Hi everyone
I am at my wits end and don't know what to do so thought i would give you guys a shot at my problem.  Sorry if this is a long one but it's a long story.
My five year old is at the moment very poorly. About ten days ago she started having funny turns, disorientated, dizzy falling over off balance and her right eye rolls up into her head, after sitting quietly for about two minutes she was fine and back to normal. This was happening about twice a day so off we went to the vets, he didn't really know what it was but suggested possibly something spinal.  Decide to put her on metacam and see if it helped. (surely if she had a spinal problem she would be having permanent difficulty). It didn't. She is now very poorly temp 104 not walking around at all, not eating, shivering and panting. Back to the vets gave her antibiotics and said he needs to do spinal xrays, spinal fluid tap to check cerebral fluid and blood tests.  She is booked in on Monday. The problem is i don't want to put her through this, ever since she was two she has had health issues and must have had every test going and nothing has proved conclusive apart from diagnosing her food allergy which caused skin problems. Has any one any thoughts on what her problem may be or suggestions.
Thanks Irene

I'm sorry to hear what you and your dog are going through, Ireneanne - it does sound as if she is has a spinal/brain problem, doesn't it.

But the trouble is, unless you she has these tests, how are you going to know if it can be treated or not?   You say she has had health problems in the past, but if she has been relatively healthy and enjoyed a good quality of life, then if it were me, I would want to have the tests down to find out if she still could have a good quality of life, albeit for a limited time.   If on the other hand, she has had chronic ill-health, and this is another setback, then maybe you do have to contemplate doing the bravest, saddest thing you have to do.

I' sorry I can't suggest anything else.  It's not easy, I know.

Margot

I don't know anything about these tests but would imagine, for practical reasons, they will be done under sedation of some sort.  Perhaps you could ask your vet more about what the dogs experience will be during and after and that might help you to decide whether to go that route but like Margot I think it is probably what you are going to have to do if you decide you want this issue treated properly.  Of course you may decide enough is enough and have her treated symptomatically and base any decisions on whether she is comfortable and happy or not and I don't think anyone would blame you for taking that course.  It is really your decision.

After my 13 year old having a neck/spinal problem earlier in the year and looking as though she needed to be PTS on 4 occasions after having some of the symptoms that your dog had I know how worrying it is.  It took Lydia 3 months to get over whatever she had done to her neck/spine.  She collapsed on a number of occassions and used to scream, it was awful to watch.

I now have a dog who will be 14 in less than 2 months time and she's back to her old healthy self again.  I couldn't believe that it was only a slight injury with the symptoms that she was projecting.

Hope that whatever you do that things get sorted.  Sorry I can't offer any advice.

Sorry I've just been looking through your last posts but can't see what breed this is?  Has your dog ever been tested for any thyroid problems.  Some of the above symptoms and the allergies etc. can be related to this, also unfortunately some neurological health problems.

Hi
yes she has been tested for thyroid and her allergies are dietry and under control. She is a basset hound
Irene

Did they do the correct tests though because what I've read on this site and others vets don't always do both the tests that they should for thyroid problems, thus missing a problem?

I know its heartbreaking having to put them through the tests but really without them, you will never know if it's treatable or not.  Tests over a short period of time can be so beneficial for her if she can get the right treatment and go on to enjoy a long good quality of life.

Could be completely off the beaten track here, but I think...... I'd be suspicious of meningitis (inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the central nervous system). It's generally auto-immune in origin in dogs.  A spinal tap will rule it in or out as the case may be.  

Hope it all goes well and she gets better soon.

Some of those symptoms sound like Geriatric Vestibular Disease, which is not always geriatric.  My sister's 15 year old BC had it this spring.  The good news is that it often, and did, clears up almost as quickly as it appeared.

http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/vestibular.html

Hi everyone
thanks for all your suggestions. Sadly despite being hospitalised at the vets over the weekend and having tests on Monday, Sophie detetiorated rapidly on Monday night and her heart stoped on Tuesday mornign, finally she is at peace.
Thanks Irene

Poor little girl.  So sorry.

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

So sorry to hear this, Sophie is at peace now run free ((((hugs)))) xx

So sorry to hear this, Run free Sophie out of pain now.

So very sorry to hear this, run free at the bridge Sophie xxx

So sorry to hear that you have lost your young dog.  You must feel very sad.

Irene - I'm so sorry to read that Sophie has gone - you did your best for her - and you will always keep her in your heart.

{{hugs}}

Margot

I'm so sorry for you. What an awful thing to go through!