skinnydipper
Well-Known Member
Very pleased for you.
Early symptoms of SRMA?
- Thread starter Muddy unicorn
- Start date
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
It will be so much nicer for him to be at home. I hope the recovery continues to be this speedy.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
So pleased he’s coming home. I hope he recovers very quickly.
Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
Brilliant news!
I'm sure he will recover better/faster at home. Many years ago my Lab bitch had an unexplained seizure, she spent the weekend at the vets and although no longer fitting, she didn't respond to anything much, wouldn't eat etc. Vet said take her home and monitor. It was like flicking a switch when we got home, she ran round the house, checking everything was the same, ate something and never looked back.
I'm sure he will recover better/faster at home. Many years ago my Lab bitch had an unexplained seizure, she spent the weekend at the vets and although no longer fitting, she didn't respond to anything much, wouldn't eat etc. Vet said take her home and monitor. It was like flicking a switch when we got home, she ran round the house, checking everything was the same, ate something and never looked back.
fankino04
Well-Known Member
What a great update x
palo1
Well-Known Member
He’s coming home at lunchtime. He’s improved quite a bit overnight - still uncoordinated but vet thinks he’ll recover more quickly at home.
Fantastic news! Well done vets and doggo.
I have been wondering how your dog has been doing so this is lovely to hear. I was paranoid and quite wobbly myself for the first couple of days after my chap returned home so take it easy both of you lol!misst
Well-Known Member
Fantastic news! I hope he continues to improve and you can have some cuddles now anyway! xxx Vibes for a swift improvement.
wren123
Well-Known Member
Great news
Jenko109
Well-Known Member
Yay. You and your chap have not been far from my thoughts.
Have they confirmed its SRMA?
Have they confirmed its SRMA?
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
Thank you - they haven’t confirmed SRMA yet - they’re just calling it severe inflammation of the spinal cord and cerebellum. The tests to confirm definitively that it’s not bacterial or viral won’t be back for a little while yet.
He’s very happy to be home - even though he has a terrible haircut where they did the spinal tap
. He’s still quite wobbly but is as cheerful as normal, so he doesn’t seem to have been traumatised by it all.SilverLinings
Well-Known Member
I have only just read the whole thread, what an awful few days you've had @Muddy unicorn . It sounds positive that he has improved in the last 24hrs though, and that the vets were happy for him to go home. It is a shame that you have to wait 2wks for the DNA results, but great that he is receiving some treatment in the meantime. I hope that he continues to recover and is back to full health in no time, I am keeping my fingers crossed for both of you x
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
The diagnosis according to his discharge letter is severe meningomyelitis - cause as yet unknown
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Great news, hope he gets back to normal quickly
twiggy2
Well-Known Member
I have only just seen this thread, I hope he continues to do well MU it's so scary when they are not right.
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
We survived our first night with him back home he’s been quite sleepy which isn’t surprising. He’s still quite wobbly but very determinedly bumbling along after the other dogs - when he sits down for a bit his head moves from side to side so he looks a bit like one of those nodding dogs in the back of cars. We’ve had a few wee accidents because of the steroids - he also doesn’t seem to be getting the normal ‘I need to do a wee’ signals to his brain fast enough because he’ll suddenly start doing a wee then stop, move away from it and look at the puddle in surprise. Apparently his growth is almost certainly going to be stunted so he’s going to be a very small Toller - but better a small Toller then a dead one!
he’s been quite sleepy which isn’t surprising. He’s still quite wobbly but very determinedly bumbling along after the other dogs - when he sits down for a bit his head moves from side to side so he looks a bit like one of those nodding dogs in the back of cars. We’ve had a few wee accidents because of the steroids - he also doesn’t seem to be getting the normal ‘I need to do a wee’ signals to his brain fast enough because he’ll suddenly start doing a wee then stop, move away from it and look at the puddle in surprise. Apparently his growth is almost certainly going to be stunted so he’s going to be a very small Toller - but better a small Toller then a dead one!palo1
Well-Known Member
We survived our first night with him back home
Aw, poor wee chap! Glad to hear he is cheery if a bit discombobulated atm. Hopefully he will continue to recover well. I wonder why his growth will be stunted; is that related to the treatment? Definitely better to be a small Toller than a dead one though.
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
Aw, poor wee chap! Glad to hear he is cheery if a bit discombobulated atm. Hopefully he will continue to recover well. I wonder why his growth will be stunted; is that related to the treatment? Definitely better to be a small Toller than a dead one though.
Thanks - it’s because he’s having such high doses of steroids before he’s finished growing
palo1
Well-Known Member
Ah, I see. That may or may not be for a while I guess. I hope he is still doing well at home.
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
He’s been pretty sleepy today but still very cheerful in a spaced out sort of way
misst
Well-Known Member
It sounds as if everything is heading in the right direction. I hope he's even better tomorrow. x
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
How is he today?
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
He’s ok, still sitting and walking in an odd, hunched up way and he tried to cross the stream the way he normally would by running across a log and he wobbled off it 
so balance is still not great. He’s sleeping a lot which isn’t surprising after what he’s been through. The steroids are making him very thirsty and as a result producing copious wees - he’s been trying to get outside but sometimes starts weeing as he’s running to the door. Next check up with the neurologist on Monday 
so balance is still not great. He’s sleeping a lot which isn’t surprising after what he’s been through. The steroids are making him very thirsty and as a result producing copious wees - he’s been trying to get outside but sometimes starts weeing as he’s running to the door. Next check up with the neurologist on Monday
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
Fingers crossed. It’s bound to take time.He’s ok, still sitting and walking in an odd, hunched up way and he tried to cross the stream the way he normally would by running across a log and he wobbled off it
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
He had a bit of a play with the other dogs today for the first time since coming home which I think is a very good sign 
. He’s absolutely shattered now!
. He’s absolutely shattered now!misst
Well-Known Member
Keeping everything crossed for Mondays review. x
fankino04
Well-Known Member
How did it go today?
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
We got the results - it’s definitely autoimmune so we’ve stopped giving him the antibiotics. It’s possible he will get immuno-suppressant drugs so we can lower the steroid dose but waiting to see how he goes over the next couple of weeks. He’s getting slightly better every day - considering how seriously unwell he was this time last week it’s a pretty miraculous recovery! The neurologist also said he can’t be vaccinated until he’s been clear of steroids for at least two years. She said he should be protected by herd immunity but we should still avoid unvaccinated dogs - does anyone have experience of having a dog which can’t be vaccinated?
SilverLinings
Well-Known Member
I don't have experience of having an unvaccinated dog, but I just wanted to say that I am so glad you have got the results and that they were helpful. It is great that he is steadily improving, and I hope that he is back to full health soon. Thank you for posting an update, it was awful to read how ill he was to begin with but his progress sounds very encouraging.
meleeka
Well-Known Member
I think not having him vaccinated isn’t the end of the world. I know plenty of dogs that aren’t, just because the owners don’t want the cost and have only ever heard of one being being ill and that wasn’t passed on from another dog, but they think from vermin.
I’m pleased he’s still improving.
I’m pleased he’s still improving.
palo1
Well-Known Member
My lad is not vaccinated; the vet didn't want him to have a vaccination after his SRMA and the following year or so the risk of infection was considered very, very small (Covid etc etc) He hasn't been vaccinated for 2 or 3 years now but I am planning to reassess that - I now have a different vet who may feel differently. My dog very rarely goes out with other dogs in any case (other than the dogs we have at home). I know a huge number of unvaccinated dogs actually but for other reasons!