tick paralysis in dogs--She is Better!

[herefordlovinglady]

No her head does not tilt. she is alert, just very wobbly. I thought about vertigo as well -- you know the off balance she has.

 

[verthandi]

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Was the tick bath before she started having symptoms? If so might be a reaction to the product??? itching and uncoordinated? Maybe grasping at straws, but trying to put some of the pieces together.

 

[herefordlovinglady]

The symptoms started after the tick bath. She was groomed on Friday went through the whole weekend without scratching or anything looking wrong with her. Saturday night my dog Bessy got a little sick, not much. Sunday morning, Bessy and Nilla (the one I am worried about) both ate some grass. I was at my moms all weekend so i kept them both on leashes when we went outside. I did not want them running off; so I was able to watch what they drank and ate. Nothing out of the ordinary. Sunday night when we got home, both dogs got out of the car and started running around the yard. Went in ate and drank, then back outside. Both dogs were outside for awhile they ran a lot and Nilla went places she had never gone, in the woods, down the driveway and across the road. Bessy and her played a bit rough, in fact I had to put Nilla up because Bessy was so rambunctious. Bessy 22 pounds, Nilla 3.7 pounds. (they play together all the time) But, once Bessy got so excited about being out and running is bothered me and I did not want Nilla hurt. All was fine, when I was cooking supper both dogs laid around as usual. Woke up Monday morning and Nilla had lost control of her back legs. So went to the vet and nothing has changed. If it was an injury from Bessy playing too hard, wouldn't she feel some pain? No Pain, we have checked her and moved her around and no pain. We just do not know what is going on with her. Like I said she is not affected by this at all, still tries to play and run around, seems high spirited. her symptoms, limited control of back legs, some issues with balance, itches a lot, spacey look on her face, tail is erect as always, ears up, head in normal position, wobbly, no fever, no pain.

Vet said to keep her contained for a few days, gave her a remidal (sp) 1/4 tab once per day, X-rayed her nothing shows on x-ray. After a few days and still having symptoms, maybe draw some blood...

 

[verthandi]

Pinched a nerve maybe? and instead of pain it is just numb. The itchings odd, almost doesn't sound connected, that's why I wondered about the bath. Vet's probably right to give her a few days, if everything else seems normal. Hope she heals quickly for you, I always find the third day is usually the turning point where they start to recover if it is just a minor injury.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Could she be having a toxic reaction to the tick bath or some other poison?

 

[ajablu]

I have had two dogs go down on me last year with was thought to be tick paralysis but was not. Botulism in dogs can cause similar symtoms, google it and see. My dogs were eventually diagnosed with what is also called coonhound paralysis but there is another name and some dogs can get it without having any contact with a coon.

Here is a link. I hope its ok to post. My dogs took 8 weeks and about 9 weeks for the other to be able to walk again and maybe another 2 weeks for them to be really steady and atrong again. It has been a year and so far they are doing well, back to normal.

One was totally paralyzed but she had a pain reflex and cried when pinched. She could still wag her tail and could swallow with us holding her head. It is an ascending paralysis and starts in the back legs and go all the way to the head. They have to be cleaned massaged , physical therapy, turned to prevent sores ect.. just like a person. It is similar to guillien barre in people and can come on after a vaccine or virus, infection ect.. Sometimes no cause in known. My other could not walk for about 8 weeks but she could hold herself in a laying position and hold her head up which my other was totally limp but for her tail and swallowing. They will stumble and fall over as it starts.

My other thought is I have known several people with tiny dogs and they got the same symtoms yours did from flea /tick treatments.
Could she be having a reaction? If botulism and too late for the anti toxin or unavailable my vet gave fluids and ememas to help flush, but later she decided it was coonhound paraysis because they had the classic symtoms. The emergency vets said it must be spinal damage maybe a tumor or lesions in the spine or a brain tumor and tried to make us put them down. They said they didnt think they could survive and I am so happy I listened to my gut feelings and me and my vet found the other info and treated symtoms and prayed.
We worked hard and took turns caring for them around the clock but it was so worth it to have them a part of our family still.

Link for coonhound paralysis see if this sounds like her.
If not Im thinking poison /reaction to flea stuff.

http://www.bobmckee.com/Client Info/Neurology/Polyradiculoneuritis.html

 

[herefordlovinglady]

Yep, got home last night from work and there she was, just as normal as ever, like nothing ever happened. Really still do not know for sure what the problem was, but Nilla is BETTER!!!

 

[sgtmom52]

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That is wonderful!

It actually sounds like it could have been Tick Paralysis even though you never found the tick.

 

[verthandi]

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Wonderful news!!!

 

[bock]

Oh good!