NEED HELP ASAP READING BLOOD TEST RESULTS!!!! - Page 1

We just had to rush our 4 yr old male GSD (neutered, not that it matters) to the ER Vet.  He was fine all day today, even playing in the water as I was spraying down the kennels.  (No, it was just water, NO CHEMICALS).    Around 4pm, he was just laying in his kennel, not really wanting to do anything.  He did lift his head up, so I thought he was just exhausted from playing in the water.  Around 7pm, we went out to find him laying, unresponsive, in his kennel, picked him up and rushed him to the vet. When we got to the vet, trying to carry him in, he had 2 MAJOR Seizers.  He has never had one before, and as I said, was acting normal most of the day. 

They ran bloodwork, but the results have even stumped the vet.  (Just and FYI, heartworm and stool were both negitive).  They also did xrays, and again, vet is totally confused to the point he is sending them to a specialist at OSU.  His heart is severely inlarged and there is fluid in the lungs.  But Vet says there is no apparent reason for it.  And I really don't know how to read all this stuff or know what these symbols mean.  If there is anyone one on that can possible help, I will be more than glad to emain them the results that I have, and perhaps they can help me understand some of this. 

You can either leave me a PM on here or email me @ ladywolf45169@yahoo.com if you can assist.

Christine

I'm so sorry to hear that your boy is in this condition :(  Do you live out into the country or city? if City.. do you think it maybe possible that someone attempted to poison him? Do you give your dog tap water or bottled water? Did he possibly suffered from a (torsion) bloat? or maybe suffered a heart attack or stroke? Does he suffer from Canine Congestive Heart Failure? 

I certainly hope he feels better soon.

I'm amazed at how often I hear , the Vet is stumped, doesnt have a clue.   My vets not any better.

As sad as it sounds poisoning either accidental or on purose is a possibility.   Asking the board is not going to help you if your own vet is stumped and none of us has seen the dog.     Your vet should explain the blood workup to you, thats his job.

Brittany,

I live out in the country, litterally in the middle of nowhere.  It is very unlikely that he was poisoned.  We have been all around the kennels, his area of the yard (I have underground fencing), and there is nothing out of the ordinary.  Living in the country, they get well water.  I'm having it tested today!!!  No bloat, according to vet and xrays.  I was thinking heat stroke, that possible he over exerted himself with the playing in the water and stuff, but vet said he didn't think so because his temp was normal.  He is just my daughters pet GSD, and has always been good weight, on heartworm meds, and wormed, but we've never had a reason to have him xrayed for anything.  The enlarged heart is something that really concerns me.  Vet called me 2 times in the night when he went in to check on him.  Says that he is keeping him sadated, but appears to be doing "OK".  He is sending the xrays and contacting a specialist today.  IS there some type of genetic thing that would make the heart almost 3 times it's normal size?  That wouldn't give any signs until the dog is 4 yrs old?  The last time the vet called (around 3am), he said that he's been looking in the medical books most of the night, but can't find anything that would cause both is Potasium and Sodium levels to be so low.

Will keep everyone posted!

Christine

Christine,

I did some research for you and here's what I think what happen with your boy.

Congestive right-sided failure - blood return from the body to the right ventricle is impeded resulting in congestion in the systemic circulation.

This systemic congestion can manifest as:

Ascites (excessive fluid within the abdomen seen as abdominal distension)

Pleural effusion (fluid in the space surrounding the lungs) which can cause respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, increased respiratory rate, open mouth breathing, or coughing

Peripheral edema (subcutaneous fluid accumulation in dependent areas such as the ventral abdomen or the limbs)

This information was taken off of the Penn Veterinary Medicine website: http://www.vet.upenn.edu/departments/csp/cardiology/brochures/Congestive%20Heart%20Failure.pdf

what's the condition of your boy? I saw the picture of him on the database and he looks gorgeous! I'm thinking about you guys! I hope everything over there is good.

Good luck, thinking of you and your boy.

Christine, hows your boy doing? I hope hes doing better.