Hello,
I am hoping someone can help with a very frustrating issue. I have a Pug/Jack Rusell mix (Marley) who is about 4 years old. In November, Marley started having seizures that lasted about 2 min or less. These occured about every 5 weeks (again in early January and then late February). The vet finally decided we should put her on phenabarbitol (16.2 - 1/4gm; 2xs/day). She has been on this for about 5 weeks now and has been fine (lethargic and gained weight, but nothing serious) until last weekend.
Last weekend, she got so weak in the legs that she could barely stand. We took her to the emergency vet who did xrays and said it was a disc issue in her neck/upper back area and gave us 2 pain meds and an anti-inflamatory for her. As the day progressed, she did not get any better and we were advised to take her to a specialty hospital in our area, which we did.
The ER vet said that it was in no way a disc issue and that it seemed more neurological and could be the result of a "mini-seizure". Also mentioned it could be encephilitis or pug encephilitis and to stop the anti-inflamatory. Over the next couple days (Sunday and Monday), Marley seemed fine - jumping around and hard to keep calm.
Then on Tuesday morning, she wasn't able to stand up again in the morning. Her legs were stiff and she couldn't get them underneath her. Once she worked it out, she seemed fine.
Wednesday, same thing. She was weak in the morning but then seemed ok.
Today, she seems better but still stiff and leery of walking especially when she gets up from laying down.
Our question is - does this seem more muscular in nature or neurological? She is completely alert, not disoriented, eating and drinking normally. But its so strange that one minute she seems fine and the next, she is down again. It seems to be more in her rear end that front legs, but when we move or touch her back end, she doesn't wimper or act like it hurts.
ER vet said only way to rule out encephilitis completely is to do an MRI, which cost $3000 and I just dont have it. Our normal vet does not seem to think encephilitis is the issue.
So puzzling and any information or advice would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Jennifer