Is my dog dying (UK)
So sorry for the morbid post.
My dog is a working cocker and has been slowing down over the past 6 months. Shes 11 years old and has been in fantastic health, up until now.
In Feb, she had a funny turn where she started falling over, walking into things and her eyes were rolling around. I thought she had had a stroke in the night. One emergency trip to OOO vet confirmed suspected idiopathic vestibular disease. Aka old dog vertigo. She wasnt sick, she was still eating and drinking and toileting normal. She was just disorientated. She improved within 2 weeks and was just left with a little head tilt and sometimes was a little wonky. But in herself, she was fine and happy and usual energy levels. Vet said she could have a brain lesion but if she wasnt being sick or showing any other concerning signs, it would likely be vestibular.
Two weeks ago, it happened again but a little worse this time. Another vet trip confirmed pupils and neurological responses seemed normal and as she was eating and drinking - all fine but if she declined it could indicate something else. As before, some rest and time and she started to improve again and the wobbly eyes stopped. She still remained cautious of stairs and preferred us to pick her up. She also continued to stumble and walk into things.
On Friday night, she was cuddled on sofa with me, seemed totally fine but I clipped her what I think was her head slightly as I moved off the sofa. She let out a big yelp. Later on in the night, she went into the garden but was hunched, head lowered and was panting. She wasnt happy and looked in pain. We thought maybe I had hurt one of her teeth? She was still eating and drinking on Saturday and seemed OK, just a little 'off'. By Sunday evening, she had really gone in on herself. She barely eat and when she was eating, it was going everywhere. Like she cant control her tongue properly.
Vets today couldnt confirm anything. Her bloods all came back fine. No elevated t cells. Temp normal but vet confirmed she is very tense and presenting as though shes in a lot of pain. She gave her an opoid injection and advised we need to collect urine to test her kidney function so we can plan if she can take steroids or NSAIDs for any potential inflamation.
All my research points to 3 things
Meningitus
Ligament or injury caused by either my leg hurting her the othet night or from a previous fall because of the vestibular (shes fallen over a lot despite me trying desperately to keep her still)
Brain or spinal tumour.
I know the next steps are MRI and spinal tap but the vet wants to allow her rest and pain relief first to see if it improves (which points to ligament or injury)
Has anyone had a dog who has gone through this?
She looks so so sad and disorientated. Shes now off her food and drink (shes eaten and drunk a little today - just not much)
My gut is telling me this is the end. Ive never seen her like this. Im clinging on to hope as she has no temp, her organs seem fine from bloods and there's no increase in t cells or obvious signs of inflamation.
I wish I knew what she was feeling so I could help her.