Puppy sick, can't touch

[Wednesday's Mom]

My 4 month old puppy is acting very strangely! For the past week she has been crying/whimpering when I try to put her leash on and scratching her neck constantly.

Over the past three days, she has been whimpering and growling when I touch certain areas (mainly her neck/shoulder area, but sometimes her abdomen, as well). At the vet this morning, she did not show many signs of pain, but she was running a fever and the vet did not like the way one of her eyes looked. The vet put her on doxicycline (spelling?) as a precaution because I have recently pulled three ticks off of her.

She has had a couple of spells of lethargy, but doesn't appear to be in any pain except when I touch her. However, she does lower her head when she is standing. Her appetite is normal and she woofs down any and all treats.

Does anyone know what this could be? If anyone has any insight, I would be greatly appreciative if you could help!

Wednesday's Mom

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

Im not sure. Did the vet have any ideas?

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Were any tests run? Blood tests? Anything? What does your vet say?

Doesn't sound famliar to me.. I hope you get it figured out.

 

[MomOf7]

this is what it sounds like.

Signs of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Of the hundreds of cases of canine Lyme Disease that I have seen, over 90 percent of canine patients were admitted with signs of limping (usually one foreleg), lymph node swelling in the affected limb, and a temperature of 103 degrees (101 to 102.5 degrees is normal). The limping usually progresses over three to four days from mild and barely noticeable to complete disuse of the painful leg. Once the dog starts to be affected by the bacteria, Lyme Disease can progress from a mild discomfort to the stage where a dog will be in such joint and muscle pain it will refuse to move; it is not uncommon for an owner to have to carry a sick dog into the animal hospital. Over the span of two or three days a dog can progress from normal to completely unable to walk due to generalized joint pain. In addition to joint damage, the bacteria can affect the dog's heart muscle and nerve tissue. If the disease is diagnosed in time, treatment can cure the dog before permanent joint or nerve damage occurs. Certain antibiotics, such as the Tetracyclines, are very helpful in eliminating the disease.
Generally, the diagnosis of Lyme Disease is based upon clinical signs and history. For example, if a dog ran or played normally a few days ago, has had no signs of trauma or previous arthritic discomfort, and now displays tenderness upon palpation of the affected limb and has a mild fever and swollen lymph nodes, I'm going to seriously consider Lyme Disease as a possible diagnosis.
On the other hand, just as in human medicine, Lyme Disease is called "The Great Imitator" because it has often been mistakenly diagnosed when another disorder is present, such as an autoimmune disease, lymph tissue cancer, Blastomycosis, or septicemia. Just as vexing is the fact that at times other similar-appearing diseases are diagnosed when the culprit is actually Lyme Disease. There are published reports of Lyme Disease being misdiagnosed and over diagnosed in human medicine.

 

[Miakoda]

Did the vet do any x-rays? An injury to the cervical area of the spinal cord would/could definitely cause behavior like this.

 

[shadowfacedanes]

Gosh, in a way, it sounds like distemper.

I hope you'll see some improvement with the antibiotics. The fact that she still has a strong appetite is encouraging. I hope you find out exactly what it is, and it's nothing serious.

 

[Wednesday's Mom]

Thanks for replying, everyone!

An initial blood test was done which revealed that she has a low white blood cell count (her red blood cell count was normal).

No x-rays were done yet. Unfortunately, I'm running into a problem with affording to have the vet run diagnostic tests. Since I adopted Wednesday last month, I have spent about $1,000 in medical bills, adoption fees, food and general well being supplies. I don't mind spending the money because having a healthy puppy is much more important to me than money; but the harsh reality is that many of the tests are expensive and the money just simply isn't there anymore. Compounding this expense is two trips to the ER vet -- both trips resulted in high bills and a misdiagnosis.

I think the vet is thinking Lyme disease, also, and has put her on doxicylcine to treat this and/or any other bacterial causes of her problems. After examining her today, the vet wasn't as concerned that it was a musculoskeletal problem. Wednesday didn't whimper, cry or growl at the vet's like she has been doing at home. His biggest concerns were her fever and the way her eye looked. I'm not sure exactly what he saw, but he mentioned that her eye looked "dead" or had a "dead" spot. Her eye isn't glassy or cloudy, but there is a gray ridge around her iris.

Tonight I have not been able to touch her anywhere without her crying or growling. She won't even tolerate a belly rub (her favorite)! For the past few hours she has been laying on my bed by herself, and sometimes I can hear her do a kind of sigh/cry thing. It tortures me that I can see she is uncomfortable and in pain, but I can't do anything to comfort her!

 

[showpug]

Thanks for replying, everyone!

An initial blood test was done which revealed that she has a low white blood cell count (her red blood cell count was normal).

No x-rays were done yet. Unfortunately, I'm running into a problem with affording to have the vet run diagnostic tests. Since I adopted Wednesday last month, I have spent about $1,000 in medical bills, adoption fees, food and general well being supplies. I don't mind spending the money because having a healthy puppy is much more important to me than money; but the harsh reality is that many of the tests are expensive and the money just simply isn't there anymore. Compounding this expense is two trips to the ER vet -- both trips resulted in high bills and a misdiagnosis.

I think the vet is thinking Lyme disease, also, and has put her on doxicylcine to treat this and/or any other bacterial causes of her problems. After examining her today, the vet wasn't as concerned that it was a musculoskeletal problem. Wednesday didn't whimper, cry or growl at the vet's like she has been doing at home. His biggest concerns were her fever and the way her eye looked. I'm not sure exactly what he saw, but he mentioned that her eye looked "dead" or had a "dead" spot. Her eye isn't glassy or cloudy, but there is a gray ridge around her iris.

Tonight I have not been able to touch her anywhere without her crying or growling. She won't even tolerate a belly rub (her favorite)! For the past few hours she has been laying on my bed by herself, and sometimes I can hear her do a kind of sigh/cry thing. It tortures me that I can see she is uncomfortable and in pain, but I can't do anything to comfort her!

Sounds like your vet is on top of it if it is Lymes. Can you request to just have an Ehrilchia titer done to test for Lymes? Maybe call them back and ask if they will prescribe some temporary pain meds?

 

[elegy]

if it's lyme, you should see results from the doxycycline within 2-3 days. i hope it's not something more serious. poor baby.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Just wanted to say I'm so sorry the poor puppy is feeling so ill, and hope she is feeling much better very soon.

 

[squirtsmom]

Good luck with your pup. Hope it all turns out well. Sucks when they are sick.

 

[rij73]

Sounds like Lyme to me too... Poor pup! Good luck!

 

[Wednesday's Mom]

Thank you all for your well wishes.

I took Wednesday to another vet today just for a second opinion and now I'm feeing a lot better. This vet agreed that it could be Lyme or Ehrlichosis and is keeping her on the doxicycline. After examing her, he also thinks that the source of her pain is in her neck; and that she only whimpers when I touch other spots because she is either apprehensive or the pain is traveling slightly from her spine. He said this neck pain could be from either ehrlichosis or an injury. Up to this point she has been a very active and jumpy puppy, so it is very possible that she did hurt her neck somewhere along the line. He gave her a cortisone shot, prednisone pills and is having me give her a very small dose of valium to relax her so she won't have spasms in her neck.

He wants to see how this course of treatment works out. If she is still having neck pain in two weeks, he will determine if x-ray's, CAT scan or a spinal tap are needed. He has also cleared her for travel next week, so she will be able to meet her "grandparents" over Thanksgiving.

I feel so much better after finding a vet who was able to spend some time with me goving over her medical records and talking in depth about the many possibilities and most likely scenarios. This is my first puppy, so I always have alot of questions and needed someone who could take some time with me and Wednesday.

Thanks again, everyone!