mystery illness advice please - Page 1

My darling girl Lola is 2 half yr old gsd & about 4 weeks ago she developed a strange action on her rear left leg - when walking and trotting she would flick her foot to the side before putting it down - when it was put down it was placed slightly underneath her body. There was no pain or obvious discomfort. I rested her hoping it was a slight injury but it got no better. I took her to my vet just before Easter he could find no pain or obvious problem and gave her a course of anti inflamm tablets within a couple of days of her taking these she began to show signs of discomfort and pain. She continued the tablets - no signs of sickness or upset stomach - but off her food and very uncomfortable. Last Wednesday I took her back to my vet - he kept her in - she had a high temperature, she was now in considerable pain - from the RIGHT back leg and the tail. She had blood tests, xrays, ultra sound, given Metacam and much more - her temp was going up and down. Friday my vet decided to refer her to RVC - Queen Mother Hospital. I took her there Friday afternoon. She has had full examination there - on Monday they will begin more xrays / scans etc. However although she is probably in one of the best places in the country - they do not know what is wrong with her - they say that the various signs don't all add up. When I called them yesterday - she was on pain killers - her temp was down and she ate her food and wagged her tail at the nurse. They have now suggested it might be a neurological problem and will be injecting a dye into her when they x ray the spine area. 
As I'm sure anyone reading this will know - its the not knowing and utter helplessness that is difficult to deal with.
When I picked her up from vet and took her to hospital - she was able to walk - but very stiffly and she was quite wobbly (though poss because she was still a bit drugged up). she can get up and down from sit, lie and stand - but lying down does seem to be v painful.
Any thoughts / comments would be appreciated.
Many thanks

I am sorry I cant help you but just wanted to wish you good luck and I hope your Lola get well soon take care
Rosey 

If she has a fever, she has an infection for certain. Whether that is related to the leg issue is impossible to say. It does sound like there is something neurological also going on, and it is very possible that the infection is the cause of the problems with the leg. However, it could be that she has eaten something and has a botulism infection, or that she has a meningitis type infection which, for now is only showing in the leg and rear. Hopefully, blood work will help them decide what is going on. Have the vets put her on some broad spectrum antibiotic? 

Please keep us posted and best wishes for her to recover soon.

I have seen wobbler syndrom which was coincidental with infection. I would try to eliminate this.

http://petsurgery.com/wobblersyndrome.html

http://vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=205

Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

Lyme?

Many thanks for advice comments and well wishes - I dont believe she has had any anti biotics and I think the hospital are keeping her stable and on v strong pain killers and waiting to see the results from the various investigations which will begin first thing tomorrow.
I called them for an update - her temp has remained normal and she is quite bright and wanting food - so the pain killers do seem to be helping her, and I feel much better now I know she is not suffering as she was on Friday.
Tomorrow will be a big day for us and will def post the results once I know them.
Once again many thanks and a big lick from Lola!

Someone did mention Lyme Disease - I passed this on to hospital but they said that although this was not discounted - it was not 'at the top of their list' of possibilities - so for the moment I will go with them and hopefully all will be revealed after tomorrow

I am surprised lolabelle that the vets have not given antibiotics. There is no question she had an infection based on what you are saying. Maybe her temperature was up a little, but was not really high and perhaps they did some blood work already that shows there is no infection. In any case, it is good news to hear she is doing better today and alert and eating. That is a good sign and hopefully they will be able to diagnose the problem and help the dog.

Hans also makes a good point about wobbler syndrome, except I think it normally is seen in younger dogs and yours you say is 2.5 years old. Time will tell. Hopefully it will be ok. You did the right thing in getting the dog to the vet ASAP.

Best wishes.

Fever or elevated temps can also be caused by blood on/in the brain without having an infection and the lab values are normal. Blood on the spinal cord or brain can cause "jerky"/ odd movements as well. Pain killers may surpress any temp at the moment. Contrast injection into bloodstream, CT scan/ MRI would be the next step to do.

Good luck with your girl!

Just thinking of you and Lola all day - she is such a super, super girl.