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Over the last few days we have been reading with great interest how Obi and Beau have been.
He had his 'opp' (castration) on Wednesday 29th Feb and was doing really well until the following Sunday 4th March, when he started looking a bit sorry for himself. We weren't sure if it was perhaps an infection from the opp or similar to something he has had before, then a suspected back/hip ache! So by Tuesday still no improvement I took him to the vet to investigate and you could say luckily, I saw a different person. He had an inspection of Sid and said he had also had a conversation with his colleague before we came in because she had told him we have been in twice before with a similar thing.
He told us the opp site look perfect and he suspects Sid has meningitis. We were sent home and with instructions to bring him back in ASAP if things change and with a further appt in a few days if he remained the same. The following morning went down to,see him but he wasn't moving much in his bed. He tried to move when he saw us but then yelped in discomfort. I lifted him out of his bed and lay him in a more comfortable position. After taking the troops to school Sid hadn't moved from the position I had left him in so phoned the vet straight away and made our way in to them.
Sid still wasn't able to move and remained in the position I had lifted him into earlier in the morning. I carried him in to the vet and I think they were quite shocked how much he had gone down hill. We were immediately transferred to a specialist in Solihull so drove him straight up from Northampton to solihull. He was admitted for an MRI, spinal tap and blood tests etc.
At the time the possibilities were meningitis, tumour or lung worm. Following the MRI, tumour was eliminated but they did identify a substantial bleed on the spine in the neck. Blood tests were sent off and the results were back the next day, Friday, which confirmed meningitis.
As a typical cockapoo, everyone there absolutely loves him and they all say how good natured he is
we have been to visit him every other day and Sunday he was beginning to try to make some effort to move. He has lost a lot of movement on his right side and in particular his from right paw.
On Wednesday he tried to stand when we went to see him which was lovely to see him make some effort. He is not strong enough/has enough control to stand and it is going to be a long time to judge how much mobility he is going to get back.
The vet has recommended he is well enough to go home provided we are able to care for him as he still cant move himself. So will need help going to the toilet but she thinks he needs the motivation at being at home to get him going.
So after 9 days in Solihull I went to collect him yesterday.
He is not able to move so has messed himself a few times, we are beginning to ask if he has feeling that he needs to go as there are no signs. When this happens we are having to give him a shower to clean him and have the puppy mats under him to catch as much as we can, does anyone have any other suggestions on what we could do. I have to be honest and say that we have even considered trying a baby nappy to try and catch a much as we can. When we take him out the vets suggested we could gently press on his bladder to empty him outside but I haven't been successfully with this yet.
We have a usual harness at the front when we take him out to support him and also one for his belly but think I need to try and find an all in one for the front and back.
I think we need to get him some boot to help give him more grip when he does try and move and the eventually protect his foot.
We are not sure on the prognosis because of the bleed on his neck so we need to wait for that and the other inflammation to go down for a few weeks and see what happens.
Our ears are open and if anyone has any suggestions on how to best care for him or any advice it would be warmly welcome. We have the support of both vets and if we are not able to care for him at home he can always be looked after there.
Nic Green
He had his 'opp' (castration) on Wednesday 29th Feb and was doing really well until the following Sunday 4th March, when he started looking a bit sorry for himself. We weren't sure if it was perhaps an infection from the opp or similar to something he has had before, then a suspected back/hip ache! So by Tuesday still no improvement I took him to the vet to investigate and you could say luckily, I saw a different person. He had an inspection of Sid and said he had also had a conversation with his colleague before we came in because she had told him we have been in twice before with a similar thing.
He told us the opp site look perfect and he suspects Sid has meningitis. We were sent home and with instructions to bring him back in ASAP if things change and with a further appt in a few days if he remained the same. The following morning went down to,see him but he wasn't moving much in his bed. He tried to move when he saw us but then yelped in discomfort. I lifted him out of his bed and lay him in a more comfortable position. After taking the troops to school Sid hadn't moved from the position I had left him in so phoned the vet straight away and made our way in to them.
Sid still wasn't able to move and remained in the position I had lifted him into earlier in the morning. I carried him in to the vet and I think they were quite shocked how much he had gone down hill. We were immediately transferred to a specialist in Solihull so drove him straight up from Northampton to solihull. He was admitted for an MRI, spinal tap and blood tests etc.
At the time the possibilities were meningitis, tumour or lung worm. Following the MRI, tumour was eliminated but they did identify a substantial bleed on the spine in the neck. Blood tests were sent off and the results were back the next day, Friday, which confirmed meningitis.
As a typical cockapoo, everyone there absolutely loves him and they all say how good natured he is
we have been to visit him every other day and Sunday he was beginning to try to make some effort to move. He has lost a lot of movement on his right side and in particular his from right paw.On Wednesday he tried to stand when we went to see him which was lovely to see him make some effort. He is not strong enough/has enough control to stand and it is going to be a long time to judge how much mobility he is going to get back.
The vet has recommended he is well enough to go home provided we are able to care for him as he still cant move himself. So will need help going to the toilet but she thinks he needs the motivation at being at home to get him going.
So after 9 days in Solihull I went to collect him yesterday.
He is not able to move so has messed himself a few times, we are beginning to ask if he has feeling that he needs to go as there are no signs. When this happens we are having to give him a shower to clean him and have the puppy mats under him to catch as much as we can, does anyone have any other suggestions on what we could do. I have to be honest and say that we have even considered trying a baby nappy to try and catch a much as we can. When we take him out the vets suggested we could gently press on his bladder to empty him outside but I haven't been successfully with this yet.
We have a usual harness at the front when we take him out to support him and also one for his belly but think I need to try and find an all in one for the front and back.
I think we need to get him some boot to help give him more grip when he does try and move and the eventually protect his foot.
We are not sure on the prognosis because of the bleed on his neck so we need to wait for that and the other inflammation to go down for a few weeks and see what happens.
Our ears are open and if anyone has any suggestions on how to best care for him or any advice it would be warmly welcome. We have the support of both vets and if we are not able to care for him at home he can always be looked after there.
Nic Green
