[davidaldama13]

Hello, Wilson is a four month old Maltipoo who has been completely healthy and thriving. Two days ago he began acting somewhat lethargic and we noticed a small limp on his front left paw. By that night he was incessantly crying and completely unable to walk on his own. Three visits to the emergency vet later we are still at a complete loss after X-Rays and examinations indicate nothing is wrong with the mechanics of his leg. He is taking Moxicam and another pain medication which seem to do nothing for his endless pain. His leg is now twitching non stop and it continues up to his jaw which opens and closes involuntarily. We were referred to a neurologist but despite the urgency of our situation we cannot get him seen for another 1 1/2 months. We are desperately calling around to other vets to get different opinions on how to solve this. He continues to eat and drink well but requires help. His stool is also totally normal and solid. Has anyone had any experience close to this?

 

[Lillith]

I'm so sorry you and your dog are going through this.

Can you ask the vet to do a blood panel? Check for Lyme disease or other tick borne illnesses. Check his thyroid. They're kind of long shots, but perhaps worth ruling something of the sort out.

Can you speak with your vet about changing his pain med concoction if his current prescription isn't working? Can they refer you to a different specialist with a shorter wait time?

 

[davidaldama13]

I'm so sorry you and your dog are going through this.

Can you ask the vet to do a blood panel? Check for Lyme disease or other tick borne illnesses. Check his thyroid. They're kind of long shots, but perhaps worth ruling something of the sort out.

Can you speak with your vet about changing his pain med concoction if his current prescription isn't working? Can they refer you to a different specialist with a shorter wait time?

Thank you, I will discuss getting a blood panel with our vet. Unfortunately after calling three other neurologist the wait times were similar or longer and our situation isn’t enough of an emergency to them to see us sooner.

 

[Tater33]

Sorry to hear this. I hope you get the help you need a.s.a.p. Maybe a local shelter could offer info on who to contact (just something else to try).

 

[davidaldama13]

Thank you for the suggestions and well wishes. Unfortunately Wilson was diagnosed with a particularly bad case of distemper by the 4th vet we saw. At the rate of his neurological decline it was recommended we end his suffering. Truly devastating considering he was almost completely vaccinated and how over the top careful we were with keeping him home.

 

[davidaldama13]

 

[LeoRose]

Thank you for the suggestions and well wishes. Unfortunately Wilson was diagnosed with a particularly bad case of distemper by the 4th vet we saw. At the rate of his neurological decline it was recommended we end his suffering. Truly devastating considering he was almost completely vaccinated and how over the top careful we were with keeping him home.

I'm so sorry.

Sometimes, maternal antibodies interfere with vaccines (which is why babies need to get a series of shots over a period of time), or sometimes an individual just never builds up their own antibodies despite being vaccinated.

 

[DaySleepers]

Oh, goodness, I'm so sorry. That's an awful outcome - distemper is a brutal disease and can't always be treated successfully even when it's caught early. Take care of yourself.

 

[Lillith]

Oh no, I'm so sorry.

 

[Tater33]

So sorry to hear this.