Springer spaniel immune system problems.

[Xone262]

My Springer seems to have an overactive immune system response. He’s only 3 yrs old. Every month or two he is getting a high temp over 40 degrees for no reason and a jab and steroids seems to bring it back down fairly quickly and he improved almost immediately.
Has anyone had experience of this and have any ideas how to manage it? I think it’s the 5th or 6th time it’s happened now and the vet doesn’t seem to be fixing it for the long term, just treating it each time which is starting to rack up in cost and it’s occurring more frequently which is a little worrying. His breeding is sound from a solid working line so very odd.

 

[User00040]

Check the background of the issue. Feed? Kennel/location? Eating something whilst out walking/working?

 

[Xone262]

Check the background of the issue. Feed? Kennel/location? Eating something whilst out walking/working?

He did eat a leg from a couple days old gralloch the other day which he found, but can’t think it’s that. I do wonder if it’s chicken muck as the other possibility.

 

[Lloyd90]

What you feeding? Reaction to wheat?

I feed my skinners duck now with BARF with no wheat etc and hes good now used to get red skin a lot and loose stools.

 

[Xone262]

ESSENTIAL SUPERIOR LIVING 10KG

ESSENTIAL SUPERIOR LIVING is our unique grain free meal prepared with fresh chicken and duck. This meal is for adult dogs of all breeds and is formulated to support normal activity levels. Our ingredients are of the highest quality; a quality you’ll learn to expect from ESSENTIALS. The meal...

www.essentialfoodsgb.co.uk

It’s what he has had since a pup and came recommended by the breeder and stud provider and is grain free. He’s bombing about now and seems to be fine on it. This only started just over a year ago so strange if it is the food.

 

[Buchan]

I'd call it a normal immune system!
Temperature spikes can be a pain to diagnose absolutely and get lumped as PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin). With the pattern you describe, it's unliley to be anything he's eating, unless each one is accompanied by gut upsets. It could be an automimmune problem whcich will be challenging to diagnose and require dosing with eg steroids as a treatment.
Have your vets use non-steroidals and did they work? If not then the likeliest is a steroid responsive meningitis @srvet being the guru. It will mean a bit of work up and, you've guessed it, steroids to treat.

 

[Xone262]

I'd call it a normal immune system!
Temperature spikes can be a pain to diagnose absolutely and get lumped as PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin). With the pattern you describe, it's unliley to be anything he's eating, unless each one is accompanied by gut upsets. It could be an automimmune problem whcich will be challenging to diagnose and require dosing with eg steroids as a treatment.
Have your vets use non-steroidals and did they work? If not then the likeliest is a steroid responsive meningitis @srvet being the guru. It will mean a bit of work up and, you've guessed it, steroids to treat.

They did try Antibiotics which worked the first couple of times, but he didn’t respond to them the third time and that’s when they switched to steroids. You are bang on when you say they can’t diagnose it. They tried a search for a foreign body but couldn’t spot anything. All examinations seems healthy and he is fine a few days after treatment. It seems I might have to look at ongoing low dose of steroids to avoid flare ups and manage it. Annoying if that’s the case and I wouldn’t have thought it’s great for him being so young. If there was something I could do maybe more naturally it would be great but maybe that’s wishful thinking and just something he is going to suffer with.

 

[Selous]

Rather than just dot about trying random medications and hoping for a cure, you would be better to pursue a diagnosis and then treat that diagnosis specifically. Steroid responsive meningitis is one of a long list of differential diagnoses to consider but there are many more. I would suggest you seek a consultation with a specialist medicine clinician and present your dog to them when showing symptoms.

 

[Buchan]

They did try Antibiotics which worked the first couple of times, but he didn’t respond to them the third time and that’s when they switched to steroids. You are bang on when you say they can’t diagnose it. They tried a search for a foreign body but couldn’t spot anything. All examinations seems healthy and he is fine a few days after treatment. It seems I might have to look at ongoing low dose of steroids to avoid flare ups and manage it. Annoying if that’s the case and I wouldn’t have thought it’s great for him being so young. If there was something I could do maybe more naturally it would be great but maybe that’s wishful thinking and just something he is going to suffer with.

The foreign body is a good line of enquiry, amazing the numbe of sticks that suddenly pop through the skin! @srvet is right tho, the best and cheapest diagnosis is the correct one, which means investigation. As to long term steroids, we've both dealt with dogs that have a full and active life on low dose steroids, so I'd not let that get in the way. Good luck

 

[daytona mark]

Chicken **** can be very dangerous .breeding ground for all kinds of nastys ,a friend of mine lost 4 cows because of it before the vet realised what it was

 

[fangler]

What you feeding? Reaction to wheat?

I feed my skinners duck now with BARF with no wheat etc and hes good now used to get red skin a lot and loose stools.

It’s the only stuff my missis’ collie can eat and not **** water, agrees really well with mu Sprocker too.

 

[sportingspaniels]

ESSENTIAL SUPERIOR LIVING 10KG

ESSENTIAL SUPERIOR LIVING is our unique grain free meal prepared with fresh chicken and duck. This meal is for adult dogs of all breeds and is formulated to support normal activity levels. Our ingredients are of the highest quality; a quality you’ll learn to expect from ESSENTIALS. The meal...

www.essentialfoodsgb.co.uk

It’s what he has had since a pup and came recommended by the breeder and stud provider and is grain free. He’s bombing about now and seems to be fine on it. This only started just over a year ago so strange if it is the food.

Superb food.

 

[Xone262]

Chicken **** can be very dangerous .breeding ground for all kinds of nastys ,a friend of mine lost 4 cows because of it before the vet realised what it was

Interesting. I’ve only got 4, but they can really make some mess. Doesn’t help with bird flu as they are in a small pen which I move about at the moment to give them fresh grass. I would love to eliminate this as an issue or not

 

[Xone262]

Rather than just dot about trying random medications and hoping for a cure, you would be better to pursue a diagnosis and then treat that diagnosis specifically. Steroid responsive meningitis is one of a long list of differential diagnoses to consider but there are many more. I would suggest you seek a consultation with a specialist medicine clinician and present your dog to them when showing symptoms.

Is this someone different from a regular high street vet? He has had loads of bloods all absolutely fine every time. He had X-rays on the lungs and a scope inside. All showing no problems so far. I guess a full CT scan is next maybe

 

[Xone262]

Superb food.

I think so. He has tons of energy on it and coat always looks good

 

[sportingspaniels]

I think so. He has tons of energy on it and coat always looks good

I am part of their partner scheme and for the discounted price I get it at there is no better complete food for the price.

 

[Selous]

Is this someone different from a regular high street vet? He has had loads of bloods all absolutely fine every time. He had X-rays on the lungs and a scope inside. All showing no problems so far. I guess a full CT scan is next maybe

Yes it is different, there are veterinary specialists who exclusively see certain types of cases in the same way as a consultant at the hospital may only see certain types of case.