I have been reading the old posts about those of you who have had dogs with Meningitis and from what I've read your dogs have, thankfully, gone on to lead relatively normal lives. I am in such a horrible situation in that my dog had Meningitis last May but he is unable to walk. He did not have any of the symptoms like a stiff neck, he just collapsed whilst we were out on a walk - his legs literally gave way and he couldn't get up. I got him to the vet who didn't know what was wrong so I was referred to the Downs Vet. Practice in Bristol where they performed an MRI scan and their verdict was Meningitis/encephalitis. They also did a spinal tap but there was no bacteria present. His temperature was very high and his immune system was attacking itself. He was put on steroids and given massage. My dog was kept in for six nights before he was allowed to come home where I was shown how to massage and exercise his limbs. He was still on steroids and had chemotherapy injections for a few months until I was told that if these injections hadn't worked by now, they never would and it was unlikely my dog would ever walk again.
My dog is very alert and looks fit and healthy (I know that sounds daft, but that is how he is), he can move all his limbs individually and is very strong. I am at my wits' end what to do.
I know this situation can't go on and it is breaking my heart - can anyone offer any advice, has anyone any experience of this? Please help if you can, I'm so desparate.

I am so sorry Nikki, it must be desperately hard for you having tried for so long but I have to say, if it was my dog, I would let him go.  This would be the final and greatest demonstration of love for your dog that you clearly hold.

What a tragic story of events, I feel so sorry for you & your dog.  I know you must love him so much & can't bear to be without him but I think you need to think about his quality of life now & think about maybe making that difficult decision.  We're here for you in you need us!

Hi Niki. I wa really sorry to read of your dogs Meningitis. It's an awful disease that has to be controlled rather than cured when its immune mediated. I have a little westie cross thats in remission from Granulomatous meningoencephalitis. She was diagnosed at Davies veterinary specialists referal hospital at Higham Gobion in Beds, after an MRI & spinal tap. Her only symptom was sudden loss of sight ( tho she has absolutely minimal sight in one eye, but enough to keep her happy! ). I'd only had her 18mths when it happened but she'd always been ailing with one thing or another all that time. She was put on high dose prednisolone plus cytarabine (chemo) injections, slowly reducing over 16mths. That finished in Sept last year & so far so good but I know its remission & could come back. Apart from her sight impairment she's a happy & healthy dog. When it first happened I was devestated. All the research I did portrayed such a gloomy outlook, but treatment is improving & giving hope where there was none. If the prednisolone dose was high enough you should have seen some improvemnt pretty quickly.
I think the most important thing is to find a neurologist that is clued up on the latest treatment for this disease. Not all are. Of course my girl had no paralysis. Im not sure what I would have done in those circumstances as Im a big believer in quality of life. If your dog appears happy, content & is eating well what about getting a second opinion.
My thoughts are with you Niki.

Hi Niki
So sorry to hear this, how are you managing with him at the moment? Does he ever attempt to stand/walk? Can your vets tell you exactly WHY he cannot walk ie. what is going wrong. Why and how did they anticipate the steroids and chemotherapy may have an effect?

I'm guessing that as he can move his legs and is strong that this is an interruption of messages from the brain to the legs, in which case you could perhaps try acupuncture. It's the only thing that I can suggest, and if it were me, at least I would give it a try, having run out of options. I feel for you, I really really do.

Hope someone else might have had a positive experience they can share with you. Let us know how it goes.
Kat
PS I agree, perhaps you could get a referral to a neurologist.

Thank you for your replies and concern. Every time I make up my mind that it would be kinder to let him go, he seems to get a bit stronger or he will make some movement which makes me think he is on the mend. He is so full of life and was always a larger than life dog who loved life and everybody in it, I get the impression that he would fight any attempt at euthanasia - and that I couldn't bear or cope with! This is the quandary I live with every day and it's tearing me to pieces!
The way we are managing at the moment is by turning him every two hours, massage and trying to keep him clean. He sometimes scrabbles his front legs as if he is trying to get up but as soon as he sees the floor (I've made him a bed on the settee) he's terrified and is very content to just lie there. I bought a fabric hoist and we tried lifting him up,but again this terrified him. He seems very fearful at the thought of standing up.
The vet seems to think it's the nerve ends which are damaged and that this could take up to 12 months to repair and that is what I've been clinging onto - giving him 12 months to see if there's any sign of improvement. To my untrained eye, it looks like his paws are dead - the pads are very hard, rough and flaky and his claws are so extended that they have started to curl around. They thought the chemo would reduce the inflammation and repair the damaged nerve pathways.
I've been searching the internet for a neurologist with no luck but I will give the acapuncture a go.

Hi Niki,

I didn't read this thread until now and I am very sorry to learn of your dog's condition.

Difficult - desparately difficult - though it is, I can't honestly see how this poor lad has any quality of life at all :(  Worse still, he is fearful of moving, standing or touching the floor and so surely in pain plus unable to see to his most basic functions unassisted  :(

I'm so sorry Niki that he has to go through this and much as I'm sure you love and treasure him I would urge you to put him first and free him from this trauma.

Just because some things may give temporary relief or could possibly help in 12 months doesn't IMO mean it is right to experiment with him this way.  I'm sorry if this is too blunt or seems insensitive but I firmly believe it better a month early than a second too late and it seems from the information you've posted that it's gone beyond that now.

Please, please, please let him go.
Blessings to you both,

Teri

Thanks, Teri, I don't mind bluntness and I appreciate your honesty.
I will come back here and let you all know how this ends.

I'm glad you're not offended Niki - you have enough to deal with.
Prayers being said for strength of mind and spirit.

Teri x

Nikki, if there is no wear on those claws you need to be clipping them very regularly.  If you do decide to carry on nursing him they will curl right round and dig into the flesh.  You need to take off a little at a time to encourage the quick to recede.  You may need to get the vet or the vet nurse to help you if you are not used to doing this but if there is any hope of him ever getting to his feet these claws are going to be a great hindrance to him if you don't get them much shortened.

Hi Niki. I've just reread your first post. You said your dog had Meningitis "last May". Has this been going on since May 08 ? If so I really think its unlikely he'll walk again. My previous post -i was thinking it had just happened. Sorry.
I'm not sure where you live but the neurology team at Davies are excellent & extreemly up to date. Perhaps before making your final decison you may feel better about it if a real nuerologist looked at your dog. I had a look at the website of Downsvets & i get the impression there is no neurologist there, but i may be wrong of course.Tho the MRI's are read by RCVS specialist radiologist so diagnosis correct.
Acupuncture is unlikely to help but hydrotherapy may well do. A GSD called Foxy, Posted on here some time ago, also with paralysis improved a lot and was walking again tho unsteadyly.
You know your dog better than anyone and you'll know when its time to call it a day.
All my good wishes to you.

Sorry to hear your news,,,if you feel seeing  a neurologist will help you, and your boy.

I dont know where about in the country you are , but they have an excellent one at Chestergate Referral Hospital in Chester... I have not long just seen her, with my boy.

http://www.chestergates.org.uk/

Thank you, all of you. I live in Cornwall. I've looked at the Davies website but I feel that I don't want to put my boy through the rigours of such a long distance journey and the possibility of leaving him there - I don't think he could cope with being left at this point - plus all the tests they'd do and the possibility of an anaesthetic.
What I have decided to do is to have a talk to my vet, have him re-assess my dog and ask for his opinion and take it from there.

With regard to hydrotherapy, we've tried that - it terrified him.

Claws - they haven't grown at all in this time. I check daily for growth, but there is none. It is the actual digits which are extended (like us clenching our fingers) and curling around.

> Claws - they haven't grown at all in this time. I check daily for growth, but there is none. It is the actual digits which are extended (like us clenching our fingers) and curling around.

I see. :-(  That does not sound very good for helping with the mobility.

Niki, I know how desperate you are...but please, do the only thing you can for him now...I doubt if anything can really help him if he's had this condition since last May...

Hi Niki,
I'm so sorry to read about your sad story. You have certainly done your absolute best for your dog, I'm sure no-one could have tried any harder. Like you, I would not want to put a scared and vulnerable much-loved dog through more tests and a separation from you. I hope your vet is someone you can have confidence in and that he can give you his honest opinion about your dog's prospects and quality of life. I'm sure you will know when it's time to let him go.

I do wish you all the strength in the world to cope with your decision. xx

Hi Niki

I have just been reading about his toes being clenched, and I am sorry, but this is not good sign. I still think acupuncture could have some benefit as it does stimulate neural pathways, but, as I said, this is a last resort.

However, what you also need to consider is that over a long period of time, muscle tone disappears and tendons can shrink and so I think that the chances of him walking, with the symptoms you describe are very very slim, even if the nerve endings heal.  He would actually have difficulty with the tendons being able to extend to allow the paws to sit on the floor in the correct position. The cracked pads are symptomatic of him not walking on them and is the most minor issue.

I really do understand how very hard this is for you. Talk to your vet again, and I think you have to listen to their opinion very openly. The hardest thing is for us to let go. When you put a dog to sleep, they know nothing about it. If you have ever had an anaesthetic for an operation you will know that you don't even remember going to sleep. The sad part is that we know that they have not had the length of life we wanted for them and we don't want to be without them. Just remember that he will feel no pain or sadness, that unfortunately is reserved for those who love him.

If you decide that this is the way you have to go, plan it carefully, it will be painful to make all the arrangements, but if it is to be peaceful and leave you with some sense of peace it is important. If necessary have the vet visit a little earlier to give a 'pre-med' if you feel that he will fight it, discuss your concerns with them so that you ensure that it doesn't cause either of you any additional stress. Make sure that it is all done at home, in the surroundings that he knows, with you who loves him best, on his settee.

I will be thinking of you

Kat

How sad!  It must be awful for you! 

A lady that used to walk her golden on a walk near me used to walk him with a sling and cart because he had lost all use of his hind legs.  She did a lot of research on the internet and started to give him a natural remedy.  I think it included celenium!  If I hadnt seen this for myself I would not have believed it, but within 2 weeks he was able to walk unaided.  He is still unsteady on his feet but enjoys his walks and sniffs around.  He can now jump in and out of the car.  It really does seem to be a miracle.

I wonder if you could do some research on canine paralysis and see if there is something that you can give him.  It would definitely be worth a try and you have nothing to lose.

My heart goes out to you!

Kingdom

I've come back to let you all know that after a lot of soul searching, I finally found the strength to let my beloved boy go. It has broken my heart but I know it was the right thing to do. The vet, who was extremely kind and understanding, gave Nicky (my dog) a sedative and then left the room to give us some time together.  Nicky fell asleep in my arms. The vet then gave the final injection. It was all very peaceful and dignified.
I now think of Nicky running free, as nature intended, instead of living out the rest of his life lying on a settee and that gives me some comfort, but I miss him more than words can say and I will always love him and remember his strength of character, love of life and the enormous pleasure he brought into my life.
Thanks, Nicky, it was a privilege to have known you.

Cynth (my real name)

Have only just seen this thread Cynth. You have been having an awfull time, and hard as it is on those of us left behind you have done the right thing for him. You gave it your very best shot and no one could have done more but I think you knew the time had come. My heart goes out to you at this sad time but remenber he is free now from pain and that is what matters.
RIP Nicky run free at the bridge
Aileen and the girlies XXXXX

Cynth

I remember reading this thread and feeling that I couldn't comment as I really don't know what I would have done in your shoes.

It is so sad to lose a beloved friend but it is the greatest kindness that we can give. Nicky is now free and running and I am convinced we will meet them again when our time comes.

Sorry to hear about this Cynth, but you have done the only thing you had left to do for Nicky and that was to find the strength to let him go. You really tried your best and when it's not quite so raw, you will find comfort in remembering the good times.
Run free Nicky xx

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. it sounds like the best thing you could have done for him though, well done for being brave enough.

Cynth, you did everything you could for him and took the hardest of decisions when it was necessary. No one could have done more. Run free at the bridge Nicky. thinking of you

Marion x

Thank you, all of you, for your kind words. It's the thought of Nicky running free that is getting me through this unbearable time. The unfairness of what happened to him will live with me forever.

Hello Cynth

I am sorry to hear about Nicky, but I think you made the right decision, in the very hardest of circumstances.  I am so glad it was so peaceful and dignified and you had your special goodbyes together.

He could not have asked any more from you in his life, and when he needed it you set him free. He will never leave you and you will never forget him - run free Nicky.

Love Kat