[Fluff] WOOHOO! After 2 years, 4 different vets, and countless medications we have FINALLY figured out what's wrong with my dog!

[mrsburroughs]

Thought he had a terrible UTI he couldn't shake, turns out it was urinary stones. Not sure how the other vets missed it, seeing that we got him X-rays and ultrasounds at each vets office. Finally this new vet put him on a specialized diet. It's been a month now and he's finally symptom-free!!! The best news is that he won't need surgery to remove the stones! The new diet he is on helped with the ph of his urine and dissolved the stones! I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW! I was able to take him swimming for the first time in about 6 months! He was so Happy!!! Yay for good Veterinarians!!!

 

[kchorne]

@mrsburroughs I’m so happy for you!

Fourth year vet student here and some stones are super hard to figure out! They don’t show up on x-rays or ultrasound and mimic a lot of other diseases, it takes an especially great vet to find them out. I’m so glad your dog is comfortable now! If you haven’t already, a thank you note would probably mean the world to your vet.

 

[mrsburroughs]

@kchorne That's a wonderful idea! I'm going to do that!

 

[web209]

@mrsburroughs Do you have a Dalmatian? Urinary stones are really common with them and diet helps a lot to prevent them.

I don't really know how other breeds get them though.

 

[mrsburroughs]

@web209 No he is a Cockapoo (cocker spaniel poodle mix). He is very small and fluffy. We are still a little unsure as to why he has started to devlope stones and needs a special diet but I sure am glad we've finally something that seems to work for him!

 

[sharkiemcgee]

@mrsburroughs Also, many vets have a fund they use for indigent or stray cases. Maybe you could make a small donation to that (if your vet has one).

 

[katiemomandstudent]

@mrsburroughs I am so happy for you and your dog. My vet saved my dog’s life. Two other vets were slow in diagnosing and testing. So I know how you feel. Every Christmas I bring a gift/sweet treats to my vets office to let them know I appreciate them.

 

[kjk11861]

@mrsburroughs Maybe let those other vets know how the diagnosis came about so they can learn what they missed.

 

[imagebeastmarkbeast]

@kchorne Can I ask you a question? My dog has canine degenerative myelopathy and every single vet I have asked about or tried to seek advice from has asked me what is that In return.

How can a vet help me look after my dog if they don’t know of the disease? and are potentially proscribing him stuff that makes it worse. It’s been the last 4 vets I have asked for help from.

 

[kchorne]

@imagebeastmarkbeast I’m so sorry your dog isn’t doing well!

My first question is if none of your vets know what canine degenerative myelopathy is, who diagnosed your dog with it?

Neurologic diseases are very difficult to manage and it’s clear you want the very best for your dog and have sought a number of opinions. I would highly recommend that you see a specialist even if it means a bit of a drive, they should be able to give you more information and treatment strategies.

 

[imagebeastmarkbeast]

@kchorne No body has diagnosed Bez with DM. I’m under the impression that the only way to diagnose is in a post examination. You can have a DNA sample sent off to some where in America to check if it’s in his family history.
Me and my partner do want to take him to see a specialist. We have asked if there is anything we can do extra and got nothing back. I asked if we could get acupuncture to help stimulate nerves and we were told it’s not been proven do do anything.

It seems we have split opinions on the disease, some of the older vets or ones that have been a vet for many years are not changing and adapting to new research and treatment possibilities.

The problem is the vet is the one that referees you to the specialist. If they don’t know what’s going on how will they refer me. Maybe I need to demand it.

 

[subzero0]

@imagebeastmarkbeast I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. My staffy suffered from that a couple of years ago.

I don't know what to suggest about the vets though. Maybe just let them do all their tests and see what they think it is? My vet never once used the phrase "degenerative myelopathy" but quickly determined it was neurological and wasn't something else like a slipped disc.

 

[imagebeastmarkbeast]

@subzero0 My dog is a staff too. They haven’t run any tests and haven’t offered any advice. I have gone online and done more research than I care to think about and got him a wheelchair from walkin wheels. Made ramps the lot. Little booties. Take him to the river to do hydro therapy.

I recently started refusing the boosters from fear of it messing with his immune system more than it’s already happening. I’m pretty confident it’s DM as he has zero pain issues.

 

[jozymba]

@imagebeastmarkbeast Have you looked for specialists in your area?

 

[imagebeastmarkbeast]

@jozymba We haven’t looked too hard for a specialist yet. There are none in our area but with a long journey we could attend. It actually said we need to be referred by our vet to get in.

I want noel phitzpatric to look after him lol the super vet.

 

[tinyfaith]

@mrsburroughs Hooray for good vets and good prescription diets! Long and happy life to your doggo

 

[koapray]

@mrsburroughs What were his symptoms? My dog constantly leaks and she can't help it. We have yet to find a vet that can help.

 

[mrsburroughs]

@koapray So we would notice more accidents in the house whenever he was experiencing bad symptoms. One time his weiner even swelled up. The worse it got was we noticed that after he swam he would pee a little bit of blood. It was so scary and sad because my boy looooves to swim and it killed me not to be able to take him. Thankfully we seem to have it figured out, we went swimming today and his pee was clear afterwards! So happy!

 

[koapray]

@mrsburroughs Oh poor boy!! I'm so glad he is feeling better!!

 

[huskcrow]

@koapray Is she spayed?