Ava Visit Went Badly And She Has 103.8 Fever

[Guest avadogner]

Today I took Ava to her Vet to check her out. Two years ago, Ava started having pain in her back and after several visits, sedation for xrays and a consult with an Orthopedic Vet specialist. She as diagnosed with a congenital hip defect where the head of each fermur were more flat than round causing instabiltity in the hip joint . Our vet placed her Rymadyl and we only had to use it during the winter months when she was having more pain.

 

About 8 months ago, she began to refuse eating the meals she always enjoyed. I chatted with folks here and my vet and came up with "Ava's Magic Mix" which finally appealed to her. I tried just about everything to get her to eat.. All the really yummy stuff like cooked meats and she would push the bowls away with her nose until her nose bled. She would eat the meal with lots of coaching and patience by me

 

About two weeks ago, I noticed her staying in her bed all the time, refusing to go out with Augie (he's goofy and bumps into her a lot) and then she started refusing to eat the Magic Mix. I was able to get her drink an Ensure and she was still eating the occasional treat and bully sticks. We've always been a no human food to dogs household and feed premium food but no I'm happy to see her eat anything. . She ate a few bites of steak, ham, cheese and PB (medicine sandwiches) but was flat out refusing the Magic Mix. On Friday when I was working with her to eat she growled at me. My girl has NEVER EVER growled at me. She is a huge Momma's girl and very protective of me. We called and got an appt for Monday first thing with the vet.

 

Saturday she slipped and fell in our kitchen despite the nonslip rugs every few feet. it was like the scene in Bambi when Bambi is learning to walk. Ava totally panicked and was shrieking. I was right by her (why she was in kitchen following me around which was an improvement). I was able to lift her and the DH came to help and we helped her get her footing. I've noticed flank and bum area muscles are getting smaller (her turkey butt is looking less muscular). She went right back to her bed and only got up for a couple trips out the dog door to potty for the rest of the weekend and wouldn't eat.

 

I know she is in pain and her hips are getting more unstable and the muscle loss is making it worse. I was expecting to see our vet and discuss putting her on something stronger for her pain. It took me 40 minutes to get her up out of the bed. As soon as she saw her leash come out, she started shaking. She would not get up and I am not strong enough to pick her up. I seperated Augie to another room so she wouldn't have to worry about him bumping her. Finally she got up and we were able to go to the vet.

 

Walking into the vet's office, Ava had a massive Big D blowout all over the walkway. It wasn't her normal very dark brown color. It was an organish red. I know GI bleeds make stools tarry black and bleeds close to the exit cause bright red streaks. I scoopeed it and brought it in for our vet to test. I just scooped the back yard yesterday and all poo piles looked WNL and were worm free. Our dogs have a history of tapeworm infections so I check poo to make sure no sure it's worm free. Ava was totally stressed out and panting like crazy. She yelped when he palpated her hips and rear legs. She has gradually lost about 6 lbs over the last 6 months. Each vet visit every two months had 2 lb drop each time.

 

Our vet drew blood and is running a chem profile and CBC to check renal function, hepatic labs and blood cell counts. On exam, the vet checked her temp and it was 103.8. He said it shouldn't be over 101 degrees. He gave us a week worth of a stronger pain meds, sent us home and will call tomorrow with lab results. We will go from there. There are no areas on her body that look suspicious. She has one fatty cyst that has been tested and cleared. No swelling or masses. Our vet feels the poor eating is related to her pain in her hips. The fever is something totally different though. As a RN I don't see how the fever could be connected to her hips unless she has an autoimmune disorder which we would have found by now. She sees the vet atleast 2 times a year for every year since she was 18m. We never miss monthly heartworm, flea and tick, worm preventative. The big D is likely from the stress of the trip. But what's up with this fever? As soon as we got home, she went to her bed. I was able to get a whole bottle of Ensure in her with about a 1/2 cup kibble in it. I gave her her meds and supplents after. She's resting well now.

 

I am so terrified of losing her. She is my special best buddy. She's seen me through 8 surgeries and hundreds of days of terrible pain and sickness. I can handle being sick and in pain but I can't take seeing her hurt. I'm watching her sip away. She no longer has that bright eye look. Her eyes are dull and are actually clouding. She limps and struggles to walk small distances. She is crabby with Augie who adores her. I am praying this new med controls her pain better and her appetite will return. I've got to stop the muscle loss and help her stregnthen her hips but she has a panic attack at the site of her leash. She used to love walks. Please pray/send happy thoughts to us.

Thanks for listening,

ava and augie's mum

[o_rooly]

Sending only the best thoughts for your girl. :heart

 

[45MPHK9]

alicia, we are thinking good thoughts for your ava. we will look here for updates on your sweet girl.

[4My2Greys]

I hope you can find something that will help her.

 

[maggiespet]

Sweet Ava is in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong for her Alicia. We're all here with you.

[Guest krystolla]

[Guest LokisMom]

Prayers for Ava and you. I hope you all figure it out soon.

[Guest IHeartDogs]

Sending prayer of comfort and healing

I'm so sorry Ava is not doing well...

[JJNg]

Normal temp for dogs can range from 100 to 102.5 F. However, when they are nervous or stressed, they can easily go up to 103-103.5 or even a little higher. Since you wrote that "Ava was totally stressed out and panting like crazy" during the vet visit, that might have caused her elevated temp. Have you tried taking her temp at home while she's relaxed?

 

Sending good thoughts for you and Ava. Hopefully her bloodwork results will all be normal, and she'll respond well to the stronger pain meds.

[Guest Chucko]

Prayers for Ava and you.

[Guest 2dogs4cats]

I am fighting back the tears as I write this. I am sorry that you are going through this and sending healing thoughts for Ava. I have been where you are and it tore me up. There are no words. Please please keep us updated.

[Guest avadogner]

Thank you for all the TLC and prayers. My medical mind has been running on it's hampster wheel since we left the vet. I picked up a baby rectal therm. and rechecked her temp at 8pm and it was 103.0. The hip problem has been on the radar for 2 yrs. The picky eating on off for a year and always connected with when she's limping more. I hope the fever was just the stress. I really, really do. Fever with joint pain sends my mind into the Tick Bourne Dz or autoimmune territory. Nurses and drs. make terrible pts because we want to solve the mystery first. As soon as we hear from the vet on her CBC, chem profile, renal labs and poo cultures/study, I"ll let y'all know! Thank you again for the support!

-ava and augie's mum

 

 

[Remolacha]

for you and Ava

[Guest avadogner]

I have been researching all night and ran across an old article from the greyhound magazine about signs of pain. They sited 8 signs of pain and in progression of how serious they are. Ava displays 7 or the 8. Ava has become dull eyed and stares into space for long periods of time when she used to always be superaware of her surroundings. She wimpers and groans when getting up or moving in certain ways. When up and about she walks with her tail tucked and back hunched. She has a limp and her gait is altered. She stiffens and guards when you pet her back end. Her behaviour has changed. She used to live to be at my side and now she spends all her time in bed moving as little as possible. She no longer climbs the 4 steps to our bedroom level and will not come to me when I call her. I have to go to her. At the mear sight of her leash she shakes and shudders. She growled at me when I was trying to encourage her to eat which she barely does now. She snarls at Augie when she used to love him. She has lost weight and her bum has lost muscle mass. When she stands still you can see her back legs sliding apart. The only factor she hasn't shown is incontinence in the home. Her bed is only about 7 feet away from our dog door which she still negotiates fairly well.

 

Our vet will have labs for us tommorrow and we started the Tramadol tonight. She has been on Rymadyl for almost 2 yrs during the winter months. Last winter, after the weather warmed, she improved so much that we were able to discontinue it. The articles prognosis was very bleak and encouraged the owner to put the dog's needs first. Ava still have moments where she wags her tail and enjoys ear rubs and cuddles. I just have to climb in her bed to do when she used to jump in my bed to give me relief from my pain. It is breaking my heart to see her like this and I find myself asking. "how long do I wait before I give her relief?" I am not saying I will be putting her down in next few weeks but I feel a need to make sure I am not prolonging her suffering to prolong the horrible goodbye. She is my "original and heartdog" . She has been my baby and dawgter for over 9 yrs. She has given me her love and adoration when I needed comfort the most. I owe the same if not better to her.

 

The article I read from OSU stating that once a grey is put on Rymadyl and Tramadol is basically a death diagnosis based upon how long the caretaker can hang on to the hound. Doesn't my best girl deserve better? Tonight I laid with her and petted her while she stared into space. is that how she saw me from her eyes as I lay recovering from surgery after surgery? After a surgery where I coded post op and nearly died, she laid in bed with me for 28 hours without a single break for food or bathroom break. My DH begged her to eat and get up but she would not leave me. She even grownled when my DH tried to pick her up make her go out. We ended up feeding in my bed. She has been our version of a child. God did not bless us with children but he brought Ava into our lives and we will forever be better for it. I know we wil honor her by adopting and loving more greyhounds but none will be my dear Ava. How can any other live up to my girl? Augie willl need a buddy ASAP. He is not suited to being an only dog. I can't even imagine bringing in another dog when Ava's bed becomes empty? How do I do this?

 

The film students who are doing a documentary on retired greyhounds as pets from the wonderful McGregor Greyhound Rescue Center will be here next Tuesday. I want everyone to see how beautiful she is and how wonderful greys are. How loving and beautiful they are. I pray Ava is still with us by then. Tomorrow will hold more answers. I will cherish every moment we have left.

 

Thank you for listening to ramble once again,

ava and augie's mum

[tydyelady]

I am heartbroken for you, it is so damn hard. How do you do this, you asked? Nothing magic, you just do. You do what will be right for Ava, when the time comes. I pray that Ava still has some good time left, and that you find some peace. Just love her, live in the now, and the rest will follow.

[tbhounds]

Hopefully shell respond by adding the tramadol. Why not add gabapentin too?? It works well in combo with tramadol and a NSAID like rimadyl. May I ask how old she is???? She might be a surical canidate. Dr Dyce at OSU has done over 1000 hip transplants. He has worked on some really horrible, awful hips. There's also a sugery called FHO that might be an option too but, you really need to have her evaluated. I wouldn't doubt that the fever is stress/pain related.

[Batmom]

The article I read from OSU stating that once a grey is put on Rymadyl and Tramadol is basically a death diagnosis

 

Not at all. Many dogs take those drugs over the long term with no ill effects.

 

We had a dog who took NSAIDs for years. They kept her comfortable and happy to a ripe old age, and she died of something unrelated. She also had kidney disease. The NSAID of choice back then -- butazolidin -- didn't worsen her kidneys.

[Guest Stripeyfan]

Ava

[Guest KennelMom]

The article I read from OSU stating that once a grey is put on Rymadyl and Tramadol is basically a death diagnosis

 

Not at all. Many dogs take those drugs over the long term with no ill effects.

 

We had a dog who took NSAIDs for years. They kept her comfortable and happy to a ripe old age, and she died of something unrelated. She also had kidney disease. The NSAID of choice back then -- butazolidin -- didn't worsen her kidneys.

 

 

Yes...we have used both in a dog daily for a couple years until they no longer worked very well for him.

 

Sending prayers for you and Ava

[turbotaina]

Sending good thoughts for your girl. I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. :grouphug

[Guest HHHounds]

Sending prayers to you all...

[GeorgeofNE]

Normal temp for dogs can range from 100 to 102.5 F. However, when they are nervous or stressed, they can easily go up to 103-103.5 or even a little higher. Since you wrote that "Ava was totally stressed out and panting like crazy" during the vet visit, that might have caused her elevated temp. Have you tried taking her temp at home while she's relaxed?

 

Sending good thoughts for you and Ava. Hopefully her bloodwork results will all be normal, and she'll respond well to the stronger pain meds.

 

 

Glad I read all the replies before I posted the exact same thing.

 

103 sounds fearfully high, since our own temps are supposed to be 98.5, but for a dog, it's really not. I can't believe someone in a vet's office told you it shouldn't be higher than 101.

[Fostr_Mom]

I'm sorry to see that Ava is not doing well. Sending and to you all.

[MP_the4pack]

Have you tried chiropractic adjustments or acupuncture? With the bad hips she may have stressed other parts of her back in compensation.

 

prayers coming you way.

[RaineysMom]

sending hugs