Willow's platelets are low!

Oh Lori, I feel for you! I remember when my hound had to go on pred and the peeing and the peeing and the eating and the eating and the drinking and the drinking and then the added part of the nagging and irritability . . . Wah. She was a monster. I felt like either I needed the pred so I could be her match or I needed  Xanax. I missed work, too--zipping home frantically every 1.5 hours only to find a puddle on the rug (rubber-bottomed one by the door, so she was great, but still).

I'm so sorry. Sending you my best thoughts.

I honestly don't know what we'd be doing right now if my husband wasn't out of work with a foot problem.  It's not like we can have someone pop over to check on her her temperment wouldn't allow that even off the medication.  And, I work 40 min away-one way.  So, if he wasn't home all day right now I don't know where I'd be.  As it is he's got an appointment in the afternoon and I'm trying to figure out what to do for her in case he gets delayed--you know how doctors can run late sometimes. 

Oh Lori,,,,I'm so sorry...I wish I could  come and help you.

I soooo remember that going to work with not a lot of sleep.... when Bubby was sick I would lay with her...wipe the horrible slobber and drool from her mouth...try to prop her back up so she would be comfortable.... pet her and show her love when she was coughing..or what ever it was she was doing...and then I had to get up at 5 AM to get ready for work.  Constant tired... constant worry...    

Hang in there Lori....stay strong.  You are doing a great job...and dont' think you dont know what you would do if your DH wasn't home to help right now....because he is.   So take each day,,,and each step one at a time.

dyan

Thanks guys, she's doing well.  She's hungry!  Today we caught her in the recycle bin trying to lick the cans, LOL!  Mike yelled, Willow!!!  And, she looked up at the sky like, hum de dum, you can't see me.  It's the medication, she NEVER gets into stuff like that.

One thing that is making me nervous is all the water she takes in after eating.  It's A LOT.  And, it's making me worry about bloat.  I know there are lots of causes but this is an excessive amount of water.  I'm not sure what to do about it because I was told to make sure she gets all the water she wants.  AND, I don't want to change her diet at all because I don't want to mess her up.  She doesn't get just kibble so maybe it isn't as risky?? 

Ugh, always so worried.  It stinks.

Lori

willowchow

Ugh, always so worried.  It stinks.

willowchow

One thing that is making me nervous is all the water she takes in after eating.  It's A LOT.  And, it's making me worry about bloat. 

Lori...I spend  my life worrying about bloat having a Great Dane.  I do everything I can to try every hint and tip to prevent it........and look what happened to Bubby....      It kind of taught me to not worry so much about bloat.   

But..... I do want to say that one thing that I do to help them to NOT drink as much...( a hint from the Great Dane Lady ) is put some water in their kibble right before putting it down. In other words...don't let it soak at all...just add it and put it down. When I started doing that for Ollie years ago..he stopped drinking water after a little. Now Mike doesn't do it now and I swear Ollie drinks almost a whole bowl after he eats and it scares me.  But its his dog...can't do anything about it.   The thing is.... while Willow is on pred she will probably do it anyway..because that is what is making her drink so much.     We feed our Danes probiotics in hopes to help prevent bloat also ( along with also putting real meat on their kibble ) but I know you do'nt want to add anything or mess with her diet.

So...just watch her....  ( like you arn't already.......lol ) and try not to worry...

 Hungry Willow - every cloud has a silver lining!  Make sure you don't restrict her water - she needs that desperately to stay hydrated and keep the organs functioning correctly.   When I'm on pred I've got to keep water near me at all times or I feel like I'm shriveling into a raisin.

Is there a canned food she tolerates?  If she weren't eating kibble she probably wouldn't feel as driven to drink so much water right after eating.  And even if she did, canned is easier to digest usually and will move on through faster, lowering the risk of bloat.  Canned mixed with a little water is even better - I used to do that for my rescues who were undergoing HW treatment - I'd feed them small meals through the day with lots of water mixed in to help flush out the toxins.

When he was on pred he used to like to crunch up ice cubes. Something to 'eat', something to drink, all in one package! And no calories! He won't touch them now, of course.

Lori, just popping in to tell you I'm still thinking about you. I'm sorry I haven't posted. I've moved out of my house and things are more than a little hectic and no email or internet. I woke up and thought about Willow this morning so i got to a cafe to check in with your thread. There's not much you can do about the water thing, they develop such a "water belly" after a while on this stuff. Please know that even if I don't post I'm thinking about you and Willow and hoping for the best. She's lucky to have you!

Karen

Thanks guys!  I'm running out to work for another 10 hour day today but wanted to check in.  Last night after eating a mixture of kibble/canned and I always add in some meat too she vomited--just the kibble.  So, I'm not going to give her any more kibble until she's off of this stuff.  She's just taking in so much water and it's just making her feel like she has no room for everything.  So, I'm dividing canned with baby food---I CAN FEED HER ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WOOOOHOOOO--and we are gong to give her four small meals a day.  I just don't need to have to worry about bloat right now.  I've got enough.  And, Mike is home with her most of the day and he doesn't know the signs too well.

Anyway, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for being such good friends to her! 

brookcove

Is there a canned food she tolerates?  If she weren't eating kibble she probably wouldn't feel as driven to drink so much water right after eating.  And even if she did, canned is easier to digest usually and will move on through faster, lowering the risk of bloat

 That's a great idea; the moisture in the canned food should ease her thirst a little.

Lori, I hope her stool will stay firm on the canned food. I've been super busy lately and haven't had much time to post but have been thinking of Willow every day.
 

Thanks, Janice. 

I doubt this all canned thing is going to make for good poop but I'd rather have that than what could happen on the kibble. 

Going for blood check tomorrow and we'll have the results on Wednesday.  If anyone can say a prayer for my Willow that she's getting better I'd really appreciate it.  It's hard to tell if she is or not with these side effects.  She's hanging in there but definately not herself. 

THANKS

Lori

willowchow

If anyone can say a prayer for my Willow that she's getting better I'd really appreciate it.

Well, you guys sure got them from me!!!  

Try not to worry Lori!

dyan

Well, you guys sure got them from me!!!  

 Me too; stay strong for Willow Lori. 

Thanks guys!  She had her blood test today and we'll get a call with the results tomorrow.  I had to pull myself together all over again when they told me she lost weight--about 1.5 lbs.  I'm not sure what the vet will say about it but they said to discuss tomorrow when she calls. 

I took her to McDonald's drive thru after and she thought that was big fun!

Thanks for thinking of her. . .and me.

Lori