Batmom Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 High WBC count + fever sure makes it look like some type of infection. Hopefully jjng or others will have some further insight. I will say, though, that it wouldn't hurt to check an abdominal x-ray. Joseph's dietary indiscretion didn't cause a problem until 8 full months after he ate it. Also might not hurt to rerun just the CBC so you can get an idea if antibiotics are having an impact on that white count. Is he getting some tummy support with all those antibiotics? Usually what I do is give 1 regular-strength pepcid (10mg famotidine is the generic), wait 30-40 minutes, feed a meal or substantial snack, then give meds right after the meal. I'm pretty mean about giving pills -- I ratchet the head back, open their mouth, and shove 'em down their throat ... then immediately give a blob of peanutbutter or cream cheese to lick off my fingers; that part helps make sure they swallow instead of spitting the pills out. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I have nothing to offer but support and hugs. Your poor boy! Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooker914 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I might have missed it, but has he had a urinalysis run? If so, was there any protein in the urine? His bloodwork shows low albumin, which could indicate a protein losing disease such as PLN or PLE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gurehaundo Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Hey, girlie! Where have you been? I'm so sorry to hear that Cash isn't feeling well. I have no words of wisdom, but I know how scary it is not knowing what's wrong. I'm still kind of going through this with Ace... Please give Cash a hug from us - especially Tenn - and give yourself one, too. You're more than welcome to text me whenever you need to if you still have my number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tes623 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I'm sorry! Hope Cash is feeling better soon. He is a handsome boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jaybird Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I might have missed it, but has he had a urinalysis run? If so, was there any protein in the urine? His bloodwork shows low albumin, which could indicate a protein losing disease such as PLN or PLE. I really can't remember with all the stuff that has been thrown at me lately. I just need to have hope in my vets that they are doing everything they can. Liza! Nice to see you here. Yeah, it's pretty bad here and I am a wreck. Too many changes in too short of a time. And thanks to everyone for their well wishes. He is doing better now than he was this morning and I managed to get some meds back into his system along with some food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 The meds may be giving him an upset stomach. I'd do as Batmom suggests and use some Pepcid to help his stomach. I've been following but have no words of wisdom, just prayers for Cash and for you. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooker914 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 It looks like your vets are doing a very thorough job, so I would assume that urine was checked. Would be something to check though if it hasn't, especially with that albumin level. Good luck, and hugs to Cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoesmom Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 They are starting to believe it is Lupus. Any way you can scan and post the complete results? Have the lymph node aspirates been done yet? Lupus may be a possibility, but I would make sure all other avenues (especially TBD and other infections disease) are fully explored before making that diagnosis and starting treatment. As an autoimmune condition, lupus is treated through immunosuppression. If the diagnosis is incorrect, suppressing the immune system can make a patient with a systemic infection much worse. I would also make sure a cardiologist was the one who did the echo and be absolutely sure there isn't a heart valve infection. Heart valve infections (endocarditis) can be very difficult to treat anyway, and immunosuppression would be very risky if there is any question about this. If Cash is doing ok at the moment, I'd give him more time with the antibiotics before jumping to immunosuppression, which I find very scary in any case. I just wanted to make sure that this post didn't get lost. I won't go into all the details about a case I was involved with (heart valve infection), but will just say that it is very important that the docs are 100 percent sure it is not a pathogen before using immunosuppressants. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jaybird Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 An update from today's appointment....He is looking well and has had a very good past 24 hours. His breathing is improving and he is definitely eating more. Still weakness in his back end, but it could also be muscle soreness. His temp is gone and I will be checking it daily from now on. He had the lymph nodes looked at and they are fine. They also did an ultrasound on his kidneys and don't see anything scary. She did mention that his spleen was very large and that it could be because of the infection. She also mentioned that his bladder was very small. More listening to his heart and still no hint of murmurs. We decided to keep up with the antibiotics and not start the pred yet. I also got some stuff to help get his kidneys back into working order.....a special kidney diet dog food, Canine Renal Support, Renatrophin PMG, and Enalapril. Along with a bit of baby Aspirin each day. Whew! My house looks like a pharmacy! Thanks again for all your support and well wishes! We appreciate them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) So glad to hear there is an improvement for Cash. It sounds like everything is working and he is on his way to feeling much better. Aquitaine recently had her spleen removed as there was a huge mass (larger than a tennis ball) in it. The mass was thankfully benign but her recent urinalysis shows an increse since her last test. She is starting on a kidney diet and an ace inhibitor in addition to the BP meds started after the surgery. She also now takes a Zantac 75 every day so I understand the pharmacy comment! Edited January 13, 2012 by carronstar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jaybird Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Just wanted to pop in for another update. Cash seems to be getting better. His appetite is back and I am finding sneakier ways to give him his meds that are not so traumatizing to us both. His new meds are making him feel a little yucky, but nowhere near as bad as he felt last month. He really seems to like his new Renal diet dog food, so I am happy not to have to cook so much for him. I also contacted a Greyhound health specialist and he seems to believe that Cash has pneumonia. Thanks for all the well wishes and support! You guys are the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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