Little Maltese... allergic... to something???? - Paw Talk

CaseyWhitcher · #1 05-03-2003, 02:52 PM

Hey all...

I have a question if anyone can help out... My wife and I have a little maltese, she's about a year and a half old.. she's about 5 lbs..

one day .. out of the blue.... she started, kinda... **weirding out** on us...

this was maybe a month or more ago... she basically is non responsive to us, and she is looking around like stevie wonder, (for lack of a better reference) and biting at the air as if she's trying to catch flys or something???

we were REALLY worried and we took her to the ER the first night...

she was doing it in front of the Vet too.. really odd behavior... the vet seemed to thing that she was allergic to something, and that she seemed like she thought something was trying to "get her" and that likely she was very itchy and uncomfortable and she wasn't sure from what?

she gave he a shot and said that should calm her down for the night... it did...

but since then .. she still has these reactions... also she bites at her paws all the time now???

the vet said we would have to wait a year before we could give her an allergy test... and that it would be expensive... I'm ok with spending the money,, I just want her not to be uncomfortable...

but she stilll is having these problems..

we're thinking it's either something in her diet.. or maybe something in our garden???

anyone ever have problems like this???

thanks..

Casey.

SharonM · #2 05-03-2003, 04:29 PM

Oh my. I haven't a clue what the problem could be ... but my boss has been breeding Maltese for several years - I'll run this by her Monday and see what she has to say.
But they do seem prone to allergies though - don't they ? We have a little female that had itchy ears, really icky eyes, a horrible hot spot, poor girl was full of problems. We have a few cats in the building she was in, and when we moved her away from them she seemed a bit better. Then when she moved into the nursery (separate building - no cats) she cleared up literally overnight. A few of our others have problems with hot spots etc. too. Never seen what you're describing though.
Hope you can find what's wrong - sounds frustrating (for her and you)

***Jade*** · #3 05-03-2003, 07:40 PM

Hmm, it sounds like it could be allergies. I'd search around for a board certified Dermatologist (veterinary) in your area. We have one in our Specialty practice and he's awesome. I'm sure one could help you out, as they deal solely in allergies and things of that nature.

**Scarlette** · #4 05-04-2003, 01:21 PM

My friend's black lab has terrible allergies! The poor thing is fine all winter, then as soon as the snow melts she does the same thing your poor dog does....acts like she's biting at flies, constantly scratching, rubbing her face on the carpet and licking her legs. Right now she's on Benadryl and that is helping a little but the vet won't do an allergy test on her either.

My friend is trying to get opinions from different vets.

If you find out what's going on, let me know so I tell my friend to mention it to his vet.

CaseyWhitcher · #5 05-04-2003, 03:01 PM

OMG!!!!! SCARLETTE!!!! THATS IT!!!!

EXACT SAME THING!!!!!!

Where does your friend live??? we are in So Cal, (san diego)

why can't they get a allergy test???

I think Benadryl is what ours got that one night..

For sure though if we find out what is going on we will let you know!!!

PLEASE do the same!!!!

thanks!!

**Scarlette** · #6 05-05-2003, 11:07 AM

He lives in the southern part of Michigan. I've encouraged him to take the dog to Michigan State to see if they can figure out what's going on. His wife is having a fit because it will cost money

(she's not an animal person) but I think I have him convinced that's the best choice. I will definitely let you know if they get it figured out.

CaseyWhitcher · #7 05-05-2003, 11:12 AM

thanks, I'm not crazy about spending money either, but Chanels is like our kid... money is not a factor you know.. that's just us though..

Jodi · #8 05-05-2003, 02:11 PM

OMG, your little doggie is so sweet! What a cutie pie!

I hope she feels better soon!

CaseyWhitcher · #9 05-05-2003, 03:16 PM

Thanks JG actually the one in my signature is not ours.. that's just a picture from our website.. looks alot like her though..

here are a couple shots of our little girl though

this is a recent picture of her on her bunny bed.

This picture was a Chrismas Present I made for my wife (then Fiancee) the first year we had Chanel (our Maltese). all 6 of these are her, I spliced them together in photoshop and printed this out and framed it.

Jodi · #10 05-05-2003, 04:51 PM

OMG OMG OMG - She is SOOOO cute! I love that little face...I wanna kiss her (crazy aunt mode again!!! LOL)

What a sweetie!

Thanks for the pictures!

SharonM · #11 05-05-2003, 06:39 PM

AWWWW ... she's just adorable!

Well, I told my boss about her little problem, and she has quite a different opinion than everyone else. She, without hesitation, said "Yeah - it's a mild form of epilepsy". I told her how they suspected it was allergies, and she said if she were to call the vet she uses and run those symptoms by him, she's sure he would say it was more than likely epilepsy.
My suggestion? I would call a few different vets and describe her symptoms (without telling them what you suspect) and see what they say ...

CaseyWhitcher · #12 05-05-2003, 07:21 PM

I don't understand?? I thought epilepsy meant seizures??? I'm sure ours had never had a seizure??

I wouldn't even call them mood swings, more like distractions.. she'll want to play, then act like something is bothering her..

especially when we're getting ready for bed, she will sit on the blankets on top of us and kind of jump up in the air trying to bite something that isn't there...

but then she comes and burrows under the blankets and goes to sleep.

SharonM · #13 05-06-2003, 10:06 AM

I think maybe my boss thought what you described sounded like a seizure - since you said she was "unresponsive". I would never go by what someone who's not a vet says just from hearing about the symptoms. I just thought I'd let you know what she thought, because she's been breeding dogs for 45 years - and is usually right on target. But I wouldn't just settle for allergies being it, especially if you have to wait a year (that still sounds odd to me). I would just call around, see if anyone will give an opinion over the phone.
Have you talked to her breeder? Maybe some other maltese breeders ?

CaseyWhitcher · #14 05-06-2003, 11:14 AM

Whoa... you scared me there Sharon!! I don't know anything about this stuff... so as soon as you mentioned that I started looking up everything I could about epilepsy!!! I'm sure your boss knows what she's talking about that's why I was worried..

I'm sure I didn't explain it well enough.. I'm with you though.. I'm not convinced it's allergies either, but then again with all my veteranary knowledge (none) I don't think I should be making any assumptions...

I'm definately going to take your advice though and ask around to some other vets..

thank you!