Astrobella Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 Erny - thanks for your input. I'm a health professional myself (although for humans...) so I've experienced the rigid protocols some doctors follow in spite of new research, simply because it's the way they've always done things. I did read a couple of Dr Jean Dodd's articles that I found online and I get the impression that this may be the case with canine vaccinations. I would be interested in getting an opinion from her - then I can discuss this further with our vet as well. I found the hemopet email address - is that the email you have used? It's tough being a parent and trying to make the right decisions (I'm almost dreading having human children..... too much can go wrong!!!) Thanks again for your suggestions - it's been really helpful and makes me feel like I'm actively doing something for my little baby instead of sitting back waiting to be told what to do. I guess that's really quite empowering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I found the hemopet email address - is that the email you have used? Yep. That's the one. Apart from appreciating her knowledge, experience and expertise, I really like the lady - she seems to me to be straight up and all for the dogs. She generally responds to emails in really great time too so if you do email expect a response within 24-72 hours. That's been my experience. Great person, IMO, as she must spend a great deal of time corresponding with people such as myself with no $$$ in it for her. It's tough being a parent and trying to make the right decisions (I'm almost dreading having human children..... too much can go wrong!!!) Yep it can be tough. All we can do is weigh things up, cull and sift through some info and then make decisions on what seems wise at the time. Thanks again for your suggestions - it's been really helpful and makes me feel like I'm actively doing something for my little baby instead of sitting back waiting to be told what to do. I guess that's really quite empowering. You're welcome Astrobella. Please know though that I'm genuinely interested and would really appreciate knowing what Dr Jean Dodds has to say in response to any communications from her to your email/s. Would you mind either re-visiting here or at least PMing me with details of what she thinks? :D Really wish for you the best of luck but do come back here and keep us informed of your dog's progress. Cheers Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowmum Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Sorry to hear you pup is not well. Hope that it works out well - sending wishes to you both. Our 15 month old dog is in quite a bit of pain recently and is very snappish and cranky so perhaps it's not the illness and is more about feeling unwell and being in pain. As your pup is so young and if it is because of the pain and becomes habit forming, I think you'll have a good chance of training it out of him. Best wishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrobella Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 I've sent an email to Dr Dodds and will feedback on here any reply I get from her. Marley has been behaving like an angel ever since the dog trainer paid us a visit today...remarkable. Yes he's still peeing everywhere and everywhere, but at least he's not jumping up on the couch straight afterwards while he still has it on his paws! Here's hoping he keeps improving (especially since we have to go back to work next week...they don't tend to give out extended leave for puppy care unfortunately...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelSoul Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I've had 3 dogs with SRM and managed to have all of them recover fully to normal health. With 1 still having the odd "low" day, or bout often due to stress or heat. I agree with earlier posts on not vaccinating again, esp. while the puppy is ill and the immune system is suffering. I would titre test for the remainder of the dogs life, before vaccinating at all. And yes, I would be interested in hearing what Jean Dodds recommends as well. I have found their temperament is affected by the cortisone medication, making them anxious and on edge, slightly aggressive, almost confused in their behaviour at times. But I have found that as the cortisone medication is lowered the symptoms ease and once off all the medication, the dog returns to normal. Of course, assuming their is no brain damage from seizures or earlier swelling. One thing I would recommend is supplementing your dogs diet with an immune building supplement. I tried unsuccessfully for years to wean one of the dogs off the cortisone only to have it continually relapse and be told by the vet, that it would have to stay on it for life. Once I tried building the immune system by natural means, and just giving the dog the additional strength it needed, I was able to fully wean all 3 dogs off their medication. PM me if you would like to know the product I found useful, I don't want to promote anything publicly on the forum. I do believe there is a vaccination link with the SRM but also that dogs with a poorer immune system are perhaps more susceptible than others. Hope your puppy can make a full recovery soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrobella Posted February 3, 2009 Author Share Posted February 3, 2009 Have heard back from Jean Dodds - as predicted a resounding no to any further vaccinations. I've posted her advice below - It seems clear to me from your pups history and timing of vaccinations before his clinical symptoms that the diagnosis of "steroid responsive meningitis" id really just the description of his vaccinosis. See attached article and treatment protocol. Your puppy should NOT receive any more vaccines even for rabies, now that he's had this adverse CNS inflammatory reaction. It is not safe for him to be revaccinated, as our years of experience with this post-vaccinal syndrome indicates that another vaccination is likely to ellicit a more serious reaction or even death, because the puppy has been seneitized to components in the vaccines. Secondly, in my experience over 35 + years, these cases always have very high antibody titers to the vaccine components they received and so the dogs [or cats] are not at risk to contract the diseases they've received in the vaccines they reacted to So we'll be taking this information to our vet and discussing with them further, but we'll probably push for just having titre tests and hopefully he will present with immunity to a few things from his first two vaccinations. Hopefully we'll be able to socialise him before too long...he's the kind of puppy that needs some help behaving politely around other dogs.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Thank you for posting that up, Astrobella. And thank you to Dr. Jean Dodds, for once again spending her time by giving her opinion. No - it is of no surprise what she has said, but due to me not being a Vet there is always room for doubt and I like that to be removed one way or the other. Of course, we don't vaccinate for rabies as they need to do in the USA and other areas, so that part is not a concern to us. Please let us know how you get on at your Vet's and also how your pup progresses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelSoul Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Yes thank you for posting the reply from Dr. Jean. Just a by the by.....the dogs I have had diagnosed with SRM - have never to date, needed re-vaccinating. I titre test every year, and their immunity has been off the charts. It is all a learning experience and thank you for sharing. Hope all works out well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrobella Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Well just an update on Marley...... He's been easing off the steroids (still on 1/4 once a day) ....but now apparently he has an inflamed liver. They don't think it's failing (they did some blood tests this arvo) but grrr can't this little fella just get healthy! We love the little man but are in a lot of debt now because of the vet bills and can't really afford for them to keep climbing! Poor little fella has been vomiting the last few days on and off.... The vet said they suspect a bile duct infection that has migrated to the gut apparently.... He hasn't shown up with any more neuro signs though which is the silver lining... so maybe he's kicked the meningitis...but I really hope he's not going to be a sick little man indefinitely, can't be much fun for him. Anyway, here's hoping he gets a bit better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelSoul Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Don't give up on him! He needs your strength and love. His healing will be a slow process and yes it may not be just one vet bill. But that is the price we pay for their unconditional love. I spent $7000 on a rescue dog that was diagnosed with cancer, only to find out after 3 surgeries, that their was mix up in the lab results originally and he never ever had cancer. It was an expensive miracle. But I am ever so happy I did it, every morning when I wake up and give the little man a cuddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffie Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Our Golden Hunter got Meningitis at around 10 months old. It did hit pretty fast. We came home one day and he was just acting REALLY lethargic and would only move for food. We just kept an eye on him but his heart was slowing noticeably so we took him to a 24hr vet. When he got out of the car he was up and moving so we thought it was something small, the vet said he seemed ok so he just came home. Our regular vet we saw thought it was a blockage in his stomach and was going to operate. Luckily we took him to a specialist at the local uni who diagnosed it. Even then it took them a while to diagnose, I dont think anyone had direct experience with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) I spent $7000 on a rescue dog that was diagnosed with cancer, only to find out after 3 surgeries, that their was mix up in the lab results originally and he never ever had cancer. I trust they at least compensated you for the expense you'd incurred? Poor dog , but glad it turned out that he was actually ok. Edited March 10, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrobella Posted March 11, 2009 Author Share Posted March 11, 2009 Well a Marley update - he's been steroid free for 5 days now with no return of the initial symptoms (fingers crossed it stays that way). But.... since we stopped the steroids he's developed diarrhoea....so we're back on some meds for that and will just see how we go I spose. One little thing we did notice recently is that when he cocks his ears to attention, only the left one raises fully, the right one doesn't any more (this is a change- we have photos of both of them up!) It's pretty consistent that it just doesn't move like that any more ..... any ideas why? I'm not too sure whether this might be a nerve/muscle thing or whether it's just something that happens??? The vet didn't really have any thoughts on it at this stage.... I can't wait for the day that this little guy is actually healthy..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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