Could use some good thots...Snickers has IMHA

outdoorschik

It doesn't help that I'm supposed to leave on Monday to drive out of state for a funeral and I feel like if I leave her it could kill her since she already doesn't want to fight. then I call my parents (my grandmother died) and they don't help at all... they are the least understanding of the value of my dogs to me and my mother told me if I didn't come she was sure my father would die of a heart attack over it all.

 

  I couldn't hardly imagine a more stressful situation. You have every reason to stay with Snickers and not go to the funeral whether your family understands or not. Hopefully Snickers will be feeling better by Monday. About a year ago, Jessie had Giardia and didn't want to eat her food, canned or dry. I boiled some hamburger (she's allergic to chicken) and rice and she loved it. I know when I'm feeling queasy or sick something bland like chicken soup is more appealing; perhaps Snicker would eat something like that? Sending tons of healing vibes for Snickers and hugs for you.
 

Snickers, baby, please, PLEASE eat. ((hugs)) We're thinking of you here tonight. I wish I was closer to NH and **I** would come over and stay with her.

 Jessie's mom... yeah I've tried everything, fresh cooked pieces of chicken from a chicken "dog stew" I've made, ground turkey, cheese, cream cheese, even liverwurst is out and other meats, etc. The only way I get ANYTHING down her throat is to puree it and squirt it in her mouth and hold her mouth shut to make her swallow... hehe takes quite a while to get an entire can of Merrick's down that way, but I've got no choice (Merrick's puree's more smoothly than her kibble and my homecooked stuff is not balanced enough to feed her it long term, it's only supposed to be a topper).

DH supports me in not going to the funeral. He agrees with me that if I leave her at the vet for boarding she is more likely to give up and spiral down more. Also he too thinks it is too much pressure on my petsitter who is the best heart around, but probably won't be able to tell snickers is worse until she just plum can't get up since it's so subtle now. Even if she IS feeling slightly better tomorrow morning, I feel like crap considering leaving her.

I think we might have an e-vet visit in store today... I thought it wasn't possible but she is even more lethargic today. I ask her to get up or come and she just lays there. Yesterday if I called her name she'd slowly get up... today she just looks at me. Yesterday if I went upstairs/downstairs she'd eventually follow me and lay by me... today she stays where she is. Her breathing is worse today too. I was supposed to work a few hours giving dogsled tours (she;d come with me and lay in teh house there) but I can't go do that since I'm considering the e-vet. 

Aw Honey, I'm so sorry.  This must be so hard for you.  I know how it is when family isn't on the same page as you whenit comes to your dogs.  I wish there was some way to really let them know.  I was so happy when you mentioned that you DH was of the same opinion as you, I nearly burst into tears over that!  I know there was tension between him and Snickers at one point and I find it amazing that he has come to care for her so much.  

When Crusher has an upset tummy I can feed him Pumpkin.  Its the only time he likes it, I have a hard time giving it to him as a preventative.  I think he knows it will make him feel better, but if I give it to him before hand he's like,''But I'm not sick Mom!''  I wonder if Snickers would take some of that to settle her stomach enough to eat something? 

I really wish I could help.  You've got my strongest good vibes. 

A wee update for her -- I spoke with her about 2:00 and she had to wait til 3 to go GET Snickers from the e-vet.  Snickers crashed pretty hard and her PCV was down to like 8 (almost unmeasurable) and they put her on something called Oxy-globin which is sort of an artificial blood with oxygen in it that they thought she'd tolerate better than straight blood. 

Good thots and prayers please folks??  Outdoorschik is pretty bummed -- this is SUCH an evil, wicked, mean harsh disease both for the dog and the owner/guardian.  It just slams you every which way.  Thanks.

Oh man, that stinks. :( We're sending you everything we've got here, Snickers!!!

 I brought her home. She got "oxyglobin" instead of a transfusion to try and mitgate the risk of clots since her blood was glutinating so badly.
She's just not happy, she has just now vommitted up her whole breakfast when we walked in the door... yes it was still in there, pills and all undigested (the denosyl from TWO DAYS was still in there. This is not good... she needs that food and meds so badly to get better. I called the vet and am to give her a pepcid soon and then try and feed a small meal in a couple hours with her night meds.

 I can barely breath this is making me so sick. She's lying there and should feel at least slightly better but she won't even lift her head.
I just truly can't handle this. I should have left her there for the night... I'm a wreck and it doesn't help that I look at her and burst into tears in the least, that's gotta wreck her too.

 If she can't keep this down then I may have ot make a very hard decision tomorrow that I don't think i'm strong enough to make.

A link to info on Oxyglobin...

http://prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=21705

 

Hugs hugs HUGS to you. I don't have any advice or ideas but just wanted to give you big HUGS.

We have been reading along and hope that Snickers eats and feels much better soon!  I'm sending best wishes to you too.  I know how frightening having a sick dog is. 

Oh, honey--Ems got down to 8.5--which is a wee bit higher than your Snickers, but knowing now that her "normal" is 57, it might even be a bit worse.  They had to give her 4 and a half blood transfusions, and then the Pred and Cyclosporine kicked in.  We're pulling hard for her.

You said maybe you should have left her there for the night--is that an option?  If you do, will they let you see her occasionally, to keep her "chirked up"?  I would bring a towel or an old t-shirt that I'd shoved down inside my shirt on the drive over to give it my scent.

Keeping fingers and paws crossed, and praying--
 

((((((hugs)))))))) for you. Prayers, scritches, and snuggles for Snickers. We're pulling for you, girl. 

  Is there someone who could keep you company tonight?  I agree with GraniasBard that it may be a good idea to take her back to the e-vet; couldn't they give her an IV to keep her hydrated? Sending lots and lots of hugs.

She's hours from the e-vet -- and I hope that her own vet will be the best one to help in the morning.  You guys are awesome -- she truly does need the prayers and good thots folks -- both Snickers AND Outdoorschik.

Every time I read of another dog coming down with this horrible disease my heart breaks. I lost my 4 year 2 month old golden retriever, Hunter to this horrid disease on Oct. 16, 2003. I had never heard of it until he was diagnosed. His was brought on by ProHeart6, the 6 month heartworm preventative injection.----which the FDA had the m akers pull 10 months after Hunter's death due to the high number of adverse reactions and deaths. Hunter's HCT was 20 when diagnosed and he was put in ICU. Four days laater it cropped to 9.7 and he was giving 2 units of blood. It never got out of the teens and he died 4 days later, 8 days in iCU with the pred, and all kinds of drugs including cyclosporine, and 2 transfusions of 2 units of blood each time. I visited him 3 times a day and could take him outsdie to do his business and to love on him. I also took fresh boiled chicken which he always ate til tht last day. BUT he not only was fighting the anemia, the PH6 was also killing his liver. It turns out that AIHA (or IMHA as it is also called) and liver damage were two of the leading adverse reactions to the ProHeart6. many dogs had two or even 3 of the reactions. My Hunter had two. had it only been one or the other I could still have him today. Don't give up hope. Many dogs do make it and live long lives. I am sure Callie has told you forget about ever vaccinating again. many times the disease is brought on by vaccines, and with tha t totally messed up immune system, a a vax can cause a relapse. I am sending all the best vibes for you girl and i am also going to light a candle at the AIHA site for her. I belong to a forum that is strictly made up of ones who have either lost their dog, has their dog fighting for it's life or is in remission. One of them is on a golden retriever forum with me and she set up the site for lighting candles of AIHA (IMHA dogs.

She threw up all night last night, too weak to even move out of the puddle each time.

She's standing this morning but she has not had meds in god knows how long. We're off to my vet now to be there when it opens. I WISH there was a 24 hour ICU around here, There is not. no one is at my vet from 7PM-7AM anyone whose dog needs intensive care needs to run it back and forth between the vet and the E-vet twice daily. That is literally impossible for me to pull off. Snickers could use a break from me....last night I was curled up around her and started sobbing and she lifted her head for the first time all night to try and comfort me...I felt like such a supreme jerk.

I wish I was personally stronger through all of this. Some people handle this stuff so well and i just feel sick to my stomach and can't stop crying... .it's kind of pathetic.