[pammy4501]

Lola started to look a little dull over this past weekend. I didn't think she needed an emegency visit over the weekend. But on Monday morning she started to have gait problems. So off the ASG we go to see Dr. Sullivan. She was actually due to have her regular pre-cytosar check this week anyway. When I get her there, they tell me she has a 104 temp. I feel like a total bad Mommy for not even thinking of taking her temp! So, they did some labs inhouse to see if it was an infection, but...inconclusive. No elevated WBC's, but she may not be able to mount a WBC defense at this point. Urine is out to the outside lab. So, we discuss the likelihood of GME relapse vs. infection. I decided that I want to try to treat infection for 48 hrs. and see if we can get her looking better. So, I take her home with Clavamox. She looked a little perkier when we got home, and she ate her full feeding of food and drank some water, and pee'd in the middle of the kitchen floor. (she gets a pass under the circumstances) She gets settled in her favorite spot on the couch. And then low and behold she tips over and has a big seizure! Scared me to death! My local Vet was in his office, so off we go again. She gets an IV dose of Valium. (can you say drunken salior) She made it through the night. She looks a slight bit perkier today. Still eating and drinking. Temp is down. But I don't know. She still is not 100% with her gait. Kind of slow and a little stumbly (valium still?) But she is WAY off her mark from where she was even a week ago! I am so bummed. Don't know what to expect. Back to pred again?? I just don't know if I can keep doing this to her. Please send prayers and good thoughts for Lola. My sweet girl isn't even 4 years old. This is a dispicable disease!

 

[pammy4501]

Pam - I'm so sorry about Lola. Please don't say you feel like a bad mom. You're so attentive to both Lola and Frankie. We can't always tell if it's a little something that will pass or the start of something worse. I'm sorry if this seems dumb but my memory isn't what it once was, but what is it that she's been diagnosed with? Was it the GME you were referring to? I can only imagine how you felt to see her having a seizure. I'm sending thoughts and prayers to you and Lola for her to get better.:grouphug: She's way too young for this.

Yes, Lola was diagnosed with GME/NME in Nov. 2009. It is the auto immune mediated type. We have been doing immunosupressive therapy for the last 10 months. This is basically a chemo agent that I inject her with every three weeks. And she was on prednisone from Nov until June. She doubled her weight during that time. It has been tough beyond belief, but she is worth the effort. But I am starting to teeter, and I don't want to be one of those pet owners that keeps the dog going long beyond a quality life. This is the hardest thing I have had to go through in a long time.

 

[pammy4501]

Thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts and words. If I could get the darn multiquote to work for me, I would thank you all individually. Today, Lola is a little better (hopeful thinking on my part?) but not back to normal. She is walking, but very slowly. Her tail is up which is a good sign for her, because it drooped during her initial bout if encephalitis. She ate like a champ this morning. But, she still seemed dull. I am calling Dr. Sullivan today and get her thoughts. Thanks for all the encouragement. It really makes it better to not be going through this alone. {{Big Hugs}} to you all from me and Lola!

 

[pammy4501]

So, I talked at length with Dr. Sullivan this morning. There is no indication in any of Lola's labs that she has an infection. So, that means this is a re-lapse of her encephalitis. So, we are back on prednisone. I went home from work to give her a dose ASAP. We will give her a somewhat high dose over the weekend, and try to get the inflamation under control. I will go for a visit next week, and we will try some new meds. Lola has not tolerated any of the stronger meds real well, so this will be a trial to see if we can improve her situation. But, we also had some of the "hard talk" that if she dosen't respond well, it may be the end fo the line. And I am concerned about her quality. She has become snarly. She growls a little when you pick her up. She was snippy at the vet tech when they took her blood, and she has never done that before (she was always thier favorite due to her sweet nature) and when I took the bandage off, she actually tired to bite me! This is not my girl. I know though that encephalitis probably means she has a big big headache. Hopefully the pred will relieve this quickly. And really hoping that any new meds will be tolerated well. I am not ready to throw the towel in for Lola. But, I will not make her suffer if we are not making progress. Sad.
:crying:

 

[pammy4501]

:smcry: Pam, so very hard. I'm writing this thru tears. I really hope these meds will work. I'm sure that Lola's snarliness is from being poked and prodded so much and feeling crappy and I know prednisone makes them crazy too so that can be more piled on. I'd snarl too. I know you want to do what's best for her and hope the meds will turn around her latest bout. Otherwise I agree that if she's miserable it's hard to see them not enjoy even the simple pleasures in life and be in pain. I'm praying that she'll respond and not throw in the towel either. How did she get encephalitis in the first place...insect bite? Not knowledgeable about that (and other things). You sound like you have an awesome doctor in Dr. Sullivan. You're blessed. Sending hugs to both of you from both of us.:grouphug:

GME (Granulomatous Meningo Encephalomyelitis) is a neurologic disease effecting dogs, most commonly small breeds, usually in females. Most effected are Pugs and sometimes it is called Pug encephalitis. There is a more severe form called Necrotizing Meningo Encephalomyelitis that is sometimes called Maltese Encephalitis. GME can be caused by infection, and in the diagnostic stage all dogs are cultured, along with a spinal tap and MRI. If the cultures are pos., the treatment is antibiotics. If neg, it is assumed that it is auto immune mediated. In other words the dogs immune system is attacking the dog. The only true diagnosis can be made at necropsy. So we assume GME and treat it as such. Lola was diagnosed last Nov. Most of what you read on the internet says GME dogs live weeks to a few months. There are new treatment protocols out there that are making a big difference. Still a tough disease to treat. Something Dr. Sullivan said to me really made sense to me. She said "Dogs don't understand length of life. they only understand quality"

 

[pammy4501]

Oh Pam.....I am so sorry that Lola is still not feeling well. Maybe the prednisone will help her, along with anything else Dr Sullivan wants to use. Believe me, I understand about the quality of life, I have always made the decision, Heath, my husband cannot. Then I am left with such pain for having to do it. I pray for Lola and for you.......

How well I know Dianne. For all thier strength and manliness, they can never make the tough emotional decisions. My DH is not handling this well at all.

 

[pammy4501]

Pam, I am so sorry I just saw this thread and feel sick about Lola. I will pray that she feels no pain and the meds will help her. It's hard to see them like this :crying:
My heart goes out to you:heart: and Lola:heart:

Hey! I got the mulit quote to work!! Thanks Joanne! We started the prednisone again on Friday (or was it thurs) and I do see an improvement. I just hate having her on pred again.

I came back to check on Lola. I'm so sorry that she's not feeling well.:crying: Hopefully, the meds will kick in and help her get better.

I'll keep you all in my prayers!:grouphug:

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers. Lola seems to be responding to the pred. We will go to the vet again next week and see what else dr. Sullivan has in her bag of tricks for her.

Pam, I am so sorry Lola isn't doing well. My heart breaks for you. I hate GME.

Marj, I hate it too. It is a miserable disease. I am just hoping the high dose pred dosen't crash her liver again.

Just checking in Pam to see how Lola's doing? Still sending prayers. :grouphug:

Thanks, doing a little better today. Her daddy babysat her today so I could go the the dog show in Santa Barbara. They did well together. She dosent seem as irritable. We shall see. Still need to find a long term drug that will work for her. Pred will always take to worst of the symptoms down. I think we are going to try cyclosporin, which is what people with transplanted organs take. Oh, and the pred is doing the usual magic of making her pee about a gallon a day! I just keep the mop ready and waiting! She has to go so much that sometimes she can't make it to the door, poor girl!