Dog with urinary incontinence and behavioral changes
My dog, Jenni (8yo Poodle/Lhasa Apso mix female neutered), has been suffering from general weakness/pain in her back legs for about three weeks now. History: 2 years ago, Jenni was put on a hormone for urinary incontinence. We took her off the hormone after about six months because the hormone affected her behavior (she became whiny, clingy and nervous), and the leakage did not return. Several months ago, however, we took Jenni to the vet for a urinary tract infection - she was leaking bloody urine. She was placed on an antibiotic, but the leaking continued, so she was put back on the hormone. After two days on the hormone, her back legs became painful and stiff, and the vet said her reflexes were poor. The vet took Jenni off the hormone, but there was no change in her legs. The vet then did an x-ray to check for spinal/neurological injuries and found none. Lyme disease test came back negative. No sign of bladder stones or cancer. Blood work normal. The vet put Jenni on dexamethasone 0.25 mg, and the leg pain/stiffness has somewhat decreased over the past two weeks, but Jenni is still uncomfortable - she is also behaving oddly, hiding in dark rooms and cowering after she goes to the bathroom outside (someone has to go out and carry her inside). The vet isn't sure what to do next, and we live in a rather rural area with no veterinary specialists nearby. Any ideas? |
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Dog fainting episodes
Actually I am the breeder of Saint Bernard dogs and have been for about 6 years. My question involves a puppy who I placed at 7 weeks of age; he was the largest of the litter and absolutely had no problems from birth until last month(about 5months of age) when he had a fainting spell. His name is Brutis; he apparently was in the back seat of the car, with his chest and paws hanging over the front seat and he passed out(he had no collar on at the time), once they layed him on the ground he woke back up, no convulsions or anything else noted other than his eyes rolled back. He was brought to the vet, EKG and heart examination was normal, they called it a syncopal episode, but did not go into explanation what caused it. Well last week, at 6 months of age it happened again, at the vets office and it was witnessed. Brutis was extremely excited and stressed, pulling at his collar and did not want to be put on the scale, he then passed out, falling to the floor. His heartrate was taken immediately and they said it was normal and they are taking bloodwork. This episode does not last long, about 10 seconds and no convulsions, or stiffening of muscles. I, as the breeder, am very concerned about this and would like to know several things
1)what could be the actual cause of this if it is not related to his heart
2)are there any other tests/specific bloodwork that you would recommend we have done
3)can over excitement/stress or pulling on the leash cause this problem by itself, and if every other ailment is ruled out and this is a 'vagal response' as they called it at the vet, is this heriditary or a genetic condition? when I asked my vet he said that if all physical problems are ruled out, this may be more an individual problem than a genetic one. Absolutely none of my breeding saints have had heart problems, epilepsy, eye disorders, etc, so I am totally baffled about this situation.
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