I met with Pepper's neurologist, Dr. Fred Wininger, at WSU's veterinary teaching hospital a short while ago to review his initial assessment of Pepper. She is, he said, "a very sick girl." Dr. Wininger spoke this morning with our primary care vet, Dr. Brenda Culver, about the sequence of events leading up to the seizures, the diagnostic tests Brenda and her husband Britt, our internist, had conducted, and the nature of the seizures they witnessed Pepper having. As a result, we are going to proceed with an MRI today at 12:30 Pacific time, and Dr. Wininger will have the images to evaluate about an hour later. He will also do a spinal tap to see what her cerebral spinal fluid tells us.
However, because she is already suffering from significant neurological deficits, she is at risk from the anesthesia required for the MRI and spinal tap procedure. Yet without doing those, we won't know what she has and what we can do for her, so it's a risk we have to take.
He said there are a number of things that could be causing Pepper's problems, and even an intercranial tumor might be operable ... but it's just too soon to know. Although we can't get our hopes up, given her condition, Dr. Wininger said it's not hopeless or he wouldn't recommend moving forward with the MRI.
Dr. Wininger was also the neurologist who last year worked on Claude, our blind Great Dane puppy who had wobblers syndrome, so we know him very well and were very happy to see him take on Pepper's case. I took the photo this morning of Dr. Wininger with Pepper in the ICU.
I'll post more when we have more information on her condition.
Steve, thanks for doing all you can for Pepper. Glad to hear the specialist has hope and is trying to do all he can for the precious furry pooch.
Keep fighting, Pepper!
I appreciate the updates.
Posted by: Nina | February 21, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Hang in there Pepper - me and my own four legged kids are pulling for you!
Posted by: Lisa | February 21, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Hang in there Pepper - me and my own four legged kids are pulling for you!
Posted by: Lisa | February 21, 2008 at 08:54 PM
This breaks my heart and I'm almost afraid to log on to the blog. Pepper is in excellent hands and thats all you can do for now. Thank God for HOPE! I hope and pray for Pepper to have a full recover!
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | February 21, 2008 at 08:13 PM
You both do so much for the lucky animals who make their way to the ranch. However this turns out for Pepper or any of the fuzzy crew remember you have made their time with you the best of their lives. Their sense of joy and ability to get the most out of their situations is precisely because of the enormous efforts you both put in day in and day out. When you have to say goodbye to any of the gang it's hard but always remember what a positive impact you had.
Posted by: Bob | February 21, 2008 at 07:14 PM
I'm sending up prayers really fast for Pepper. It sounds like she has the best doc at the hospital. Take care!
Posted by: Sonya Brooks | February 21, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Sweet girl, Pepper. My eyes are tearing up and I'm praying for you. I hope you don't have to leave us... I hope the doctors can fix the problem... but no matter what, know that you are loved.
Thank you, Steve, for doing everything possible for this precious soul. You're not going through this alone.
Posted by: Linda | February 21, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Oh, Steve, I am pulling for Pepper with all my heart...and for you to get some rest :(
Posted by: Bibi | February 21, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Steve,
I'm keeping you and Pepper in my thoughts and prayers. I hope she is going to be Ok.
Heather
Posted by: Heather | February 21, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Poor Girl. Well at least she has you Steve!!! I'ts up to God now.
Posted by: gayle | February 21, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Well, I know it's not much hope but any is nice. Still praying.
Posted by: jen | February 21, 2008 at 04:22 PM
My thoughts are with Pepper, the staff at WSU and of course, with you and Alayne. I'm hoping for the best for Pepper!!
Posted by: Mariko | February 21, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Thanks so much for keeping us all updated on Pepper despite your own overwhelming worries. You are all in my thoughts.
Posted by: Janet | February 21, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Sweet Pepper, my thoughts and prayers are headed your way, and I send them to all at RDR and to your medicos, too.
Posted by: Moon Rani | February 21, 2008 at 03:54 PM
I will keep Pepper in my prayers, and you as well.
Posted by: Teri | February 21, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Good thoughts and heartfelt prayers are being sent your way. You are not alone, we are all there with you both in spirit.
Posted by: Pat Frame | February 21, 2008 at 03:10 PM