Shay
Well-known member
My now 4 year old cav Lily, who started showing signs of SM at 3 months, was diagnosed a year ago with a syrinx and I was told by the neurologist that she was borderline for decompression surgery. We opted to treat with medication, and she is taking 50 mgs gabapentin 2x day and 1/2 omniprozal tablet. She seemed better for a while, with less frequent scratching episodes, but within the last 2 to 3 months, the face rubbing and scratching has become more frequent.
On Wednesday of this week, I came home and let her out, and as always, she quickly pottied and ran back in to get her treat. After her treat, I noticed that she looked like she could not find the floor with her back leg when she tried to walk. She would keep trying to put her back leg down, but it would never touch the floor, but not like a bunny hop. It was like she didn't know where the floor was. Then her front leg went completely stiff, and would not bend at her paw or her shoulder when she tried to walk. Her entire left side was like it was paralyzed. She kept trying to walk and would fall over. I picked her up, and her front leg was as stiff as a board just sticking straight out, and it was trembling. Then her head tilted to the left side. I held her and soothed her, and she just looked scared. I freaked out and called my husband to come home. When he got here, I put her down so he could see what she was doing, and she still kept falling. About 10 mins later she vomited everything she had eaten that morning, which was 7 hours earlier. Almost immediately after she vomited, she started walking normally. The entire episode lasted about 30 mins. She was listless the rest of the night, and last night it looked like her back leg was starting to go limp again, but only for a few minutes. I picked her up and tried to touch her front left paw, and she would pull it away, but would let me manipulate her right front paw. Then later, she was laying behind me on the back of the sofa, and she let out a deep sigh. I thought she was sleeping, but when I turned to look at her, her eyes were open and she was staring into space. I called her name several times and she didn't respond. I screamed her name, and nothing. I yelled for my husband, and when he came into the room, he called her and nothing. After about another 30 seconds, she looked up at us. Today she seems better, but not completely herself, but she is wanting to play some, and she is walking fine. Her appetite is as voracious as ever.
Does this sound like she is having seizures, or something else? What is so weird is the minute she vomited, she was able to walk again, like nothing had happened. It almost seemed like she had a stroke that had affected her entire left side. Even when she couldn't walk, she was trying to wag her little tail, but it would only wag on the unaffected side and would not go to the left, if that makes any sense. She never seemed to be in any pain during the episode. I have never had a dog with seizures, so I have no idea what a seizure looks like. There was no convulsing at all.
Needless to say, I was very distressed, as she has never had any seizures, limb issues or head tilt with her SM. And this just happened so suddenly, and then was gone after she vomited. Do dogs vomit after seizures? Her only symptoms with her SM have been face rubbing, itching, and the occasional yelp when you pick her up.
I found out today that we now have a neurologist in my city 2 days per week, who actually works with the neuro who diagnosed her at out vet school, and I was able to make an appointment with him for next week. I am so pleased we now can have her treated here in my city, in addition to our vet school if needed. Sorry this is so long, but if anyone has any ideas or had a similar experience with their dog, I would love to hear from you. It is a long time until next Friday, and if it happens again before then, I would like to know what to do for her if it is seizures. All thoughts are welcome. As you can imagine, this sweet baby is everything to us, and the thought that she has now progressed to seizures or lameness is heartbreaking for us. Thanks!
Edited to add:
We did have a vigorous time playing ball the day before this happened. The weather was beautiful, and she so loves to play ball, that we gave in. She kept running from the door to the cabinet where we keep her ball, so we just had to let her play a while in this beautiful weather. It is so hard to try to keep a dog who lives to play from it. I guess that is the dilemma with all SM owners. I guess that could have brought this on, and I could kick myself if I am the reason. But I think, I don't know how long she will be with us, is it fair the keep her from the things she loves so much?
On Wednesday of this week, I came home and let her out, and as always, she quickly pottied and ran back in to get her treat. After her treat, I noticed that she looked like she could not find the floor with her back leg when she tried to walk. She would keep trying to put her back leg down, but it would never touch the floor, but not like a bunny hop. It was like she didn't know where the floor was. Then her front leg went completely stiff, and would not bend at her paw or her shoulder when she tried to walk. Her entire left side was like it was paralyzed. She kept trying to walk and would fall over. I picked her up, and her front leg was as stiff as a board just sticking straight out, and it was trembling. Then her head tilted to the left side. I held her and soothed her, and she just looked scared. I freaked out and called my husband to come home. When he got here, I put her down so he could see what she was doing, and she still kept falling. About 10 mins later she vomited everything she had eaten that morning, which was 7 hours earlier. Almost immediately after she vomited, she started walking normally. The entire episode lasted about 30 mins. She was listless the rest of the night, and last night it looked like her back leg was starting to go limp again, but only for a few minutes. I picked her up and tried to touch her front left paw, and she would pull it away, but would let me manipulate her right front paw. Then later, she was laying behind me on the back of the sofa, and she let out a deep sigh. I thought she was sleeping, but when I turned to look at her, her eyes were open and she was staring into space. I called her name several times and she didn't respond. I screamed her name, and nothing. I yelled for my husband, and when he came into the room, he called her and nothing. After about another 30 seconds, she looked up at us. Today she seems better, but not completely herself, but she is wanting to play some, and she is walking fine. Her appetite is as voracious as ever.
Does this sound like she is having seizures, or something else? What is so weird is the minute she vomited, she was able to walk again, like nothing had happened. It almost seemed like she had a stroke that had affected her entire left side. Even when she couldn't walk, she was trying to wag her little tail, but it would only wag on the unaffected side and would not go to the left, if that makes any sense. She never seemed to be in any pain during the episode. I have never had a dog with seizures, so I have no idea what a seizure looks like. There was no convulsing at all.
Needless to say, I was very distressed, as she has never had any seizures, limb issues or head tilt with her SM. And this just happened so suddenly, and then was gone after she vomited. Do dogs vomit after seizures? Her only symptoms with her SM have been face rubbing, itching, and the occasional yelp when you pick her up.
I found out today that we now have a neurologist in my city 2 days per week, who actually works with the neuro who diagnosed her at out vet school, and I was able to make an appointment with him for next week. I am so pleased we now can have her treated here in my city, in addition to our vet school if needed. Sorry this is so long, but if anyone has any ideas or had a similar experience with their dog, I would love to hear from you. It is a long time until next Friday, and if it happens again before then, I would like to know what to do for her if it is seizures. All thoughts are welcome. As you can imagine, this sweet baby is everything to us, and the thought that she has now progressed to seizures or lameness is heartbreaking for us. Thanks!
Edited to add:
We did have a vigorous time playing ball the day before this happened. The weather was beautiful, and she so loves to play ball, that we gave in. She kept running from the door to the cabinet where we keep her ball, so we just had to let her play a while in this beautiful weather. It is so hard to try to keep a dog who lives to play from it. I guess that is the dilemma with all SM owners. I guess that could have brought this on, and I could kick myself if I am the reason. But I think, I don't know how long she will be with us, is it fair the keep her from the things she loves so much?
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