Hello :O)
I'm hoping someone will have some ideas about what's going on with my little 14+ yr old rescue Bichon boy.
Sunday, he started with uncontrollable trembling/shaking and panting around 7PM. His gums were pink, he was NOT wandering around or staring into space, and he did NOT lose control of any bodily functions, he did NOT lose himself in the corner of a room, pace, nor did he have any petite mal or grand mal seizures. It came out of the blue, as he was not running around or chasing a toy. He tried climbing up onto my chest--he usually likes being next to me, but wanting to climb onto my chest to be super-close to me was worrisome and not normal.
Off we went to the Vet ER who thought maybe he tweaked his back knee and we didn't see it happen when he jumped off his little ramp to the couch (he wasn't limping at home -- he's usually always agitated when at the vet's or the Vet ER so he didn't look like he was limping there either).
His heart, lungs, temperature were all normal. They gave him a range-of-motion exam for both back legs, and nothing was found to cause him pain or discomfort that they could tell. The vet said his anal glands seemed full, so she expressed them. We all thought perhaps that was the cause of the panting, shaking. He drinks his normal amount of water, has a good appetite, and pees and poops just fine. We feed him and his little rescue Bichon "sister" twice a day.
We spent close to 3 hours in the Vet ER, but after about 2 hours there, the issue resolved itself and he appeared fine. We were sent home with pain pills just in case--the one dose of tramadol we gave him Mon morning caused him to become agitated, rubbing his muzzle on things.
Overall, Monday I had given him a tramadol in the morning, but backed way off from the 3 times/a day option because of the muzzle rubbing reaction. Continuing on Monday, things were fine but then around 3:30 pm, he began the shaking and panting again. This resolved in about 20 minutes and he was back to normal.
Tuesday (yesterday) we went to our regular vet, who did an exam, ran blood work and a UA, took X-rays thinking he had a slight reaction when she was feeling his spine, but x-rays and all blood and urine work was normal. No heart murmur, no heart beat problems, no lung problems. I told her about the Tramadol and said we had not given a dose since Monday, nor had he shown any other panting/trembling symptoms.
Tonight (Wed), around 6:30 pm, he started in with the shaking and panting. He seemed agitated too, and went from wanting to be near me, to going outside through the doggie door. I followed him outside and he was going over to the gate, where he usually sits and waits for us if we've gone to the store during the day. Mr. Sparkly and I were both home, so it's not like he was waiting for Mr. Sparkly to pull in the driveway. Anyway, this time, his shaking and panting lasted about an hour.
He eats Taste of the Wild and Orijen 6 Fish. He does take Deramaxx with Pepcid for the arthritis he has in his left shoulder--he's taken this for about the past couple of years.
When he has a hot spot or skin allergy/itchiness, as happens seasonally it seems, we stop the Deramaxx/pepcid and start a very minimum loading dose of prednisolone, and then we reduce it as soon as possible in order to find the dose that will control the itching, and we eventually phase it out completely in order to avoid overuse and potential side effects of Cushings or Addisons. The last time he had prednisolone was August of this year.
We're in southern California, so it's not like he's chilled or cold from snowy weather. He and our other Bichon are always inside with us, or outside if we're outside, or they're outside if we run an errand. Our back yard is as safe as it can possibly be for dogs, with no poisonous plants or harmful flora, we don't use insecticides or herbicides or any of the -cides, and inside we don't use anything but hot water and soap (not TSP or things like that!) or maybe sometimes we'll use diluted vinegar for cleaning the kitchen floor--the rest of the house is hardwood so that's easy to just "swiffer" it up with the cotton microfiber cloths.
Any ideas and suggestions are appreciated! It's a puzzle, and it's very worrisome to see my little guy trembling and panting uncontrollably.
Thank you!!!
Mrs. Sparkly
Shaking and Panting ?
Re: Shaking and Panting ?
Does he seem tired during these episodes? (i.e., like exhausted when they subside) - if so, ask the vet to rule out syncope, especially if he has ever fainted or collapsed.
Did the bloodwork test for both urine and blood glucose? Did the vet test his thyroid levels?
Lastly, and while a long shot, worth considering: evaluate the diet, in the event he has a gastric problem like spasms that cause nausea/spasms/overall discomfort - sometimes this can also occur when food doesn't agree with them, or due to delayed gastric transit time or even constipation. Sometimes GI bacterial infection accompanies.
I would guess, pending the above, the next step may be an ultrasound - but before considering that, perhaps ask your vet to consult a specialist on your behalf (i.e. VIN, an online portal for vets and specialists), or consulting a university specialist.
Please let us know what ensues, hopefully the vet can consult for you, or get this nipped in the bud with a proper diagnosis after a consult's opinion. Keeping your little guy in our thoughts and prayers for a quick resolution!
Did the bloodwork test for both urine and blood glucose? Did the vet test his thyroid levels?
Lastly, and while a long shot, worth considering: evaluate the diet, in the event he has a gastric problem like spasms that cause nausea/spasms/overall discomfort - sometimes this can also occur when food doesn't agree with them, or due to delayed gastric transit time or even constipation. Sometimes GI bacterial infection accompanies.
I would guess, pending the above, the next step may be an ultrasound - but before considering that, perhaps ask your vet to consult a specialist on your behalf (i.e. VIN, an online portal for vets and specialists), or consulting a university specialist.
Please let us know what ensues, hopefully the vet can consult for you, or get this nipped in the bud with a proper diagnosis after a consult's opinion. Keeping your little guy in our thoughts and prayers for a quick resolution!
..........Traci
Re: Shaking and Panting ?
Hi, Traci, and thank you for your reply.
He does not seem tired or exhausted after these episodes--he seems back to his normal self. He has never fainted or collapsed in the years he's been with us.
The blood work did include blood glucose, but I didn't ask about the UA.
I don't know if the vet checked his thyroid levels, but she and I are supposed to touch base tomorrow so I will ask her at that time.
Would the possibility of a gastric problem, relating to the food he eats and when he eats it, be evident hours after he eats breakfast or dinner? The shaking and panting have occurred usually more-than-a-few hours after he's had a meal. He doesn't seem to be constipated as I have taken to watching him urinate and defecate, and I see no body language/facial expression that would indicate straining.
This morning, we gave him prednisolone and so far (well, at 3:15 PST), he's behaving normally. I'll post back if something different occurs.
Thank you for the suggestion about an ultrasound or perhaps a consult with a specialist on our behalf, etc.
MANY thanks for keeping my boy in your thoughts and prayers for a quick resolution...
Sparkly, and Mr. Sparkly too!
He does not seem tired or exhausted after these episodes--he seems back to his normal self. He has never fainted or collapsed in the years he's been with us.
The blood work did include blood glucose, but I didn't ask about the UA.
I don't know if the vet checked his thyroid levels, but she and I are supposed to touch base tomorrow so I will ask her at that time.
Would the possibility of a gastric problem, relating to the food he eats and when he eats it, be evident hours after he eats breakfast or dinner? The shaking and panting have occurred usually more-than-a-few hours after he's had a meal. He doesn't seem to be constipated as I have taken to watching him urinate and defecate, and I see no body language/facial expression that would indicate straining.
This morning, we gave him prednisolone and so far (well, at 3:15 PST), he's behaving normally. I'll post back if something different occurs.
Thank you for the suggestion about an ultrasound or perhaps a consult with a specialist on our behalf, etc.
MANY thanks for keeping my boy in your thoughts and prayers for a quick resolution...
Sparkly, and Mr. Sparkly too!
Re: Shaking and Panting ?
Well, I mentioned the gastric upset/spasms as a long-shot, and pets don't necessarily have to be constipated or grimmace etc when they're uncomfortable with such a condition. But, if there are spasms in the stomach or intestine, it can be weird for the pet, and definitely uncomfortable.
Even though he hasn't fainted or collapsed, it would still be worthwhile to rule out syncope, and discuss potential ultrasound to rule out lesions in or around vital organs. Might also ask about potential virus although I'd be stumped to guess since he's older and not likely around dog parks or other dogs unfamiliar to him.
Do you know what his temperature was during exam and during the ER visit?
Even though he hasn't fainted or collapsed, it would still be worthwhile to rule out syncope, and discuss potential ultrasound to rule out lesions in or around vital organs. Might also ask about potential virus although I'd be stumped to guess since he's older and not likely around dog parks or other dogs unfamiliar to him.
Do you know what his temperature was during exam and during the ER visit?
..........Traci
Re: Shaking and Panting ?
Hi, Traci,
I don't recall my boy's temperature at either the Vet ER or the regular vet's during our followup, but I did ask, and was told it was normal.
Both urine and blood glucose was normal, as were liver, kidney, thyroid tests along with whatever other battery of tests that were done.
He has not had an episode of shaking and panting since late Wed afternoon. We're doing a followup consult on Monday with our regular vet.
You're right, he is not around other dogs who are unfamiliar to him, nor is he around dog parks.
Thanks for the suggestions about constipation and syncope or perhaps a virus--it would be helpful to rule those out especially if he has another episode.
Thanks again. Holding good thoughts and saying prayers are still much appreciated !!!
Sparkly
I don't recall my boy's temperature at either the Vet ER or the regular vet's during our followup, but I did ask, and was told it was normal.
Both urine and blood glucose was normal, as were liver, kidney, thyroid tests along with whatever other battery of tests that were done.
He has not had an episode of shaking and panting since late Wed afternoon. We're doing a followup consult on Monday with our regular vet.
You're right, he is not around other dogs who are unfamiliar to him, nor is he around dog parks.
Thanks for the suggestions about constipation and syncope or perhaps a virus--it would be helpful to rule those out especially if he has another episode.
Thanks again. Holding good thoughts and saying prayers are still much appreciated !!!
Sparkly
Re: Shaking and Panting ?
Of course we're still praying and hoping this will be nothing serious, it's so hard when they can't tell us what is wrong!
Please update us when you've talked to your vet on Monday, if he's stumped, perhaps ask him to consult a specialist on your behalf.
Please update us when you've talked to your vet on Monday, if he's stumped, perhaps ask him to consult a specialist on your behalf.
..........Traci
Re: Shaking and Panting ?
Well, no new episodes of shaking and panting since last Wednesday. Talked with the vet again, and asked if maybe it was a reaction to a flea bite--a suggestion from a pal in Bichon rescue. We stopped Comfortis when the weather changed, and I've been "inspecting" him for fleas and flea dirt and found nothing.
We already know he's very sensitive to things, has allergies, occasional hot spots, and itching, so maybe there was a stray flea from somewhere riding in on Mr. Sparkly's jeans from when Mr. S returns from his walk--who knows?!
Our vet had an informal consult with another vet (not a specialist) and it's a puzzle, especially since my little guy is feeling much better and lab work and x-rays came back fine. Meanwhile, we're going to start up with the Comfortis again since the upcoming weather is looking to be in the low 80s (so much for cooler "winter" or fall weather!).
If the panting and shaking return, we'll go right to a specialist.
Thanks again for your helpful input and holding good thoughts!
Warmest regards,
Sparkly
We already know he's very sensitive to things, has allergies, occasional hot spots, and itching, so maybe there was a stray flea from somewhere riding in on Mr. Sparkly's jeans from when Mr. S returns from his walk--who knows?!
Our vet had an informal consult with another vet (not a specialist) and it's a puzzle, especially since my little guy is feeling much better and lab work and x-rays came back fine. Meanwhile, we're going to start up with the Comfortis again since the upcoming weather is looking to be in the low 80s (so much for cooler "winter" or fall weather!).
If the panting and shaking return, we'll go right to a specialist.
Thanks again for your helpful input and holding good thoughts!
Warmest regards,
Sparkly
Re: Shaking and Panting ?
Well, I guess no news is great news! I'm happy to hear no more incidents!
..........Traci
Re: Shaking and Panting ?
Me, too! Thanks for your help and input, and I'm relieved there have been no new episodes (but I still wonder, of course!!).Traci wrote:Well, I guess no news is great news! I'm happy to hear no more incidents!
Sparkly