Dog unable to walk or even stand during summer months

[nick8888]

We have a mix dog who is going to turn ten years old this September of 2010. She has a history of seizures and has been taking medication for most of her life in regards to this problem. However, four years ago the seizures stopped and the inability to walk during the summer months began. She can walk just fine during most of the fall, winter and spring months, yet starting in May/June her ability to walk and stand decreases rapidly. She will have a week or so where we literally have to carry her everywhere, then the following week she can walk a little and stand. Yet in a week or two the cycle starts all over again. Our vet is stumped and we have begun blood work but have not gotten the results back yet. We are curious if this could potentially be an allergy related reaction as these symptoms only occur during the summer and it must be said that we live in the southeast, where it is very humid, hot and there are a lot of various plants. The symptoms we have noted are that she is very sleepy and sleeps most the day, she appears wheezy, and as of this year she has lost interest in her food and treats. Additionally, she has gone a few days without going to the bathroom at all. We are very concerned and no one seems to know what is wrong with her. She is an indoor dog and we monitor her diet closely. There has been no significant changes in her life and as stated before this will be the fourth consecutive summer that this has occurred. We were curious if anyone has ever seen a case like this and could pass on any information, or any specialists to whom we could speak with. We really are stumped and very worried about our girl, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kindly Yours.

[nick8888]

Thank you everyone for all the comments. I don't have the paper work in front of me for the results of the blood test but we do have the test from our vet and from the university for the Thyroid. The allergy test we are still waiting to hear back from Denver. Regarding her results from the vet her white cell count was elevated. Her liver counts were a bit elevated as well, but as he stated nothing alarming. Her glucose levels were below normal (63ish) and her electrolytes were messed up particularly her chloride- a neuro muscular transmitter which was around 130 (a bit high). However, for the most part the things that were a little high or a little low were just that. Not of alarming concern and her kidney values were normal. We started her on an antibiotic due to the white cell count being low as to see if this helped. But then she really started to go downhill. She became completely apathetic to everything including when we took her to the vet, which she hates. Our vet mentioned starting her on an IV to help hydrate and get her glucose back up and electrolytes stabilized so Friday we brought her in. When my father came back from picking her up from an all day IV day on Friday our vet said she wasn't looking good and that he had completed more blood work. He said that all tests were fine now except for her liver. Her liver enzymes... I can't remember which, were significantly elevated. Ultimately he was stating that she would continue to bloat and gain water weight until it basically suffocated her. We were all pretty distraught Friday. He wanted us to bring her back in Sat to continue fluids and he wanted to keep an eye on her. Friday night she did seem much more like herself though. Sat took her in half day, our vet was amazed. Said her glucose was at normal levels and that he was going to give her something to boast her protein. We picked her up sat. got her home....and she started WALKING! She has been walking even running since last week. She hasn't done this for almost two weeks. Our vet’s office is completely amazed. As posted in my last comment she has done this for 4 consecutive years but never this bad and our vets have never seen her like this. The thyroid test came back From UT showing that her thyroid functions were normal but they were elevated in the sense that it was picking up something is wrong in her body. We have taken her off all her medications which include: Catalyst Soft Chews (Omega 3), Potassium bromide (250mg), Rimadyl (75mg), phenobarbital (1gr), and famotidine (20mg). She went back yesterday for further IV and is doing great. We are going to recheck her blood Friday. I have a friend at the vet school who has suggested a few ideas that I'm going to discuss with the vet that honestly I can't even remember how to say or pronounce, but they have been tossing around a million ideas. They both are happy for us to take her to the University, which has a great small animal vet hospital but they also both believe that they will run a ton of tests that aren't going to get us any further than we are right now. Including having Hay stay the multiple nights at the hospital which could start her seizures up again.

So as for the moment things are well. However, this is a pattern every summer so I know she will complete this cycle a couple more times. I just hope not as bad. Thank you for the support and I will additionally post on "Animal Health-General". Sounds like a good plan.

I will keep you all posted. Please let me know if any info I have shared rings a bell for anyone or any other suggestions! Thank you all again so much!

[Misfits4Me]

Hello...Any update on your girl????  I've been wondering about her & her test results....Please, let us know what you found out....Thanks, Karla

[ginger899]

Have you had her Thyroid checked? Maybe it was checked, and found to be ok?
Also, what meds is she on for her seizures? Phenobarbital therapy can cause falsely low values on some thyroid tests.

If there is something amiss with her Thyroid, that might account for her going downhill during Summer months, as she may be very heat-intolerant.

[Misfits4Me]

Please, let me know what her bloodtest results are and anything you can think of relating to other testing she has had (And for what?)......Thanks, Karla

[Jaybay]

Initially I was thinking some kind of arthritis, but that doesn't fit the other symptoms.  I assume your vet tried her on some sort of anti-inflammatory medication like rimadyl?  

This is such an oddball problem that it says "autoimmune" to me, but I'm not a vet.  I suggest you repost on the "Animal Health - General" forum here at Med Help.  The questions are answered by a veterinarian.  Maybe one of them has seen something like this before in practice.

Please let us know what happens.  Illness in our dogs is difficult enough to deal with, but when it's a mystery the frustration and helplessness is terrible.  All you can do is keep on looking for answers while you treat the symptoms as much as possible.  You might also consider taking your dog to a university with a very strong veterinary program.  They'll be up on all the latest and greatest developments in veterinary medicine.  Since your regular vet admits he's stumped, ask about a referral for more specialized testing.  Best of luck to you both.  :-)