An Update on Our Tulip

TulipRose · 01-24-2011, 11:28 AM

Well...we took tulip (our 10.5 month old basset) to the Neurologist on Saturday to try to find out the cause of her seizures. She is still on 100mg 2x a day of Pheno and seizures are not under control.

Unfortunately, I can't really say we received good news.

Her clinical exam showed so deficit in response on her right side, which was different from left side - indicative, neurologist says, of something being 'off' neurologically. As physical neuro exams with dogs are failry crude he cautioned not to read too much into it, though.

He did not recommend an MRI, as he said more often that not (~85% of the time) what he finds, he cannot fix and he doesn't think she is presenting like she has a brain tumor.

The 4 options he gave us for diagnosis were:
1. Really bad idiopathic epilepsy, but he thinks she is rather young to have it this bad, and have it not responding to drugs. Also, her neuro exam points to other problems.
2. Encepahlitis
3. Hydrocephalus
4. Liver Shunt

We tested for the liver shunt Saturday and should get results soon. If that is all clear (which they think it will be) then we are going to treat with a new anti-convulsant and hope it really is idiopathic epilepsy and she can be controlled with the drugs.

If for soem reason the test comes back differently thatn expected, depending on the severity of the shunt, that could be managed (but not necessarily cured) with surgery and other interventions.

The vet indicated there is SOME treatment for Encepahlitis & Hydrocephalus, but neither is a cure and if we get to the point of steroids and antibiotics for those conditions we are going to need to weigh quality of life vs. treatment choices.

A lot to digest this weekend...although it is nice to at least have SOME IDEA of what could be wrong. Keeping our fingers crossed that the new anti-convulsant works...

Sarah

sadeyes2 · 01-24-2011, 02:11 PM

No experience of this whatsoever Sarah. So hard for you and such a young pup to have to go through this. Hoping they reach a conclusion soon.

dreamons · 01-24-2011, 02:16 PM

Poor Tulip. Hope they find the problem and it's something treatable. God bless you both.

gsally · 01-24-2011, 09:46 PM

So sorry about your pup's health challenge. God bless you both! Hang in there and thanks for taking such good care of Tulip!

murraysmom · 01-25-2011, 07:36 AM

I know you must be sick with worry- I hope you can get a definite diagnosis soon. Please keep us updated, I'm hoping for the best for Tulip!

Tuesday · 01-25-2011, 11:26 AM

Good luck with everything. I hope you hear some good news.

TulipRose · 02-11-2011, 12:11 PM

Hello again, all. Thank you for your kind words last month.

We are still experiencing 1-2 grand mal seizures a week (that we see...but there is often evidence in the crate that she has had more). We are in the process of getting both steroids and antibiotics called in to possibly alleviate pressure in the brain from extra fluid/a tumor. The antibiotics are basically there as a catch-all "just in case".

If those steps don't work, we will try again to increase the dosage of her anticonvulsants. The zonisamide seems to have done little to help since we started it.

We are starting to get really worn down with the process...but are keeping the faith that something will trigger a change. She has been having vision troubles, and has been particularly unruly/biting for no reason (which seemed concerning to our vet, but hasn't really been much of an issue with us as we know she means no harm). Holding out hope that one of these interventions will change our course for the better!

The vet mentioned quality of life (hers and ours) vs. euthanasia discussions last time we spoke and it about broke our hearts.

On the bright side, Tulip turns 1 on March 7th. We think we will have a little party for her her. I'll post pictures if I get any.

mhvonalmen8908 · 02-11-2011, 01:35 PM

Poor Tulip and poor you guys!!! I'm so sorry your going through this. Our thoughts are with you and yours.

fred'smom · 02-11-2011, 03:37 PM

I am so sorry for you and your Tulip. As far as quality of life I'm sure she will let you know when it's time. As far as our quality of life with our boy sure maybe it was a hassle having to lift him up and help him walk, or maybe it was a little more of a hassle and more expensive to buy and cook him meals. But as long as he was eating and wagging his tail we kept him alive and loved him! We knew it was time when he refused to eat a piece of pizza and his eyes told us he was tired then we knew.

Mikey T · 02-11-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

We are starting to get really worn down with the process...but are keeping the faith that something will trigger a change

having gone through it I would not wish it on anyone, I would like to say it gets better but that would be a lie.

01-24-2011, 11:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
TulipRose Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 23	An Update on Our Tulip Well...we took tulip (our 10.5 month old basset) to the Neurologist on Saturday to try to find out the cause of her seizures. She is still on 100mg 2x a day of Pheno and seizures are not under control. Unfortunately, I can't really say we received good news. Her clinical exam showed so deficit in response on her right side, which was different from left side - indicative, neurologist says, of something being 'off' neurologically. As physical neuro exams with dogs are failry crude he cautioned not to read too much into it, though. He did not recommend an MRI, as he said more often that not (~85% of the time) what he finds, he cannot fix and he doesn't think she is presenting like she has a brain tumor. The 4 options he gave us for diagnosis were: 1. Really bad idiopathic epilepsy, but he thinks she is rather young to have it this bad, and have it not responding to drugs. Also, her neuro exam points to other problems. 2. Encepahlitis 3. Hydrocephalus 4. Liver Shunt We tested for the liver shunt Saturday and should get results soon. If that is all clear (which they think it will be) then we are going to treat with a new anti-convulsant and hope it really is idiopathic epilepsy and she can be controlled with the drugs. If for soem reason the test comes back differently thatn expected, depending on the severity of the shunt, that could be managed (but not necessarily cured) with surgery and other interventions. The vet indicated there is SOME treatment for Encepahlitis & Hydrocephalus, but neither is a cure and if we get to the point of steroids and antibiotics for those conditions we are going to need to weigh quality of life vs. treatment choices. A lot to digest this weekend...although it is nice to at least have SOME IDEA of what could be wrong. Keeping our fingers crossed that the new anti-convulsant works... Sarah

02-11-2011, 03:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
fred'smom Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 70	I am so sorry for you and your Tulip. As far as quality of life I'm sure she will let you know when it's time. As far as our quality of life with our boy sure maybe it was a hassle having to lift him up and help him walk, or maybe it was a little more of a hassle and more expensive to buy and cook him meals. But as long as he was eating and wagging his tail we kept him alive and loved him! We knew it was time when he refused to eat a piece of pizza and his eyes told us he was tired then we knew. Last edited by fred'smom; 02-11-2011 at 03:49 PM.

01-24-2011, 02:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
sadeyes2 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: glasgow Posts: 589	No experience of this whatsoever Sarah. So hard for you and such a young pup to have to go through this. Hoping they reach a conclusion soon.

01-24-2011, 02:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
dreamons Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Laughlin,NV Posts: 454	Poor Tulip. Hope they find the problem and it's something treatable. God bless you both.

01-24-2011, 09:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
gsally Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PA Posts: 275	So sorry about your pup's health challenge. God bless you both! Hang in there and thanks for taking such good care of Tulip!

01-25-2011, 07:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
murraysmom Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: southcentral Pa. Posts: 2,235	I know you must be sick with worry- I hope you can get a definite diagnosis soon. Please keep us updated, I'm hoping for the best for Tulip!

01-25-2011, 11:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tuesday Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 160	Good luck with everything. I hope you hear some good news.

02-11-2011, 12:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
TulipRose Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 23	Hello again, all. Thank you for your kind words last month. We are still experiencing 1-2 grand mal seizures a week (that we see...but there is often evidence in the crate that she has had more). We are in the process of getting both steroids and antibiotics called in to possibly alleviate pressure in the brain from extra fluid/a tumor. The antibiotics are basically there as a catch-all "just in case". If those steps don't work, we will try again to increase the dosage of her anticonvulsants. The zonisamide seems to have done little to help since we started it. We are starting to get really worn down with the process...but are keeping the faith that something will trigger a change. She has been having vision troubles, and has been particularly unruly/biting for no reason (which seemed concerning to our vet, but hasn't really been much of an issue with us as we know she means no harm). Holding out hope that one of these interventions will change our course for the better! The vet mentioned quality of life (hers and ours) vs. euthanasia discussions last time we spoke and it about broke our hearts. On the bright side, Tulip turns 1 on March 7th. We think we will have a little party for her her. I'll post pictures if I get any.

02-11-2011, 01:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
mhvonalmen8908 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sumter, SC Posts: 671	Poor Tulip and poor you guys!!! I'm so sorry your going through this. Our thoughts are with you and yours.

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