Brandy Is At The E-Vet Tonight

[starhound]

I have a 9 year old hound who took a turn for the worse tonight. She's usually so outgoing, happy and joyeous, but today when I woke up she was stumbling a little and kept staring at the walls, into space, etc. She is just not herself at all. After an hour she got a bit slower, but still ate her food, willingly took a chicken strip and drank some water. My husband called the vet and they said she'd likely suffered a mild seizure or had low blood sugar, and recommended the Emergency vet if her state got worse.

 

An hour later she was so slow and disorientated I tried to move her downstairs and it was very difficult to keep her on her feet. She layed down at every given oppertunity... like standing was an effort. She started to cry, and the whining noises sounded so laboured, it was clear we had to take her in. I was already in tears at this stage.. Brandy is a therapy dog, she has been with me since 2005... I am actually closer to this hound than I am to my own parents or family, so I feel utterly, completely devastated. The E-vet was so nice.. she ran bloodwork on Brandy and while all of her numbers seemed okay, she is severely dehydrated.. I'm not sure how this happened.. water is always within reach and I always assumed she drank enough. The vet kept her there overnight so she could get IV fluids in her, and some added painkillers... the vet thought she seemed to be in pain. I just hope that dehydration is the only thing causing her such disorientation and spaced-out-ness... I just pray that it's not a sign of something way worse... it happened so quickly. Yesterday she was her bubbly, playful, happy self.. and in a flash she's gone compeltely downhill.

 

Sorry if this post is overly emotional but I just cannot stand to see my girl in pain.. we have immigrated to the US together, we've been everywhere together, I saved her myself from a neglectful situation... I just love this hound and seeing her like this is so crushing.

If you believe in praying... please, I would be so grateful if you'd send one her way for a complete recovery... she looked so awful and the waiting is unbearable.

 

[o_rooly]

 

Sending tons of positive thoughts to you and sweet Brandy!! She is at the e-vet where she is getting help, that's a GOOD thing.

[Remolacha]

[3greytjoys]

I am so very sorry your sweet girl is going through this difficulty. I'm relieved that she is under close watch veterinary care. Please know that Brandy is in our prayers, and positive, healing thoughts. She is a beautiful girl who sounds like she is extraordinarily special to be a therapy dog.

 

Wishing you much strength... You've come to the right place for understanding support.

[starhound]

Thank you for the kind replies.. they mean more than I can describe. Brandy is an outstanding therapy dog. I suffer from panic disorder and all-round anxieties and she knows how I am, how to comfort me, and I swear we share the same sense of humour.

She is so dear to me and I am so utterly afraid of losing her.

[tydyelady]

Prayers for sweet Brandy, and for you.

[Guest greytkidsmom]

Prayers to you and your sweet Brandy.

[Guest Ohiogreymom]

Sending many prayers for your beautiful girl! (And a big for you.) Darlene and the Buckeye Crew.

[greyhead]

Prayers and virtual hugs for you and Brandy tonight. Try to get some rest.

[Guest Ref]

Thinking of you both. Get well soon Brandy.

[starhound]

My husband just called the E vet, they said she is stable and swaying less when they walk her around.. that's good, right..?? They said she's hardly swaying now at all, but she's very scared and nervous (she's terrified of vets though.) They also said that some of her other questionable numbers (from the bloodwork) became more normal after she'd recieved IV fluids.. If the dehydration was all it was, I will be so relieved.

Edited February 26, 2010 by starhound

[Guest greybookends]

Prayers coming your way for you and your Brandy.

[silverfish]

Oh boy, do I know how you feel! Well, as much as anyone else can, anyway ... I lost my therapy girl last year and it was devastating. We grow so close to these very special dogs, don't we?

 

Sending many, many good thoughts and prayers your way for both you and for Brandy. Looks hopeful for her from your last message, but I'm thinking of her today and hoping that she continues to improve and can come home very soon. Who knows what caused the dehydration, but it can indeed cause disorientation and confusion and all kinds of physical problems, so hopefully that's all it was. Could she have got into something salty? Did you open a new bag of food lately? Just thinking aloud.

 

:hope

 

Edited cos I can't spell this morning.

Edited February 26, 2010 by silverfish

[starhound]

Oh boy, do I know how you feel! Well, as much as anyone else can, anyway ... I lost my therapy girl last year and it was devastating. We grow so close to these very special dogs, don't we?

 

Sending many, many good thoughts and prayers your way for both you and for Brandy. Looks hopeful for her from your last message, but I'm thinking of her today and hoping that she continues to improve and can come home very soon. Who knows what caused the dehydration, but it can indeed cause disorientation and confusion and all kinds of physical problems, so hopefully that's all it was. Could she have got into something salty? Did you open a new bag of food lately? Just thinking aloud.

 

:hope

 

Edited cos I can't spell this morning.

 

Thank you It's a comfort to know that dehydration on its own can cause those symptoms, to be honest. I'm sitting here worrying about way worse things because of how she was stumbling and staring into space. I can't think of anything salty she got into.. she's usually around me 24/7 but I guess the possiblity is always there. I go to pick her up in an hour... I hope she's feeling better, albeit probably tranquilized.

 

I haven't eaten in 24 hours, oops Should probably convince my guy to make a detour to Panera Bread on the way.

[Guest FreddyGirl]

Brandy update?

[Guest IrskasMom]

Thinking of you and Brandy . How is she doing now ??? Prayers and ever so gentle Hugs for your sweet Brandy coming your Way

[Guest vahoundlover]

Sending lots of prayers for your precious girl.

[RobinM]

Wonderful to hear she is on the mend. The big question is how did she get so dehydrated since as you said, water was always within reach.

 

Keeping your girl in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping she is home with you soon.

 

I know about the waiting and how nerve wracking it is. I also have some hounds who are terrified beyond words about being at the vet. It is very disrtressing to see.

 

Please update when you hear something.

[dante2zoe]

I hope Brandy is improving and home with you. I see that you are in Maryland. I live in Montgomery County. If there is anything that I can help with, please let me know. Cindy

[nyGreys]

Sending many prayers for your beautiful Brandy.

[Batmom]

Did e-vet do an abdominal x-ray? Might be worth a quick view to make sure nothing is going on there.

 

Sending prayers.

[Magdalyn58]

Sending prayers for Brandy from PA.

[Charlies_Dad]

More good thoughts for you and Brandy. I hope she's home and recovering. If in the end it was dehydration, try to keep an eye out for how often she drinks. One of our boys just doesn't drink, hardly at all. So we keep him hydrated by having LOTS of water in his food twice daily plus we feed him treats in his bowl with water.

 

Please let us know how Brandy is doing.

[Guest K9Cookies]

Hope Brandy is doing better this morning. We'll be thinking about you guys.

[45MPHK9]

hope your baby is feeling better today.