the story of miles, the white boxer...a dog, not a frog...
 survivor
On
December 19, 2004, Miles played at the dog park like any other
happy, energetic dog. He ran around, played frisbee and made friends
with the other dogs playing in the sun.
Upon arriving home, he became very ill. He was very lethargic,
weak, pale and cold. His condition quickly progressed for the
worse.
There
was no choice than to bring him to the emergency vet clinic -
which saved his life.
Upon arriving at the clinic, the doctor discovered that his heart
rate was 3 times higher than normal and he wasn't getting any
blood circulation. They immediately hospitalized him and stabilized
his heart with an IV containing a lidocaine drip (you can see
his shaved forearm in the above photo).
Miles
was diagnosed at the emergency vet with boxer cardiomyopathy - a potentially fatal heart disease that is common in boxers.
Contrary to some people's belief, this condition is not as a result
of being a white boxer - this condition occurs in any boxer of
any color.
Cardiomyopathy can also occur in other large breeds such as Doberman
Pinschers and Great Danes, and also occur in medium sized breeds
such as Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels.
This
near fatal episode came on suddenly with no warning. Looking back
at his behavior after walks and running - how quickly he became
fatigued, exhausted, and how he would lay down suddenly after a
short sprint - should have been sure signs that something was wrong.
Unfortunately, as in Miles' case - not many dog owners are aware
of this condition. You just figure that they're just being dogs
- energetic, hyper, and born to play.
This page is dedicated to Miles' will to survive and to bring awareness
to this heart disease. If you have any concerns about your dog or
notice that he or she is fatigued very easily, you may want to consult
your vet about this condition. Hopefully, with knowledge and understanding
of the disease - you can keep your dog healthy and he or she can
live a long happy life.
top
December.2006
It
was two years ago when Miles had his attack. Back then, when we
took him to the cardiologist for the first time, she gave us many
different scenarios for the future. She said that he could possibly
have another 2 years or so before he went into heart failure. She
also said that her former patients eventually passed from other
causes than their heart problems.
Well,
it's been two years this December and I'm happy to report that Miles
is doing very well. He's on four different medications and goes
back to the cardiologist every 3-6 months for EKGs and ultrasound
rechecks. His heart has decreased in size, but is still considerably
larger than the normal heart. His heart strength has improved over
the years, but is still weaker than the normal heart. Even though
the treatment and drugs have been expensive, it's been a labor of
love. Miles is always so terrified of going to the vet for his rechecks,
but I always do my best to comfort him until it's all over with.
Overall,
he's been doing better than I ever expected two years ago. I never
thought that I would still have him now. Through it all, he's been
a happy dog and always wants to play. At seven years old, he still
has the spirit of a puppy.
top
Friday the 13th....April 13, 2007
Miles had an episode and collapsed today due to his cardiomyopathy. I thought he was going to leave the Earth right there on the floor. I held his head and told him he was going to be ok. When he slowly started to come back to awareness and back on his feet - he was still a bit disoriented, but he was mobile enough to get him to the car and to the hospital.
His heart rate was up to 300 so they had to stabilize him quick. The future looked bad for Miles. I didn't want to believe that his mission on Earth was going to be over today. They brought him back and put him on a lidocane drip which helped drop his heart rate. To make a long story short, he actually made it through it all and is here laying next to me. I have to monitor his heart rate every hour to make sure it doesn't increase....if it does, it's to the emergency room we go. The future is still uncertain as always, but I'm happy to say that he's escaped death once again and I am lucky to have my little boy here with me another day.
What's really ironic about this incident today is Miles was born on August 13.....Friday, the 13th....
top
Eleven days later...April 24, 2007
Miles has been doing well so far. He's on an additional medication to keep him stabilized - that's 5 different pills total now. We just have to medicate him and keep him calm. I'm not sure what the future holds....all I can do is take care of him and give him alot of love. The photo below was the night we brought him home from the hospital - he was ready for some rest after the trauma.
top
May 9, 2007
We took Miles in today for his recheck EKG. I was originally going to bring him in next week, but he hasn't been himself lately and it really worried me. Especially these past few days he has been really slow, a little lethargic and wouldn't really wag his tail anymore. I was fearing that he was going into the "acceptance" phase alot of old or ill dogs go through. The phase where thier bodies are tired and they loose that will to live and are ready to move on to the next world. I didn't want to belive this because he's always such a happy dog who is full of life.
Back in February, he was diagnosed with possibly having Horner's Syndrome. His left eye third lid isn't retracting correctly and his lower lid and left bottom lip are drooping down. Since then, his right eye pupil has become permanently dialated as well. I think it really distorts his vision because at times he seems to not see as well when he's walking around the house, etc. You can see in the photo below the differences in his eyes.
 What worried me lately was that he seemed to be off balance and seemed to have trouble finding a comfortable position to lay in. I first thought the balance thing was due to his Horner's Syndrome, but I wasn't sure.
SO off to the Vet we went for a recheck. I told the doctor of my concerns and we decided to do some blood work to see if there's possibly a neurological problem going on or if his discomfort was due to something like arthritis pain. I noticed that he doesn't seem to want to sit and when he goes to lay down, he constantly spins around in his bed desperate for a comfortable spot. I won't find out the results of the blood work probably until tomorrow or so.
Good news was the EKG came out fine. He had occasional arrhythmias, but the doctor said that's normal for his condition and that it wasn't anything to worry about right now.
After the vet visit, we went to pick up his refill of Mexiletine and went home. I sat and thought alot about everything the doctor said about how his recent issues can be due to anything from the medications to disease progression. Then, I thought to read the side effects of the Mexiletine - since this is a new drug that he's been on since his Friday the 13th episode. I discovered something interesting...here's what the side effects said: "...lightheadedness, shakiness of hands/arms, nervousness and problems with muscle control (coordination difficulties) may occur."
I'm not a Vet, but something tells me this is what's been happening to my little boy! I don't know if there's anything we can do about it. He needs the medication to help his heart, so I'm not sure if there's an alternative with less side effects. I'll have to talk to the doctor when she calls with the blood work results.
So that's where it all stands now. Miles is doing well under the circumstances. I'm just glad that I now know what's probably happening with him. I was really worried there for a while. It also taught me a great lesson - read the info that comes with your medications! There are so many of them that I took it for granted.
On a happier note, Dawayne and I took Miles to the park for the first time in a while a few days ago. Miles was so happy to be out in the great outdoors again. We made sure to take him to a quiet place where he could stretch out without any overstimulation. I took some pics of him and from this smile - I could tell he was a happy dog!
After we came home, he was pooped...
So he's just truckin' along...waiting for the next cookie treat...
PS. I'd like to send a special thanks to PURRFRIENDS for all their support!
top
June 5, 2007
Just last Friday, we finally heard back from the vet reguarding Miles' recent issues. She made sure she consulted with his cardiologist to be certain all the right steps were taken.
In an earlier blog, I had mentioned that I thought he was being over medicated with Mexiletine. He seemed to have all the side effects of the drug - dizziness, lack of muscle control, weak arms and legs, etc. I told her of his decline and she agreed with me that it was a possible case of over medicating.
After consulting the cardiologist, they both decided that he should cut back on the Mexiletine to twice a day instead of three times a day. We're going to see how he does for the week and report back to the doctor.
So far it's day 5 and I see some improvements. He doesn't seem as dizzy and off balance as he was, but it's definitely still there. One very positive thing is that he's a bit more lively than he was. He wags his tail more and seems more alert. I was hoping that backing off the med would decrease the Horner's syndrome effect, but so far - it doesn't seem like it's changed alot. I feel bad for him because I know he has trouble seeing at times. I think that is a big factor to his balance issue. I have to really watch him now so he doesn't hurt himself. Just the other day, he slipped on the tile floor in the kitchen and fell on his belly. His legs were spread out like a frog and he couldn't get up. I quickly ran over and helped him up.
One thing that I have noticed is that the Horner's seems to effect him less when he's happy and excited - the 3rd lid retracts further. When we take him for short walks, he's really happy and his eyes almost look normal. When he's just sitting around the house bored or laying around, sometimes his 3rd lid will cover his eyes almost entirely. Poor boy. You can see it a little bit in the picture below that I took of him with my sock gorilla, this was one of his more lively moments.
So overall, things look better. I can only hope that he stays happy regardless of his condition. As always, I will always be worried about him. Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts!
top
June 14, 2007
I made an appointment with the vet yesterday to check on Miles' eye problems. He's been having Horner's Syndrome symptoms, which seemed to have gotten a little better since backing off the Mexiletine. His eyes have been really watery since we moved to Nevada, but it hasn't really bothered him until just a few days ago. He's been really itchy in his right eye and the discharge is just bad. I've had to have a towel with me all the time to wipe his eyes. Poor boy.
So we went to the vet to check it out. She stained his eyes and saw that he has ulcers on both corneas. His right eye was worse and was clouding over. The doctor told me that sometimes animals will have unexplained ulcers that don't heal, but she wasn't sure what was causing Miles' case. She explained that because of this and the Horner's symptoms, she would recommend that he get a neurological assessment, which would mean CAT scans and a very hefty bill. I personally, after all he's been through, can't imagine having him sedated for a CAT scan. It's very scary for me to think of putting him out for anything because his heart is so delicate. Plus, I can't afford the cost of such treatments right now.
I told the vet this and she said another option would be for him to see an ophthalmologist. She said that the specialists there would be able to really determine what's going on with his eyes. I made an appointment for Tuesday - which will be at least $200 just for the initial assessment. I'm not sure if it's worth it - especially if he just has a bit of an eye infection. I have ointment that I am putting in his eyes twice a day, so we'll see where he is by Monday. I probably will just bite the bullet and take him....ug.
So that's where he stands right now. I feel that Miles' life is so fragile now. I know there's nothing I can do to change his condition and I have to live with the path that his existence will take. I give him alot of love and the best life I can give him. I know he's happy for the most part and that's all I would ever want.
You just have to hug and kiss the ones you love everyday...
top
June 21, 2007
This past Tuesday, we took Miles to see an ophthalmologist to check out his eye issues. He had already been diagnosed with ulcers on his corneas from his last visit to the vet and now that we've gone to a specialist, there may be alot more issues at hand.
The ophthalmologist told us that he has two different issues going on in each eye and that it was unusual. With everything that's happened to Miles, it figures that he would have something that was even odd to a specialist! She said the because of the pupil constriction in one eye - there's possible Horner's going on there - which can be caused from a mass either between his eye and around the ear or lower down in his chest. She said there was a drop test that could be done to determine where the disturbance is. She said if there is a mass in the lower chest region, the next step would be an MRI - which she agreed is out of the question for Miles. There's no way I nor she would subject him to be put under for any procedure with his delicate heart condition.
The other eye that was clouding over with the bad ulcer has a wide open pupil which she wasn't sure what the cause was. She suggested for the time being to do a procedure called a cornea debridement where they numb the eye, swab off the bad cells with a q-tip and then scrape the eye in a tic tac toe pattern with a needle (eek!) and see if it stimulates the 'good' cells to grow back in its place. It left his eye all red, but he didn't seem to be in pain. She gave me a sodium chloride ointment to put into both eyes along with the initial antibiotic ointment given by the regular vet...all 3 times a day.
The worst case scenario is that Miles has a neurological disorder that is causing his eye and balance issues. That can only be determined with an MRI and we cannot risk it. I wish I knew what was really happening, but no one can tell. We're going back to the ophthalmologist in two weeks to do a recheck. I don't know that there's much else we can do.
Sometimes, I do think he may have something more going on than his eye and heart issue. Most of the day, he seems constantly uneasy...like he can't find a comfortable spot to lay down. He eventually does settle down after a while, but he will pace around the house and spin in circles over and over again on top of his blankets and beds almost to the point of falling over. It may also just be arthritis making him uncomfortable, but it's just very odd and almost like compulsive behavior. Maybe he's just restless and bored since we can't take him for walks or to the park anymore. I'm not sure.
So in the end, the visit to the ophthalmologist didn't uncover much of the mystery. He still seems like he's happy - especially when he first wakes up...we both must think the same "you made it!"...I know that sounds negative, but I'm just so sensitive to him and I feel that his days are getting shorter. I try to stay positive and give him lots of love and hope for the best. He still has a normal appetite and still enjoys the hugs and kisses....so he'll keep truckin' along!
Boxers are fighters, aren't they?
top
June 29, 2007
I spent alot of time researching alot of the unexplained issues that Miles has been having recently. In past blogs, you may remember me talking about him circling in his bed, pacing, walking like he's drunk, being unbalanced, having eye issues, Horner's Syndrome symptoms, etc.
All of the vets what we have seen here all have mentioned that some of these problems may be related to a neurological disorder. His cardiologist and opthamologist both mentioned the possibility of a mass interrupting the nerve that controls his eyes and pupil functions.
Well, I started by looking up neurological disorders in dogs and I came across some shocking information that completely devastated me. I am absolutely certain that Miles has a brain tumor. Upon reading about the symptoms, I realized that he had almost every single one. It all made sense to me.
Back in April - Friday, the 13th, when he collapsed, I thought it was due to his heart issue. Now I know it was a seizure. I should have known because when he collapsed, his body was stiff, he was clenching his jaw shut and his eyes were wide open, but empty.
It all started back at the end of January of this year. I started to notice his eyes drooping and showing Horner's symptoms. The tumor must have just gotten large enough that it was disrupting the nerve. And now, 5 months later, it has progressed into all the problems I have been noticing recently.
I know it's not always great to self diagnose things, but the evidence is unmistakable. Here's the info I found on countless sources. My responses are in red.
The Forebrain - The forebrain is responsible for "thinking," behavior, and final integration of sensory information. Tumors in the forebrain may therefore cause:
- Behavioral abnormalities such as loss of learned behavior, depression (sometimes does not respond to usual commands or takes a long time to respond)
- Increased or decreased appetite and thirst (always thirsty)
- Constant pacing or circling (both constantly all day)
- Decreased awareness and vision on one side of the body causing misjudgement of openings to doorways and bumping of one side of the body. (frequently bumps into corners and doorways)
- Sometimes affected animals behave as if they are in pain (luckily not this one)
- Seizures are a classic sign of forebrain disease and in fact, new onset of seizures is the most common presenting sign of animals with tumors of the forebrain. (had one in April)
This photo and explanation also hit home:
Figure 7: This is Kasey, a 10-year-old female Golden retriever. She has lost muscle mass on one side of her head (arrow) due to a trigeminal nerve root tumor. The trigeminal nerve provides sensation to the face and motor function to the muscles of mastication. Growth of the tumor gradually compresses the nerve causing the loss of muscle mass and loss of sensation. Eventually the tumor gets large enough to compress the brain. Kasey lived happily for 15 months with no special treatment of her tumor.
Here is a photo of Miles comparing his head from a month ago and currently:
This is only a small piece of evidence that has convinced me. There are several websites that offer the same info.
Brain Tumor Symptoms
NC State University
American Boxer Club
I plan on talking with the vets about everything I've discovered. Unfortunately, I don't think there's much that can be done for Miles. He cannot be sedated so an MRI is out of the question. Cancer treatment is very expensive and is something beyond my means.
The only thing that makes me nervous is how quickly he has gotten worse. I'm not sure what the future holds for him or how long that will be. He is still a very happy dog regardless of the deterioration of his body. I know Miles has an incredible will to live...I just think that his body will lose the battle before his mind and spirit will. It's incredibly sad, but it's the path that life has made for him.
I know boxers are prone to cancer and heart disease...and now I found out about the eye ulcer issue...I just never imagined that Miles would have all three. It's been emotionally taxing, but I have great love for him and want to make sure he's comfortable and happy. That's all that matters to me. He still has an appetite and he still seems pretty coherent, but I can see that he's slowly "losing it".
I don't know when it will be time for him to end his mission on Earth. I don't like to think about it, but I know it's reality. I just hope that his story will help someone else or make other boxer owners aware of what may be happening to their dogs.
I don't know what else to say but, hug and kiss the ones you love everyday! Thank you all for your kind words and support.
top
|
desi: crazy little girl 
