Penelopesslave

Dear BJ, I haven't been around GT much lately, but I am so, so sorry to read about your losses. We had such fun with you and your pups when we had the GUR for Bell. I am thinking of you and your babies.

I haven't been around much since I had my daughter and we moved to California, and even less since our beloved Bella went to the bridge. Today we lost my first hound, my best friend for 10 years, my companion Penny. She went into heart failure after a routine dental and xrays showed a large mass, probably hemangiosarcoma, on her heart. I was able to be with her when she died, though it was not an easy death. She fought right up to the end when we decided to let her go. I hope some of you remember us and especially my sweet girl Penny. Thank you Melissa, Dave, and Josie

I am so sorry for your loss of Quiet Man. I remember one Dewey where I saw a car with the Mass. plates and a handsome brindle boy in the back, and I thought, "I hope that's Quiet Man!!" and it was, and it was such a pleasure to meet him.

What happy news for Lee and for you! So glad he is doing well under your loving care, Patti. Give that old man some kisses for me.

Penny is on Tylan twice a day for her diarrhea problems. It seems to be helping, but it also seems that she is drinking GALLONS of water every day. She's needing to go out 2-3 times a night. Combined with the wakeups from my 5-month-old skinkid, I am getting zero sleep. During the day Penny needs to go out about every hour and half. If I leave her in the house alone, I have to put down pee pads because I know she will have an accident. Has anyone else been on this medication? I can't find any mention of excessive thirst as a side effect on the internet, and I am wondering if the thirst is unrelated to the Tylan. Thanks--

The second opinion is in, they agree that the cells are mast cells and probably indicate some kind of internal cancer. The good news is that the results are so unusual that the lab volunteered to re-do the blood work for free. So we are off to the vet this morning to get another blood draw done. I am hoping beyond hope that this is all a lab error!

The vet called today regarding Penny's lab work. We'd had some panels done because of her recurring bouts with poop trouble and other gastrointestinal upsets. There are many mast cells in her blood. The vet wouldn't come out and say "Cancer," because she is getting another vet to look at the slides for a second opinion, but she mentioned possible liver or spleen involvement. I did a consult with Dr. Google and he tells me this is a bad sign. Other things are starting to make sense in this context as well-- she's lost 5 lbs. for no reason, doesn't want to run anymore, is more sluggish about getting up in the mornings, etc., though I had just written that off as age finally catching up to her, as she is 11 now. Anyway, I guess I just needed to get my fears out and ask for a little light and good wishes for my pal Penny. She's been my best friend for 9 years and I can't imagine how I could get along without her. I also thought maybe someone might have more experience with a similar situation and could share his or her story with me. Thank you.

Our beautiful, strong Bell (EMK Bolivar Bell). 7/14/94-11/21/08

Go Lee! We are cheering for you, big guy!

It might be better to let him fast for 24 hours instead of trying to get him to eat-- i think I made Penny's HGE attack worse by letting her continue to eat instead of fasting her so that her tummy and GI tract had a chance to fight off the infection that was causing the Big D. I would second the Pepcid suggestion and add an Immodium to help with the "splat" poops. Poor baby, I hope he feels better soon!

Penny ate her chicken and rice this morning, took her meds without a fuss, and, best of all.... greeted me with a happy dance and wagging tail when I got home from my OB appointment this afternoon!!!!! I haven't seen that since Bell died! My Pennymonster is coming back to me.

I just picked up Penny from the hospital, A $2400 bill (who needs Christmas, right??) later, she is not quite as good as new but she is getting there. She practically RAN up the stairs to our house, leg splint and all, so I know she is tired of being in the hospital and is ready to be home! She fell asleep the minute she got onto her bed. She hasn't vomited since yesterday and no more diarrhea, either. She's on "Fast Balance" to calm her tummy and amoxicillin for the bacterial infection, plus the chicken and rice diet for a week. Thank you all for talking me down when I was freaking out about her. When she is feeling a little better I'll post some pics. Whew, I am tired too! Maybe I should go take a nap too.

I just talked to her doctor, she is looking good. Still not interested in food, but that may be stress/the hospital environment as much as anything else. She has had no more diarrhea or vomiting so the doc is going to release her at 4:00 PM PST today as long as nothing changes in the meantime. Last night she was looking better to me though not her normal energetic Penny-self, she did have the gleam in her eye returning so that was a great thing to see. Thank you for all the good wishes. They worked.

Good news, the internal medicine vet called with another update and she ate a little bit and is keeping it down. They still want to keep her again tonight for monitoring and fluids, though. She should be coming home tomorrow I am going to leave here in about an hour to go visit her and bring her a dirty t-shirt of mine. Oh, and the internist has 2 greyhounds of his own so she is in good hands!!