Jake (the Labrador) has meningitis....

[gbb]

My poor old Jakey, i say old , he's only 2 n a bit. I didn't know dogs got meningitis !!!

Took him out Saturday morning, he seemed quiet, then i noticed him frothing a bit. Had a look, his lips were swollen on one side. Bugger, he's been stung maybe. Rang the vet, yes, its quite common, just let him rest.
Sunday, he seemed much better albeit a little quiet, swelling had decreased considerably.
Monday morning, took him out and all of a sudden he jumped and yelped like someone had hit him.
'Come on boy'...he did it again several times , yelping and recoiling for no apparent reason. If you went to stroke him, he'd recoil and yelp (especially on the neck or head). He became extremely nervous every time you went near him. That progressed through the morning. Made him an appointment, got him in the same morning. Fairly thorough examination showed nothing, the vets seemed concerned, they'd not seen a dog react so violently. They wanted to send him for an MRI scan.
We gave it 24 hours after some injections and tablets, he did seem much better but the following afternoon he started to flinch slightly. Oh bugger !!!
Phoned the vets, i want him to have the MRI, so off to Newmarket, the vets there examined him physically and neurologically, he passed that ok in their view so they wanted to keep him in for a day or two.
They've phoned today and after blood tests showed high'ish white blood cell count, MRI scan and spinal tap followed, he's got meningitis .
Its not infectious, although dogs respond varyingly to treatment, it often has a good outcome, so now they're going to give him a course of chemo i think. He'll hopefully pick up quite quickly, but the treatment could last for 1 to 3 months.

It could be the sting (if that's what it was) could have triggered it, apparently it could have triggered his immune system to go a bit mental. Bugger, you never know do you ?

Apparently, its uncommon, but the reflex at touching his head or neck is quite classic.

Pick him up hopefully on Monday, can't wait, the smelly mutt

 

[Norm]

Good luck, gbb, hope that Jake is out chasing wasps again soon!

 

[Archie_tect]

+ Best wishes.

 

[longers]

I didn't know dogs got meningitis !!!

Me either, best wishes for him coming home soon.
You've probably searched the net but I found this bit of info which makes him fit the classic profile for it.

My dog still wants to bite wasps after getting a huge face from it on a couple of occasions.

 

[coffeejo]

Get well soon, Jake!

 

[Crackle]

Oh dear! Well I hope for the best outcome for Jakey. I'd never heard of canine meningitis but it sounds awful for him to react like that and labs are stoical dogs, so he must have been really unwell.

I hate my dog being unwell, you feel so helpless. Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

 

[scots_lass]

I hope he gets better soon. Lots of Smackoes called for I think!

 

[fossyant]

The poor bugger. Best wishes and give him a hug from us lot when you pick him up.

 

[Mr Phoebus]

Best of luck. Hope you've got pet insurance. I didn't, my god, do I wish I had.

 

[Panter]

Nasty

Hope he gets better soon, they're such a worry aren't they!

 

[gbb]

Best of luck. Hope you've got pet insurance. I didn't, my god, do I wish I had.

We have and like you, we hadn't in the past with a previous dog. It (or the lack of it) restricts so so much what you can do when it all goes pear shaped.
I was chatting with a guy at the vets, his dog had bone cancer. His insurance had run out 14 days before the dog fell ill...and he hadn't realised it . £4000 so far and the dog was on borrowed time anyway. That brings all sorts of impossible decisions to make. Bust yourself or lose your pet. I'm afraid i wouldnt be busting myself. Heartless ? maybe, but ...ah bugger it, i dont want to go down that road.

As an update, he's doing well. He's quite relaxed and because we caught it quick the vets consider he has every chance of full recovery...with one eye on the fact he could relapse though, as with all dogs.

Hey ho, we'll just take it as it comes.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

All the best from myself and Cindy sends some woofs and licks!

 

[gbb]

Yeah, picked him up this evening...
Two bald patches on his legs, one bald patch at the base of his skull where they've done the spinal tap, a big bag of all sorts of drugs...and a waggy tail and face lick
£3500 now. Kin ell....my pet insurance is going to rocket up next year.

He's quite lively, but lays down and sleeps quite quickly too. Must have been like a week at Centre Parks for him.

Thanks again for the well wishes

 

[accountantpete]

That's great news - even Blacky the cat has been rooting for him.

 

[ttcycle]

Ah poor thing- hope he feels better soon to wag his tail - it is really distressing when pets get ill.