hi Everyone...Here's our story thus far... Monday evening our 3.5 year old shar pei / beagle mix, Dolly, started acting lethargic. We really didn't think anything of it. Tuesday, she barely ate anything and was not her normal spazz self. She also seemed warm like she had a fever. I checked her gums and they were quite pale. Wednesday morning, her gums were almost white. I immediately called the vet and they said bring her in. They performed 2 x-Rays and a full CBC. Her WBC was slightly elevated. She had a temp of 104. She was slightly anemic and her RBC was 35. She also was showing elevated bilirubin levels and other markers of liver distress. Initial diagnosis was Shar Pei fever. Vet gave us two different antibiotics that are easy on the liver in case of infection. They also gave her a shot of anti-nausea medicine and Sub-q fluids. Vet said to keep her posted and if no improvement by today (Friday) bring her back in.
After the sub-q fluids and anti nausea meds on Wednesday she seemed to be doing a bit better. She ate and even begged at the dinner table. The improvement was short-lived. Yesterday, Thursday, she only got off the couch to pee. We felt like we were watching her die. At 8:00 pm last night, her fever came back and I knew she was severely dehydrated again. Every 1/2 hour using our other dog's seizure medicine syringes, I began administering her 36ml of water every half hour. By 11:30 she seemed to come back to life. She ate scrambled eggs, barked at the neighbor's car doors, and moved around a bit. This morning though she was terrible. She vomited around 10:00 am. I called the vet and pushed up her afternoon appt.
By the time the vet saw her (an hour after she vomited), dolly was showing severe signs of jaundice. Gums, ears, groin, and eyes were yellow. Vet did not have a diagnosis but it definitely was not shar pei fever. Vet admitted her and said that dolly is having acute liver failure And going to give it all we got. At that point vet was thinking lepto or toxin. We left the vet in tears. By the time we got home (15 minutes) later, our vet called. the blood work came back - IMHA. Vet sounded relieved to have a diagnosis. Her RBC was 17 and her WBC was through the roof. Immediately put on prednisone and stomach protectants plus fluids. I visited her this afternoon and Dolly was a bit more perky. She actually wagged her tail, not ferociously like normal, but more than she had all week! Vet came in to talk to me. They were able to perform an urinalysis and found bacteria in her urine. Dolly is back on amoxicillin too. Vet said the prognosis is guarded at this point.
My husband, our kids, and Norman (our shar pei/boxer mix) are just insanely worried, nervous, and devastated. Any pointers, ideas, help, etc. would be greatly appreciated!!!!
Thank You for reading our story...we are visiting her tomorrow morning. My husband and I just wish we could stay with her at the animal hospital all night. We are heart broken.
Pam aka Wrinklelover