My girl is sick... again.

[Prushanks]

This really sucks. Miesha has had constant problems the last couple months. Unexplained high fevers [105+], GI/Colitis issues, and you guessed it.. foreign bodies [which she always passes and i assume triggers the colitis of course.] She is off her food - the one i really, really liked and she initially did awesome on. Back on i/d, ground turkey and white rice.

Four days ago i took her to the vet because i found what i thought was a salivary gland mass and an adjacent swollen lymph node on her chest [both on left side] as well as her current GI issues. FNA determined it to be reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. Doc said likely due to trauma [can't imagine what though] and i could put her on ABs or wait to see if it went down on its own. I opted to wait and see because she was otherwise fine. Well, I obviously should have put her on ABs.

At around 6am this morning i heard her get off her couch so i got dressed and came down to let her out... i found her standing extremely still, ears curled back, back roached, back left leg lifted completely off the ground and staring into space. She wouldn't move. I had to carry her outside and she didn't move still - no pee or poop. Carried her back inside and laid with her until 8am. She felt warm and i took her temp which was 105. [This is her third incident of fever since beginning of October.] I took her in and she came home with ABs and NSAIDs - first dose at 11am. If she doesn't show improvement by Monday morning she's going in for bloods/rads. I don't know what the hell is going on with her. She really looks horrible. Fingers crossed she shows improvement.

 

[MischasMomma]

I am SO sorry @Prushanks I hope you get some answers and I'll be praying for you guys and waiting for updates! hope she shows improvement soon!

 

[Tropicalbri's]

Wow, I am sorry to hear this. She has been having a rough go. Sure hope the evals come back with some definitive answers. The elevated temps worry me as I am sure it does you!!
You are all in my prayers.

 

[NikiL02]

Oh i'm sorry she's not doing well. I hope the AB and pain meds can help her. Poor girl. Lots of positive thoughts from us!

 

[Rits]

Dang that isn't good. I really hope you guys get some answers. So sorry you guys have been having a rough time, I hope the girly will be ok very soon.

 

[bomary]

I am just sick and sad about this. I want that baby feeling well, and for you to be able to stop worrying.
I SOO hope "we" have some answers soon. I was totally thinking that after starting that new food, she was just going to do great and feel...well...feel good enough to be a little asshole Doberman at all times.
You know Jax and I are thinking of you guys, and we are here if you want to talk. (The only thing that sucks about that is that I don't know anything!!...not even good questions to ask!)
BTW...as you know, my Mother has a MAJOR crush on Miesha, and she is praying for some quick answers and for that baby to feel better soon.
Really sorry you guys are struggling again.
Let us know as you as you know anything, or if there are any changes.

 

[Prushanks]

Here is a short clip showing her current state.

She's not moving in this one, i did manage to coax her outside [not carrying her!] and she was able to slightly squat and pee. That is a huge change from even this morning. Her two nodes have significantly gone down and her temp was 103.3 this morning. Her mentation though hasn't changed as you can see in this video. She did briefly whine earlier when on the couch when i sat down next her her she pretty much collapsed in my lap. She moves away from me when i walk toward her i think because she doesn't want me picking her up. Im taking her in tomorrow for bloods/rads. Given the history of the last few months, my working theory [really grasping at straws] that Autoimmune may be at play here. My hubby brought to my attention "Dancing Doberman Disease" which i had absolutely no clue about and never came across it in my research! [I may have thought it was a joke but i just have no memory of it!] From what i read, the dogs are otherwise fine [no other symptoms of illness], just this neuro issue with their gastrocnemius. She today is moving but seems now to be shuffling slowly on all her paws like she has all over pain [of course im guessing here]. I want to connect all the dots into a succinct picture but who really knows if it's connected. I think i'm gonna ask to have an ANA added to her regular chem/cbc just to be safe.

@Tropicalbri's @Archer any ideas? Thank you in advance.

Since beginning of October she has had three [this being her 3rd] incidents of unexplained fevers running over 105. The first time she went on ABs and she did eventually respond but it wasn't at least for 3 days at least. Second fever was last month and it was up and down for just shy of a week. I didn't bring her in because it kept coming back to normal and she eventually came out of it and she only acted sick for one day. As i said above, 5 days ago i took her in because i found those swollen lymph nodes [on the left side of her jaw/neck and chest- same side as her rear leg that was being held up] and her GI was out of wack again. No fever or other illness symptoms at the time. Four days later she gets super sickly. Today is her second day on ABs and NSAIDs with minor improvements. I have to hand feed and water her but at least she shows some interest in food. Will update as it comes in.

I have a longer clip of her moving [kind of like a Parkinson's shuffle] but i haven't figured out how to "trim" and it's 15 min long.
Edit to add: Her blood work from the first fever had her WBCs low...

 

[MischasMomma]

Oh poor baby my Mischa responded more when she heard you say "Miesha!" my kids thought you trained her for this mannequin challenge that's swooping the internet... I had to tell them no, she's sick I really hope you get some answers soon. that is so scary! I couldn't imagine my dog (let alone a doberman!) staying so rock still like that, not even a blink! my heart aches for you and her, it's so scary to not have the answers, especially when she's not showing any other signs! how frustrating! please keep us updated!

 

[AresMyDobie]

That is terrifying I'm so sorry. She does look like she's not feeling well poor girl !! I hope the vet can figure out what's wrong with her

 

[Tropicalbri's]

Has she been tested for tetnus?
I did not see any spasm activity in the video but her rigid body posture and fever are some of the symptoms of tetnus.
Going to do some research.

 

[Ingrid H]

Her condition is very alarming for sure. Very thin, roached like you said... No real help from the vet? Dang! Praying for the two of you!

 

[JanS]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Poor baby and you!

Prayers are with you that you get some definitive answers.

 

[Prushanks]

Has she been tested for tetnus?
I did not see any spasm activity in the video but her rigid body posture and fever are some of the symptoms of tetnus.
Going to do some research.

No, havent done bloods yet since the 1st fever visit oct 4th. She does have those periodic tremors both lateral and horizontal but only when she is febrile. Will ask the Doc about it tomorrow.

Her condition is very alarming for sure. Very thin, roached like you said... No real help from the vet? Dang! Praying for the two of you!

Thank you! She has been losing weight because of the GI issues - she'd get into something, diarrhea, fast & bland and super slow reintegration of old kibble. Been the story of her life. This last bout she was not tolerating her food anymore no matter how little and slow the transition. I baselined her again and tried her back on the Natural Balance Lamb& Rice she was on last winter (using scant 2 tbsps of kibble!) and total disaster all over the house for days. Right now she is on i/d cans and ground turkey/rice and seems to be all she can tolerate. When this is sickness situation is sorted i'm going to try either Wellness Simple Turkey& potato or NB LID Duck & potato. Just gotta get through this first

 

[Lucian]

My heart goes out to you and the prayers are going out strong.

It's so hard when our babies are not well and we want with all of our being to make it better. Especially when we don't know exactly whats going on. You are on top of it and have the Vet involved and I hope you get some answers very soon.

Hang in there, we are all here for you (((HUGS)))
Give Miesha some lovins from us all!

 

[Beerswimmer]

Scary, wishing you all the best!

 

[Tropicalbri's]

@Prushanks i sent you a pm.

 

[My2Girls]

Praying for you and your pup...

 

[My2Girls]

It might be a stretch here .. but have they tested for meningitis

 

[WiglWerm]

So sorry to hear of Miesha's illness. How have her poops been on the bland diet? From her stature she looks like she is very uncomfortable . Could she possibly have eaten another foreign object? I am praying you get some answers, not knowing is the hardest. Please keep us updated.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Oh, Oji's rib-showing "sister!" I'm so sad to hear of all these problems! Sounds so difficult. I'll be praying for and thinking about you and Miesha.

I am pretty pathetically prepared when it comes to medical issues, so I don't have any ideas.