Bingo's latest blood test

[admin]

Hi Vally

Just playing “catch up” and reading through what’s been happening with dear Bingo. Well done indeed for managing to video his episode. This boy really does like to keep you on your toes, huh?

I do hope all goes well tomorrow at the health spa, and that he returns feeling rested and revitalised. I know you must be worried sick. It’s always horrible having to check them in for their “pedicures”, but let’s hope you will get to the bottom of it.

Thinking of you and will be looking out to see how he gets on.

Much love, Mary and Mable x

• This reply was modified 10 years, 3 months ago by admin.

[Vally]

Well he certainly didn’t want to go the Health Spa. No appreciation that boy. He looked so sad, I had to hold it together so I didn’t burst into tears.

Ha, the policy at the hospital is you pay 50% of the amount quoted for any treatment. They gave me the quote and I pulled out my credit card but they said, “No don’t worry, we’ll fix it up when you pick him up”. I guess they know my DNA by now. Ms Money bags!!!

The syncope episodes have continued, happening almost every night now, Tuesday night the worse where he was barking and carrying on and then just lost his legs and fell down, then popped up again, the other times are more tremors going through him. Since yesterday was my day off, I took him for a walk earlier than normal and then gave him a small meal (about a quarter of a 100g tin of dog food), and whilst I didn’t see anything happen before the meal, he seemed very tired and quiet all day. About 2 hours AFTER his dinner though, I saw a shudder go through him, which often is the start of it, but nothing further, so that has me thinking it’s not glucose, but the test will go ahead to rule it out anyway. He was a bit shocked this morning when he didn’t get his food. Instead he just got scooped up and taken to the car – to his TERROR!!! He knows that means THE VETS!!!! What happened to the DAY SPA and the MANICURE!!!!

My theory now goes back to the pred reduction. There was no sign of this during the 3 weeks I upped his dose when he pretended to be lame – I think he just likes his happy pills too much. However, if the tests don’t show anything, the next step is to check his heart.

I’m going to ask to put his pred back up to at least what it was before the last reduction. There is absolutely nothing to the reduction, the difference between the two doses is 0.05mg, but I think the problem is he needs it daily. He doesn’t notice the 1 skip in 4 days, but skipping 2 days over 4, he feeling it – that’s my theory. There has always been a problem with trying to skip days.

I’ll let you all know what I hear.

Love Vally (and a very sad Bingo no doubt).

[Tamara]

Vally, thinking of you and Bingo and keeping paws crossed that they will figure this out and it will be something simple. Sending you both love and hugs —
tamara and ashki xoxox

[admin]

Hi Vally

Oh, poor Bingo – it’s horrible leaving them – I hate it when they are scared stiff.

I have to say I am still thinking pred too, although the heart monitor is well worth doing to make sure there’s nothing going on there. We had a cross breed alsation / labrador (sweet darling & very clever girl) called Lucky that Dad brought back from the fairground in his pocket as a tiny pup. She had little “attacks” of collapsing from about age 13, but she stayed down on the ground for a longer time than Bingo – it did turn out to be heart problems, but she was soon better on some digoxin.

I know I’m repeating myself, but – too coincidental with the pred dose change though? If he has to stay on the slightly higher dose, well so what. As long as Bingo is well & happy, it doesn’t matter!

Hoping some answers will be found soon & you will know what you’re dealing with here.

Love, Lurkio, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[Vally]

Well I think they gave me the wrong dog back. This guy is too happy to be Bingo! When I got him back and put him in the car, he was still very upset and – that’s my Bingo. But after he got home, he had about 15 meals because he was SOOO hungry because he didn’t get ANY food at the hospital – so much for a day spa! He had to hang on all day too because he won’t wee on the fake grass there, so he’s been outside about 10 times to wee.

Nothing solved really. He passed the glucose test with flying colours.

They don’t really believe it’s a cardiac problem. His heart was checked (not with a monitor – that could still be done) by a cardiologist. They don’t hear any abnormalities. They think we should put that on hold for now. If the events become more severe, we’ll address it.

He showed the video to a neurologist there and she says she sees this in older dogs occasionally – the brain seems to lose itself a bit. They don’t think it’s serious. Worse case scenario, it’s possible it could be some sort of brain disease or tumor, but the symptoms should be more severe and more seizure like with slower recovery.

So, we agree to put the pred back up again and most likely leave it there and see how he goes. I was very worried about the no pred today – it should have been the higher dose, so I’ve snuck him a teensy bit (less than half of an eighth) to tide him over to tomorrow morning, when he’ll get a quarter (of a 5mg) tablet and we’ll go back to the earlier dosing, of skip 1 day in 4.

I’m much relieved tonight, even though it not truly solved.

Thank you my dear friends.

Love Vally & the Alien.

[admin]

Hi Vally & the Man from Mars

I think this is all really good news – and if he doesn’t have another episode at the higher dose of pred, problem solved. If I know you, you’ll still be worrying until this settles down though (of course I never worry at all, do I?). Hoping all will be fine from now on, but give it a few days as he has missed some pred.

Loads of love, Lurkio & the boys xxxx

[admin]

Oh bless him. I know it’s horrid leaving them at the vets. You did well Vally – I always burst into tears. How has he been since being back on the higher dose? I guess it might take a little while to settle, but keeping everything crossed this will now settle down.

Love to you and the lovely boy with the blue shoes,

Mary and Mable x

[Vally]

Hi my friends,

Since getting out of jail (I mean hospital) on Thursday night, I noticed the tremor thing again (didn’t fall) on Friday night (again before his dinner), but nothing since then, although I am throwing his food at him as soon as he starts to get itchy for it. It means he’s not waiting a full hour after his thyroxine, it’s usually closer to 50 minutes – I can’t stand the wait any longer and I’m so stressed just watching him to see if anything happens, and he couldn’t care less how stressed I am.

I can’t believe how this is getting to me. I’ve seen videos on Youtube that show dogs having tremors etc, and Bingo’s are nothing compared to that, but I guess what’s behind it all is the fear that something else is going on. I dare say, as each day goes by, IF nothing happens, I’ll start to relax a bit. If it comes back, then I’ll just have to deal with it too. His vet rang this morning to see how he was, so he’s crossing his fingers too that Bingo behaves.

Love Vally &