Could this be Lyme? sorry, long story.

[harr754]

Here is the background: Sunday evening Buddy just wasn't right, seemed like his neck was bothering him. I sat with him for a little while, then he came around and seemed fine. Monday, he was fine, no problems. Tuesday my mom let him out around noon and she said he didn't seem quite right. I got home around 3 and he was fine, let him out, brought him back in, no problems. Left the house and came back in around 4:30, called him to get out of his bed and he literally fell out of it. He was all hunched up with his head down, trembling, unable to walk straight. I rubbed him all over but he didn't seem to be in pain on any particular part of his body.

My regular vet was unavailable and her fill-in was booked so I took him to a local guy. The dog seemed a little brighter at the vet, but still wobbly. Normal temp, normal blood sugar test. He ran a snap test and said he was a +2. He gave me some doxy and also sent away blood for a full work-up.

Wed a.m. the dog was not happy. Very stiff, very wobbly. I gave him some doxy as prescribed by the vet and a short time later he threw up 3 times. I think the doxy upset his stomach.

Wed p.m. I took him to my regular vet who looked at the blood work and didn't see anything that caught her eye. The dog was almost normal at the vets, but all day Wed he stayed in his bed, and had to be carried outside to pee. He was very wobbly - looked drunk.

My vet decreased his doxy and gave me some rimadyl.

Today he was really bad, he would literally fall over if he tried to walk. Very stiff and the few steps he would take would be very crooked. Not a happy dog.

He is eating and drinking. He has not have a fever.

Has anybody had a dog act like this? Please help! Thanks.

[golden&hovawart]

Yes,it could very well!.
i would ask the vet to check for lymes disease and not wait cos if not treated can kill a dog!.

[harr754]

A Lyme test was run - the snap test - and he is on doxy to treat the Lyme.

[golden&hovawart]

I would ask for a blood test!.

[EllyMay]

Hi harr754
I think it is not Lyme.
Lyme is associated with fever, and normally there is no vomiting.
http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0043.htm
Not sure if this is good news or bad, sounds like maybe some kind of poison / instestinal flu? Is he drinking water ok? That is the most important thing.

[golden&hovawart]

When my dogs had lymes,none of them had fever,but they were all limping,they didn't eat and the inside of their eyes and mouth,was white instead of pink.

[harr754]

I think he vomited that one morning because I gave him the doxy on an empty stomach. I believe he is drinking okay, I have seen him drink.

He is still not good. I'm still having a hard time believing this is Lyme. I was hoping somebody else out there has had a similar experience.

[borzoimom]

could be lyme but also autoimmune triggered meningitus. Ask your vet to put the dog on antibiotics just in case. Lyme disease is the same antibiotic.

[harr754]

He is on doxy. She also gave me tetracycline in case he continued to throw up with the doxy - which he has not done.

[EmmaGirl]

I don't know what to make of this but I am worried for him. Elly had a really good question...how is he eating and drinking (oops...sorry...you said he is drinking ok)? Doxy and Tetracycline are pretty heavy hitting antibiotics BUT only if this is bacterial in nature. I can't see the point of the Rimadyl (anti-inflammatory with some severe side effects). Viral anything cannot be treated with antibiotics, other than anti-virals.

At this point, keep those electrolytes up. Pedialyte replacement. Keep up with the antibiotic therapy and be very vigilant as to any changes that occur.
Good luck and Best Wishes,