Friend's dalmation is ill - any ideas?

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Chumsmum

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Hiya - this is on behalf of a friend.

Her 11yo Dalmation, Smartie, is poorly and vets are not sure what's wrong.

She was in good health though back legs had started to get a bit shaky but still a Daft Dalmation
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Just over a week ago, friend went on holiday and left dog with daughter. Smartie was in the garden, digging... Next time daughter looked outside, she was flat out under a tree, unable to get up. Vet's xrayed her and couldn't find anything and now thinking possibly muscular but not really sure.

She has been improving, she can now walk, abeit very shakily but is eating and drinking. Then yesterday Smartie accidently bumped in to someone, yelped and now is walking round with head permantly down. She is going back to vets obviously but has anyone any experience of this or similar?

Many thanks for any replies.
 
Is it possible she has become epilectic? I know from experience that this can effect eyesight and hence the odd behaviour - I hope your friend finds out what is wrong soon.
 
My dalamation a few years ago started to carry his head very low and yelped in the most horrific pain. I took him to the vets, they couldnt figure out what was wrong with him and sent him home with some mega painkillers. It broke my heart to see him in such pain still so I took him back to the vet. They x-rayed him, and couldnt find\see anything.

The vet then refered him to an orthopedic vet who did some wierd kind of scan (mylogramm) or something like that and discovered he had slipped a disk in his neck.

He had to stay on his lead for a couple of months and luckily didnt need surgery.

I have since learnt from a friend who is a head veterinary nurs that dalmations can be prone to my dogs kind of problem.

I thought I post a reply to you as you say your friends Dally had been x-rayed and they couldnt see anything which is axactly the same as my boy, it was only a super duper special scan jobby that picked up the problem.

I hope you friends dog gets better, I would be very interested to hear how the dog gets on!
 
Sorry for delay in replying - couldn't get on here
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Thanks for replies everyone - will pass on comments.

Your story in particular cecildog sounds remarkably similar - I will pass on info and keep you updated!

Many thanks again
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Update on doggy - still no better, vet very sure not a slipped disc, he thinks more muscular but very strong pain killers are not helping at all
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Friend was picking up even stronger painkillers last night but dog has got a couple of other things wrong with her, she is elderly, she is not insured and friend is rapidly running out of money and can't bear to see her like this so is seriously thinking of having her PTS
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and for what it's worth, I think she is making the right decision.

Thanks for previous replies everyone.
 
Sorry to hear they can't figure out what's wrong. It's never an easy decision, even when there's issues like saving from pain that makes the decision easier, it's still not easy.

Sympathies from Sweden for your friend.
 
Hi there.

Sorry to hear theres been no progress. Has your friends regular vet referred the dog at all or is the fact that the dog isnt insured a factor here.

My dogs vet at the time was a very experienced vet/surgeon and he was happy to admit he didnt know what was wrong and thats why he referred my dog up the chain!

I hope your friends vet isnt referring the dog as he is too proud to admit he doesnt know whats wrong!

Maybe it would be best for the dog to be PTS as its not good if they are in constant pain!

Please keep in touch as I would like to know the outcome!
 
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