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Ullaluv

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Posts posted by Ullaluv

    Chase Needs Prayers

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I've had great luck with Kayla, whom I adopted last year at age 11 with horrendous teeth, by putting on Clindamycin and using Petzlife. Used the spray initially, until she was able to tolerate brushing with the gel. We pulse the Clindamycin occasionally when I get behind on her daily maintenance, and have been able to forgo the dental which she would have otherwise had to have to protect her from the really bad health consequences of her chronic gum disease.

     

    Incidentally, she is a lovely girl.

    Princess, My Soulmate

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Princess left peacefully, at home in my arms, surrounded by her canine family. My heart is broken in a million pieces, but my girl is running free, whole and healthy again, with her many friends on the other side, and I know she is waiting patiently for me, when my work here is done.

    Gremlin ~ Greys Gremlin

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    Pat, I cannot begin o put in words how sorry I am for your loss. She has been met my so many who have gone before her and will be waiting to greet so many who will join her there, until it's time for all of your pack to join you, many, many years from now. I know, because I, too, have many waiting for me. Hope

    Princess, My Soulmate

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    We're down to my lying with her on the bed, holding her, which is the one thing she seems to want. Doing a little hydration, about 20 ml in her feeding tube 3 or 4 times an hour. She is not in any pain or distress, and I do think she would let me know. (She did this morning before she vomited.) I'm not doing any more feedings or meds at this point, and I'm not loading her in the back seat of a cold car to take her anywhere. I think she'll leave peacefully, in her own time, and then her Mom can finish falling apart.

     

    Thanks for being there, everyone,

     

    We're down to my lying with her on the bed, holding her, which is the one thing she seems to want. Doing a little hydration, about 20 ml in her feeding tube 3 or 4 times an hour. She is not in any pain or distress, and I do think she would let me know. (She did this morning before she vomited.) I'm not doing any more feedings or meds at this point, and I'm not loading her in the back seat of a cold car to take her anywhere. I think she'll leave peacefully, in her own time, and then her Mom can finish falling apart.

     

    Thanks for being there, everyone,

    Princess, My Soulmate

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Sorry to hear that she's vomiting now. Maybe you have reached the point were you have to consider letting her go?? Her quailty of life needs to come first-- I'm sure you would agree. If she can't hold down food I'm not sure that there are too many other options--at 32lbs she must be skeletal. Sorry if this appears to be blunt-- not my intention- my heart aches for both of you.

     

    It's not blunt at all. It's actually what's foremost in my mind. As long as she told me she was not ready to quit, I had to honor that. Now that may be changing. I'm waiting for a call from my vet.

    Princess, My Soulmate

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    We had a reasonably good night. I gave her her first meds, along with about 90 ml of water, at 8:15 this morning. At 8:30 she vomited, probably a couple of tablespoons, then about the same 5 minutes later. Around 9:00 she got up, restless, went outside, came back in and vomited about 450 ml of mostly thick mucous, with water and food. (Amazing what you can get off a vinyl floor with a flat sided platter, a big rubber spatula and a big measuring cup.)

     

    I called OSU. Talked to an emergency doc, since it's a holiday, and they want me to take her for a chest x-ray to be sure she didn't aspirate. (This is the first time she's vomited through all of this. I'm waiting for my vet to call me back. Fortunately my vet is only about 15 minutes away - 4 miles and one 4-way stop.

     

    I'll post again when I know more. Right now she's resting comfortably on my bed.

    Princess, My Soulmate

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Brief update: Princess has had all her meds for the day, and we just have one more feeding to go. Her weight has dropped again, from 34.0 pounds to 32.2 pounds. We increase the size of her feedings tomorrow, and she is tolerating them well. I've also started giving her lots of (warmed) water through her feeding tube, since she hasn't runk on her own since this morning. She does seem to have perked up some with the fluids.

     

    I don't think oral fluids are utilized quite as well as IV fluids, so I'm giving her about 30% more than she was getting IV before she went to OSU.

     

    Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for us.

    Princess, My Soulmate

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Not an update, but I thought you'd like to see the most recent email from my friend in Michigan, that I work with in Saluki rescue. Makes me realize all over how proud I am to be part of the Greyhound community.

     

     

     

    Hello Hope,

     

    That is quite a plan of action, good thing you are so organized and knowledgeable.

     

    Princess is such a great patient and a magnificent girl, it would not surprise me if she beats all odds by making an amazing recovery.

     

    She probably will have potty accidents with all the meds especially the prednisone since that makes her want to drink more.

     

    Hope, you have been "super mom" for Princess, you have given her every possible chance to beat this, and she knows it. She is giving her all too.

     

    I am proud of your other hounds (including fosters) for being gentle and understanding with Princess.

     

    The Greyhound folks have once again shown what a great bunch of people they are. I am thankful how much they have been able to support you and Princess.

     

    Over and over again in all my days with rescue, it is the Greyhound people that always step up to the plate and make things happen.

     

    Lori

    Princess, My Soulmate

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Are you giving her Denamarin??? I'm glad she's home with you-- I'm sure she is too!!

     

    Yes, she's getting Denarmin twice a day. I had her on SAM-e and milk thistle before.

     

    She's getting Denarmin and Ursadiol twice a day, without food: Clavamox and Tramadol twice a day, with food: Prednisone, Batril and Vitmin E once a day and Ondansetron and Pepcid twice a day; and sub-Q Vitamin B12 weekly. Eating Max-Cal, diluted with water to thin it, 60 ml 4 to 6 times a day today, moving up to 90 ml tomorrow, then 120, then 180 ml. She'll be getting blood chemistries done by my vet and faxed to OSU on Thursday if all goes well.

     

    She's tolerating the feedings and the tubed meds very well. She is such a GOOD girl, and very easy to work with. She's drinking water on her own. Yesterday she pee'd in the hall, this morning she asked to go outside.

     

    The other dogs are being very good with her, so she's back with her pack as well as with her Mom.

     

    She's very weak, but again, I'm trying to remain optimistic and just give her all the love I can, along with her nursing care.

    Princess, My Soulmate

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Princess update:

     

    From OSU discharge - "Based on Princess' blood work and histopathology findings we are strongly suspicious that she is currently in liver failure. The fact that her total bilirubin and ALP increased and her cholesterol decreased after removal of her gallbladder are less consistent with an extrahepatic cholestasis and more consistent with liver failure. We have placed Princess on several hepatoprotective medications to improve her liver function. We are placing Princess on two broad spectrum antibiotics in case there was an underlying bacterial infection and to prevent an ascending infection of the liver. Long term prognosis for Princess is very guarded to poor and will depend on her response to medical therapy and if she is able to get adequate nutrition and maintain or regain her weight. More importantly, her bilirubin needs to improve, which will reflect better liver function."

     

    I am trying very hard to remain optimistic. Her weight has dropped from 41 pounds on Friday, Jan 7, to 34 pounds today, and she definitely is weaker. But she is tolerating her feedings well. We're done with everything today except one more feeding, her evening anti-nausea pill and her prednisone.

     

    I am grateful for everything OSU has done for her and for their kindness and concern. I especially want to thank Jane and Carol, and RobinW for steering us to OSU. And thank all the rest of you for your continuing prayers. Princess and I are both glad that she is home with her Mom and we're both still fighting this.

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