Vibes for Danny Please

[Captain Helen]

I'm going to ask my vets to refer me to Jo Hallam instead. I trust her and she knows about chronic pain, arthritis and acupuncture. I really think that's the area we should be looking at. I could be wrong, but I'd rather trust my instincts and be wrong.

 

[Clare-uk]

Sometimes we do have to listen to the little voice inside. Plus I'm assuming Jo will be able to assess if it's dental as well? So best of both worlds

 

[Captain Helen]

Feeling a bit more hopeful now I've spoken to Jo, as we've got a plan

She's had a look through all the tests done so far, and isn't worried about the blood results. The anaemia and muscle wastage is to be expected in a bun that's not moving about. Unfortunately the xrays aren't good enough quality for her to see the lesion, and as they were conscious ones (I had asked for full xrays under GA) his joints aren't in the right place to really see what's going on.

So he's booked in for Tuesday to have an examination, then full xrays under heavy sedation and whatever else we need to do to get to the bottom of this.

He's got another vet puzzled, but we'll get there in the end!

Sometimes we do have to listen to the little voice inside. Plus I'm assuming Jo will be able to assess if it's dental as well? So best of both worlds

Thank you. Yes, she'll do skull xrays and recheck teeth too.

 

[Jack's-Jane]

Feeling a bit more hopeful now I've spoken to Jo, as we've got a plan

She's had a look through all the tests done so far, and isn't worried about the blood results. The anaemia and muscle wastage is to be expected in a bun that's moving about. Unfortunately the xrays aren't good enough quality for her to see the lesion, and as they were conscious ones (I had asked for full xrays under GA) his joints aren't in the right place to really see what's going on.

So he's booked in for Tuesday to have an examination, then full xrays under heavy sedation and whatever else we need to do to get to the bottom of this.

He's got another vet puzzled, but we'll get there in the end!



Thank you. Yes, she'll do skull xrays and recheck teeth too.

I hope that the further investigations bring some answers for you xx

 

[Captain Helen]

I hope that the further investigations bring some answers for you xx

Thank you She could have just advised my vets on pain relief options and dosage, but I don't want to dope him up without knowing the cause. Plus she said if it's a spinal lesion causing the problems, then pain relief that makes him wobbly could make the problem worse.

 

[Clare-uk]

Sounds like a good plan has been made and hopefully it will lead to answers and a treatment plan can be sorted

 

[MimzMum]

I'm just catching up with this, Helen, you have all the vibes I can muster for this mystery to be solved for your lovely Danny. Thinking of you and sending hugs and well wishes for an easy fix for him. xxxxx

 

[Captain Helen]

I took Danny for his referral appointment with Jo last week. The main thing she noted was his horrendous muscle wastage. Even his head muscles, so it's not from not moving around, but probably the cause of him not moving. His reduced eating is probably because he has no facial muscles, and a lot are needed to eat hay.

She took more xrays which showed nothing. The 'spinal lesion' was probably never there, just how his discs appeared as he wasn't positioned correctly. She took another urine sample which showed protein, no infection, so his kidneys aren't working properly. His kidney levels on the blood test are slightly low, but he's not in renal failure. His ratio is 1.5 and it's bad over 6 (I don't understand the figures!) so they're not bad, just not right.

The next step was a 4 day fecal sample to test for parasites. I've just got the results back and there are no parasites at all.

So that leaves us with either a very rare muscle wastage disease, sometimes seen in cats and dogs, or cancer.

An exploratory laparotomy is an option, but I don't think it could find anything treatable, so I'm not keen on that option.

I've had a few buns with cancer (solid tumours, not lymphoma) and they don't present like this. Jo thinks lymphoma is more likely, but I have no experience of that. Does anyone have any experience of lymphoma in buns?

I think the next step is a muscle biopsy, lymph node biopsy and repeat bloods.

ETA: Oh, and Jo has been getting advice from four other specialists about Danny! Everyone knows about the mystery bun!

 

[Omi]

Wow Danny has certainly had a lot of investigations! I'm sorry that a definitive diagnosis has still not been found and send lots of vibes for your lovely mystery bun.

 

[Barn Yard Bunnies]

I don't know what to say, everything seems to have been covered. Hope you get to the bottom of Danny's muscle wastage soon. Xxx

 

[Clare-uk]

Goodness that does sound quite a strange condition. Hoping you can get some answers and are able to keep him comfy and happy. Noserubs for Danny x

 

[MightyMax]

Poor Danny and poor you!

I hope you find a way forward to manage the condition. A difficult mystery indeed.

Many vibes xx