We’ve just got back from the vet with our minds at rest.
Maggie had what one would term as a funny five minutes this morning……. not one of the zoomie kind from one of the JusJoJan prompts, but a full out of control panic that had her shaking in a corner for no apparent reason. It’s not the first time this has happened, but it was certainly the most dramatic.
We have theories of blind spots, trapped nerves and nightmares, but there is something else preying on our minds.
There is a thing called Springer Head which is the development of a brain tumour and common in older springer spaniels. Maggie is 50/50, a first cross with a welsh collie.
I rang the vet and they were able to see us this afternoon. In the meantime, we gave her some metacam, though she seemed to have calmed down but still a bit shaky. Hubby gave her a brush and her fur was so dry and her skin flaky, we decided to give her a warm shower, which would also help her joints.
She was quite content to be lathered up, loads of massage and the warm water was soothing. Afterwards, it was plenty of rubs with the towels and out with the hairdryer, which she positively loves.
We took her to the vet and she got on the scales as normal. She has put on weight and is now 16.4 kilos. This has been noted on her records, up from 15.1 kilos a little while ago.
We saw a lady vet today who was very nice and manipulated her joints. She also checked out her eyes, and they are beginning to cloud, a sign of old age more than blindness, so the blind spot in her peripheral vision is likely.
The vet believes that when Maggie’s asleep or resting, she pinches a nerve which causes this kind of reaction. There is medication for it, similar to Tramadol, which will make her sleepy. As it would have to be administered every day and having experience many years ago with a dog permanently on tranquilizers for thunder, this is not the life we want for her. The vet understood, and before it would be prescribed, Maggie would have to have X-rays and blood tests anyway to confirm the condition.
Now we know what is causing it, we can deal with it. She has a warm cosy bed and when we go out we make sure she is dressed for the weather. We are dosing her with metacam when necessary as we have been, but obviously if things get too much out of hand, we will think again.
The good news is she is back to her happy self and quite content in her world, and that’s what’s most important.
pensitivity101 
How scary that must have been!! It’s good that you know what it is and that it’s not a tumour. Hopefully this will be an isolated episode.
She’s had them before, but not quite as dramatic as today which is what worried us. Still, now we know our theories were correct, we can handle it.
Exactly. Very good you went to the Vet.
Best to play safe and confirm that what we’re doing is OK.
Absolutely. I would have done the same.
😀
A good rule for medication is: When in doubt, don’t.
It is so sad when one watches the inexorable onset of age in a beloved pet. Our Annie the Africanis has numbered days.
I’m sorry to hear that.
Aw. I’m sorry to hear that Maggie has the ‘startles’ on that level. Huny gets them too, but nothing as dramatic as what you describe Maggie as having. I’m glad you have a routine that works. Huny is on rimadyl (well the generic, because name brand meds, just as for humans, are too expensive) which is a very mild sedative. When Huny has a bad night, I give her 1/2 tab and it calms her down without making her groggy. I hope things continue to improve for your family!
Thanks. The metacam helps and she sleeps well. We’ll just take thing as they come and if things get worse, will consider alternatives. But for the moment she’s happy and content, everything is normal (drinking, eating, the businesses etc) but like us, she’s getting older and the body doesn’t work quite as well as it did, bbut at least we can give her something that works.
Aww. Bless her. Glad she is ok. X
Thanks Lorraine.
When they get older sometimes the treatment is worse than doing nothing, it’s always sad to see them getting old as we still think of them like us as being younger. I’m often surprised when I look in the mirror and see who’s looking back at me.
Tell me about it, but at least I know Mum is still with me. Maggie’s 14 and doing pretty well for her age. We let her do things at her own pace, and at least what we do for her does help, even if it is short term. Quiet day planned for tomorrow.
Poor Maggie. Getting old is tough for all of us including pups.
She’s curled up beside me now surrounded by her babies and snoring, bless her.
I hope that she keeps well.
Thank you
👍😊
I am happy to hear it was not too serious – but must have been frightening to watch. 😦
All we can do with our old dogs is keep them comfortable in their old age – and hope someone will be around to do the same for us when our turn comes!
Hugs to Maggie 😀
Thanks Sci. She slept well last night, so hopefully these turns will be infrequent but manageable.
fingers crossed 🙂