Neurological Disease. Cerebellar Ataxia in an older poodle

A 6-year-old female spayed poodle started shivering continuously. The first vet prescribed glucosamine while the second vet advised CT scans as the head and body tremors got worse. The cost of scan is around $1,000. The dog stopped eating and the owner contacted Dr Sing Kong Yuen at Toa Payoh Vets as his other poodle was treated successfully for a bladder stone surgery in 2009 and is still alive.

Owing to financial constraints, I do not advise CT scans or CSF analysis. A blood test shows bacterial infection and elevated liver enzymes . No blood tests were done by the first 2 vets. Treatment with antibiotics, prednisolone, neurobion tablets and prescription diet (liver) for around 8 weeks. The dog recovered fully around 6 weeks after onset of symptoms and is normal as at Nov 9, 2013 in my follow up.