Help Horace Get Through

Hi friends,

Only 6 months after losing Olive, we find ourselves in another impossibly cruel situation.

Horace has been diagnosed through an MRI with meningitis of unknown origins. It is an exceedingly rare diagnosis. He has swelling in his brain and spinal cord.

Initially the doctors assumed his signs of pain were IVDD and prescribed gabapentin, a pain reliever and rimodyl, an NSAID and recommended 24/7 crate rest. That was this past Tuesday.

He then rapidly lost the ability to walk and stand normally. We knew something was very wrong.

After calling his regular vet, she urged us to take him to AMC’s emergency room to see a neurologist. With my love Marianne’s help — we got him there only to be turned away as there was no neurologist on call.

The next morning our doctor called all over the are to determine what facility had both a neurologist and MRI machine. She directed us to Oradell in Paramus. Marianne, Derek and I took him immediately.

Initially running with the IVDD theory, they informed us he could be going under anesthesia and possibly immediately into surgery. While getting a quote for that the doctor allowed the neurologist to examine him.

They determined it was not IVDD after all but either meningitis or a lesion on his brain as all four limbs were being affected and his eyes wouldn’t focus.

They told us they would keep him overnight and get an MRI to confirm and begin treatment. Except there was the snag of him having been on NSAIDs when the treatment for meningitis and encephalitis is steroids. Generally they have to wait 5 days for the NSAID to flush out of the system.

We were allowed to say good night and he wobbled over to us falling all the way and laid in between my legs like always and fell asleep.

Then they took him away telling us they would call after the MRI with the results.

We got the call a few hours later. They confirmed it was meningitis and it had affected his brain and spinal cord and was severe enough to begin steroids immediately. Because he had already started NSAIDs they have to account for the risk of GI bleed from the combination so he would also be put on an antacid and a gut coating drug to protect his stomach. They also unfortunately told us he regurged after rousing from anesthesia which puts his at risk for aspiration which puts him at risk for pneumonia. They said they were very concerned for him and would monitor him closely through the night.

In a cruel deja vu they told us his meningitis is an immune mediated response. Just like Olive’s IMHA. They told us Horace will never be able to be vaccinated again. They told us they would also be putting him on an immuno suppressant that carries risk of seizures. This too happened to Olive.

We are shell shocked, exhausted. We came home and I crawled into the crate he has been spending his days in and sobbed.

To go through this again is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

I hate to ask again, but we are still trying to manage the cost of Olive’s care as well and we need help.

Anything helps and is so deeply appreciated.

Horace is my soul mate, my best friend and he saved my life. Please help us save his.

We love Horace. We love you.