Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ike

Ike and I had agility class last night. Due to the much needed rain we are getting (day 4 today) it was inside. The course was fairly simple although it did contain an opportunity to practice our nemesis, the rear cross. After almost squishing Ike a few times we got it, although it was choppy.

Ike was slow last night. We were not sure if it was because the rear cross was making him stress or because he had lost his pelvis again when he saw Cheryl Sunday.

This morning when I woke up Ike would not get out of his crate. I thought he was being lazy or could hear the rain and didn't want to go for a walk. I got down on my knees and urged him to get up. He struggled to get up and nearly fell  out of his crate. Once he was out of the crate he was very roach backed and could not put weight on his left front leg. He struggled to move forward. I scooped him up and put him into bed.

My vet office is closed today - the on-call vet turns on the cell phone at 8am. I am going to call another vet's office at 7:30 am and see if I can get an emergency appointment with a vet I have heard good things about just in case my on-call vet can't see us.

I assume TBD (because I do not know what else to think). Ike tested positive for Lyme in December with a titer around 254. However when we did the 6-month retest his titer had dropped by 73% (a drop of 50% is considered successful treatment). I am unsure it is Lyme since he did not present in this fashion previously. I have e-mailed Tick-L (a great TBD list I belong to) to ask what tests I should run (in addition to the C6) - assuming the vet also leans toward TBD.

I do not drink coffee and have had a half-cup of tea this morning - I currently feel like I drank a whole pot of coffee.

UPDATE: I spoke to my vet. She feels pretty confident where Ike was Lyme+ that this is likely either Lyme again or another TBD. She said I could go to the ER vet if I wanted but she would recommend she call in a prescription of doxy and we get him started on that. She said I should give him some baby aspirin today for the muscle aches and someone should stay with him in case there is any change. She recommended I bring him in tomorrow for a full check-up and to run a full tick panel (ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, RMSF).

John is going to stay home with him today and let me know if there are any changes. I am going to run out and pick up the prescription and I will plan on staying home tomorrow to take him to the vet.

Thank you for the positive energy. Poor Ike.

11 comments:

Crazy Cardiness said...

Sending healing prayers Ike's way, Julie. Please let us know how he is!

Sara said...

Oh, I'm so, so sorry to hear this news about Ike.

Keep us posted.

Katrin said...

You are doing all of the right things Julie, just remember to try to breathe. I hope your vet is able to give you some advice and see him.

Dawn said...

Poor Ike. Hopefully the doxy is all that is needed. We will think lots of healing thoughts. Hugs.

Holly said...

((hugs)) and praying that Ike is OK once he starts that Doxy. It does work quickly. Please keep us posted. Bounce back quick Ike!

When Tristan ad a rebound of Lyme, I did take him to the ER vet as I thought he injured his back. I understand the panic you are going through! He had almost the same symptoms as Ike - didn't want to leave his crate, was very painful... I really thought it was something horrid (I had lost my GSD to IVDD maybe 2 years before). The bloodwork revealed Lyme + and he was 110% better the next morning with a dose or two of doxy.

Nancy and Stewie JRT said...

Hi Jules,

I am very sorry to hear about Ike. I am sending you positive thoughts that he gets some pain relief. Good luck at the vet tomorrow.

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

OOOH Ike was doing soo well, I am so very sorry to hear about this, hopefully the doxy will get this all handled soon. We will keep Ike in our thought and prayers and send all our best healing thoughts, take care of Ike and take care of yourself....those tbd just seem so scary and all of a sudden I hear about so many people with them, acouple of years ago we had a bunch of ticks,but none this year but yikes all of this makes me want to run and get some of that on the dogs ;-(-they are scary things

Kathy Mocharnuk said...

whoops I mean some tick prentives on the dogs....

Sara said...

I'm sorry to hear Ike is having a setback with his lyme, especially after having such good titers a few months ago.

I hope Ike is feeling better once he gets on the meds.

Diana said...

Oh no poor Ike. I hope as the day has gone but he is feeling better. Diana

Lani said...

Oh, dear - I'd be worried, too. Get well, quickly, Ike!