Dandylion (Ky) on 06/04/2016
Subcutaneous Emphysema, after cortisone injection.....could it have been the cause?
My 14 y/o chihuahua mix has snored for years and had raspy breathing at times, I wrote it off to asthma. My son and I have it too. Two weeks ago it got much worse, really loud snoring, more raspy breathing at times and sometimes if he ate too fast he would gag and throw up all his food, until I started giving smaller portions more times a day. Anyway last week I took him to the vet. He said it was not asthma, it was a problem with his trachea....my 16 y/o chihuahua coughs and gags ever since surgery a couple years ago, most likely caused by the intubation, vet then put him on Temeral-P 1/4 pill a day and I don't even have to give it every day to control his cough. It sounded logical to me, as they get older the esophagus gets "floppy" is the way I put it. This vet gave my dog an injection of steroids, I heard him say Venalog or Kenalog, in the back of the neck and Temeril-P 1/2 tab twice a day, which is more than I give my other chihuahua and he weighs more. Anyway 2 days later I noticed a puffiness across my dogs chest and the next day his face looks fuller, by the following Thurs, which was 5 days later, when we woke up he had a knot on his head that crackled when I rubbed it. The vet saw him again to explain that the shot did not cause any of this, this was called subcutaneous emphysema, air/gas under the skin, x-ray confirmed it. Had to take to another clinic for a digital x-ray, still don't know what it wrong. They are saying using a puncture wound letting air get trapped, or intubation, or a tear in the windpipe. Both vets seem to think it is a cancer mass causing the air to leak. My dog still eats, drinks and pees alots but that is because of the cortisone shot, no more extra loud snoring, no labored breathing. The most disturbing thing is the bubble on his head, cheeks and neck that crackles. I am not going to let them put him to sleep to do an MRI or endoscopy as long as he is not in distress and possibly kill him. From what I've read this subcutaneuous emphysema can dissipate on it's own, it is not getting any bigger, he is already 14 y/o, he did have a hoarse voice when he barked, but it has gotten better. I can't help but think the shot is what started this, even though the vet says it couldn't, over and over he said it couldn't. I'm out another $130 for additional tests as a result of new symptoms since his initial visit. The vet is very good and I really like him, he didn't charge me for the x-ray he took, but sent me to his other facility to get a digital so he could possibly see more.
No one will admit if something they do causes additional problems, except my vet that retired who told me that my other chihuahua's esophageal problem was most likely caused by the removal of the intubation tube because there was a complication and he almost died on the table. If anyone knows any reason for subcutaneous emphysema, air/gas trapped under the skin that crackles when pressed, please let me know. I sure hope I lost my dog last year to lung cancer and would not have known that if I had not had a necropsy done...three vets in three days told me seizures, congestive heart failure, after $500 of EKG and heart meds (took one dose before passing), x-rays, heart worm tests, CBC. On day 4, he passed away and the necropsy showed lung cancer at 9 y/o.
Peppie (Bradenton, Fl) on 06/01/2016
On Tuesday 5/24/16, My 4 1/2yo bluenose pitbull got his shots after skipping 1y. He got 3yr vaccines for everything including rabies except bordatella bc he HATES the vet visit and is aggressive toward other animals anyway so he was muzzled. He has allergies and had spots of hair loss, some sores and an odor so he got a shot for itching and antibiotic pills to take for 2wks. Needless to say he was extremely stressed by the visit. I gave him his monthly heart worm med, heart guard, the next day. On Thursday night I noticed he was laying on the bathroom floor which he never does. He was acting very odd, almost scared. I took him outside she seemed fine. He had been drinking a lot more water and peeing A LOT more. Back inside he acted strange the rest of the night and intermittently over the next day or so. He continued to drink tons and pee tons while not eating a whole lot. Tuesday night 5/31/16, he even peed in the house. He has also been panting a lot while at rest. At times he seems to be getting better but then I thought that before but he displayed symptoms again. Upon reading a few articles, the closest thing sounds like cortisone reaction. They say charcoal is the remedy. I don't know if he warrants administration of charcoal or not or if he is in any danger warranting intervention or not.
Joyce (Illinois) on 05/07/2016
Your story sounds just like mine. My 11 year old cat has always had itchy waxy ears, we keep them clean.2 weeks ago, the scratching was crazy, and her low moan when she would do it.The vet gave me ear drops and a med by mouth..week later still the same. Took her back to the vet, she got a cortisone shot, that was on Wednesday, she hasn't been the same since, she won't get in her cat bed, or sleep with me, like she is hot.she drinks water like crazy and pees all the time, in her liter pan..but tonight she peed on me...not for sure what to do with her...and keeps eating and eating, which she was a nibbler..my poor baby
Jaya (Dubai ) on 03/16/2016
Side Effect - I wish I had time to read this site on side effects of cortisone before it was administered to my poor baby. I have a 1 year old french bulldog, bruno. On 12th March 2016 we took him to our local vet to vaccinate him for rabies and distemper. He took the 2 shots like a brave little boy and our vet even listed the side effects of both. As soon as we reached the parking lot, he vomits all over the back seat of my car. We ran in and called the doctor who immediately scooped him up and took him back inside. Unfortunately, without giving us too much info on what he was about to do - he administered Cortisone shot. Bruno seemed dazed after that but we thought it was because he was weak and so brought him home. He hasnt been the same since then. He drank almost 3 liters of water in 24 hours and accidentally pees all over the house. Even though he is house trained. We punished him yesterday but didn't for one second think it was the cortisone effect. Then last night I stumbled upon this site and realized the side effects match Bruno's current situation. We've called our vet's office 3 times since morning - still waiting to hear back. Why dont they list pros and cons before administering cortisone? Surely as pet parents we have a say in this matter? Im really dreading what the results will be and Im praying whatever it is - is temporary.
Nora (Cork Ireland) on 03/07/2016
My dog had a Depo Medrol shot 3 weeks ago and hasn't been the same since. He is having trouble walking and I don't know what to do. I am not getting much help from our Vet. He had no problem walking before the shot.
Regards
Nora.
Ryan (Lebanon) on 02/12/2016
My vet prescribed my dog an anti-histamine that contained 0.25 mg of Dexamethasone for an allergy my 1 year old female American Pit Bull Terrier was having (pimples and rashes on chest and chin). He had her on two pills (morning and night) for 10 days. After the 10 days elapsed the pimples and rash somewhat dried up. I had no idea what I was really giving my dog and boy do I regret it tremendously. After about a week the pimples and rashes returned. He told me to put her back on the anti-histamine (called Histamed-F), and after about 2 days all hell broke loose. My dog started drinking excessively and subsequently urinating constantly, it goes without saying she urinated in the house more times then I can count. I discontinued the medication and called my vet immediately. He called me in for a blood test and told me her blood sugar was very high (around 300) and that she either has diabetes or Cushing's disease. Bear in mind this is a 1 year old American Pit bull that gets at least an hour of high activity everyday, running, swimming, hiking, and play dates in the garden on almost a daily basis. I feed her grain free food as well (recently switched to raw as to keep down sugar levels). So as you can imagine this was devastatingly shocking for me. He then performed an ACTH stimulation test by injecting her with some more hormones (again I was an uneducated person wanting my dog to get better), to see the reaction of her adrenal glands. It turned out negative. It has now been 2 weeks after the shot and all medication was stopped and my dog is still officially diabetic (sugar level still at the 300 mark). I've left the old vet and the numerous opinions I've received since are to wait for some time longer to see if the drugs administered are the reason for her current state. I know for a fact that they absolutely are. The question now is did they permanently damage my dog or is this something that could in fact be temporary. This agonizing wait for answers and for my dog to get better is making me lose hope on a daily basis. Whatever ends up happening, I will never ever allow any use of steroids in my dog unless she is on the brink of death. Cause nothing can warrant what is happening to my dog now, especially not a measly skin infection.
Janette (Dover, Tn) on 02/08/2016
I took my Bassett Baby Girl in for a sprained paw...yes she is 12 but still ran and played and rolled on the floor...They gave her a cortizone shot....10 days later...her hip had lost muscle mass and she could not walk good. Her hip kept giving out on her. Took her back to vet and they did xray. They said she had a bad disc. They put her on steroids and temadol for pain. I believe the shot did the damage to her hip. Until the shot Baby Girl never had any issues. She was healthy as a horse. I have to place a towel under her pelvic area to help her up to do her business. I researched and had to put her on pepcid to stop medicine from upsetting her stomach and I put her on milk of magnesia to help her go to the bathroom without straining herself. Now she won't eat...pain meds taking her appitite but she has to have them. I feed her baby food through a syringe. She is depressed. I am ordering her a furbaby wheelchair as soon as my taxes come in this week. She has grit and has not given up and I am not going to give up either. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
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