[basgal23]

A few weeks ago my 5 month old boxer started to just lay around, we took him to the vet and she noticed that he yelped when she pushed his neck down, figuring it was a pulled muscle, she gave him some rimadyl. A few days later, he yelped everytime you barely touched his neck and stopped eating and drinking. The vet noticed his tongue was swollen and gave him a shot of strong antibiotics and sent us home with clavamox. The shot made him better in a few hours but after that wore off the clavamox didn't help and he got worse. We took him in again and guessing he had meningitis, (blood test and xrays were normal)they gave him baytril (136mg 2x a day) for 10 days. He was back to normal. A week after the baytril ended, he started back on the neck pain and lethargy. We took him back in and he had a temp of 104.8 and a high white blood cell count. they thought he had a tick bite so they gave us doxycycline, but he just got worse. We took him back in and his temp was 105.3. they gave him an IV and kept him overnight and gave him steroids. The next day he was a little better but the steroids are wearing off and all they gave us was some more baytril. This time only 136mg 1x a day for 14 days. What are some other possiblities of a diagnosis? What are some other treatments? I thought he had meningitis and just needed to be on the baytril longer, but I was told baytril can cause problems later on in life. I am just frustrated with doctor after doctor (i've seen 5 different doctors) doing all kinds of tests and not coming up with anything that works. I just want to know if someone else has another idea than the typical ideas that just aren't working.

 

[Starr05]

Are his glands swollen? Is there any swelling in the face?

 

[basgal23]

nope, no swelling.

 

[Flutterby]

I don't know what it could be.. I googled some for ya..

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/neck-and-b ... page1.aspx

ETA - I hope you figure out what it is!! Please keep us updated!

 

[basgal23]

thanks for the site. I think it is probably meningitis, but I'm not sure how it should be treated since it came back after the antibiotics before. It is so sad seeing him like that.

 

[Flutterby]

Maybe his immune system is week? Did you get him early?

 

[basgal23]

we got him at 8 weeks, he has always been in perfect health since we got him until now. He got neutered about 2-1/2 weeks before he got sick the first time. I dont know if maybe he caught something then and it took a while to come through

 

[nano]

I use holistic eastern medicine in combination with western medicine.  You could try some of that for him if you can find one in your area.  I have used accupunture and various holistic treatments for my dogs the past 10 years for problems that were unsolvable by traditional medicine.  Worth a try.  Best of luck.  No fun when our baby's are sick.

Nano

 

[nano]

You could also ask for a referral to a specialist in infectious disease or internal medicine.  That would be my next step in combination with eastern medicine.

Nano

 

[nano]

I just went and goggled meningitis and it does sound like this may be the problem.  It is an auto-immune disease, of which is treated with long term doses of steriods.  Sounds to me like he will need steroids long term to try to kick start his immune system into working properly.  It also mentions that it can be caused by an infectious disease.  I would get a referral to the best specialist I could find and go there asap with my dog.  

Nano

 

[mybaddogs]

That is terrible, my older boxer had a neck strain (she jumped off of the seadoo after some geese).  we gave her childrens tylenol and rubbed it and she came out fine.   Doesn't sound anything like what your pup has.  good luck

 

[boxerlove]

I don't have any experience in that area but sure hope your baby is better soon.

 

[mom2scoutandgunner]

When Scout was laid up with his bad leg, we used a heating pad at night (on for a few minutes, off for a few minutes)  He loved it and repsonded to it very well.  It is not a cure all but a good way to give him a little extra lovin and help him thru his rough spot.  I would definitely seek a specialist for him.  You know in your heart what is right and what isn't when it comes to your babies.  Intuition is a powerful thing.  Hope he gets better soon!