Bo my service dog
Donation protected
Bo’s story.
I am a 100% disabled Vietnam Veteran and Bo is my service dog. I first got Bo when he was 8 weeks old and he is now is 7 years old. Bo is a male Belgian Sheepdog and he has been taking care of me forever - Now it’s payback time!
The Belgian Sheepdog is a wonderful breed, very intelligent, active, and loyal. Not a breed for the faint of heart. You need to be able to devote plenty of time, energy, and love to own one of these dogs. They are wonderful friends, with great work ethics and always needing a job to do. If I’m working outside, I’ll give Bo tools to carry for me or if I drop something, he’ll pick it up and bring it to me . . . and he learns something new every day. He’s very driven and always on the go. Bo has developed a command vocabulary of over 200 words, and he’s still learning.
In April 2018, Bo had 3 seizures in the space of 3 weeks. Unusual for a Belgian Sheepdog and especially at that age. Since this seemed to indicate a problem that needed further investigation, my regular Veterinarian gave me a referral to Upstate Veterinary Specialists in Greenville, SC.
The Neurologist there started with an MRI which showed a normal brain, ruling out a brain tumor, stroke and other structural abnormality as potential causes of his seizures. But after seeing a normal brain, she did a spinal tap. The results of the testing of that fluid told the story. As it turned out, the seizures were not the problem but rather a symptom of the problem. Bo's spinal fluid analysis was surprisingly abnormal. Elevated white blood cell count indicated inflammation. There were no cancer cells in the spinal fluid, or infectious agents such as bacteria or fungal organisms. So, as it turned out, Bo had Meningoencephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and the lining of the brain. Bo was started on a steroid (prednisone) to treat the inflammation and Keppra for the seizures. The remainder of the spinal fluid was tested for some of the infectious diseases (tick-borne disease, fungal disease, protozoal disease) and those results were normal. A month later a repeat Spinal was done and that fluid analysis was normal, which means that the previous inflammation had been cleared with the prednisone. Since, Bo has had one more seizure but he has been seizure free for the last six weeks. Hopefully that last one was the last.
Side effects of the prednisone . . . increased thirst, increased peeing and a voracious appetite.
Bo has always been a picky eater and he always understood boundaries. Not now! Bo is eating anything in his reach. On June 5th Bo got into some table scraps, including a ham bone. I was concerned about this so I took him to an emergency clinic, and sure enough an x-ray confirmed that it was there and that it was too large to pass through the small intestines. The next day we were back to Upstate Veterinary Specialists. We had two choices, they could try to scope it out or do surgery. Obviously, scope first. They shaved his belly for an ultra sound and they confirmed where it was. Sure enough, two hours later they got it out. Bo was having some minor complications so he had to stay overnight for the next few days. Quite an ordeal but no surgery!
And it still isn’t over. With all that going on, he developed some hair loss on his face, lips, chin and nose. A biopsy was done and all the bad things were ruled out. The dermatologist has determined it is bacterial and some yeast. Antibiotics got rid of the bacteria but the yeast has gotten worse. Now he’s on an anti-fungal. Hopefully that will solve that problem.
Also, with a shaved belly for the ultra sound, three legs shaved for the anesthesia, and the back of his head shaved for the spinal tap . . . it’s been 5 months but none of the hair has started growing back yet. Probably a side effect of the prednisone – which we will start tapering that dosage next week.
So, I’ve been told no guarantees. The seizures could come back and the hair may not. Neurologically, he seems ok, he’s alert and responsive but a bit sluggish at times. Hopefully that’s all medication related.
Since he first got sick 5 months ago, Bo has been a real trouper. I know how much he’s suffered because I can read it in his body language. Sometimes he acts a little confused but he works through it. Bo is so much more than just a pet, he is what keeps me grounded to reality and I would do anything for him. He’s my buddy, my pal, and my friend!
To date, Bo’s medical bills are at $9,832.00.
I could use the help for Bo . . . and in advance we thank you.
Robert and Bo
I am a 100% disabled Vietnam Veteran and Bo is my service dog. I first got Bo when he was 8 weeks old and he is now is 7 years old. Bo is a male Belgian Sheepdog and he has been taking care of me forever - Now it’s payback time!
The Belgian Sheepdog is a wonderful breed, very intelligent, active, and loyal. Not a breed for the faint of heart. You need to be able to devote plenty of time, energy, and love to own one of these dogs. They are wonderful friends, with great work ethics and always needing a job to do. If I’m working outside, I’ll give Bo tools to carry for me or if I drop something, he’ll pick it up and bring it to me . . . and he learns something new every day. He’s very driven and always on the go. Bo has developed a command vocabulary of over 200 words, and he’s still learning.
In April 2018, Bo had 3 seizures in the space of 3 weeks. Unusual for a Belgian Sheepdog and especially at that age. Since this seemed to indicate a problem that needed further investigation, my regular Veterinarian gave me a referral to Upstate Veterinary Specialists in Greenville, SC.
The Neurologist there started with an MRI which showed a normal brain, ruling out a brain tumor, stroke and other structural abnormality as potential causes of his seizures. But after seeing a normal brain, she did a spinal tap. The results of the testing of that fluid told the story. As it turned out, the seizures were not the problem but rather a symptom of the problem. Bo's spinal fluid analysis was surprisingly abnormal. Elevated white blood cell count indicated inflammation. There were no cancer cells in the spinal fluid, or infectious agents such as bacteria or fungal organisms. So, as it turned out, Bo had Meningoencephalitis, an inflammation of the brain and the lining of the brain. Bo was started on a steroid (prednisone) to treat the inflammation and Keppra for the seizures. The remainder of the spinal fluid was tested for some of the infectious diseases (tick-borne disease, fungal disease, protozoal disease) and those results were normal. A month later a repeat Spinal was done and that fluid analysis was normal, which means that the previous inflammation had been cleared with the prednisone. Since, Bo has had one more seizure but he has been seizure free for the last six weeks. Hopefully that last one was the last.
Side effects of the prednisone . . . increased thirst, increased peeing and a voracious appetite.
Bo has always been a picky eater and he always understood boundaries. Not now! Bo is eating anything in his reach. On June 5th Bo got into some table scraps, including a ham bone. I was concerned about this so I took him to an emergency clinic, and sure enough an x-ray confirmed that it was there and that it was too large to pass through the small intestines. The next day we were back to Upstate Veterinary Specialists. We had two choices, they could try to scope it out or do surgery. Obviously, scope first. They shaved his belly for an ultra sound and they confirmed where it was. Sure enough, two hours later they got it out. Bo was having some minor complications so he had to stay overnight for the next few days. Quite an ordeal but no surgery!
And it still isn’t over. With all that going on, he developed some hair loss on his face, lips, chin and nose. A biopsy was done and all the bad things were ruled out. The dermatologist has determined it is bacterial and some yeast. Antibiotics got rid of the bacteria but the yeast has gotten worse. Now he’s on an anti-fungal. Hopefully that will solve that problem.
Also, with a shaved belly for the ultra sound, three legs shaved for the anesthesia, and the back of his head shaved for the spinal tap . . . it’s been 5 months but none of the hair has started growing back yet. Probably a side effect of the prednisone – which we will start tapering that dosage next week.
So, I’ve been told no guarantees. The seizures could come back and the hair may not. Neurologically, he seems ok, he’s alert and responsive but a bit sluggish at times. Hopefully that’s all medication related.
Since he first got sick 5 months ago, Bo has been a real trouper. I know how much he’s suffered because I can read it in his body language. Sometimes he acts a little confused but he works through it. Bo is so much more than just a pet, he is what keeps me grounded to reality and I would do anything for him. He’s my buddy, my pal, and my friend!
To date, Bo’s medical bills are at $9,832.00.
I could use the help for Bo . . . and in advance we thank you.
Robert and Bo
Organizer
Robert Maxwell
Organizer
Weaverville, NC
