Specialist Lulu’s head jerking

[danuutka]

Hello. Today Lulu had a really bad episode of her head jerking thing. I’ve uploaded videos of it to YouTube so please do watch, I’m desperate for some insight.

Here is an explanation of her backstory:
- lulu is visually impaired/blind in both eyes. She’s also had issues with her intraocular pressure
- just over a week ago she lost loads of weight and had to be rushed to an emergency vet. She wasn’t eating, she was really irritable and her fur was fluffy - there’s more about this in previous posts, but essentially the vet put to down to severe eye pain
- she had her dose of Metacam upped, and was given brinzolamide (Azopt) eyedrops to be administered once a day for 7 days
- she quickly returned to health, and her head jerking became less frequent. Her vet theorised at her appointment that it could be to do with the pain in her eyes because of the high pressure.
- today, 5 days after stopping the drops (but still on Metacam), Lulu was very fluffy all day. I picked her up, soon after which she began to have this weird episode of screaming and head jerking - it was a coincidence that it happened in my arms. She has done this before, but never as bad and never for as long. She was also always on the floor previously, she never did it when on us.
- as you can see, she shrieks and has this uncontrollable head jerk movement. This lasted around 5 minutes. Our vet told us to film it any time it happens, because it’s infrequent and it’ll help them with a potential diagnosis. It feels horrible filming in this state but it’s the only way the vet can see what is going on.

We are of course seeking veterinary advice immediately, but because no one seems to have any idea what this could be, I just wanted to reach out in case someone else has experienced this. I apologise for my behaviour in the videos, but ever since my Benio died in my arms, I’m so afraid of it happening again and I was panicking about her having a seizure, whilst trying to calm her down.

 

[Wiebke]

Sorry, I haven't come across something like this before. It rather looks like a neurological issue to me?

 

[Little Ones]

Oh bless her, it looks like whatever it is is causing her some pain and discomfort I have no advice but I hope she improves

 

[Little Ones]

Just throwing it out there, but if the vet believes it is pressure behind the eyes causing this, perhaps removing the eyes would help? Especially as she is blind anyway? I have little to no idea about anything medical, so it’s just a thought and isn’t backed up by very much knowledge, lol

 

[Eriathwen]

It seems neurological to me, I currently have a piggy with E.cuniculi called Tilly, she does similar but much, much slower. Hers is almost a drifting rather than a jerk. No real advice to offer other than maybe ask to treat for E.c alongside everything else just in case. I hope your vet is able to figure out what's going on with her.

 

[danuutka]

Sorry, I haven't come across something like this before. It rather looks like a neurological issue to me?

Hello, thank you for your reply! When she did it the first time, we sent a video over to our vet, who also suggested it could be neurological, but because it had only happened once we were to monitor it. Is there anything that we can do? It’s absolutely horrible to witness

 

[Rivervixen]

Poor girl keeping her in my thoughts, I hope the vet can find whatever is causing her discomfort x

 

[danuutka]

Just throwing it out there, but if the vet believes it is pressure behind the eyes causing this, perhaps removing the eyes would help? Especially as she is blind anyway? I have little to no idea about anything medical, so it’s just a thought and isn’t backed up by very much knowledge, lol

Hey, yes that’s also what we’ve been talking about with the vet. She came to the conclusion that her eyes must be causing her a great deal of pain because she wasn’t able to perform a tonometry on Lulu at all because she was wincing, whereas a few weeks beforehand she had been totally fine with the tonometry.

She wanted to try Lulu on medication first, as Lulu had a surgery in January already, and obviously eye removal is a big procedure. I’m happy to do whatever makes her life better to be honest.

 

[danuutka]

It seems neurological to me, I currently have a piggy with E.cuniculi called Tilly, she does similar but much, much slower. Hers is almost a drifting rather than a jerk. No real advice to offer other than maybe ask to treat for E.c alongside everything else just in case. I hope your vet is able to figure out what's going on with her.

Hello! Lulu also has a head drop - where her head just really slowly drops down, we mentioned it to the vet before but he didn’t seem concerned about that, as it could’ve been due to the operation she had had just behind her head. We have no idea how long she has had this head drop, as we only adopted her recently, and she was neglected beforehand with minimal vet records.

What is the treatment like for neurological issues?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, thank you for your reply! When she did it the first time, we sent a video over to our vet, who also suggested it could be neurological, but because it had only happened once we were to monitor it. Is there anything that we can do? It’s absolutely horrible to witness

I am very sorry but if it turns out to be neurological, I would think there is nothing to very little that could be done.

 

[eileen]

just a thought glaucoma can cause pressure behind the eye.ive no advise ,i hope your piggie improves.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello! Lulu also has a head drop - where her head just really slowly drops down, we mentioned it to the vet before but he didn’t seem concerned about that, as it could’ve been due to the operation she had had just behind her head. We have no idea how long she has had this head drop, as we only adopted her recently, and she was neglected beforehand with minimal vet records.

What is the treatment like for neurological issues?

PS: Has her vet checked the heart?

 

[danuutka]

PS: Has her vet checked the heart?

I have no idea honestly. Because of the covid circumstances we weren’t able to be there for the consultation, we just got a run down afterwards where she mentioned what was wrong - so perhaps she did, but I couldn’t say

 

[danuutka]

UPDATE:

Lulu had another really bad “fit” today around 2:30pm. It was the worst one yet. Thankfully, we had a vet video call appointment at 3:30pm.

The verdict is, that it mostly looks neurological. Could be an infection, lesions in the brain, genetic etc, and it’s difficult to determine which.

Our vet in the future would like to run some blood tests on her for her liver and kidney function, if we don’t manage to deal with the issue through medication.

Lulu has been prescribed an antibiotic in case it is an infection, she is on Metacam and has been put back on the eyedrops.

For now, it’s a waiting game. Thankfully there is someone around her 24/7, so we can monitor her. Essentially, when Lulu is seizing we need to make sure she’s comfortable and safe, so she doesn’t hurt herself on anything.

Obviously, I wish we were able to get answers, but it’s never that easy! Rest assured that I am doing, and will do everything I can for her.

 

[danuutka]

UPDATE 2:

Lulu has started producing some soft stool this evening. She hasn’t anything out of the ordinary, or had any grass. Maybe it’s linked to the pain like it was last week - hopefully using the drops again will help that.

We’ve had her on a vibrating massage pad just in case she has any gas, and have been giving loads of cuddles.

 

[danuutka]

UPDATE THREE

Yesterday lulu had another episode, and she’s just finished a really bad one now.

She has dropped weight down to 1000g, when she has been 1040-80g pretty consistently the days before. I have put her on critical care (this girl hates being fed anything, so it’s a struggle).

Honestly, I just want to sit and cry, I feel so helpless. After she has an episode she either goes for a walk around the room, or goes to sleep. But during, the screaming and full body jolts are so distressing, and I just hope they don’t hurt her. I don’t know what to do or how to help her.

 

[Little Ones]

I assume euthanasia is a possibility? If she’s in pain that can’t be treated every day then perhaps it should be considered. Is she on metacam or loxicom for pain?

Also I should probably ask: do you think she is in any pain because of it? Any squealing during the episode could be part of the episode rather than showing pain because of it.

 

[danuutka]

I assume euthanasia is a possibility? If she’s in pain that can’t be treated every day then perhaps it should be considered. Is she on metacam or loxicom for pain?

Also I should probably ask: do you think she is in any pain because of it? Any squealing during the episode could be part of the episode rather than showing pain because of it.

She is on Metacam 2x a day, eye drops to lower intraocular pressure and on an antibiotic.

Honestly, I can’t rwally tell if she’s in pain, or if it’s just vocalisations during the fit. When it was a lot milder the vet suggested that it may be due to eye pain, and that’s why she jolts her head etc. And she didn’t have any episodes whilst she was on the eyedrops, then we stopped them as per the vets instructions, and within 2-3 days she was having these fits. I don’t know if it’s at all related though.

 

[danuutka]

I assume euthanasia is a possibility? If she’s in pain that can’t be treated every day then perhaps it should be considered. Is she on metacam or loxicom for pain?

Also I should probably ask: do you think she is in any pain because of it? Any squealing during the episode could be part of the episode rather than showing pain because of it.

Sorry, just to add. Lulu is drinking a lot, losing weight, and has her eye issues. Could diabetes be a cause for seizures like it is in humans?x

 

[Ritika]

Lulu is such a cutieI hope she ll get better soon❤

 

[Jadep]

Hope little one gets better soon! My thoughts are with you both

 

[Chocolatethepiggy]

UPDATE THREE

Yesterday lulu had another episode, and she’s just finished a really bad one now.

She has dropped weight down to 1000g, when she has been 1040-80g pretty consistently the days before. I have put her on critical care (this girl hates being fed anything, so it’s a struggle).

Honestly, I just want to sit and cry, I feel so helpless. After she has an episode she either goes for a walk around the room, or goes to sleep. But during, the screaming and full body jolts are so distressing, and I just hope they don’t hurt her. I don’t know what to do or how to help her.

Awe , she's adoroble .
Good luck with her.