Dear All,
Thought I'd give you an update & share re Jasper. (the original blurb I wrote re his symptoms on Sept 8th is copied below my name here).

I did get a referral without going doing more investigation with my vet & just got back. Very likely he's got meningitus but we won't know for definite till tomorrow. If so, fingers crossed he'll respond to treatment & he'll recover. Vet said he'd been poorly for a while which made me so sad. As he's an ESS he's just battled on with pain - poor man. My vets just didn't pick it up and as it seemed to come and go.

Just did a search online & what did I come up with but a link to this site! There's a report in the health section from Annie - in case notes - re Megan and it's SO similiar. (Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis (SRMA) Written by Annie, after she nearly lost Springer Megan to this).

ANNIE - I THINK I'VE SEEN YOUR NAME. PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH.

I'll let you know once confirmed and fingers crossed he'll get better & no long term complications. Once the excellent vet at North Downs referral listed what she saw and her initial diagnosis it all seemed to come together. He did have a stiff neck but it had been gradual so it wasn't obvious to us. It was lovely to be understood as I think my vet had started to think I was neurotic.

I'll add my info in the health section too once definite. I can't believe I didn't look there.

Claire
x

Dear All,
I'm again asking the collective wisdom re advice, insight re Jasper. Perhaps you've known of a dog with a similar problem or any recommendations. I'm getting a little frustrated withe vets lack of ownership so I'm also certainly going to get a 2nd opinion somewhere else. Thought I'd post here just in case anyone can think of anything as I know in the past I've seen postings where someone knows something.....or advice me....many thanks for taking a look...it's a bit of an ongoing saga!

For those who don't know - Jasper is 14 months old ESS. Caused me much grief when he was younger but does seem to have calmed down a little (or perhaps he's just ill?) except for a brief bad spell a month ago.

Here's the history;
About 8 months; got very lethargic, coughing after a while. Vets - high temp & lungs didn’t sound clear. Prescribed antibiotics & Ketofen.

At about 10 months after his neutering op, he went down again. Same symptoms & prescription.

Another month later, he got skin thingy & was prescribed steroids (I think). A week or so after that he went down again with same thing – high temp, lethargy. Same prescription.

A day or so before we went on hols in July (when he was almost 13 months) he went down again. Same prescription & vet finally decided something was wrong to keep getting this. Test for Lungworm (-*test*-('") came back negative). Agreed to x-ray on return from hols. (when I called in vet said leave to see if it happened again).

Got soaked in rain earlier this week and next day lethargy, high temp & slight croakiness came back. Vet thought his heart sounded funny. Took him in Thursday & they did lots of -*test*-('")s (poor thing), x-ray, ECG – blood all fine, no idea where infection is from, heart slightly enlarged.

No conclusion. Seems to be heart or lungs but not all adding up. Gave me same prescription – nsamox, ketofen & vetmedin. I’ve given him the Ketofen & antibiotics but decided against the vetmedin (for heart condition) as it seemed pointless to throw everything at him and it wouldn’t be clear what’s solved what & I know virus's can cause heart to enlarge. Did try to check implications out with vet of not taking it & no call back so don’t know! But vet friend agreed with me so I feel OK about it.

To me there appears to be correlation between his immune system being knocked & then getting ill but even I know that’s not normal for such a young dog so I am prepared that it might be something very serious. What it is though seems to be mystery as the symptoms aren’t adding up for the vets.

Next steps? I take him back next week and & they re-run xray etc to compare. It seems awful to have to repeat as he’ll have to have anaesthetic again. If nothing clear then he’ll be referred to a specialist though I’m not clear what type of specialist!

I'm debating whether to go to different vet practise for 2nd opinion now or ask for referral to specialist now or take him next week as vet suggested.

I'd be interested to know
1. Any or you have any ideas?
2. recommendations re next step.

Jasper seems OK in himself once he's had 5 days of tabs for bringing temp down & anti-bios. Hardly moves when poorly & temp is very high.

Thanks all
Claire

Poor lad, fingers crossed here that his back fighting fit sooner rather than later

Oh no Hope everything goes Ok!!!

Oh poor love, I'm sure we can get Annie tracked down, she was here a while ago.

Pen ? You heard from Annie ?

Senindg you love and hugs and prayers for tomorrow xxxx

Oh no. But glad they know now so you can fight it. Sending you all good wishes

claire, I'm glad you're getting closer to learning whats making jasper so poorly - I pray to doG its treatable and that jasper can go on to enjoy his life to the full.

Big hugs for you all, bet you're worried sick.

You know where we are if you need a shoulder

kelly
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Thanks for all your good wishes. What a rollercoaster.

Vet called this pm before official lad results and she's 99.9% certain it's Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis so he'll be on steriods for a few months or so.

The prognosis is good (Anne's Megan recovered well) so fingers crossed.

Explains lots eg why he wasn't so keen to play with other dogs at times (it would have hurt him), why he growled when cuddled around his neck and why he walked stiffly recently. Poor boy - he hardly ever complained and it must have been so painful.

Claire

ps Thanks kelly - we'll have that walk as soon as poss.

x

I'll ask Ann to drop in. Megan's had SRMA several times now, and each time Ann catches it sooner - and it's treated quickly and Megan recovers fast. Side effects of pred and Aza can be an issue so you must keep an eye out for that.

SRMA is very treatable - it's one of the most treatable AI diseases. Make sure you get a gastroprotectant from North Downs, as well as the high dose pred - and are they putting him in Azathioprine too - or just pred ? have they given him in injection of dexamethasone ?

Any help you need, just pm me - you are more than welcome to join CIMDA support if you want to (my online AI support group been going for 7 yrs now).
Try not to worry too much, SRMA really is one of the "better" AI diseases to get. Unfortunately we seem to be seeing a lot of springers getting it nowadays.

Thanks. I'll email you as it sounds as if I'll need ongoing advice & support.

I have no idea yet of exactly what med they will give him but I'll check that. They had another dog in the same day with it too.

Claire

Hello - I'm here! it does sound a lot like Megan's SRMA. She's had three relapses since her first major episode but she's absolutely fine now and responds really well to the steroids every time. if there;s anything I can do, PM me or email me (ann.williams@virgin.net), as I rarely get onto the forums these days thanks to my non-stop toddler!

Ann

How is he now ? is he home with you ? what's the treatment regime they've given you ?