Vizlsa - Vestibular Disease - Week 6

Today is the last day of week 6 of Lucy's vestibular disease, or is it really vestibular disease??  I'm not so sure anymore...perhaps a stroke??

I didn't see much change in Lucy this week.  Still with the tilted head and bewildered.  She's still leaking, more so at night.  Lucy was diagnosed with a UTI and more meds were given to her.  She's on Cefpodoxime Proxetil 200mg, one pill a day.  It seems like giving the pills smothered in peanut butter is the easiest way.  I've been giving her Dramamine on her real dizzy days.  Her energy level is low, probably from all the meds.  She's eating good and still drinking a lot of water, but I'm limiting the amount.  I bought some doggie diapers in hopes to save time on laundry.  I just use them at night, but they're not working.  Even though I add an additional pad to the diaper, she is soaking through them and leaking from the side of the diaper.  It's a real struggle.

Bewildered...hiding in the closet.

My poor baby girl. 😢😢😢

Sporting her doggie diapers.

Vizsla - Vestibular Disease - Week 5

Today ends week 5 of Lucy's vestibular disease battle.  Really no changes.  She still has the tilted head, vertigo, and little bladder control.

I took both Lucy and Ralphie to the vet yesterday.  What a fiasco... taking both dogs at the same time!  I made the appointment during their slow time, but it was a struggle handling both dogs myself.  Ralphie just needed his heart worm test and Heartguard.  Lucy had her follow-up check-up, UTI screening, and heart worm test.  The doctor is speculating she may have a UTI because of her lack of bladder control.  I'll get the results next week.  But in the meantime, she gave Lucy antibiotics, Clavamox 375mg, take twice a day for 7 days.  Hopefully this will help!  I'll be ordering Lucy some doggie diapers today.  That should help with less laundry.

If Lucy still has the vestibular symptoms in 2 months, the vet recommends tests and more tests.  I really don't think they can do anything if she had a stroke for the after effects.  But we will see.  The vet bills are starting to add up.  🙁

At the vet. You can see Lucy has little control of her head.

Tilted head Lucy. Ralphie was a handful for his doctor's appointment.

Vizsla - Vestibular Disease - End of Week 4

Week 4 is coming to an end and I'm beginning to worry a lot.  I thought Lucy would be pretty much recovered by now.  In some ways she is, like she's walking better and not flopping around. She's eating, however being very picky.  Her head is still tilted and many times I see her just standing with a look of bewilderment.  She has no bladder control.  Urine is leaks out of her when she's sleeping.

I'm going to call the vet tomorrow but I know they will want to start costly tests, which I can't afford. I understand this can run into thousands of dollars and being a one income household I just can't afford it.  I'm praying so hard that she recovers.

I'm scared for my Lucy.

Vizsla - Vestibular Disease - Week 4

Wow I can't believe a couple of days ago began week 4 of Lucy's struggle with vestibular disease.  She's getting better very slowly but sometimes it seems like she's takes a few steps back.  For example, she wouldn't eat yesterday, but today she's eating.  Her head is still hangs low and tilted.  She's able to walk but still loses her balance.  Still can't jump up on the bed.  Today while outside she was standing outside in a daze, tail tucked low, and had a difficult time moving.  It looked like she was having dizzy spell.  I gave her a couple of dramamine and it seemed to help.  She still doesn't have full control of her bladder, but that's getting better too.  She took her last prednisone pill yesterday, so her peeing should be tapering off soon.  On the positive side, Lucy has a lot of energy, eating pretty well, and walking better.  Time and love will heal her to 100%.