Say Some Prayers for Jewel... - Page 3

How terrifying to have to sit and wait and watch, don't know if I could do that...If you know what I mean.  Nan

Nans, I do know what you mean, and it is difficult. Ranks right alongside being unable to do much to help when a dog is having a seizure, or when they've experienced a fibrocartilagenous embolism affecting the spinal cord--it's such an awful feeling, to be helpless to make the dog 'all better', and very hard to take, emotionally.  It's why I would never look down on an owner who chooses euthanasia in such circumstances...because I know how hard that decision is to make to begin with, and how much harder it is when the person knows they are making it because they lack the strength to endure such helplessness without it destroying them in every way. There is no 'easy' way to deal with such situations.    Some people are fortunate enough that they can bear the burden, but neither owner is better or worse...they simply are what we all are, falliable and fragile living things.

It's been a fortuitous coincidence that a friend's dog likely had exactly the same thing happen to her this week. She doesn't have nystagmus (not now, anyway) but she was off her food for a few days, had great difficulty walking, and had to be carried outside to do her business. She is eating again, and able to walk now, though she has a pronounced head tilt, and weaves like a drunken sailor.

Of course, the owner was thinking she'd had a stroke, or a brain tumor, but after reading this thread, I was able to reassure him that it was likely vestibular syndrome, and given time, she'd likely be all right.

Sunsilver, I'm glad this thread could give your friend some reassurance for his dog, and I hope that this is all it is too. :)

I haven't heard from mom yet tonight, but I was able to swing over there this morning. She has been drinking a lot of water, even though her head is completely sideways, so it's a messy process. She ate a small bit of cheese last night. When I got there she was drinking, then stopped and lifted her head up, though it was moving all around, I think not under her control. She started sniffing the air as I got closer, and I knelt down beside her... that tail started thumping like crazy, and she laid her head on me, sideways, and started doing her excited whimper she always does when I get there. Her eyes were still moving around a bit, but no where near as bad as they were, and she was trying to get up, but couldn't. Absolutely heartbreaking though.  I tear up at the thought.

Thanks for the encouraging words and continuous support everyone... it means a lot!

I'm staying optimistic. I just hope she pulls through this quickly. My mom, as usual, is overreacting to this situation, but I hope she continues to give her this chance. Jewel has given us her whole life... through thick and thin, and it would be selfish to close the book without giving her the chance to recover, just because it's hard for us to see.
 

Dawulf, that's an excellent update, and from your descriptions, there's no doubt in my mind that Jewel's experienced a vestibular incident--and that she IS turning the corner in her recovery, now that she's drinking on her own [sloppily though it undoubtedly is right now]!  For the present, it's best to feed her small amounts of easily-digested food, such as cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, boiled & minced white chicken meat, or even baby food; these are all foods that provide a lot of nutrition while leaving very little waste product for the liver & kidneys to filter out of the bloodstream.

Sending more hugs to Jewel, and reassurances to your Mom and you both--it might take a bit longer than one would hope, but Jewel IS on her way back from this episode and will be OK.

Dawulf,
I'm glad to hear she has made some progress.  One of our Patrol dogs had this and he is fine and back to work.  I'm sure it was really hard on your mom. she and the dog are both lucky to have you.  Give them both a hug from me and Boomer.

Hexe,
Excellent posts.

I am so confused now. Mom just called me and said they were taking her back in, that the vet called and asked how she was, and is concerned because there is no reason she shouldn't be walking and standing on her own? He wants to give her some kind of steroid shot now.

For what it's worth, she did stand up last night on her own (but went right back down).

I will type more later when I'm not on my phone. ...

What? Why does he think she should necessarily be back walking yet? It's only been a couple days.......

Not a clue. First everything was normal, and now? He said if the steroid doesn't help, then it is some other kind of neuro thing and there's nothing he can do. ..

I haven't stayed up on this research, but I thought the newer research showed a dog will get better with or without steroids, and even for brain injuries, they are no longer advisable? I am fairly confident that's correct, since when my Chi had a serious brain injury and major swelling, the iniital emergency vet gave him a shot and the neuro specialist we were referred to later was very upset, saying that steroids for brain injury was old thinking and that current research is that they're not advisable. Now, that was most certainly a different problem, but from her explanation, it seemed to me that steroids were no longer preferred for any kind of brain issue??? Maybe Hexe or someone currently in the field will shed more light? 

From the minute you texted me, my gut was vestibular, as I said, but of course there is a possibility of something worse, but it seemed to be following a typical vestibular course...so I don't get it. She's drinking, or trying to, she knows you, she got up last night (so what if she couldn't maintain it- baby steps- and that's a step in the right direction)....I don't understand the change in protocol all of a sudden. Maybe we're missing something since this is second and third-hand info. 

Poor Jewel, and poor you.