Stewie -urgent

Question
QUESTION: We have been treating Stewie with Bicillin for abscess and Panacur for E.C. (hind leg paralysis). He has not been been eating or drinking much and legs still weak. Vet gave him Sub Cut fluids last week and they are not absorbing into his blood stream. Why is this and what do we do now? He seems slightly better but can't or won't hop because of the sack of fluid hanging between his legs.

ANSWER: Dear Karen,

Has Stewie had bloodwork done recently?  If he's not absorbing fluids, he could be in congestive heart failure, or his kidneys could be failing.  Please ask your vet to do a full exam to check these things.  Renal failure would not be an unreasonable suspicion if he's tested positive for E. cuniculi and has hind limb paresis.  The parasites attack both the central nervous system and the renal system.

Continue with his supportive care, but get him to the vet ASAP for further testing.

I hope he will be okay.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dana,

We don't know for sure it is E.C. but we treated him for that because of his symptoms. We stopped the bicilin because he was so sick and was treating him with Ivomek and Panacur. That did nothing to help him. His legs can't hold him and he is out of it at time. He'll barely eat and he looks miserable. At this point, I doubt it is E.C. if the worming meds didn't help him and he continues to fail. Unfortunately, we need to make a decision. How much do you put them through? He barely moves at this point and when he does, falls.

Thanks for all of your help these past few months.

Karen

Answer
Dear Karen,

Have you taken his temperature to be sure he hasn't gone hypothermic?  Please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

Making sure his temperature is normal can make all the difference in the world.  

If infection is suspected, then switch to a different antibiotic, but consider not stopping them altogether.  Zeniquin is a good choice with a very broad range of efficacy.

All you can do is what you are doing, and he knows you love him.  At some point, it has to be up to Stewie, and if he is not up to the battle any more, he will make it clear to you. This is such a hard time, and I hope he doesn't make you make a hard decision.  But I know you'll know the right thing to do.  If you're not sure, make sure he has *lots* of pain medication on board (tramadol will make him feel great, and corticosteroids--if the vet suspects this is the end--can really help him feel better so that he doesn't pass on in misery).

I am sending as many healing thoughts as I can at this hard time, and wish I could be there to help.

Love him and cuddle him and hope for the best.

Dana