Clare Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Murf is really worrying me Trying to cut a long story short, he had been getting quieter and quieter over the last six months, this coincided with a growth returning on his gum / tooth. The lump and tooth was removed four weeks ago and the tooth found to be harbouring a nasty absess. The biop came back that it was a non malignant tumour. We were hoping that after the op he would feel much better. He actually went downhill even more and was found to be anemic. He had a stomach tap and chest xrays which didn't show any signs of internal tumours. He was first diagnosed with Auto-Immune disease but after more indepth blood tests was found to be a blood bound bacterial infection, he has now been on antibiotics and his colour is back to normal, he has just had more bloods today to confirm that things are improving physically as the vet thinks they are. But what is worrying our vet and us is that his depressed behaviour seems to be getting worse, he wants to spend all his time under the bed, this had improved a bit on the antibiotics but the last few days it is getting harder and harder to coax him out from under the bed (he is still on the antibiotics). My mum normally comes and collects him for the day when we are at work, she has done this for years and he loves going there and being spoilt rotten but on Friday she spent an hour trying to coax him out and in the end had to leave him there and I rushed home from work and called my vet who told me to bring him straight in but he found all his physical signs were improved from his last vet check a few days before Out walking he seems okay, potters around on his walk but at about only 30% energy as before. He is eating and drinking fine. The best way to descibe his behaviour is totally unintersted in the world, and this is a million miles away from the real Murf, he is not even attempting to chase small furries, squirrels have free run of the garden now Has anyone come across anything like this before, or have any thoughts on what might be going on? He is 13.5yrs but before this was incredibly fit and active and no one believed his age, but now he seems to be fading before our eyes and we have no idea why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura_E Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 So sorry to hear this, it was be awful for you I'm afraid I'm not really experienced enough to give advice on what it might be, (maybe he's lost confidence after everything that his been through recently?) but I'm sending lots of positive thoughts and hope that things start to improve soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pendlewitch Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Oh poor Murf, it does sound very like depression has hit him really hard or is there a possibility of the beginnings of dementia? Antibiotics can make people really ill, does it work the same in dogs? Hope he feels better soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted June 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Thank you PW yes antibiotics can make dogs feel as yuky as they make us according to the vet, but as this behaviour was present before he started on them have a feeling that its not the root cause, although of course they won't be helping in that regard. I think its something more serious than feeling a bit yuk Have just ordered him some herbal remedies from the same place as I get Loki-horse's, they have been magic for Loki so pinning my hopes they help Murf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Sorry no advice, hope you can get to the bottom of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 I've no advice either, just wanted to send you and Murph some 's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibs Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 You could ask your vet for Zylkene, a natural milk protein in capsule form. You can open it and put it on food. Harmless as it's natural. It is a treatment for stress but I've used it in cases of unexpected stress and depression with good results. Some specific Bach Flower Remedies (not Rescue Remedy) might also help too. I could suggest some if you PM me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted June 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Really appreciate the good thoughts Will PM you Dibs thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 (edited) Really sorry to hear about Murf's problems, it must be very distressing for you Has the vet considered if his behaviour could be due to senility? I know it seems unlikely as it's happened out of the blue and while he's recovering from other health problems but senility can cause fearfulness, inertia and other odd behaviours. There are treatments that can help with brain function and can be very effective. I also wondered if he might have a problem with his eyesight, as loss of vision can leave dogs confused and depressed while they adjust. Everything crossed that this is a temporary blip and he will be back to normal soon Edited June 9, 2010 by Fee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted June 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Senile is something that has crossed my mind, and I think it got put to the back straight away. If when the vet calls me with the blood results tomorrow and they are improved I will discuss it with him. I was worried it may be a brain tumour, as I do when my imagination starts running wild, the brain was the only thing they didn't xray when they were checking for tumours, but thinking he would be showing other symptons if he had that Eyesight is something the vet has been keeping an eye on as we had concerns, from all the tests he has done he is confident his eyesight is okay, but interesting you say that Fee as we did have concerns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owl Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Take Dibs' advice and try Zylkene, tis good stuff! It picked Polly up after she got depressed by bereavement and house moves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted June 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2010 Take Dibs' advice and try Zylkene, tis good stuff! It picked Polly up after she got depressed by bereavement and house moves. I will speak to the vet about it when he calls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibs Posted June 10, 2010 Report Share Posted June 10, 2010 I will speak to the vet about it when he calls As Zylkene isn't a drug it doesn't need a prescription so you can buy it online easily. Let me know how the other stuff goes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted June 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2010 Will do He started his herbs yesterday, so not going to try anything else for a few days so I can see what is (hopefully) and what isn't helping. No blood results back yet, and still a very subdued and wobbly boy at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare Posted June 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 My vet has just called and Murf's bloods were no better and actually slightly worse. He is not producing red blood cells and his white blood cells are damaged, or something like that I really didn't take it all in He is fighting something that is not normal. He is going to be immediately reffered to a specialist vet where they will do more tests, including a bone marrow biopsie. He is 13 should I be putting him through all this, before this he was so happy and healthy so I feel he should be given every chance but is that for me or him He may go through all this and it won't be treatable. I am going to have to hope the vet will deal with Petplan direct, my vet says they do in acceptional circumstances, does anyone have any experience of this? Sorry for ramble, I think I am in shock, I knew he was poorly but this is so scarey now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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