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edema, and fever in 4y old retriever
Sent to Pet Experts March 24 10:53 PM

Our 4 year old yellow lab/ golden retriever has developed generalized edema, lethargy, a 103.8 temp, and decreased urination as well as decreased apetite and decrease thirst, she is currently at the animal hospital and under the care of our vet but he ( along with his partners) remains stumped. Her blood work apparently came back normal, she has high-normal amounts of protien in her blood, and her RBCs are normal. We live on the West coast but have thought about the possibility of Lyme disease, she will be getting Tetracycline tonight. If there is no improvement tomorrow we are back to square one. Any suggestions?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $5
Info Request
March 25 12:06 AM (1 hour and 13 minutes and 21 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark

 I wanted to let you know we have received your post. I am not able to answer your question however I will forward it to one of our veterinarians at Just Answer.  Please be patiend and she will post her reply to you at her earliest convenience!

Thank you,



Please reply to any questions or let me know if you need further assistance!Otherwise, I hope you have found this answer satsifactory and worth acceptance!
Oliver's Mom
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Oliver’s Mom -- Prof Trainer & Behavior Counselor -- 100% Positive Feedback on 281 Pet Accepts
20 yrs Trainer/Behavior/Rescue focus:dog/cat-human relationships;dog/cat behavior modification metho
Reply
March 25 12:32 AM (25 minutes and 48 seconds later)
         
Reply to Oliver’s Mom's Post: Thank you for your reply. I hope the veterinarian may have some insite. A guess would be helpful even. Thank you again.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Info Request
March 25 12:44 AM (12 minutes and 5 seconds later)
         

 You are very welcome!  I have contacted Dr V and she is very good at replying as soon as she is available. 

I truly hope your doctors are able to diagnose and treat your dog - and a very fast recovery is ahead!  This is a very difficult time for you I am sure, my thoughts and prayers are with you.



Please reply to any questions or let me know if you need further assistance!Otherwise, I hope you have found this answer satsifactory and worth acceptance!
Oliver's Mom
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Oliver’s Mom -- Prof Trainer & Behavior Counselor -- 100% Positive Feedback on 281 Pet Accepts
20 yrs Trainer/Behavior/Rescue focus:dog/cat-human relationships;dog/cat behavior modification metho
Info Request
March 25 11:37 AM (10 hours and 53 minutes and 16 seconds later)
         

 Have they run tick titers? where is the edema? Has the dog traveled?

 



Dr. D.A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian
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Dr. Vamvakias -- Veterinarian -- 100% Positive Feedback on 991 Pet Accepts
Small Animal & Emergency Medicine
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March 25 7:30 PM (7 hours and 52 minutes and 50 seconds later)
         
I think they are running some more tests today, I think they are for ricketsia (which is I think a general term for tick related disease???)They gave her IV Tetracycline yesterday. However there has been no drastic improvement. The obvious areas of edema are around the muzzle and neck, in the joints of the legs. She also looks wider through the girth than normal. Her organs don't seem to be inflamed or swollen. She has never traveled out of the NW. She visited a park in Oregon on the Clackamas River (about 20 mi from our home) at least a month before any onset of symptoms.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on March 25 2005 at 7:31 PM
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
March 25 10:04 PM (2 hours and 33 minutes and 21 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

 Sorry I can't guide you more, if the dog does not look better within the next 24 hours...I would ask your vet to consider immune mediated disease, and possible check the bloodwork on that as well. Tick is a possibility...so hopefully the titers will come back soon, but immune mediated diseases are still on my list.

Dr.V



Dr. D.A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian
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Dr. Vamvakias -- Veterinarian -- 100% Positive Feedback on 991 Pet Accepts
Small Animal & Emergency Medicine
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March 26 1:04 PM (15 hours and 20 seconds later)
         
Great news!! We started her on prednisone last night and this morning she is back down almost to her origional size. Whew!!! She has always been an allergy dog but never has it presented like this. Thank you all for your insight, thoughts and prayers. We all apreciate your input. Especially Ashley!! Thank you again!
The Zegar Family
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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