Our Peruvian Viringos - neurodegenerative disease

When picking up Buffy the cat (she was reacting badly to the spay/surgery on Friday) at 24/7 ER - VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialists (BAVS) , I asked if they had a neurologist (knowing they didn't when I last checked, but thought I would ask anyway). YES! They Do! The neurologist starts March 9th, 2020. Sonko has an appointment for March 10th. The office was in the process of getting copies of his records from Park Centre Animal Hospital while I was still waiting for Buffy. Today is Sonko's 1/2 dosage of the Pred for 14 days. Also Sonko's niece Evita had a relapse and is back on a steroid. 20mg/2'x per day. She was off the steroids for 6 months. Hoping for the best for her and Sally.

Sonko had a good Vet visit today. And had his nails done. Sonko and Me at the vets. Dr Wallace took the photo Weight is at 42.2 lbs. Had his last dose of the antibiotic Tribrissen this morning. No side affects. The bland diet, the probiotics  helped. No dry eyes, he eyes still look beautiful and soulful. Urine culture next week. Saturday he starts the 1/2 Pred. tab, 2x's a day.  The pred side affects are hitting him hard with the urine. He tries. But sometimes just standing up makes him pee. He is wearing a male wrap most of the time. If at the 1/2 dosage he seems to not be improving and the incontinence continues Dr. Wallace will be changing his steroid. One where a higher dose can be used . (grrr I forgot the name of it..my jaw/mouth hurts from lots of dental work done yesterday). He walks slow but steady. He fatigues easy (legs start shaking) He still has some difficulty walking up the walkway to the house esp if he just came back from a short walk. The incl...

Zara has been on the antibiotics for a couple days now. It's the same type as last time, simplicef. But this time it's a 10 day course, we have a urinalysis scheduled for Thursday (02/27) which is day 5 of the antibiotics, hopefully there will be better results this time. We also have an ultrasound scheduled for March 4th to see if there are bladder stones, or polyps, or something causing this infection. She's still energetic and playful, and seems to be feeling fine. One new thing that has started in the last couple of weeks is that she's been having some kind of episodes that last a couple of seconds. They seem to mainly happen when she's lying down, she will suddenly tilt her head upwards and her eyes start to roll back and is unresponsive for a couple of seconds. So far it's happened 3 times, two of those times have been when she's sleeping, possibly having just woken up from sleeping. I'll update again soon.

Afternoon Nap Time! Sonko (mid) Simba (l) Sassy (r) So far no gastric upset from the Tribrissen. Less visible blood in his urine. He seems to be standing up from a laying down position easier (hoping it's not just me wishful thinking). My Dads' caretaker noticed that Sonko has been joining the pack in following me around the house. He has been eating several small bland diet meals a day. With snacks between. Can really see Sonko has lost his tan. As for Sassy, she is 4 years old and no symptoms. I worry about her everyday. Sonko's weight:  lastest is 41 lbs. (date goes here) 40 lbs (date goes here) 42 lbs and before he got sick..he was about 48 - 50  lbs..lots of muscle.

Video of Sonko, Sassy, (Simba and Taz) Taken Feb 2nd, 2020

Quick update: Sassy and Adam hanging with Sonko . Changed Sonko's belly band this early morning, it was pink. He is very uncomfortable. Called his vets number and left a message before office hours. While waiting for a call back..got Sonko's harness on. And he urinated on the floor. Yes, definitely blood. Vet clinic called..Sonko has an appointment at 11 a.m. today (2/19/2020). Will post outcome of the visit... Going to drink some herbal tea..not a coffee morning. Didn't do a urine culture this time. He peed for them and they saw the blood. (he also gave up some poop just because). Added Tribrissen Oral Susp. antibiotic for 10 days Continue the Prednisone Continue Visbiome Continue D-mannose Need to watch for crusting of eyes, squinting. If I see that..call Vet. One of the side affects of Tribrissen is permanent dry eyes besides t he gastric upset. Sonko is also now on a very bland diet to hopefully prevent any gastric upset (vomiting or ...

Heard back from the vet regarding Zara's follow-up urine culture. It was taken 7 days after she completed the antibiotic, they left a voicemail asking if she had spit out any of the pills and that the bladder infection was back. Well it wasn't just back it was the exact same organism that they saw from the first culture, sensitive to the same antibiotics. The lab vets had told them the antibiotic course should have been enough to eliminate it. So either something was causing it or she didn't take all the pills, and she definitely did the full course of antibiotics for the full 7 days. They suggested possibly bladder stones or a tumor, and want to do either an x-ray or an ultrasound. I talked to Mom about it, Sonko had the same results from his follow up urine culture, so it could be due to the immune disease. I left a voicemail with the vet to call me back either on my lunch break tomorrow or after I get off work, I'll be discussing the results of the test and w...

Last evening Sonko actually wanted to cuddle!! He hasn't wanted to do that in many many months. Sonko n me, She Sassy, Simba, Sonko n Adam (l-r) Sonko is drinking a lot of water. Food, well he is still picky but eating more especially if I make him taste it. Finding unique ways to get his meds down him.  Mashed potatoes and gravy Jack Link sticks (hollow out the meat, insert pills, cap off with meat) Canned dog food (not always a winner) →insert name← I forgot name..pill hiders With Sonko getting up and moving around more (to drink water, pee and see what is going on the the kitchen.) I have noticed that Adam has been very very vocal and up in Sonko's face. Sonko, just turns his head to the side and looks away. This behavior started yesterday (Feb 17, 2020) Adam has been hurt by Sonko recently. Its understandable with the way Adam is reacting. Going to be working on changing that behavior. TTFN

good day today. Picked up Sonko's Rx (probiotic). I went and picked up my Rx for my DDS appointment on the 25th. Bought some wine. Had bought lunch at Mcdonalds..no shamrock freezes!!! boooooo was soo looking forward to getting one. Later. Sonko usually plops on blankets on the floor by my computer. I looked down and he wasn't there. Humm. where did he go? So used to him not going anywhere these past months. Found him on the couch in the living room!!! yay!!! Good puppers!  Anyway it was a beautiful day today!  night!

2/14/2020 - Talked with a vet from Park Centre Animal Hospital in Alameda regarding Sonko's latest urine culture results.  Some background: Sonko, several of his siblings, his dam, and other close relatives have auto-immune issues. Several have an inherited immune-mediated muscle disease (IMM) or Lupus. So far 2 are in remission, 1 with IMM and 1 with Lupus. Some of the dogs have been euthanized due to complications of their disease. The age of onset of the known affected dogs is approximately 2-5 years. After onset of the autoimmune disease, some dogs' health have declined rapidly while in other the progression had been more gradual. As of this writing there is no DNA test for IMM. There is a DNA test for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) which is what I thought he had at first, but so many symptoms didn't fit. I personally had Sonko, Zara and Sassy tested for that - all are clear.  DM is in the Peruvian dogs but can be bred out since there is a test for it. IMM is anothe...