From:
Debbie Utter
Date: 2002-01-10 12:53:00 UTC
Subject: Repost (text missing from yesterday's)
[Moderator's Note: The original post appears complete to me, at least on the website]
Sigh......here we go again. For some reason, part of my post didn't make it, so I'm reposting the entire thing. The part missing from yesterday's post is in double brackets.
I have sent a few posts since 12/28 on Klondike (two submitted 12/28, one each on 1/2 and 1/3). At the time, I was going on the assumption that there was a back injury of some sort (and therefore, the vet was too), but Klondike isn't getting better. In fact, he's worse, so I'm looking for some help with a diagnosis. If this isn't a spinal or back injury (and it could be), what else would cause these symptoms? Klondike's vet can't do more tests at his facility and has referred me to Cornell, but they are very expensive, and I could easily spend $400 or more just on diagnostics (have already spent $300 on what has been done so far). I'm going to describe Klondike's overall condition and behavior, and write up what was done at the vet's yesterday. I'm asking for help from vets or those with personal experience as to what this could be. If my previous posts will help, search the archives or send me an email and I'll forward the previous posts to you directly.
First, Klondike is 15 months old, and has always been in perfect health, great coat. His top recorded weight was 3.6 lb, this summer, at less than one year of age. He's now 2.6 lb. Tomorrow is two weeks since I noticed him walking with hind leg weakness. He has been getting progressively worse - still not using his hind legs, less control over his bowels, has no interest in his regular food (Totally Ferret), and no interest in water. He even fights water offered in a syringe or with ferretone added to it. The only liquid he's getting is in the mix I'm feeding him (consisting of Hills a/d, chicken baby food, rice baby cereal, and chicken broth and/or water added to a thin consistency). I'm feeding him three or four times during the day (none at night). He has been in a hospital cage for almost two weeks - no hammock, no litter box to climb into. One level, with bed right next to potty area. He's getting so he can barely drag himself to and from the bed to the potty area, and is having increasing diff[[iculty turning around and positioning himself for potty, and can't pick his hind end up for urinating/defecating. So far, he hasn't soiled his bedding, so he must still have some sensation and knows when he has to go, and for the most part can hold it until he reaches the paper. His urine has been dark for the last two or three days - almost orange. He doesn't seem to be very comfortable - never in one position for very long, and spends a lot of time on his side or stomach (with the hind end being on his side), usually uncovered.]]
Here are the details of yesterday's vet visit.
LX CHEM 6:
ALKP 61
ALT 213
BUN 24.8
CREA 0.73
GLU 200.2
TP 6.12
LX CBC:
HCT 47.2
HGB 17.3
MCHC 36.7
WBC 5.9
GRANS 3
LYMPH/MONOS 2.9
PLATELET EST 5
RETIC % 0.4
LX URINALYSIS:
METHOD OF COLLECTION - waiting room floor
TRANSPARENCY - cloudy
SP GRAVITY >1.040
COLOR - orange
PH 6.5
PROTEIN 30
GLUCOSE - negative
KETONE - negative
BILIRUBIN - large
BLOOD - negative
SEDIMENT - large white
MICROSCOPIC EXAM - NSF except occasional WBC, RBC, and epithelial cells, TNTC cocci, debris ++
UROBILINOGEN - negative
PS MEDICAL PROGRESS EXAM:
Paresis has gotten progressively a little worse. Urine is orangy - bilirubin? Something palpably enlarged in central abdomen feels like possibly spleen.
CBC + Chem 6 + U/A + radiograph abdomen
XRAY 1st exposure SM - VD and right lateral of abdomen: NSAF except splenomegally
PREDNISOLONE 5MG - give 0.5 tablet orally once a day in the am's for 7 days then every other AM until gone. Anti-inflamatory steroid.
When xrays were taken on 12/28, the spleen didn't present itself, so it has grown in less than two weeks. Vet also mentioned that if we had a myelogram done, and it indicated a need for surgery, that surgery was risky and Klondike could end up paralyzed, whereas now he's not paralyzed......has some function. Is this true?
Also, in a recent FHL, Dr. Williams commented that Hills a/d can actually be a bad thing? Should I not feed him that long-term? Right now, it's about the only thing I can get him to eat, mixed with chicken baby food and thinned with water.
Sorry this is so long, but I'm really at a loss here. Please let me know what this could be. Does this seem to be a back injury (vet and I tend to think so, since this happened overnight, whereas adrenal symptoms would've come more gradually). If it's not a back injury, based on bloodwork and info provided, what could be causing these symptoms?
Thank you!