Please help us save our Golden Retriever "Birdy"

[4Birdy]

Our Golden, Birdy, is a 2 1/2 year old female.  We live in Fair Oaks, Sacramento County, California.  

Three weeks ago Birdy was the picture of health.  Lean, athletic and with a typical "joyous, happy and free" personality so often associated with the breed.  Birdy began showing some behavioral abnormalities two weeks ago, including shying away from a stranger we passed on our nightly walks and then later, taking some food off a table (something completely out of character for our particular dog.)

Last week, things  became much worse with Birdy showing symptoms one would associate with a stroke or alzheimer's patient: confusion, agitation (severe), hypersensitivity to sound, fear of the car, lack of coordination and other severe neurological deficits that have made Birdy compelled to move constantly, but she runs into things, gets stuck in corners and only appears to recognize where she is when her name is called.

She had no electrolytes, off the chart potassium levels and low sodium levels when we brought her to the vet.  Her temperature and blood pressure were low.  She was rehydrated, but it's been a challenge to continue to keep her that way as she appears to have issues with coordination and depth perception that makes drinking difficult for her.  She has a voracious appetite, actually something abnormal for her.

We are lost.  We have requested a neurological consultation at UC Davis, but this may take a month to get.  We dont want Birdy to suffer but the vet is unsure whether she is in pain or not.  

Any help, information or advice is much-appreciated.

[Jaybay]

With electrolytes that crazy, her kidneys don't seem to be doing their thing.  So the next question is, "Why?"  It almost sounds like a kind of toxin at work, but I'm no vet.

Please post your questions along with any lab values you have to the vets here at Med Help.  Either Dr. Cheng or Dr. Sims might have some valuable insight into what is going on.  Further, they may be able to give you the name of a different referral hospital that doesn't require a one-month wait for consultation.  

Please let us know what happens.  I'll be praying her problem is fixable, and soon!  :-)

[BabaluandOtis2]

Hi,
I am so sorry to hear about your baby. Electrolyte imbalances can have lasting and permanent side effects, neurological, vision, etc... .....it happened to me due to a med a couple yrs. ago. Thankfully I could still think clearly just enough to get myself to the ER, but was told they didn't know if I would be walking out of there they were so low. No wonder i now have some serious anxiety. And permanent vision damage, along w/ cloudy thinking at times, etc...

To find out why she obviously has to see the specialist, I cannot believe they make people wait so long.....we are so lucky here with the vet hosp. we have.
They do have meds and supplements for people to help keep their electrolytes up, have you asked your vet about it? Also if your baby likes ice cubes, I make ice cubes and add treats and when mine aren't feeling well and not eating good i make ice cubes with Gatorade.
I know some people also use Pedialyte ? for babies with their pups too.
Did they test her thyroid with the appetite? and also test for diabetes? My Lab mix was diabetic and needed thyroid meds too. if she has any of those it could make them very hungry/thirsty, or not hungry at all depending.
Is there any other vet you could go to?

Some others may come along w/ other info for you.
Wishing your baby well and sending tons of hugs and smooches xoxox
Take care, Teresa ; )
PS...There is something called canine vestibular syndrome, but w/ your baby's electrolytes that may not have anything to do with it but you could look it up just to see the symptoms.