Sm aggrevation after grooming?

[mommytoClaire]

Hoping for an update on Blondie.

It's so hard, there are so many things that can cause issues for our dogs. And since they can't talk, it just makes it that much harder.

I know that I had a friend whose dog was very sensitive to traditional treatment to fleas and ticks.

Frontline is the flea and tick one right? Or does it also cover heartworm? I'd stick with just heartworm pills and not deal with the fleas and tick with an all encompassing med. There are dogs that react to the vaccines that are combo's.

Then I'd try to find natural alternatives for the fleas and ticks. Hoping she is doing better poor little sweetie!

[Blondiemonster]

Blondie is doing better than on day 1 but she is still not her same old self.
I cannot go for walks with her, she get's excited and than the "spasms" start again.
This is her last day of prednisone too, and I'm not sure if the pred helps or if it's just the natural process. Its also nasty weather and it's been for days (grey, humid and always seems like its gonna thunder, so the worst for Neuro problems)
Btw, My friends mom just told me her malthese has a NASTY neurological reaction to frontline that took months to get better. So it's not uncommon at all and I will NEVER touch it ever again.
Now here is the kicker: a massive, fat tick rolled of her body today. The groomers must 've missed it. But the kicker is that frontline doesn't even work.
She must've had it this whole time. (I front lined her because I found a tick on her after a walk in the woods)

[anniemac]

Blondie is doing better than on day 1 but she is still not her same old self.
I cannot go for walks with her, she get's excited and than the "spasms" start again.
This is her last day of prednisone too, and I'm not sure if the pred helps or if it's just the natural process. Its also nasty weather and it's been for days (grey, humid and always seems like its gonna thunder, so the worst for Neuro problems)
Btw, My friends mom just told me her malthese has a NASTY neurological reaction to frontline that took months to get better. So it's not uncommon at all and I will NEVER touch it ever again.
Now here is the kicker: a massive, fat tick rolled of her body today. The groomers must 've missed it. But the kicker is that frontline doesn't even work.
She must've had it this whole time. (I front lined her because I found a tick on her after a walk in the woods)

Are you kidding me!! Poor blondie. Please keep us updated. Did you mention this to dr. West? I am on the road trying to catch up. I read what you and karlin wrote about frontline. Was that before or after you talked to dr. West? I would mention this to him again. Like I hate to say it like this, but I hope it has more to do with the weather on top of everything else instead of taking months to get over like your moms friend.

I remember praying for good weather because it really does have a relation to sm dogs like you said. Oh no, I'm sorry.

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[Karlin]

Prednisone usually takes at least half a day to start working and persists for 24-36 hours after the last dose generally. I would call Dr West to explain what is happening. And again: I'd just go to a vet and talk about a possible antidote if this is a neurological reaction to Frontline. If this were an SM flare-up, I think you'd probably expect it to have settled by now with prednisone; it is pretty powerful on that type of pain. Hard to know if improvement you have seen is due to preds or a Frontline problem going away of its own accord.

Because use of these flea/tick meds are now widespread many insects are getting resistance to them (quite a few have posted on various dog lists about various products no longer working on fleas. But if a tick is still attached it doesn't actually mean Frontline wasn't working -- it can take a couple of days for them to detach and fall off). Often you need to switch and try a different product using a different insecticide if resistance has developed. But in your shoes, I would not use any further chemical products on Blondie as there looks like there could be a link between symptoms and Frontline side effects .

It is really important to understand that the vast majority of dogs have no problems with this medication. There will always be rare cases of animals that do -- just like there will always be people who have one or some of the long lists of potential side effects listed for medications. Frontline would be very commonly used by people here and this is the first possible reaction I have heard of in over 6 years of the board being in existence -- so if this is a side effect, it is very rare.

That said as a general point I don't really like using flea products very often because owners are dosing their dogs with quite strong chemicals that get absorbed into their systems. But we do not have a bad flea problem in our cool climate and no heartworm and few ticks.

[Blondiemonster]

I agree with you on the prednisone Karlin. It should've worked by now and completely eliminated the symptoms, if they are exaggerated SM symptoms brought on by frontline or not. Since,
Last year the exact same thing happened after frontlining her, I do have some sort of reference:
After a week of no improvement she went under full anesthesia for an MRI because I was suspecting SM. When she came out of anesthesia the symptoms where completely gone. Strange huh?
Maybe the very intense form of "muscle relaxer/valium" under the form of general anesthesia stopped the symptoms.
Anyhow, since they DID go way last year, I am hopeful that it will go away now.
Karlin and Anne, last year I got laughed at by the regular vet with my frontline story.
Dr. Marino also didn't take it very seriously.
Dr. West his team blaimed it on her SM completely and also wont listen to my frontline story, since he didn't want to give muscle relaxers and his assistant vet was pretty condecending to me on the phone each time I brought up "frontline'.
I feel like I am on my own here. The only thing I can try is a brand new vet and not say anything about SM. I feel like "that" mom with her sick child going from doc to doc and nobody will listen.

[anniemac]

I really wish you could find a vet you liked in the area. Karlin did mention that it probably is not very common so I can sort of see why a vet might not put it together the first time. I hated when my vet looked at me like I was crazy describing things with ella. Rod one time gave me advice about vets, that its important if they want to listen and help. You know a general vet might not know all there is about sm or may have never had a dog/cat react to frontline, but if you took what you googled and karlin quoted, I would want one to show concern and help sort this out. Just my opinion.

You have every right to be a concerned mom. That's a good thing. Its also good you remembered what happened last time she had an episode and wrote down that information to put pieces together. I know you have been frustrated with the PSOM and everything else, but I think I would definately be concerned and maybe even call frontline. It might not be tied to it (sounds like maybe it is) but it wouldn't hurt to see what others have had reactions.





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[Blondiemonster]

It has to be tied to it because its to coincedental. Im gonna wait it out a few days and hope it subsides like it did last time...

[mommytoClaire]

Anne has a good point. I'd google the Frontline reactions you got. Perhaps if you contacted a holistic Vet, one that could help you with something more natural that may help in keeping the ticks and fleas off Blondie.

And yes, Karlin is right, I am sure it's rare, but it's just a shame that it happened to Blondie with all her other issues.

Hugs,

[anniemac]

Poor Blondie

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[lovecavaliers]

OMG just catching up. Poor Blondie, how is she today? I am sorry the doctors aren't listening. You said a tick rolled off of her, could she have lyme disease? My brother's dog just came down with it and they live in NY too.
Jack also gets an exacerbation of symptoms for a few days after using Frontline so now I only do it during the hot humid months. However now I am thinking not to do it at all.

Please do update on Blondie.