Steroid Responsive Meningitis Arteritis (SMRA)

[Delia Bryce]

All

 

Took me a few days to actually begin writing this blog as quite frankly my boy has had an awful week  my family and I have cried buckets but now we believe he has turned the corner and although he has some hurdles ahead the future is good! Murphy has SMRA and has been ill for almost a week and in hospital since Wednesday last week ..... I will let you google it but I feel its important to share this as he has made terrific progress, despite my initial horror at the mention of meningitis .......

A brief diary of the last week;

• Monday afternoon became very quiet as the night progressed I realised he was sick and was refusing food or water ...
• Tuesday morning seen the vet who thought some sort of allergic reaction to something he had picked up outside but told to watch closely ...
• Wednesday 430 am was crying .... rushed to our local vets again http://www.ayrton.org.uk/ where he was admitted and the vet first mentioned meningitis as a possibility .... I was so scared as my boy was very weak but was put on a drip and closely monitored and given pain relief ......
• Wednesday early afternoon, telephone call to say he wasnt too well he should go to Glasgow University Small Animal Hospital was given morphine for the pain and was comfortable if very ill .........
• Thursday we took him to  Glasgow http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/vet/smallanimalhospital/ where from the moment we arrived he received more excellent care from the minute we walked in the door ...... Although was more talk of how Murphy was very ill and I/we should be prepared (we had no diagnosis at this point) ...... His breathing was laboured he was stressed and had no energy and was displaying signs of being in pain ..... Immediately he began to have Methadone administered ...... I was in a bubble but again they spoke of meningitis.
• Friday was a very busy day...... Chest xray, tummy ultrasound, MRI of neck and head, spinal tap then CT scan then a diagnosis of SMRA and hope of a great recovery...... I felt like I had won the lottery.. we all did ...High dose steroid therapy began......
• Sat we visited to be greated by a full body wagging boy shouting with excitement and kissing us like we had been away for weeks ........He tired easily and was rather doped up - still on Methadone so you can imagine but never in a while have I experienced such joy ..........
• Sunday and today have visted and seen nothing but improvements he is tired but depending on blood work he will be back home tomorrow .......

Some way to go balancing the drugs but I cant stress how much he has came on and how from the scarey diagnosis my mind has turned as I seen it for my own eyes ........... He will see his own vet initally every couple of days but he wont be 17mths till end of this month so you can imagine .......I have some pics ......... which I will post too ....... But wanted to share as whilst this isnt common it isnt unheard of ..... Its not genetic nor can anyone or any dog catch it from him ...... he was unlucky but lets just say the luck of the Irish kicked in! now I cant help my self but today his Irish eyes were smiling!

Steroid therapy maybe will continue for some months but he will be just fine ...... actually no Murphy to me is perfect!

 And today looking at my car

[Tania ..danwish-irishsetters]

What a nightmare for you and your lovely boy . I hope his recovery continues and he is home soon with his family .

[Chantal McIlveen-Wright]

Poor Delia, what a horrible time for you, your family and your dear boy!!!! Your wee Irish man will recover in no time now...:-)

[Maggie Smith]

Gosh what a story! The last photo of Murphy must make your heart sing to see him looking so much better than you described. What a handsome boy - love him and look after yourselves.

[Delia Bryce]

Tania yes a nightmare but I am waking up and its gonna be ok ..... Chantal yes horrible for my boy who you are always so lovely about and Maggie yes my heart is singing a very happy song....

I forgot to say thank you to some folks who have held my hand over the last few days .....

Irene Munro (Fetteresk Irish Setters Broxburn) she has been a wonderful friend and I cant thank her enough for trusting a newbie to look after one of her boys......

Eva Ciechonska,(ES Member) who owns granda the stunning Louis who immediately she heard at the weekend called and was very supportive .......

Debbie Lowndes  (ES Member)....... a good friend I have made on ES who called me last night and encouraged me to write this .....

Not forgetting Brian Walker (ES Member)who wrote me a lovely message when he heard from his inlaws John & Margaret who all live near by .......

Oh and my wonderful family and friends at home .....................

 

[Sherry Miller]

Delia I hope Murphy continues to improve and is soon home with you where he belongs!  What a dreadful week you all have had ...so I hope once he is home you can relax just a wee bit and take care of yourself also.  Hugs to Murphy as he continues to recover. 

[Carmel Murphy]

Very huge scare for you! So glad Murphy is getting better now, and in time will be his normal Irish self again;o))))

[Melinda Auld]

Oh how awful for you and your gorgeous boy!  As someone who has had meningitis twice, I can sympathise with poor Murphy's pain.  I'm so glad he has turned the corner and wish him all the best for a speedy - and complete - recovery.

[Sharyn Latchford]

Poor Murphy, what a horror week.............I am so pleased to hear your sweet boy is getting better....I wish him a complete recovery....big hugs to him and to his worried Mum

 

Sharyn

NZ

[Susan Stone]

I can imagine what a terrible time you have all had! So pleased to see Murphy has recovered! All the best, Susan

[Howard Glansfield]

What an awful experience for all of you who love Murphy.I am so glad he is better.