Sunny ill again

[moss]

Hi all
We've been back to the vets this morning.  Sunny has been steroid free since June 2012 following his SRMA diagnosis last March.
Yesterday he was sick once and fairly quiet but still wanted to go for a walk where he was pretty lively.  Today he grudgingly ate his breakfast and is walking around rather than running.  Made and appointment with the vets first thing, his temp is 40.3 and the vet seemed to think he was a bit tender through his spine.
He's had a steroid injection and an anti biotic injection plus tablets to bring home - Antepsin, 1/2 tablet x 3 daily and Omeprazole, 20mg x once daily.  He has had bloods taken.  The vet said she didn't want to rush into diagnosing SRMA again without checking his bloods for everything else first but given his history SRMA was likely.
I'm gutted, he's been so well and the longer he was well the more hopeful I became that he wouldn't get this again.
Will let you know more when we get blood results
Jackie

[goldiepower]

Poor Sunny, I'm sorry he's ill again, and you're right it does sound like SRMA relapse. Please don't despair, Jackie, it is very common for SRMA dogs to relapse and sometimes they have to be on a low maintenance dose of steroids (5mg eod) just to keep the immune system behaving itself, but they can lead perfectly normal lives in spite of it.

How old is Sunny now? Typically young dogs "grow out" of SRMA and the chances of relapse in adulthood, from 2-3 years old and beyond, is less likely.

All paws crossed, I'll watch out for updates, I hope you get the bloods back today so you can get him on the preds asap.

Chris & the Golden Boys
^Chad^ (SRMA, Hypo-T), ^Thomas^ (Hypo-T, CHF), ^Jimmy^,
Sydney, Edward and William

[moss]

Hi Chris, thanks for your reply.  He is 2 next month, I wasn't aware of the possibility of growing out of SRMA, fingers crossed for that!!
Just coz I'm nosy, do you do Obedience?  Chris and the Goldenboys rings bells, maybe from Ob UK?
No news on the bloods yet, I think that will be tomorrow
Jackie

[goldiepower]

Yes, I used to do obedience for more years than I care to remember... Clever Trevor and Chad were the boys I did most with. Chad was the one with SRMA, it did not stop him, he was game for anything!

I know a few "obedience" Jackies, which one are you? Yes, I'm still on ObUK...

All paws crossed for Sunny

Chris & the Golden Boys

[moss]

Ooooh don't think you'd know me, as I said just recognised your name. We are in deepest Devon and never competed much further afield than Bristol and never reached dizzy height, my old boy won his Novices and then got ill with Polyarthritis and various other probs so stopped competing and Sunny hasn't competed at all:-(. Hasn't trained much either lol
Blood results aren't back with the vet yet , Sunny is ok in himself, quiet and has been sick this morning but no worse than yesterday.  Looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow
Jackie x

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

HOw is Sunny doing now? sorry to hear that it sounds like he has relapsed.  These diseases are so difficult to treat sometimes they can be off all meds and ok for ages then go downhill again.

[moss]

Well, we went to the vet on Monday, Sunny was quiet and had a temp and was being sick after food.
He had a steroid injection and an anti biotic injection.
Tuesday he was still ill
Wednesday he was fine, maybe a bit quiet
Thursday, we got the blood results back, all normal apart from slightly raised white blood cells and very high c reactive proteins.  Vet phoned with results and said we have to assume his SRMA has returned BUT Sunny is fine in himself, not sick, very good appetite, normal temp, normal activity levels.
So we are waiting really to see what happens.  He had steroids on Monday which may be the cause of the improvement but would their effect have worn off by now?  Maybe he had a virus and is mended?
Vet suggests taking his temp daily and general monitoring until Monday and then reassess.
Jackie

[goldiepower]

Hi Jackie

In my experience, young dogs with SRMA go downhill over a couple of days then even without treament (in the early stages **) gradually improve over a couple of days or do till they're back to normal. They improve more quickly with steroids, as you would expect from the name of the condition, and I would be willing to bet that he did have a relapse. It is important for any AI dog to get immunosuppressive levels of steroids rather than a single injection, but given where you are with Sunny, I would monitor him and if he gets ill again, either get a spinal tap done for a definitive diagnosis BEFORE any meds are given or forget the diagnostic tests and hit him straight away with immunosuppressive steroids. After Chad's initial diagnosis, I didn't have any further diagnostic tests done when he relapsed, we were confident that the clinical signs were enough to treat as SRMA.

** AI dogs need steroid treatment, although SRMA dogs tend to recover without treatment initially, the cannot remain untreated.

Paws crossed for Sunny, let us know how he gets on?

Chris & the naughty Golden Boys (we've been training today!!!)

[moss]

Unfortunately looks like your right Chris.  He's not quite right in himself this morning and temp is 39.8Will make a vets appointment as soon as they open :-(
One difference this time is a dodgy stomach but all other symptoms similar
Jackie

[goldiepower]

Poor Sunny, let us know how you get on at the vet?

Chris & the Golden Boys

[moss]

Blimmin snow!
Completely unable to get to the vets today, have had a good chat with the vet will try again tomorrow. 
Jackie

[goldiepower]

Blimmin snow!
Completely unable to get to the vets today, have had a good chat with the vet will try again tomorrow. 

It's a shame you're not closer, I could have taken you in the Landy!

Chris & the Off-Roading Boys

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

Blimmin snow!
Completely unable to get to the vets today, have had a good chat with the vet will try again tomorrow. 

It's a shame you're not closer, I could have taken you in the Landy!

Chris & the Off-Roading Boys

your signature made me giggle there Chris!!!

[moss]

Well yesterday wasn't the best, I feel awful I didn't manage to get to the vets on Wednesday because of the snow.
Went to the vet yesterday morning and picked up Preds and Antepsin, got home and gave him the first dose ( he was already having Antepsin)and within an hour he was staggering, panting, drooling and his eyes were all over the place.  So back in the car and back to the vets.  By the time we got there he had improved, still a bit wobbley and eyes were still flicking.
Vet was fairly unconcerned, she gave me Diazapan in case he started fitting and we came home again by the time we got home he was fine.
Wish she'd told me in the morning what could happen!
Anyway, this morning he is much improved, Preds are working their magic and he is happy and running around like there's virtually nothing wrong. 
Jackie

[goldiepower]

Anyway, this morning he is much improved, Preds are working their magic and he is happy and running around like there's virtually nothing wrong. 
Jackie

Yay! Paws crossed he keeps it up 

Chris & the Golden Boys (been seriously off-roading today!!!)