NeylasMom Posted August 7, 2018 Share Posted August 7, 2018 Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryJane Posted August 7, 2018 Share Posted August 7, 2018 Wonderful news! You might want to try full fat yogurt, just make sure that it does not have "funny" sugars in it. My dogs that had amps would usually respond to yogurt and one just loved cheerios in it. They liked the vanilla flavored one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickiesmom Posted August 7, 2018 Author Share Posted August 7, 2018 (edited) Jeff came home earlier today, very thin, but more energy than he's had. Need to check again in a bit, but his temperature this afternoon was 101.5, yay! Still extremely picky about food, but ate a little and I have more things to offer later. Big hit is still cheese. He is very happy to be home. Was thrilled to see the car when I picked him up, and a bit reluctant to get out when we got home LOL. But once out he was quite happy to inspect the back yard and water the grass. Main issues now are eating and licking, though the licking is not as obsessive as before. Hopefully once he is more active that will subside. A good friend sent him new toys, one of which was introduced tonight and that definitely generated a lot of enthusiasm. As long as this antibiotic continues to do its job, each day should be a little better. Thank you so much for all your food suggestions, we have quite a pantry and fridge full of goodies, and I don't want to have to eat them all : ) Please send eating vibes ! Edited August 7, 2018 by Rickiesmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyPoopon Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Go Jeff! :yay And please eat. Lots. 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...
BatterseaBrindl Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Quote Nancy...Mom to Sid (Peteles Tiger), Kibo (112 Carlota Galgos) and Joshi. Missing Casey, Gomer, Mona, Penelope, BillieJean, Bandit, Nixon (Starz Sammie), Ruby (Watch Me Dash) Nigel (Nigel), and especially little Mario, waiting at the Bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Finally Jeff is home in his own beds, let the real healing begin! Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M, Ebbie, HollyBeeBop (Betty Crocker). Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona3 Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Mary, I just read this thread from beginning to end. What an ordeal for you and Jeff. My stomach was in knots but as I came to the last posts I was so happy to see that Jeff was home, the antibiotic was working and he is eating again. You have been on my mind and I have been hoping for this good news. All my good wishes and thoughts for you both that he has permanently turned the corner and will recover quickly. Quote Hobbes - April 2, 1994 to April 9, 2008-----Tasha - May 23, 2000 to March 31, 2013 Fiona - Aug 29, 2001 to May 5, 2014-----Bailey - March 22, 2001 to Jan 20, 2015 Zeke - June 1, 2004 - Jan 26, 2016----Callie - July 14, 2006 to July 27, 2019 Forever in my heart: Chooch, Molly, Dylan & Lucy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickiesmom Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 Thank you. His appetite waxes and wanes (waning at the moment) but when I find the right thing, some goes down, and anything down is a good thing. The area of his suture line with the infection is oozing quite a bit - what looks like very thin blood, and if I press below, more comes out so the pouch is not shrinking. Still early days though. It stayed dry all night, but he barely moved which is likely why. I am leaving the bandage off for now since it will just get soaked and need changing again, and am dabbing it as needed. Also applying a cold pack every hour or so. The hospital should call later, and I will fill them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 hope for continued improvement! I am glad he is home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 I wonder if Manuka honey might help the incision to heal? With your teams ok, of course. Hang in there you guys! Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M, Ebbie, HollyBeeBop (Betty Crocker). Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Great update. for good healing! Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonaghan Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Sending best thoughts to you and Jeff and hoping for more improvement now that he's home sweet home. Quote Rachel with Doolin Doodle Dooooo, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our gorgeous, gutsy girlhounds Sweep and Willa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytpups Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 Mary, I’m so sorry you’ve gone through this with Jeff. I had no idea because I haven’t been on gt for awhile. I sure hope Jeff continues to improve. Please let me know if I can help in any way. I’ll email you soon. Again, I’m heartbroken for you and really hope Jeff heals and feels better soon. Quote Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field. Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickiesmom Posted August 12, 2018 Author Share Posted August 12, 2018 Jeff has been through a lot since I last posted. Tying it into the posts above: August 7 he was discharged, as his temperature was stable in the normal range, he was eating a little, and had been on an IV antibiotic the incision bacteria were sensitive to for 24h. They sent us home with the oral form, Claveseptin. The infected pocket in the incision was continuing to ooze, not surprising since he had been on the correct antibiotic for such a short time. However, as the days went by it oozed a lot more and what was coming out was like thin blood. He was also showing signs that maybe the bladder infection had returned, August 9 I decided to take him to my regular clinic. They are closer, I love my vet, and wanted her to look him over, especially the oozing area of the incision, and also to take a cysto urine sample for culture. After the cysto my vet examined him and noticed he was showing a bit of bruising at the cysto site. Checked his gums and found a few petechiae. Called the hospital, they agreed that my clinic would also take blood and I would take the samples and Jeff to the hospital. He was admitted and the blood was sent for stat processing. His platelets count came back dangerously low - 16K - no wonder the bloody oozing had been increasing! They recommended waiting until the next day to see which way things were going to go, and admitted him to ICU. I went home, got some food together for him, gathered up a few things and went back down. They let me stay with him overnight in his enclosure, for which I was so grateful. August 10 platelets came back at 10. They decided to run a second test, got their best tech for blood draws to take the sample, and used a vial with a different medium inside - I don't know the details but this apparently enables a more refined test. It came back at 21! Not normally a number anyone would celebrate, but we were thrilled. He stayed in ICU, the threshold for bringing him home was 30. August 11 (today) his count was 34, so although his gums are still pale, he could come home. They gave him an injectable 14 day form of the antibiotic to bypass his GI system, and we are home with Gabapentin, an anti-nausea drug, and a stomach protectant. Recheck on Friday. He weighs about 55 lbs, vs 75 lbs in early July, before all this started. He was so happy to see the car we needed to restrain him when he saw back hatch open, as he clearly planned to jump in. Once he is stronger we'll start rehab to rebuild his strength - more important now than ever because he has, with all that has happened, lost a lot of muscle everywhere, including his remaining back leg. The oncologist recommends that we stop chemo and we agree. We hope this is the end of all the problems, so he can enjoy "just being a dog" for however much time he has. In the meantime, please think positive thoughts for a great platelet number on Friday! For now, we are just praying that by Friday his platelets will be at normal levels, or very close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 such a roller coaster you and poor Jeff have been on! hoping that he will start to improve, and I know he will be happier at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Keeping Jeff and your family in our thoughts. Sending gentle hugs. Quote Annette, mom to Banjo (AJN Spider Man) & Casey (kitty), wife to Roy. Mom to bridgekids: Wheat (GH), Icabod (GH), Scarlett (Cab's Peg Bundy), Rhett (Kiowa Day Juice), Dixie (Pazzo Dixie), Pogo/Gleason (Rambunctious), and Miriam (Miriam of Ruckus) and Spooky, Taffy, Garfield, & Lefty (kitties) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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