mission: diagnosis

To: Veterinarians Worldwide

From: Concerned Beagle Parent

CC: All friends, family, doctors, veterinarians, and blog onlookers who happen upon this post by accident

Date: October 12, 2011

Subject: Beagle Illness

---

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to come up with a CORRECT diagnosis for our beagle based upon the following information:

Past Health Issues:

December 2009

• Symptoms - vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, enlarged spleen
  
• Test Results - high liver enzymes, low platelet and t-cell counts, bile acid tests normal, valley fever results normal
• Diagnosis - Tick Fever
  
• Treatment - Doxycycline until January 2011
• Comments - Tick fever treatment stopped with latest results showing 1:160 exposure to tick fever

November 2010

• Symptoms - yelping when hind legs are touched, inability to jump, hesitancy to exert any pressure on hind legs,
  
• Test Results - X-Rays taken indicated hip dysplasia
• Diagnosis - Hip Dysplasia
• Treatment - Rimadyl and Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements.
  
• Comments - Rimadyl treatment was stopped, but we have continued the Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements to promote joint health. No flare ups have occurred since this initial treatment of hip dysplasia.

Until...

Current Health Issues:

October 2011

• Symptoms - yelping when hind legs are touched, inability to jump, hesitancy to exert any pressure on hind legs, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy
• Test Results - X-Rays taken indicated NO hip dysplasia, still waiting for valley fever test results, going back to the vet today for additional screening because of onset of vomiting and diarrhea
  
• Diagnosis - None yet, our vet office is thinking Beagle Pain Syndrome if valley fever results are negative
  
• Treatment - None yet
  
• Comments - Deep in my gut I don't think it's Beagle Pain Syndrome especially since our dog had tick fever in the past and responded to treatment and had hip dysplasia in the past and responded to treatment. I am guessing that if the valley fever results are positive, then they will start treatment of that. But if negative, then I'm hoping they recheck for tick fever based on the similar symptoms. But if both tests are negative, I'm not really sure what is going on.

Any thoughts and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Concerned Beagle Parent