NESSIE 13-2-02 TO 7-8-03

Approx 15th May 03 First sign of any strange behaviour. 15 months old Neighbour came into back yard with both Duncan and I to get some newspapers. Nessie, normally very outgoing and friendly, was obviously terrified of her, hid anywhere she could, lost control of her bladder several times while neighbour was present. She had never met the neighbour before so there was no possibility of Nessie previously having been frightened by her. We thought at the time it was because she had not socialised much during the previous few months as Duncan had been in hospital. Prior to last Christmas, when Duncan became sick, she was at the obedience club twice a week, and socialised well with both dogs and people. From the time of the behaviour with the neighbour we noticed her becoming very suspicious of people, but OK with dogs. She would go to strangers & friends eventually but only with a lot of TLC. Even my son who calls at the house regularly and always makes a fuss of her she was nervous of at the start of each visit.

28th June 03 Nessie was in the back of the car with one of our other dogs, Duncan was sitting in the drivers seat. A friend lent into the car on the passenger side and Nessie snapped at him, but did not make contact. I took her out of the car on a lead and she again barked at him but with a bit of coaxing and some liver treats was soon quite friendly towards him. We just assumed she was defending the car. There were never any more signs of aggression towards anyone, person or dog.

20th July 03 About 7am, while we were having breakfast we noticed the fly-snapping behaviour which continued for several minutes. She had three more bouts of this behaviour during the day, middle of the morning, lunch time and teatime. About 7-15pm she had a seizure which only lasted about 20secs. We immediately took her to the emergency vet, who said they thought it was epilepsy and gave her a valium injection. They said to see our own vet on the Monday. She had another short seizure (approx 15 sec) about 9pm that evening.

21st July 03 Appointment with Ian Hogben (Vet) who also thought Nessie had epilepsy. Prescribed Phenol Barbitone 30mg. 1 ½ tablets twice a day, plus Valium 5mg ½ tablet three times a day. While Nessie was on these tablets she was very unsteady, was banging into things, disorientated. Pacing constantly, still some fly-snapping behaviour. Some new obsessive behaviour, licking all the work surfaces in the kitchen that she could reach for 5 minutes at a time if not stopped, even if there was no food present.

29th July 03 Nessie has a blood test to determine the Phenol Barbitone levels. The Valium tablets were stopped. That afternoon she had an episode that resembled 'Mad Cow Disease' which lasted about 20 minutes. She would not come to either Duncan or I while this was happening. Contacted Scott Melville the Uni of NSW (Name on the Border Collie Club of NSW web site)

30th July 03 Phenol Barbitone levels came back at 124. Ian said to continue on with the same dose.

During the next few days Nessie rapidly deteriorated, the fly snapping behaviour increased, her toilet training in the house disappeared, she was more and more disorientated and pacing constantly, banging into things, the obsessive behaviour increased. She no longer 'played' with Karma, our lurcher who had more or less brought her up.

2nd August 03 We took Nessie to a trial I was stewarding at. She sat in the sun with Duncan all morning and did a small amount of socialising. That afternoon she had another bout of 'Mad Cow Disease' behaviour which lasted about 15 minutes.

5th August 03 Took her back to vet as we were concerned with her deterioration. Ian felt it was not epilepsy and decided to do a brain stem fluid scan the following day. Ian tested her reflexes in her front legs and they were none existent.

6th August 03 Ian did the brain stem fluid extraction and the results came back from path lab as normal. It was decided no further known treatment would help Nessie and she would be euthanased. Ian asked if we would be prepared to have an autopsy to determine one way or the other whether it was CL (Storage Disease) or some other brain problem, which we agreed to. Sent off sample of Nessie's blood to Scott Melville in NSW and copy of path report.

7th August 03 Nessie put to sleep and her body went to the Path Lab for the autopsy.

Nessie has known CL carriers on both her mother's and father's side.

Counting Nessie as 1 there are two known carriers at the 6th generation on the father's side. Counting Nessie as 1 there is one known carrier at the 5th generation on the mother's side.