He's home. I got the call from the University of Fl at Gainesville this morning (he's been in ICU all week -- immune mediated hemolytic anemia + a tick disease) that his blood (hematacrit) has held at 30 (he's had three transfusions in the past week) for 48 hours so they'd let me come get him.
My stars -- he's got a TON of medicine. Even for me, who is SOO used to giving dogs tons of meds, this is daunting. Wow. Some of it every 6 hours right now.
The first 48 hours home are super-critical. Literally *any* change can send the IMHA into 'overdrive' again and cause him to crash. Or the turbulence caused in the blood by the platelets can cause a blood clot (silent & deadly). So I gotta watch him like a hawk.
Bless his heart he's been a trooper. Everyone in the ICU fell in love with him -- they discovered he'll take his meds off a spoon with ricotta cheese, so everyone in the place has been wanting to see this dog. As far as I was concerned, anything that made my dog get positive attention was GOOD for him.
The fact that he's such a piglet is what saved his bacon!! He lets them keep enough in his gut (even tho he doesn't feel superb) that it keeps the meds from totally wrecking his tummy.
He's on obscenely high doses of steroids -- pred AND cyclosporin (which is like a super-steroid). This is what's keeping the immune system from running amok. Once we get the full tick reading back on the one that was positive then they can decide how to 'wean him off'.
Bless his heart - he's been thru the mill and he's still trying to be Mr. Perfect. I am SO proud of him.
But my lands, what incredible care he's had up there. Yes -- they've been giving him the yogurt I brought as a probiotic *willingly* and telling ME what a good mom I was to bring it!!
He's been seen every day by Dr. Xie (and had acupuncture every day) as well -- and even tho he's been stuck a zillion times and had tests out the ying yang he's still thrilled as long as somebuddy gives him a Newman's Own treat once in a while!!
My boy is home. It's still very much danger zone time for weeks -- blood clots are a true and real threat, and so is the potential for the body to 'crash' blood-wise if the immune system gets riled up.
He's gonna be mega susceptible to all sorts of bacteria/fungal stuff. so bless his heart I have to take his temp twice a day. OH JOY says Billy.
step by step we'll walk thru this.
Thanks again folks for all your support.