She did it!!!!! She just jumped onto the low couch...with a little inspiration from one of her favourite treats. Took her about 10 to 15 tries but by Georgie she got it.
Next step lounge couch glory
Wednesday 6 March 2013
General update
On the Georgie front she is still on Prednisone, Cyclosporine, Leflunomide and her 3 weekly Cytosar injections (next round this weekend). She is still improving in terms of her GME symptoms and I am thrilled. I can only pray that the day we decide to do the first pred reduction she will still continue to improve.
She is now quite the pro at jumping off the couch and the bed is now also seemingly a breeze. I think she just needs to get some confidence to jump onto the couch. I am going to try and coax her to jump on a lower couch with some of her favourite treats. I think that might do the trick. Hopefully once she has mastered that she will have the confidence to try the couch in the lounge.
Oh and Dr Strydom has been convinced for a while now that Georgie has some sort of vision in her left eye. We have suspected it too and even more so after last night. There was a cow hoof on the floor in the kitchen (out of place) and she tentatively snuck up to it and ran away repeatedly as if it was something strange. It gives me comfort to think that she can still see something no matter how little.
FYI, I recieved not one reply from any of the places I emailed for research feedback.
She is now quite the pro at jumping off the couch and the bed is now also seemingly a breeze. I think she just needs to get some confidence to jump onto the couch. I am going to try and coax her to jump on a lower couch with some of her favourite treats. I think that might do the trick. Hopefully once she has mastered that she will have the confidence to try the couch in the lounge.
Oh and Dr Strydom has been convinced for a while now that Georgie has some sort of vision in her left eye. We have suspected it too and even more so after last night. There was a cow hoof on the floor in the kitchen (out of place) and she tentatively snuck up to it and ran away repeatedly as if it was something strange. It gives me comfort to think that she can still see something no matter how little.
FYI, I recieved not one reply from any of the places I emailed for research feedback.
Research
I have been trying to find out more about any research going on into GME. Thanks to another blogger I have seen that there is a research grant open through the AKC Canine Health Foundation.
01731: A Novel Approach to Understanding How Meningoencephalomyelitis Develops In Dogs:
Abstract
This project is aimed at finding a cause of 'meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology', otherwise known as 'MUE', which is a summary term for diseases such as 'GME'. This group of conditions causes serious neurologic disease in dogs, especially small breeds, including blindness, loss of balance, seizures and paralysis - but the cause is currently unknown. A recent experimental breakthrough has incriminated bacteria in the digestive system as triggers for a similar disease in laboratory mice and rats. The main purpose of this project is to find out whether imbalances in the number or type of digestive system bacteria might also be a cause for MUE in dogs. If it was to be true it would open a whole new avenue of approach to treatment of affected dogs and might also produce information useful for treating neurologic disease in humans. To carry out this investigation we will analyze fecal samples collected from affected dogs for their content of bacteria. We will then compare the numbers and type of bacteria with those we find in fecal samples from unaffected dogs. Because we will be examining many dogs with MUE we will also be able to ask owners other questions about their dogs' recent medications and medical history to determine whether there are other risk factors that might be associated with MUE.
Anyone interested in donating can do so via the website http://www.akcchf.org/research/funded-research/1731.html or by ordering one of the Fight GME bracelets on the Fight Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis Facebook page.
Anyway, I am still interested to know what other research is taking place and how the research findings are distributed to vets, particularly internationally. I have mailed the Foundation to find out more. I have also mailed the University of Pretoria in South Africa to find out if any research is being done here at home. The only snippets of papers I can find on the internet from a local perspective seem to be a good few years old and based on the fact that dogs are being treated differently nowadays I was hoping things would also be moving with the times in terms of research.
I am also going to try and find out generally how new breakthroughs and medications are shared here in South Africa. I will speak to Dr Strydom about that at some point as well. Surely if dogs are responding well to treatment there must be a means of sharing with other vets.
Holding thumbs for some responses
01731: A Novel Approach to Understanding How Meningoencephalomyelitis Develops In Dogs:
Abstract
This project is aimed at finding a cause of 'meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology', otherwise known as 'MUE', which is a summary term for diseases such as 'GME'. This group of conditions causes serious neurologic disease in dogs, especially small breeds, including blindness, loss of balance, seizures and paralysis - but the cause is currently unknown. A recent experimental breakthrough has incriminated bacteria in the digestive system as triggers for a similar disease in laboratory mice and rats. The main purpose of this project is to find out whether imbalances in the number or type of digestive system bacteria might also be a cause for MUE in dogs. If it was to be true it would open a whole new avenue of approach to treatment of affected dogs and might also produce information useful for treating neurologic disease in humans. To carry out this investigation we will analyze fecal samples collected from affected dogs for their content of bacteria. We will then compare the numbers and type of bacteria with those we find in fecal samples from unaffected dogs. Because we will be examining many dogs with MUE we will also be able to ask owners other questions about their dogs' recent medications and medical history to determine whether there are other risk factors that might be associated with MUE.
Anyone interested in donating can do so via the website http://www.akcchf.org/research/funded-research/1731.html or by ordering one of the Fight GME bracelets on the Fight Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis Facebook page.
Anyway, I am still interested to know what other research is taking place and how the research findings are distributed to vets, particularly internationally. I have mailed the Foundation to find out more. I have also mailed the University of Pretoria in South Africa to find out if any research is being done here at home. The only snippets of papers I can find on the internet from a local perspective seem to be a good few years old and based on the fact that dogs are being treated differently nowadays I was hoping things would also be moving with the times in terms of research.
I am also going to try and find out generally how new breakthroughs and medications are shared here in South Africa. I will speak to Dr Strydom about that at some point as well. Surely if dogs are responding well to treatment there must be a means of sharing with other vets.
Holding thumbs for some responses
Monday 4 March 2013
Vacuum cleaner
Boy oh boy is Georgie hungry. She is a real little vacuum cleaner. I would recommend Prednisone for anyone with anorexia. She acts like every meal is her last one. I don't even think she gets a chance to taste anything she eats so quickly. I am thinking of maybe getting one of those bowls that slow their eating down. I honestly think if I gave her an unlimited supply of food she would carry on all day.
I think she is permamently hungry. She starts moaning for food in the early early afternoon and I only feed her at 5. I am scared to give her snacks in between in case she gets fat...although I do give in and sneak in a few grain free dog biscuits here and there as a treat.
Oh and at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Sunday morning she woke me up. I took her outside for a wee but soon realised she was actually waking me up to give her food. Poor little monkey. I know I get grouchy when I'm hungry. Hopefully one day when we start the Pred reduction it will start to ease of a bit.
This morning she only woke me up once, at 4 a.m. so I was grateful.
I think she is permamently hungry. She starts moaning for food in the early early afternoon and I only feed her at 5. I am scared to give her snacks in between in case she gets fat...although I do give in and sneak in a few grain free dog biscuits here and there as a treat.
Oh and at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Sunday morning she woke me up. I took her outside for a wee but soon realised she was actually waking me up to give her food. Poor little monkey. I know I get grouchy when I'm hungry. Hopefully one day when we start the Pred reduction it will start to ease of a bit.
This morning she only woke me up once, at 4 a.m. so I was grateful.
Leap of faith
I forgot to mention that Georgie jumped off the bed on Saturday morning....and with a perfect landing. Big step for her. She has also jumped off the couch a few times. I am positive she is going to jump on the couch again within the next 2 weeks. She hasn't done that since early Jan.
Go Georgie, Go!!!
Go Georgie, Go!!!
Sunday 3 March 2013
New haircut
Little Georgie hasn't had a haricut since the week before she went blind and was getting rather full of knots. I thought it might be stressful for her to go to the parlour since she can't see and I also don't really want her around too many strange dogs while her immune system is so low. So I went and bought some clippers and did a home job. She wasn't thrilled with the exercise but it didn't turn out too badly.
Friday 1 March 2013
A good night's sleep
Great news...Georgie hasn't vomited again since reducing the amount of new food. She had a good night's sleep with no restlessness. She is really looking good.
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