I've gotta take my baby to the vets. The thunder episode started it all.

Well, I'm glad she is getting better.

Poor thing. Keep us posted. BTW, you might try giving her a bit of chamomile tea to calm her down. It's natural and has no side effects.

Hi smallT. We actually just got back from the vet's... again. This time, they took blood and ran all kinds of tests. Everything was fine except for an elevated WBC or whatever it is that indicates infection. So, she's on antibiotics and I've been told to give her baby food (meat) and baby aspirin as needed until her fever is better. Her fever is the same today as it was on Saturday. Oh, the vet is going to give me (get this!) Xanax for my little girl! I'm only to give it to her if thunderstorms are predicted, and again if we actually get one, just to keep her calmer during the storm. She'll get the Xanax once she's off the antibiotics and antiinflammatories. At the moment, we're having yet another thunderstorm and she's sitting right here on my lap shivering, poor thing! Hopefully, we'll get this infection kicked soon so she can start taking her "happy pills." Thanks so much for your concern. It really warms my heart to know that there are so many wonderful people here in myLot.

Thank you for your suggestion. It hasn't made her better yet, but we're hoping! The vet told me that she has a fever of 104.5, not too much above normal, and that it could be caused by fear/anxiety. She felt all of my baby's "innards" and everything seemed fine. Her glands weren't swollen, her gums looked good, tummy felt okay, etc. She said it was most likely caused by the extremely loud thunder we had that night. We have never experienced lightning hitting so close to the house before. She's now on an antiinflammatory something-or-other to help bring down her temperature and has only had one dose so far. She seems to be a little better. Maybe getting out and having that MAJOR treat of riding in the car. LOL She loves riding! She was sniffing the floor at the vets, all over the place... not at her usual speed-of-light pace, but doing it just the same. She spent a lot of time on my lap, hugging me around my neck and being held by me while I walked around the room, waiting for the vet. That may have helped some, too. The vet suggested that we wait and see if the medication works before doing any more testing, like blood work. She didn't want to traumatize Penny (my baby) any more than she already was. I think once her fever is gone she'll be a lot better. She came home, got a big, long drink of water, and laid down beside me which is a change (for the better) from her going behind the bed or under my desk. I'll keep you posted. Thanks so much for caring and the advice.

great to hear that she is alright. i agree with the vet about not traumatising her further. it's really heart wrenching to see your baby going through something like this. i went through something similar when i shifted. my babies refused to come out of hiding even to eat. it took them 3 days to come out of under the bed for food. i was so worried they'd starve. :(

Thanks for your concern! Actually it's a 'she'. And she's doing much, much better now! She's been on antibiotics since Tuesday and just yesterday she started wagging her tail like the sweet gal I know. She actually started playing with a few of her toys. It did my heart good to see her acting more like her old self. She's not 100% better yet, but she's definitely getting there. Unfortunately, while at the vets, we discovered that she has something with a really long name... patellar luxation something. Her kneecaps keep popping out of their sockets. That means surgery. My poor little gal! Well, once she's over this infection, I'll set up the surgery. The longer we wait, the more pain she'll be in because arthritis will start setting in, if it hasn't already. Pets sure can be expensive! But when I think about how much a surgery like that would cost for a human, the vet bill will be cheap compared to it. Again, thank you for your concern.

Thanks for your concern and comments. The trauma from the thunder was one thing, but I think this is something more. She's been cuddled and pampered up one side and down the other. The vet put her on a non-steroidal antiinflammatory to bring down her temperature (104.5) and said the fever was probably caused by her anxiety. But that was two days ago, and she's still not acting right and still has a fever. She's just taken her 3rd dose of medicine, so I'll wait and see if she's any better later today. If not, shes going back to the vet's. Saturday, I had to take her to an emergency vet because our regular vet was booked solid and couldn't squeeze her in. Maybe her regular vet can do more for her. It just breaks my heart to see her moping around and looking so bad. You know that look, I'm sure... "Mommy, I don't feel good."

How is she today? Has her fever come down yet? Did they give her any antibiotics or anything in case she has a bacterial infection? That could also cause a fever and I don't think that your other Maltese would contract a bacterial infection from her. Just food for thought. I hope she is feeling better and that you get good news from the vet if you take her again.

Thanks, selece. She's on an antiinflammatory now to help bring down her fever (104.5). The vet said that anxiety can bring on a fever, and she couldn't find anything else wrong with my baby. So, she gave me something for my little girl to help bring her temperature back to normal so she'd feel better. It was the fever that was making her feel so bad, so she was caught in a "vicious cycle." That's finally breaking! She actually barked at the cat this morning!!! Yippee!!! That's the first sound she's made besides a wimper since the storm. I couldn't believe I was praising her for barking at the cat! LOL She's coming out of it... slowly, but she's getting there. One problem, though, we're supposed to be getting some thunderstorms later today. I just hope it doesn't set her back! Maybe I could try earplugs? Works for me!

Yey! I'm so happy for you and your baby. ^^

Hi schulzie. Thank you so much for your concern. It really means a lot to me to know people like you are just a website away! Read the response I just gave to smallT (above yours). I just answered the same question that you asked. Hopefully, we can get my little girl on the road to recovery soon. It just tears me up to see her acting so unlike her normal self. She ate some baby food at the vet's so I think she's really going to enjoy the next few days! LOL I'll probably have trouble getting her back to her normal food once she's over this infection!

Thank you for your response. I know that animals get scared just like humans. I was concerned about the fever she got and the way she acted sick for 3 days after the thunder. She is on medication now to bring down her fever. She was not tested for any kind of virus or bacteria because the vet seemed to think that her high temperature was caused by her anxiety from the thunder. She is acting better today, but she still has the fever. If her fever is not gone in 2 more days I will take her back to the vets to have her blood tested to see what is causing her temperature to stay high.