Neighbor's dog not doing well
Her name is Patches and she a small-ish terrier mix. Nice dog. About 2 weeks ago, she was diagnosed with an abcessed tooth. My neighbor didn't know because she was eating fine & no other complaints. Then she noticed what looked to be like bird ox on the side of her face. Thinking she got into something, she began to pick it off. That's when it started pussing & oozing. They took her to the vet and she was diagnosed with an abcessed tooth. Apparently, it went right thru her cheek. Can that even happen? I just found out today that Patches became paralysed this past Tuesday. Came out of nowhere. One day she's fine, the next day she can't move. Off to the emergency vet. They put her on a strong antibiotic and pain meds. I don't know what tests were run. The vet is theorizing the infection spread to either the brain (or brain lining) or the spine (or it's lining). Essentitally meningitis, according to the vet. The vet said if she doesn't make any improvements by this coming Monday (tomorrow) then putting her to sleep would be the most humane thing to do. She is drinking some and eating small amounts of baby food. I've been seeing my neighbor carrying Patches out every few hours for a pottying. She's going, but it's difficult. When they're outside, I can hear her yipping & crying. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this? It's like all of her limbs just decided to become lame. And she's obviously in pain as well. I told them to take her to Cornell but it doesn't sound like they will do that. So sad. I think her hours are numbered. I wish I could help in some way. She's only 10. |
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| That is so sad, please let us know what happens. |
Sending thoughts and prayers...hope she is not in pain and is peaceful...  |
 I am surprised that this spread in this manner over two weeks without additional outward signs that the antibiotics were not working. There isn't much space in the face for pus/fluid to collect before it comes out, so I would think that the cheek would have looked worse and worse over time. My SIL's OES, Murphy, had some gunk coming out of his eye one morning. She decided to come home from work at noon and take him to the vet. By the time she got home at noon, a huge hole had opened on the bridge of his nose, oozing pus.  Abcessed tooth. And Murphy had eaten breakfast that morning, like nothing was wrong.I am hoping that Patches makes a full recovery. Laurie and Oscar |
| It's sad. But not unheard of at all. I actually had a human patient get admitted to our hospital for a bad tooth absess (needed IV antibiotics). She was from another town (smaller) and referred to us for ENT. I got her as a patient about supper time. She had a hole popped through her cheek from the infection...she said it had just happened that day. I just had a bad feeling (always trust those gut feelings). She was seen by medical, and started on strong ABX, and had an ENT referral for the AM. I called ENT, spoke with the Dr on call and asked her to please come in. Long story short - The doctor came in and THANKED me over and over....she had a version of an anaerobic flesh eating bacteria, was rushed to emergency surgery, had massive debridement and went to ICU intubated. She was air lifted to the hyperbaric chamber in St Paul...and did end up never regaining consciousness and died. She was married and had 3 kids, and was 34 years old.  |
| How very sad-- ( the dog and the person) Hope there is a good outcome for the poor dog. |
| Dawn, those anaerobes are nasty. Oscar has gotten anaerobic infections from time to time, usually on his feet, so my vets started doing special cultures on him when we are dealing with cooties. He just had a growth removed from his front leg, right above his paw pad, that was full of an anaerobic bacteria (a type of clostridium). My vet had to scrape the growth off of an artery. Without a culture, you just don't know if the antibiotic chosen is the one that is going to kill the bacteria. Laurie and Oscar |
| Patches has gone to the Bridge. The vet couldn't believe how fast she went down hill. Also said she couldn't believe how powerful her back legs were and how weak & unresponsive her front legs were. The vet characterized her pain as a 10 out of 10. All my neighbor could do was hold her on his lap. She'd cry at anything else. I guess last night she was convulsing occasionally, too. So sad (and scary) to see her go downhill so fast. RIP Patches. You were a sweetheart and will be greatly missed. |
| Oh, poor sweetheart. I'm so sorry for this loss. |
| Poor baby. Thoughts for the family. |
| I am so sorry, for you and your poor neighbors. |
| So strange not seeing her in her backyard or hearing her muffled little bark. |
| Oh how sad! At least she is pain free now. |
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