Guest littlesyd85 Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 As some of you may remember my 10 year old girl Lena was having trouble walking (it started about a month ago). Below are two threads that you may want to read as a reminder. Lena Can't Walk! Update On Lena's Condition Well poor Lena's symptoms just would not improve (she could walk but only for short periods of time and she was still in a lot of pain). So I called Dr. Bill Feeman and we decided that I should bring her back in. Because Bill didn't do the original exam (he wasn't in that day so a colleague did it) he went ahead and did another. He decided that it would be best to take her to OSU and get Dr. Couto's opinion. The biggest fear was that she has a tumor in her spinal cord and that we would have to put her down. So I scrambled and pulled some of my Greyhound Adoption of Ohio strings and managed to get in to see Dr. Couto yesterday (Thursday). The visit to OSU went great! Dr. Couto is awesome. I have met him before, but it wasn't a "clinical" thing. What a long day though, I left my house at 7am and got home at 7:30pm (it takes about 2.5 hours to get there from my house). Both Lena and I were exhausted! It turns out that Lena has a blood clot in her aorta (which is the main blood supply to both hind legs) that is 6 inches in length. He was actually amazed that Lena was able to walk as well as she could because so little blood was making it to her hind legs. They found this out by doing an ultrasound. It was truly amazing to see the images of her aorta, no wonder she is in so much pain. Right now the treatment is 1/2 a baby aspirin a day and a 20mg Pepcid AC once a day. And we will keep her on the Tramadol 2 to 3 times a day as needed until she is feeling better. According to Dr. Couto this clotting issue has only been diagnosed in greyhounds and thus far has been treatable using baby aspirin. He said there is always the possibility that we will have to put her on a blood thinner, but he has never had to do that. Isn't that amazing?! To think 1/2 a baby aspirin a day will break up a clot. Anyways, they also seem to think that she may have a kidney disease that is common in greyhounds (I can't remember what he said it was). It seems that she is leaking protein into her kidneys then subsequently peeing it out. I am waiting on a call from Dr. Couto to confirm (the urinalysis wasn't complete when we left OSU). He said that this is also a very treatable condition. So I am feeling so much better about everything. In fact I slept good last night for the first time in probably 2 weeks! I'm still trying to be cautiously optimistic though. I don't want to get too excited and then have something terrible go wrong. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers from everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Continued prayers for your pretty girl. She sure couldn't be in any better hands than she is Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trihounds Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Wow - isn't that interesting. Glad to hear you have some positive news. Go Lena! Quote Doe's Bruciebaby Doe's Bumper Derek Follow my Ironman journeys and life with dogs, cats and busy kids: A long road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WarmheartedPups Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Thats all great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetdogs Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Wow - 6 inches So glad Dr. C could see her & give you a treatment plan. Hope she feels better soon. (BTW, I love the name Lena - my grandmother had a friend many years ago by that name. She was quite a character & I remember her fondly.) Quote Deirdre with Conor (Daring Pocobueno), Keeva (Kiowa Mimi Mona), & kittehs Gemma & robthomas. Our beloved angels Faolin & Liath, & kittehs Mona & Caesar. Remembering Bobby, Doc McCoy, & Chip McGrath. "He feeds you, pets you, adores you, collects your poop in a bag. There's only one explanation: you are a hairy little god." Nick Galifinakis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandimom Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Great news that you were able to get in to see Dr. Cuoto. Continued prayers going your way for you and your baby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Dr. Couto is a SAINT! I am soo glad you got to see him! I wanted to bring Curfew to OSU, to get a real diagnosis, but we just cannot afford it. Love and hugs to your baby girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Isn't Dr. Couto fabulous. I had met him at Dewey and spoke with him. But last month was my first visit to see him clinically. I was doing very well with Diamond's diagnosis until he walked in the room and asked how I was. I burst out crying. And he hugged me. It made the 10 hr trip out there to see him. And it was worth every minute and every penny. By the way, does Glomerulo nephritis sound like the disease he was talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest littlesyd85 Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 By the way, does Glomerulo nephritis sound like the disease he was talking about? It could be... I feel like he shortened a few times to GN. But to be honest he was talking so fast and I was so happy that Lena was going to be alright, that it is hard for me to remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandysMom Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Wow, I'm glad Dr. Couto was able to see Lena. Sending prayers. Quote Beverly. Missing my happy toy-flinging boy Sammy (Where's Mandrill), (8/12/2009-9/30-2021) Desperately missing my angel Mandy (BB's Luv) [7/1/2000 - 9/18/2012]. Always missing Meg the Dalmatian and Ralph Malph the Pekeapoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shanesmom Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 What a relief to have a diagnosis and a plan. Prayers that Lena makes a speedy recovery. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me. I'm not very far from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trevdog Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I second the wow....glad he got to see her and it sounds like a treatable case. Hoping for a quick recovery too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyPoopon Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Another wow! I hope the baby aspirin does the trick quickly and completely, and that her kidneys are OK. Quote Standard Poodle Daisy (12/13) Missing Cora (RL Nevada 5/99-10/09), Piper (Cee Bar Easy 2/99-1/10), Tally (Thunder La La 9/99-3/10), Edie (Daring Reva 9/99-10/12), Dixie (Kiowa Secret Sue 11/01-1/13), Jessie (P's Real Time 11/98-3/13), token boy Graham (Zydeco Dancer 9/00-5/13), Cal (Back Already 12/99-11/13), Betsy (Back Kick Beth 11/98-12/13), Standard Poodles Minnie (1/99-1/14) + Perry (9/98-2/14), Annie (Do Marcia 9/03-10/14), Pink (Miss Pinky Baker 1/02-6/15), Poppy (Cmon Err Not 8/05-1/16), Kat (Jax Candy 5/05-5/17), Ivy (Jax Isis 10/07-7/21), Hildy (Braska Hildy 7/10-12/22), Opal (Jax Opal 7/08-4/23). Toodles (BL Toodles 7/09-4/24) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey14me Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 So glad you got a diagnosis. I can't imagine two better people to trust my greyhound with than Dr. Feeman and Dr. Couto!! Quote Michelle...forever missing her girls, Holly 5/22/99-9/13/10 and Bailey 8/1/93-7/11/05 Religion is the smile on a dog...Edie Brickell Wag more, bark less :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Sending best wishes for good health and sweet dreams to Lena and you. Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 OMG, we had a dog with GN who also had trouble walking. I'll have to check his records and see if he had an aortic ultrasound to look for this. This is valuable information; thanks for sharing it with us! I think I need to collect all the medical wisdom that's on this forum and put it in a binder for quick reference. : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 By the way, does Glomerulo nephritis sound like the disease he was talking about? It could be... I feel like he shortened a few times to GN. But to be honest he was talking so fast and I was so happy that Lena was going to be alright, that it is hard for me to remember. Also called PLN... protein losing neuropathy. Glad you received a diagnosis--isn't OSU the best??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissn333 Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Oh wow, that is SO interesting! I'm glad you were able to get some answers and that her condition is treatable. Dr. Couto has got to be the best ever! Quote Kristin in Moline, IL USA with Ozzie (MRL Crusin Clem), Clarice (Clarice McBones), Latte and Sage the IGs, and the kitties: Violet and Rose Lovingly Remembered: Sutra (Fliowa Sutra) 12/02/97-10/12/10, Pinky (Pick Me) 04/20/03-11/19/12, Fritz (Fritz Fire) 02/05/01 - 05/20/13, Ace (Fantastic Ace) 02/05/01 - 07/05/13, and Carrie (Takin the Crumbs) 05/08/99 - 09/04/13. A cure for cancer can't come soon enough.-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest littlesyd85 Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 *UPDATE* Lena's urinalysis confirmed that she has glomerulonephritis. But like I mentioned before it is treatable with medication. Also she is already showing signs of improvement which just amazes me that after only two treatment of baby aspirin she is starting to get better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HappyHarleysMom Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 That's great news about Lena that she's starting to feel better already!! I'm so glad that her problems are treatable. keep getting better, Lena! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I got to thinking about Lena; actually I've been thinking about her ever since you posted! I also got to wondering -- did Dr C say which condition the baby aspirin is treating? Aspirin is standard treatment for GN but does it affects the clot itself? IOW, does it dissolve the clot or does it thin the blood just enough to be able to get around it? So glad to hear Lena is doing better. We had a beloved greyhound who didn't survive GN but he wasn't getting baby aspirin; he was getting a full buffered aspirin and not every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest littlesyd85 Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I got to thinking about Lena; actually I've been thinking about her ever since you posted! I also got to wondering -- did Dr C say which condition the baby aspirin is treating? Aspirin is standard treatment for GN but does it affects the clot itself? IOW, does it dissolve the clot or does it thin the blood just enough to be able to get around it? So glad to hear Lena is doing better. We had a beloved greyhound who didn't survive GN but he wasn't getting baby aspirin; he was getting a full buffered aspirin and not every day. The baby aspirin treats the clot itself. It breaks it up slowly. He has me giving her Pepcid AC as well because the aspirin can be hard on the stomach and esophagus. For the glomerulonephritis Dr. Couto would like me to put her on 10 mg of enalapril twice a day and 25 mg of spironolactone twice a day. They (Dr. Feeman and Dr. Couto) would also like me to put her on a fatty acid supplement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 My girl has GN too (thanks to a hyper active immune system) and OSU has her on aspirin too. They claim it's because there are more prone to throw clots with that disease. So glad you are starting to see an improvement already!! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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