymes. He fits all of the symptoms, bit we have not notice any tick bites. She started him on doxycycline and gave him a round of steroids, she said that he should be feeling better in a few hours because the steroids would give him some pain relief. She call back a few hours later and said that she saw little to no improvement. She said that she was disappointed and is very concerned for him because after being on the anibiotic for 48 hours she said that he should have improved more than he has, which leads her to believe that it may not be Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lymes.
All of the test have come in and all are a dead end. She said that his "Tick titters" test came back borderline possitive!? She said that it may or may not be and does not believe that it is. I don't know what to do. Kain is at home now on ALOT of meds and he is showing progress, bit not as much as what I hoped for.
I am going to call the vet back tomorrow, I was looking him over from head to toe when we got him home looking for anything abnormal that the vet may not have seen or know to look atI I found a mass of some kind inside of his mouth on the right of his inner lip and kind of sits where his teeth meet to close. It looks like he may have bitten it, but I woulndnt think it would be that large (slightly smaller than a quarter around)!?
I thought that he was just sore from playing and running so hard.
I am fraking out and so broken hearted. I have been crying all day for him!
Does anyone have any suggestions on what this may be? Please help us find out what is wrong with my sweet baby.
Thank you for any suggestions!
Sunday before last, we spent most of the day out side playing fetch.
Monday he was slightly sore, I did not think any thing of it due to the amount of exercise he got while playing in the yard.
Tuesday he was a little bit more sore, but still ran around playing.
Wednesday he was noticeably sore, he had developed a limp, and was panting much more than normal. I could not tell if it was coming from the front or back legs. I called the Vet. and they said to give him 1 baby aspirin twice a day for no more than 2 days (we have done that for him a few times in his life and he has had no problems), we saw little to no improvement after giving it to him for one day.
Thursday a few new symptoms developed, he vomited twice, had diarrhea, and became very lethargic (he would not even lift his head) on top of the pain in his legs and the limp.
Friday morning he could not even walk down the stairs and showed no interest in food, which is very abnormal for him. I tried to get him to eat his favorite treat (cheese) and he turned his head away and again showed no interest. I called the vet and told them all of what has been going on for the last few days and they advised that we bring him in right away, so we did just that. When we got there the took his temp. and he had a fever of 104.2. They advised that they wanted to keep him and start him on IV fluids and run some test to try and figure out what is causing all of this. They kept him overnight and called first thing yesterday morning and said that his white blood cell count was elevated and his fever continued to rise. They spent the day running more test and everything was coming back with no answer to what was going on him.
Today the Vet called and said again, no improvement, still not eating, very lethargic, pain/limp, and fever. She noticed that he looked to be swollen all over and would not put one of his back legs down. She did a joint tap, that came back with blood in the joint fluid and said that what ever is going on with him it is attacking his joints. She is going to send that fluid and his blood work off to a pathologist and hopefully get some answers.
She was thinking that he may have Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lymes. He fits all of the symptoms, bit we have not notice any tick bites. She started him on doxycycline and gave him a round of steroids, she said that he should be feeling better in a few hours because the steroids would give him some pain relief. She call back a few hours later and said that she saw little to no improvement. She said that she was disappointed and is very concerned for him because after being on the anibiotic for 48 hours she said that he should have improved more than he has, which leads her to believe that it may not be Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lymes.
All of the test have come in and all are a dead end. She said that his "Tick titters" test came back borderline possitive!? She said that it may or may not be and does not believe that it is. I don't know what to do. Kain is at home now on ALOT of meds and he is showing progress, bit not as much as what I hoped for.
I am going to call the vet back tomorrow, I was looking him over from head to toe when we got him home looking for anything abnormal that the vet may not have seen or know to look atI I found a mass of some kind inside of his mouth on the right of his inner lip and kind of sits where his teeth meet to close. It looks like he may have bitten it, but I woulndnt think it would be that large (slightly smaller than a quarter around)!?
I thought that he was just sore from playing and running so hard.
I am fraking out and so broken hearted. I have been crying all day for him!
Does anyone have any suggestions on what this may be? Please help us find out what is wrong with my sweet baby.
Thank you for any suggestions!
