Expert: Renee Cox - 8/26/2008

Question
Will try to sum this up- Boxer puppy 4 mo old. Started displaying somewhat minor symptoms of lyme diesease. Vet said blood work was negative. Gave antibiotic. Got better for short time. Next time a little worse and vet said take to vet hospital. After being there all day and lots of money later, they said no idea what is wrong but gave antibiotic. Again got better for short time. When he got worse again it was pretty bad. Couln't be touched, hardly walk, didn't eat. Sometimes seizure like symptons. VERY lethargic. Vet gave antibiotic and steroid. Seemed to get little better but vet said still neg for lyme or other tick disease. Dog feeling better will go away when no longer on steroid. This was last week. Don't know where else to go for help. If I didn't already say, dog is boxer. Please please help!!!!

Answer
Hi Jenifer. Sorry your boy has gone through so much. I want you to have a look at the link I'm sending you. A lot of vets may not consider this problem, and overlook it. This disease usually is worse in the southern states, where it's warmer. I don't know where you live. You have a look at this web site, and I'll try to come up with something else for you to talk to your vet about. We'll se if we can't figure out what's going on with your boy. What other tests did your vet do, and what were the results? P.S. I'm also encluding another link for you to look at. Read it and see if your dog exhibits any of the same signs.

http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/derlick.html
http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dneuro.html