Please Pray for Bubblegum

Good vibes and prayers coming to Bubblegum and you, Dyan!  I hope that she wakes you up in the morning back to better than new! And congratulations on your sons wedding!

 

Dyan, I'm so sorry to hear that Bubblegum isn't feeling well.  To know that something just isn't right but not to know WHAT is wrong is agonizing.  My heart goes out to you as you deal with the worry about your sweet baby!  Sending all kinds of healing vibes to Bubby, calming vibes to you, and Sherlock Holmes vibes to the vet so they can get to the bottom of it.  Give Bubblegum a special hug!

Thank you everyone... I appreciate you all.  A little update...yesterday after I wrote this..I was working in the kitchen making some food for the shower...Bubby was walking around the kitchen with me snooping around the food. Gee..must have fed her a whole lasagna noodle in bits and pieces...   acting quite normal.  ( of course before I wrote..she fell trying to get up the steps )  I had called another vet in the morning to see if I could bring her in but decided to wait and see what is going on...and after this kitchen work decided I was glad I did'nt take that appt.   After the kitchen was cleaned up I ran her outside, and it was sunny and nice...so I walked her up to the corner..which is just about 6 or 7 houses and she trotted in her normal way up there and back.   Once home,, she was with me in the living room, wrapping the present and following me around...and then I heard a plop...and she was gone.... she had fallen. I did'nt see how or why, but she did. I took her to the vet I called earlier.  It was about an hour from our house.

I had the bloodwork/history faxed to him.  He checked her out real good and this time between my DH, the tech, myself and him he did scope her ears... he said a little tiny bit brown way at the bottom but nothing he would give meds for... quite clean.   So I guess I was real wrong about her ears...don't know why she shakes her head when you touch by the bottom of them.    In the end,, he feels its the start of arthritis....and said to keep giving her Rimadyl jusf for a few days to see if it makes a difference.  Also got her a bottle of Rejuvinex for dogs...its Glucosomin, MSM and a bunch of other things in it.     WE COULD do xrays....and this week if she keeps this up..I will do that. In the end other then finally getting her ears done... we're still in the same place.    I went to the shower and had a bowling banquet to go to after, which I was not going to go to. DH promised he would feel her and leave at 6 ( we would be back at 9) and make sure she was on her bed in our bedroom, so I went.   We got home and she was upstairs where she loves to be.   When we got home she seemed totally okay.....running around fast.... wanting her goodgirl and all. This morning...she didn't even want to get up.   Which is not her.  But if it IS arthritis... today is damp and pouring.   But she did get up and ate and struggled to get up the steps but I knew she would do it so I went up with her...she is sound asleep now.  Didnt even go down to lick DHs yogurt container as she does every AM.

I am scared to death of the Rimadyl and did'nt give it to her in days. She never stumbled at all until getting it and because it scares me,,the back of my mind says don't give it to her because it made her worse.   This morning I gave her Valerian...thinking if we were sore... a muscle relaxer helps.... I am at a loss...I really can't see "the start of arthritis" making her go from a healthy dog with too much energy to this in a week. DH and I are thinking and watching that she seems to be favoring her right back leg. but we're not quite sure yet.  This week I guess I will take her for xrays to be sure.

Thanks again for your prayers. For years when ever I read this section I get so sad and think that I am so happy this is not me...I can't believe we are here now......

Bubblegum is in my thoughts and will be untl she gets better.  Drizzle and Petro and the gang here send their love.

If you can, get Bubblegum to a University Vet hospital.  My experience tells me that they will be more complete in identifying the problem.  From their state of the art equipment and the resources of having specialists within the same facility, there won't be too much of a wait period to find for sure what is going on.

The closest would be Ohio State... several hours away.  I am thinking that maybe getting some xrays here and seeing what they show might be the good way to start. But honestly...I'm so worried... so confused and upset...that I am just not sure.  You know that aweful feeling....

In the bloodwork are the globulins elevated? (that shows infection in the body)

 And the PCV/hematacrit is good?

I assume the bloodwork shows this????   I would probably only know this if I went into her test results...I only read what the notes are since I don't understand the rest. I am off until Tues...when I can find that out.

Dyan I am just seeing this, poor you and poor Bubby. We are saying prayers here for a speedy diagnosis and recovery. You stay strong Bubblegum.

dyan

In the bloodwork are the globulins elevated? (that shows infection in the body)

 And the PCV/hematacrit is good?

I assume the bloodwork shows this????   I would probably only know this if I went into her test results...I only read what the notes are since I don't understand the rest. I am off until Tues...when I can find that out.

Bloodwork shows you a whole list of stuff and what the numbers are.  Then it shows you the normal 'range' (so if it's high or low usually they will mark it "high" or "low" in a side note).

Now see for us worriers you learn to READ The bloodwork ... at least a little.  So the next time you get bloodwork you can 'compare' them.   Bloodwork isn't "about" one or two numbers - it's about comparisons.  In other words usually a vet doesn't get alarmed at one reading specifically -- it's usually the comparison of numbers.  But some things -- like the hematacrit (the amount of red blood cells in the blood) and globulins tend to give indicators (like globulins that are high indicate inflammation/infection in the body).

Dyan, honestly for your own peace of mind you are probably going to have to take her somewhere -- it will take you a few days to get IN to Ohio State so I'd make calls TOMORROW. 

You will probably have to give her some sort of nsaid IF it is arthritis.  Rimadyl isn't any worse than Deramaxx.  (less 'worse', according to my dogs -- Foxy would puke up Deramaxx every time).  If a dog already has bad liver then you don't give them nsaids ... but I don't think that's the case with Bubby. 

And when I say give her a relaxant I always say give it ***WITH*** some sort of NSAID -- so at least give her chammomile or something.  You don't just 'relax' the joint.  You have to do something to take down the inflammation.  That's what an nsaid IS ("non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug";) -- and if you don't do that then they'll wind up giving her steroids (which are worse than nsaids on the body). 

In short you can't be afraid to give her anything at all -- arthritis can sort of come and go.  And the weather would have at ton to do with it. 

Make her some chammomile tea - a gal her size could easily have two cups of it (make a cup with two bags, steep it strong and keep in the fridge) and add it to her food or give it to her with a bit of beef broth or honey in it.  It's not a strong nsaid at all -- but it's better than giving her nothing and it won't hurt her tummy at all.

 But keep it up -- any nsaid works cumulatively -- day after day.  Just one dose dose virtually nothing positive.  You have to whack away at the inflammation and get it to reduce.

Also the massages - it's a great time to sit and pray for your dog while you massage them with some nice heating oil.  Can bring a whole lot of relief ... to them **and** you!! 

Okay so Callie,,,,two things.     Can I read those numbers myself?  AND are you saying get them done again to compare?  Sorry to be stupid....I am not in the mood to concentrate. The one thing is this last vet is the one that told me that her liver enzymes ( ??? ) were normal but a little high side of normal....not to worry but to get them checked again in a few weeks.  Fine....but do I want to give her Rimadyl then???? NO! And when I asked him that...he wrote down how many MGS to give her of Milk Thistle.    Funny,,,he wasn't going to mention that until I asked.

Oh,,,,but he didn't have a hard time menioning Hills Arthritic Diet if the Rimadyl helped.

Also...are you saying give her chammomile tea INSTEAD of Rimadyl?  I'm going to the store to get some.,,,,,its one of the teas I used to try years ago..and just didn't like it so have none here.  I'm HOPING that her new glocosamine supplement that cost me $60 helps too! Probably would take a few days if it does help.    

I think the thing is here...that I am not positive its arthritis,,,if she hurt herself or if she (still thinking) has an infection or so. Sometimes she seems so weak...others just fine.   She was just running (trotting as Bubby doesn't like to walk slowly)  around the house...she is thinking its getting close to suppertime.   This morning she seemed to be trembling.  

I'll PM you - I don't want to derail a thread about prayer any more than we have ... but prayers and good thots and WISDOM for all involved would be great.

Dyan, you, DH & Bubby are in my prayers.  Please give her a kiss from me & tell her we're thinking of her.

dyan

He checked her out real good and this time between my DH, the tech, myself and him he did scope her ears... he said a little tiny bit brown way at the bottom but nothing he would give meds for... quite clean.   So I guess I was real wrong about her ears...don't know why she shakes her head when you touch by the bottom of them.   

   If she has an inner ear infection, you can't always tell by looking in the ear. I know someone who's dog went deaf because of inner ear infections in both ears. She had taken her dog to the vet but when they examined her ears they couldn't find anything wrong. The poor dog ended up needing surgery because the infection spread to her jaw. I know the last thing you need is something else to worry about, but since the bottom of her ears seem sensitive, thought I'd mention this. Jessie doesn't have arthritis but I agree with you that it shouldn't come on so quickly.
 

Dyan-I'm going to PM you too.  Bubby you get well soon, girl. 

Just an idea, but I would have her checked again for an inner ear infection - that can cause balance problems, and can be painful.  The trembling could be a sign of pain.  Also, if she has elevated liver enzymes and lethargy and hind leg weakness, maybe ask about testing for Cushings.