Jenna is ill again NBR

[MimzMum]

For the last two days Jenna has been hyperactive at night and extremely distressed. It wasn’t until yesterday morning (3-11) that I noticed hives and a rash coming up on her within an hour after feeding her.

I had some chlorpheniramine to give her to take the swellings away and it made her somewhat sleepy all day. I eliminated a food I thought might be causing the problem and fed her boiled hamburger in the evening, but she broke out again. I upped her dosage on the antihistamine as per vet’s instructions and overnight she became so lethargic I feared she would pass away.

Early this morning, since she’d had no real food for the last day or so, she threw up yellow foam.

She continued to be restless and agitated and I’d now gone two nights with no sleep. I called her vet and they said to discontinue the chlorpheniramine and when I could to try to bring her in, but not to feed her or force fluids (as the ER vet had told me to do when I called them about how sluggish she was). The problem is when she doesn’t eat she tends to vomit.

My OH was to have serious dental surgery this morning but by some serendipity it was cancelled (not helpful for him) and he took us in to the vet on a VERY icy and scary road. Our main drag to town is thawing slowly/refreezing overnights this year and people are running off it at every turn.

Jenna is now on methyl-prednisolone, benadryl and tri-otic ointment to treat the allergic reactions she seems to be having. Not certain if it’s food or environment yet. But she seems to rash up with anything I feed her including the Hills RX diet they gave me…can you believe KANGAROO and OAT dog food??

The minute the steroid or antihistamine wears off she begins scratching again and neither of us can rest. The hives appear when she eats and they are all over, even around her eyes and nose. I’ve never seen a reaction like this in a dog…looks like me when I was a kid and ran through a stand of poison oak on my bicycle. To say I am despondent is an understatement.

Can I please have some prayers/vibes for her. She is my world and I cannot imagine how I will get on if something happens to her. Along with all the other turmoil in my life this last year I just cannot take anymore.

Many thanks in advance.

[Bam]

Lots of vibes for your Jenna!!!

How old is she? What breed? I too have a dog, it’s awful when they’re sick.

[Monkeybun]

Poor pup Wonder if she has developed an allergy to something in doggy food? Or did she maybe run into some kind of hive causing plant outside?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Oh, no….poor little Jenna. Is this food something she’s been eating for a while? Those little dogs are known for their sensitivity, unfortunately. Hope you were able to get some sleep and that she’s feeling better today.

Could it be something in the house she got into? My Bridge Shih-Tzu once, all of a sudden, got a super swelled up face. It was winter so she couldn’t have been stung by anything. I brought her to the vet and he was perplexed. He said little dogs like that, even something like sniffing a hairspray can cover could make them react.

Not sure if it’s even something they do in dogs, but has she had any allergy tests?

Am thinking of you, Mimz, and Jenna will be in my thoughts and prayers. You’ve been through so much. ((((Hugs))))

[jerseygirl]

Fast recovery {{{vibes}}} for Jenna.

[Sarita]

Vibes to Jenna!

[Michelle&Lolli]

((((Hugs)))) It is never easy when our furbabies are sick. Can she eat any food…like plain cooked chicken?

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Oh poor Jenna! Hope she gets to feeling better soon. Bear will vomit stomach acid if he doesn’t get his breakfast early enough. He has a sensitive stomach.

I remember we once had a poodle that had to get on a rice and boiled chicken diet for a couple weeks because she kept throwing up all of her food. Vet said to keep the diet bland and simple for a couple weeks to let her stomach settle. She still threw up once we tried switching back to her dog food so we kept to the home cooked meals from then on out for the last few years of her life.

I hope Jenna feels better how old is she?

[LBJ10]

Sounds like an allergic reaction of some sort for sure. We would give Benedryl to my doggie because she had allergies when she was younger. She sort of grew out of them though. I suppose there is the possibility that a dog could develop a new allergy when they get older. People can anyway.

[MimzMum]

Thanks everyone.
Jenna is the Yorkie/Chihuahua in my avatar and she is about 5 years old. We got her from rescue so don’t know much about the first two years of her life. When we brought her home she was so thin and tiny she looked malnourished and was weepy eyed and depressed. She didn’t even know what it was like to be petted. It took about a month but she warmed to us and decided I was mom, although we’d brought her home for my daughter. She hasn’t left my side since.
We tried several types of processed dog foods for her over the years; Royal Canin, Natural Balance, Blue Buffalo, Orijen and Acana. The Acana chicken has been a staple for her for the last year or so and I supplemented with home cooked steak and rice with occasional veggies But in that time there have been major events going on in our home, not the least of which was Mimzy’s headtilt, and being swamped with extra work, I’ve gotten lazy and just made the meat for her and Ebon because it is hard to keep cooking large meals for them. The food in our stores lately has been very sub par and the meats are dyed often.

I wonder how long it will take for whatever toxins she’s been exposed to to leave her system completely?

She’s always had a scratching problem to some degree. We used to think it was just seasonal allergies or nerves, but if it came and went we didn’t worry too much about it. We treated her symptomatically and I always drew the line at steroids because I didn’t want to risk permanent problems with her insides. For two years I feared she was older than they told us and was coming down with Cushing’s Disease because her skin was changing in strange ways, she was getting heavy and losing fur. But tests never confirmed anything like that.
So it’s more likely her one note diet has finally backfired on her and now we’re struggling to keep her comfortable and fed. She is not drinking a lot of water either, but she’s really not a big drinker. I thought the methyl-pred would have her at her bowl and out the door for a wee every few minutes by now.
We finally got some decent sleep last night and she’s sleeping now as well, (actually she’s just gotten up and started pawing at her face…*groan* ) which is more like her, but I know it’s just the drugs. The minute they begin to wear off she’s manic: scratching, rubbing her face, getting up and down from furniture and horribly agitated.

The vet gave us Hills RX Z/D kibbles and one can of food. They don’t want her to eat anything else for 6-8 weeks. She likes the moist but broke out after eating only one kibble. I think the canned also causes her hives but I’m just not sure. It’s chicken based, not kangaroo and oat like they told me it was, (should’ve seen through that one) and lots of starch. They tend to add corn meal too. I don’t like Science Diet, a dog can starve to death on this stuff because it’s not the best nutritionally, but it’s selling point is it’s hypoallergenic processing. The vet is still not sure it’s food allergies but that’s what we’re going with for now. Our house isn’t the tidiest since we’re trying to clear stuff out for a move and we have the three cats and three bunnies so there’s litter dust and hay everywhere no matter how we sweep or vacuum. The only other thing that changed here recently was the type of cat litter we used and it was very heavily perfumed so I suppose that could either be the cause or making her worse. The cat always gets up in Jenna’s sleeping places and probably scatters that dust everywhere she goes. We’re not seeing any buglies yet but I know they’ll be here soon (mozzies usually show up by next month.) Even so, she only goes outdoors twice a day to potty, we don’t spend a lot of time outside with our weather, and the plants are all still dead and snowed over.
I was so tired I spaced on asking the vet to clip her nails. I can’t see well enough to do them myself.
I don’t like the chicken portion of the food…while I don’t know if it’s aggravating the allergies, I do know Jenna gets diarrhea from eating baked or boiled chicken normally. She’s had terrible gas to since yesterday and her breath and ears smell foul.
Allergy testing is not available here. I’d have to fly to Anchorage or Seattle.
I’m scared every time I feed her or she starts scratching. I’m afraid she’ll start having breathing problems and we are so far from help. I hate having her on so many drugs at once.
I just want to crawl under my blankets and not come out. Everything seems to be going wrong lately.
Blast it, she just threw up again. This just doesn’t seem to be working.

[jerseygirl]

{{{MM}}} {{{Jenna}}}

What about candida infection? Something like they would get flare ups wouldn’t it?

ETA: I found this checklist if you’re interested.
http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/support-files/yeastsymptomschecklist.pdf

[Monkeybun]

I do hope she feels better, soon. Sounds like life is very busy for you right now. But a move is exciting! Are you going to be closer to town?

[MimzMum]

Thanks Jerz, I’ll check that link.
We are really wondering about the cat litter now. I’d forgotten until my daughter reminded me tonight that she came from a rescue where they had TONS of cats. The lady who ran it would keep Jenna in the enclosure that housed them all and they all ran loose. The smell when we went in there was horrendous. Back then Jenna looked a lot like she does today, miserable and weepy, minus the rash. If she’s allergic to the litter then that would explain a LOT. Since she’s had itchy skin all the time we’ve had her and is almost always better when she can get outside.
Tonight she vomited again and this time is was very brown. ER vet said to stop the methylpred and call the regular vet in the a.m. Now Jenna won’t eat her canned food (she probably thinks that’s what’s making her sick) and I don’t know how I’ll get her benadryl down her throat without it tonight. I can’t just leave her with no meds, she’ll be back to being up and down all the time and breaking out everywhere.
This is a nightmare.

Thanks MB…no we’re looking at moving clean out of state. Hubby has heart trouble and doesn’t want to live here anymore. The horror is, the landing site is California again and I have no idea how I will get all the animals down there safely and sanely. I can’t see flying the bunnies or the cats because they only allow one animal in cabin (that has to be Jenna) and they don’t want animals tranquilized anymore.

Like I said. Nightmare. For the last year of my life and it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon.

[Monkeybun]

Oh, that is a bit of a pain, isn’t it Wish I could help with the transport, but driving to Alaska is beyond me right now. Is it one animal in the cabin per ticket? That could get you a couple more, if the kids are moving with you.

[jerseygirl]

What type of litter is it? If she already has allergy like symptoms it certainly could only take one thing (like the fragrant litter) to set off a whole lot of things. Would you be able to take out the litter and use sand until you can get something else?

Not sure what you can do regarding the benadryl. It there anything she finds irresistable you can sneak it in with?

One of the things I was reading earlier was bathing with a water, peroxide and vinegar solution. This was more for yeast infection but I wonder if a bath without shampoo would help remove allergens? Even a rub down with some fresh dew or snow.

[MimzMum]

We had to take her back in today. She’d been puking all night and was in a lot of pain. She threw up something overnight that looked like blood. Turns out it was.
She had 300 mls sub q fluids (which appear to be all gone already) a shot of cerenia for nausea, and some sucralfate to be taken 3 times a day. She has blood in her stool as well as in her sputum. Her protein levels are low though so they want to see her again tomorrow.
She is back to being miserable and still not eating this evening. They’d wanted to keep her in overnight but the doctor who looked at her wasn’t going to be there so we just loaded her up and brought her home.
She’s at least managed to get some sleep. I got maybe an hour.
She needs to eat and she won’t eat the script food. I’m tempted to say the hell with it and give her some steamed rice I just made. God help me I hope she doesn’t rash again.
We really need more prayers and vibes. I am very scared that she is going to suddenly deteriorate and I’ll lose her.

[Monkeybun]

All my thoughts are with you and Jenna

[jerseygirl]

I was hoping for better news. Continued (({{{vibes}}})) !

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Omg please Jenna get better soon!

[MimzMum]

Took her in to the first vet who saw her this week for a recheck yesterday. Still no idea on the rash, we’re treating it as either food or environmental, she got another small dose of sub q’s and some probiotics in case I want to try that for her tummy. Has corn and soy in it though, so no real faith there.
She had some diarrhea, then a proper bowel movement last night, plus she weed a lot. The color is green. The kidneys showed no evidence of damage on the bloodwork though. Another loose BM today but not dark like when it was bloody so, whoo!
She’s only on the sucralfate, benadryl and ear ointment now. I finally got desperate and syringed some chicken broth in last night, diluted 50/50 with water but that just made the rash get worse. She gladly lapped it up though, which is epic because she hasn’t wanted any food for three days or more.
Up and down all night last night drinking water…went into the bathroom and weed on my mat. She NEVER does that.
I don’t know if it’s stress or all the medications but she’s having very jerky leg movements, not the twitchy ones like in sleep, trembles almost constantly, seems to have a very uncomfy tum that becomes turgid one hour and flaccid the next, very sensitive to touch, her rash areas are becoming raw and I fear they will infect. She stresses out whenever I have to medicate her and just becomes a ball of woe. In fact I dread our morning routine because at the moment she is almost her old self. I haven’t seen this dog in a week. She’s been curled up inside the miserable dog who’s body has turned against her for seven days.

Tried boiling fish for her yesterday…disaster! Smelled like ammonia. Gave her the chicken broth instead and although it flared the rash at least she seemed like she was getting some energy back…but now all this trembling and leg twitching/jerking she’s doing. Don’t know if it’s pain or nerves or trauma from all the vet visits.
I just want my old Jenna back. Today is the three year anniversary of the day Shadow was PTS. Sometimes I think he sent Jenna to me because he knew how depressed I was after his death. Silly, I know, but she has been my lifeline ever since. The thought of her not being here, and having to see her so ill, it’s tearing me up.
Guess I’d better get a move on, Mimz needs his meds too. It’s just been so tempting to curl back up with her and fall asleep. She’s had so few times where she’s not agitated and restless and miserable this week.
Many thanks for all vibes and advice. I’m not processing things too well lately so apologies if it seem like I’m not answering each post.

[RabbitPam]

MM, I am so sorry. I don’t know how I missed this, except to say that I have been checking the Lounge less frequently these past couple of months while on my BB duty.
Allergies tend to be active on a threshold type of way, so that a mild allergy to a food, added to a mild allergy like to stuffing or dust (or litter), when combined can become a big allergic reaction if the two are together. And winter puts it all in a very confined space.

My first thought, for what it’s worth, was her dishes. Any possibility that the dishes themselves may be having an interaction with her food? Like a metal or a ceramic or a worn off ceramic that’s exposing a base, something like that?
If it’s the base food, you could be right that she’s built up to a point of an allergic reaction. Whatever, I’m guessing it’s more than one cause combined.
Since I can’t help in any way, I am sending:
{{{{{{{{{{{Gigantic Healing Vibes to Our Sweet Jenna}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Hugs!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so sorry. I really wish there was something I could do. The poor little girl, dealing with so many problems. ***Hugs****

(((((Get Well Soon, Jenna))))))

[MimzMum]

Sorry I haven’t updated yet guys, it’s been a mad week.
Jenna finally ate some solid food yesterday. We started with fish broth on Saturday nite and she took some cod in little bits all day yesterday and today. Her rash is subsiding and except for a lingering cough (that could be damage to her throat from the vomiting or aspiration of medications) she is doing much better.

It’s been a long slog. She has become even more clingy than before, hard to believe-she gets upset if I even type on the laptop, and I’m doing all I can to keep as close to her as possible to comfort her and reduce her stress.
She may have GERD, or an ulcer of some sort, but most likely a year or more of nothing but home cooked beef dinners has just worn away her stomach and caused an allergy to that particular protein.
The vet wants to give her another 5-10 days to pronounce her ‘cured’ and for all antigens to be released from her system…ideally it takes 2-3 weeks. As long as she continues to eat and doesn’t go back downhill in the next 24 to 48 hours she should be doing better.
I really feel God granted us a miracle. It could not have happened without His Hand. And all your wonderful vibes and prayers.

LPT, I just got your card in the mail today too. Thank you it really brightened my day. Your penmanship is lovely, trust me, you haven’t seen how mine has deteriorated in just the last few months!

Pam, thank you for your suggestions, they are very helpful. I love your new siggy phrase too…lol.
I had thought it might be the bowls. I’m going to be getting new ones anyway, even though these don’t look damaged. We got rid of the possibly offensive cat litter and I have to try to get more of the bunnies’ hay out of here as well. When warmer weather hits I’ll have to get her outside as much as possible.
I really saw a difference once the fish got into her. It was like night and day. And let’s face it, this is a lower calorie diet and will be much better for her.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I`m so glad to hear that she is doing better. I`ve been thinking about her, the poor little girl. She is so lucky to have a Mom that loves her so much.

Glad you liked the card. It got there much quicker than I expected.

[jerseygirl]

Phew! Happy to read this update.

[jerseygirl]

Proud Pescetarian :p

[RabbitPam]

I’m so glad she’s doing better. It sounds like the fish helped her turn the corner. I love how good fish is for all of us.

(Thanks for noticing my siggy phrase, btw. My siggy got wonky yesterday, so I deleted the pix and wrote that. I need to get a good pix to go with it now.)
LPT – so nice of you to send a card, too. MM is a great one for writing, and I feel remiss.
MM, doesn’t it seem like things never quite get “back to normal”? As if it ever was…..
HUGS TO YOU AND JENNA.

[RabbitPam]

psssttt….don’t tell jerseygirl, but there’s a dog wearing a sweater sitting on your post……

[MimzMum]

Thanks guys. Cute shirt Jerz
Well we have more problems tonight, she seems to be trying to throw up again. I’ll be calling the vet first thing to see what we do now. Unless she gets worse later on.
*sigh* More vibes please?

[jerseygirl]

{{{((( Jenna ! )))}}}

[LittlePuffyTail]

((((((Jenna- Fell better for your Mom))))))

[MimzMum]

Took her in yesterday. Concern was aspiration pneumonia, but after an xray and having her temp taken there is no sign of this. Plus her bowels looked healthy and no lymph node involvement he could see.
However today we are not eating fish, or anything for that matter, and I’m having to syringe fluids again. Her rash is back all through her ears and upper trunk. She is shaking and shivering and has not pooed for three days (to be fair, she’s hardly eaten for two days either).

I’m afraid I will lose her. Please pray for my baby. And for me because I feel like I’m going over a cliff in slow motion.

[Monkeybun]

Poor Jenna I was hoping she would be feeling better now. More vibes headed to you and her, MM. Hope she feels better soon!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m sorry….I was so hopeful she had turned the corner. I know how terribly frustrating it is when they are sick and you don’t really know what’s wrong. I truly wish I could say something to make things better but I can’t so I will just continue to pray for her and know that I am always here for you. (((Hugs))))

[MimzMum]

Jenna has been admitted for a 24 hour stay at her vets while they re-irrigate her, push cerenia and benadryl IVs and try to get her to eat Royal Canin Hypoallergenic. (I don’t like that it has a soy base, but it’s the least likely to cause reactions according to the vet.)
If there are any further vibes and prayers going spare out there, we could still use them. Thank you.

[jerseygirl]

Goodness! Poor baby. Just wishing they can figure out what’s going in with her.
I know you’d be feeling horrible without her there with you but please please try get some rest while others are caring for her.
{{{Vibes}}} for you and Jenna.

[RabbitPam]

I’m actually glad to hear she’s staying with them under 24 hr. care. At a minimum, it may help them determine whether, if allergy, it is food based or environmental (ie. cat litter or something). Either way, if she can get it under control and cleared up a bit, you will know immediately when you take her home if it gets worse again. Meanwhile, I’m betting that it’s not environmental, they have some time to really figure out what’s going on and rule out some things while getting a correct diagnosis, and get her out of the woods.

{{{{{{{{{{{{Healing vibes for Jenna and you}}}}}}}}}}}
{{{{{{{flashes of insight and proper treatment for the vets involved}}}}}}}}}}}

[MimzMum]

Thank you everyone for all your vibes, prayers and advice.
Jenna is in for another night at the vets, but he thinks she is definitely having food allergies, and so has her staying to see if they can get her to eat the RX food and continue fluids and meds.
This vet has a son who has environmental allergies that they’ve been helping him battle all his life. (Matter of fact he went to the ER yesterday afternoon in crisis.) If anyone would know if there’s something in the house that’s bugging her it would be this vet, and he seems sure it is the food.
If it were environmental the IV benadryl would’ve cleared her rash up entirely and it’s still there, but a bit better now. She’s peed but not pooped yet, understandable. She’s only eaten about a teaspoon of the canned food so far. He says she will not have glucose crashes at her age, but can go three days without eating as long as she drinks water…sadly she’s not a big drinker.
Seeing her so ill the other night…heaving breathing and pounding heart, plus I’m sure she was feverish and my Yorkie site was telling me she must have congestive heart failure…I feared the worst when it took so long for them to call today. I was over the moon to hear she was doing well.
She was up and wagging her tail at anyone who comes to the pen she’s in and asking to be picked up and sat in a lap. This is obviously good news.
He thinks she’s a sweet little lap dog and there’s something comforting about a vet who feels your pet is as adorable as you think she is.
Tomorrow we can hopefully pick her up. I am at once thrilled and terrified. I want her home, but I would die if she relapsed again.
I’ve tried to rest, and the whole time my head is jabbering away at me, so I’ve spent some time cleaning and going through more things that need to be tossed before our move.
Oh…and don’t recall if I mentioned this…after Jenna’s xrays the other day, we discovered she has a microchip. 0_0
For personal reasons, that did not make me happy. I really don’t trust those things. I know we didn’t have it done, so it must’ve been the rescue.
At any rate, off to clean bunnies and get some sleep…going to have my daughter hit me over the head with a mallet…lol.
Thanks again everyone. Binky Bunny vibes are the best! xxxx

[jerseygirl]

She was up and wagging her tail at anyone who comes to the pen she’s in and asking to be picked up and sat in a lap. This is obviously good news

Ha! Here’s you worrying over her and she’s there, lapping up all the attention.

I still think candida is worth investigating. Possible she has a couple things going on. They can test her skin for yeast. Ears too.

Did they get details if the microchip then? Worth having them changed to yours since she’s got the thing anyway. If the chip were registered to a previous owner, do you think it would be worth making contact? In the chance they know some of her health history?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so glad to hear she has improved some. It certainly sounds like you have the right vet on the case.

((((Continued vibes that she’s back to normal very soon))))

[MimzMum]

And I got another blow today.
Vet called this morning and says Jenna has systemic vasculitis.
They need to have a special syrup of pentoxifylline (a relative of theobromine, frighteningly enough) made for her by our local pharmacy. I am very scared for her because this a drug that could start her vomiting and not eating again at the very least, or give her another horrifying reaction or kill her at the worst.
She ate yesterday and pooed overnight in her cage, but wouldn’t eat today.
We have at least 2 inches of snow falling right now. The road will be pure hell tomorrow, and God only knows if Jenna will react to this medication also and I can’t have her out here if she does. But if there’s no night nurse at the vets it’s dangerous for her to be there too.
I just don’t know what to do anymore. I am past any point of being hopeful. It just seems like it’s all winding down to a bad conclusion.
Jerz, she’s been tested for yeast before and they never found anything significant. Either way she’d have to be put on an anti-fungal, which she doesn’t process any better than any other medication she’s been given. But I’ll ask them about it anyway. They seem pretty convinced she has this vasculitis and I doubt they’ll listen to anything I have to say.
Supposedly the former ‘owner’ was the lady who ran the rescue. I could see her putting in the chip except she said Jenna didn’t have one…so I have no idea what was going on with that. If there was other info registered to the chip, wouldn’t it have shown up when the vet scanned it?
I’m just beyond depressed. All this on top of last year’s misery…I can’t take anymore.

[MimzMum]

I’ve added a candle group for her. Selfish of me I guess. I just can’t imagine life without her and the more I read about what the vet wants to use to treat her, the more frightened I am.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=Jenna
Please feel free to light one for her if you wish. You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to, just knowing there are folks thinking of her is enough.
Thank you.

[Monkeybun]

I lit a candle for you and Jenna, MM. She will get better, just keep your faith! *hugs*

[MimzMum]

Thank you MB. (((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))
I am so scared…faith or not. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is.

[Monkeybun]

We all get scared when our love ones are sick or in pain, especially when they can’t tell us why or what hurts. Hopefully this stuff works for her, and she can get back to her normal self soon! *more hugs*

[jerseygirl]

I’m so glad you did start a candle group! I thought about doing so but wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it.

Does the vet think the vasculitis related to food allergy at all?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so sorry to read this. What an awful roller coaster.

I wish I could offer some advice but I’ve actually never heard of vasculitis. Can someone give me a quick explanation?

No matter what, Mary, you can’t give up hope. And I know that you are stronger than you think you are.

I lit a candle for Jenna and will continue to pray for her. ((((Biggest Bunny Hugs)))))

[Hazel]

I’m so sorry MimzMum. Don’t give up hope. The vet finally knows what’s wrong, and that’s a huge step in the right direction. I hope things will get better now.

[LBJ10]

LPT – Vasculitis is basically inflammation of the blood vessels because the body’s immune system is attacking them. It can be caused by several things in humans. I don’t know much about it in dogs.

 

EDIT: Found this page after a quick Google search. http://www.dermatologyforanimals.com/vasculitis.html

Interesting, it says it occurs more in Jack Russel terriers, Yorkies, and Poodles.

[MimzMum]

Thanks again everyone.
Yes LBJ10, I did see that page, but oddly enough she does not have all that blistering and natty skin. At any rate they are keeping her again today and will begin the treatment sometime this afternoon.
I guess what worries me is if for any reason they are wrong. I just don’t think Jenna should have to take any more medicines until her system recovers. It basically sounds to me like she is just bruised inside, and bruises heal, right?
She has had no vaccinations so I can’t imagine how this started, but the doctor did say it might be the food, or some of the oral medication she’s had lately.

I did ask about both the yeast infection and the microchip, JG. They aren’t finding any infection because her white cells are good. They also can’t call up any records off her microchip because it’s considered confidential information. They will look into making sure it is changed so that she is registered to me however.

It’s 3 o’clock here and they should be picking up the medicine by now. Thank you for all your prayers and for lighting candles for her.
Please keep good thoughts for her this evening and that tomorrow the weather has cleared enough and the roads are safe that we can go in and possibly bring her home if she is doing well.
Bless you all xxxx

[LittlePuffyTail]

(((((Continued Vibes and Well Wishes for you and Jenna))))))

[MimzMum]

Thanks LPT (((hugs)))
Well they didn’t get the meds in in time yesterday, too close to closing and they didn’t want to move hre to the ER vet, so they administered sometime around 10 this morning. I’m going to give them a few hours and then call to see how she’s handling it.
If she’s good we can pick her up no later than 5 PM tonight, but I know OH will want to go sooner as the roads get slick at rush hour and he is a grizzly bear in traffic.
I’m so nervous I can hardly type. I’m praying there is no further complications because I would hate to have to rush her back in on an ER basis again. I’ve had quite enough of this nightmare and I can only imagine how tired Jenna is of the whole thing.
I wonder if I can get the hubby to come in the office with me and video the happy reunion? lolz… You guys would get a huge kick out of how spazzy she can be. (and that’s Jenna I’m talking about…not me!)
Wish us luck!

[MimzMum]

Hello everyone.

Jenna is home, but if anything seems worse, not better.

Please allow me to cross post from my Yorkie forum instead of retyping all. I am simply too exhausted, forgive me.

Well Jenna is home. But I am not happy about her current condition.
When I took her in Friday, she had some reddened ears and trunk. Today she is red from head to foot and looks like she’s received a bad sunburn. Her fur is falling out everywhere and she is not a big shedder!
They gave her one dose of the pentoxifylline this morning. Attending vet told me not to give tonight’s dose, but to begin again tomorrow and then carry a twelve hour dosing schedule for the next four days, we’ll see how she tolerates it. So far no vomiting or (apparent) stomach upset, but in my opinion I have a very uncomfortable little dog here.
She is still having the heavier breathing. It’s not what I’d call labored, it is just the kind of breathing I see in her when she is distressed. You know how a dog makes that kind of nose whistle while exhaling? Well she’s doing that almost constantly, which was about where she was the night before I hospitalized her, but then she was dehydrated. She’s been on IV fluids for four days.
Speaking of that, she apparently has some edema in her abdomen. This is worrisome. Is this indicative of the vasculitis or are we possibly looking at lymphangiectasia? (They claim to have drawn her bloods and found nothing there to worry about, but in researching it, it looks to me like they have to take a sample of her bowel to be sure?)
Plus she has had a constant high temp of 102.5. Now while I know that’s high end normal, she feels hot to the touch, which she normally does not…she usually runs cool. And her skin…it seems to cause her pain to touch her, but she doesn’t want to be left alone either. She is just not herself. When I picked her up I hoped to see a little dog frantic to see her mum and all over the tech or doc who brought her out. What met me was a depressed looking dog who almost didn’t seem to recognize me! Talk about a knife through the heart!
She has little to no energy, was very wobbly walking at first, and is rubbing her head and ears on anything she comes in contact with. Obviously itchy as heck but she’s been given benadryl today so I can’t give her anymore.
I basically got a ‘polite’ push off not just when collecting her, but now when I call to ask further questions. I am NOT a happy Yorkie mom at present.

We’ve been napping, both of us, this evening…I am exhausted and the stress is only making it worse. She has been a bit restless and has to go back to her bowl to drink and drink and drink. Not sure if she’s hungry, will offer some of the hypoallergenic food in about an hour or so. But right now she’s trying to sleep again.
Is any of this typical when it comes to treatment with pentoxifylline? She was definitely dizzy when we came home, she almost fell off the bed and staggered while walking. I’d hate to think she’s in pain and they didn’t give me anything to relieve that.
I don’t feel we’ve successfully reached the cause of her illness and may only be treating symptomatically and not correctly either. Can anyone help me to determine if there may be somewhere else we need to look as far as what it is she really has? I realize that one dose of medicine is not a cure in most cases…but really, she WAS NOT THIS BAD when I left her! What would you think if she were your dog?

The big test will be when we have to get her to potty, or to eat. Right now I just know she is feeling pretty bad and that just hacks me off. Almost $1000 worth of treatment and separation for four days…this is not a preferred result!
I simply cannot afford to keep hauling her back and forth between vets if we are just throwing darts at a board. There are no specialists that I know of here (perhaps if -username deleted- reads this he may have a suggestion?) and I feel like we are running out of time. She’s been sick since the 11th. I don’t know how much more either of us can take of this.
I will continue the medication for the trial period. She is supposed to be on this for a month. But do we have a month to wait?
Thanking everyone for reading and any and all replies.

 Could I please beg more prayers and vibes for my poor wee dog? She needs help and other than the Great Physician I have nowhere to go to find it.

Thanking you. xxxx

[Hazel]

I’m sorry to hear that, MimzMum. Just give the new meds some time, maybe they’ll help. You could offer her an ice pack for her itchy spots or run cold water over it, I know it’s the one thing that helps me the most if I get hives due to allergies.

[Monkeybun]

I was just thinking of the water too. I know a cool shower helps when when i get sunburns, maybe it could help poor jenna’s skin?

[MimzMum]

Well we still have snow up here, and the temps are still going subzero, so having her wet or chilled in anyway is a bit of a risk in case she should suddenly need to go potty. (wouldn’t you know, she is not a dog to use a puppy pad) But we’ll see if maybe some extra irrigation helps. I wish I could even think of doing sub q’s on her, but it was difficult enough with Mimzy. I couldn’t imagine putting her through any further stress. Besides, the bag I had here went bad recently and I forgot to ask if I should have another to take home.
I’ll have to give her a second dose tonight. Last night at least she had some respite from the new drug. But if she doesn’t settle in four days we’re going to have to look at other options. If there are any left.
I hate watching her hyperventilate like this. It’s very distressing, which in turn she picks up on….then she gets more stressed….aaagghhhh!
Stuck on a carousel with no off switch….MAKE IT STOP! 0_0

[Monkeybun]

That’s true, it is still all wintery up there. Dang alaska weather Jenna just isn’t catching any breaks, is she? Hopefully the medicine starts working soon.

[MimzMum]

Well she refused food this afternoon and won’t drink any water. With all the overbreathing she’s doing she will dehydrate again quickly. Got some pedialyte into her a few hours ago, but it’s not going to do much if we can’t get this illness under control.
I can’t give the meds without food on her stomach, it causes nausea and vomiting otherwise. Not sure if the meds or the food is the culprit now and without being able to take one or the other it’s going to remain a mystery.
The vet told me I could skip it tonight but if she’s no better in the a.m. she has to go back in.

No more pets, I swear…I can’t do this anymore. If I even had a working knowledge of veterinary stuff I’d be more at ease, but even with all the bunnies have put me through I can’t fathom this one. It’s got to be allergies but if she’s allergic to everything there’s only one conclusion isn’t there?
I’m being punished, I swear. >_<
Please more vibes and prayers…I am drowning here. :'(

[jerseygirl]

Could she be feeling full because she had subQ’s and has drunk from the bowl also?

Would boiled rice be worth a try? No additives or nasties and will provide water.

I tried PM you (with random thoughts) just before but site ate my msg twice. Emailed instead.
Will light another candle. Hang in there MM. xxx

[Monkeybun]

Well… is it possible she is actually allergic to the meds themselves? Medication allergies do happen….

[MimzMum]

She’s allergic to most of the stuff they’ve already tried on her. We are not certain that the Medrol they gave her didn’t cause some of the bleeding in the first place.

She did drink from the bowl about 10 PM. But she’s been shaky and agitated most of the night and is sleeping now but still breathing pretty heavily.

Either the meds or the food has upset her stomach most likely. I have to wonder if this is pancreatitis. She may not be able to take anything by mouth for several days, not even water, and would have to be hospitalized again and put on a drip.

Thank you for all the prayers. Just going to try to get some rest now. It’s past 2 AM now and I’m beat. I’ve been researching all day when I’m not trying to get Jenna to settle and relax.

[MimzMum]

Well she was looking bad enough this morning we took her back in and finally got to see the vet who had originally admitted her. He squeezed us in between surgeries. 0_0

He took a look at her and took her temp/heartbeat/breathing rate, etc. She is not dehydrated and he thinks she should stay on the pentoxifylline. It really is the only way to help her now since she can’t take steroids at all.
The weird breathing pattern is apparently typical for dogs taking this drug.
He was surprised that she was so much more reddened than she was when he last saw her. I told him she’d been released that way the other day. He didn’t seem happy about that. (Good, neither was I.) It was hopefully just the food they had been giving her, since it had chicken in it, not the medicine.
We now have her on Natural Balance Vegetarian kibble. She ate a few before having her meds. She doesn’t seem to be having any difficulty with it so far. Please pray that she doesn’t develop a sensitivity.
He will be consulting a nutritionist about putting together a ‘bean diet’ (how funny…her nickname is ‘Bean’) to keep her on long term. That way she gets a protein that hopefully she can tolerate better than meat proteins.

I’m trying to feel better about all this now. He really cares about her and didn’t (I think) charge me for today’s visit. (If he does it’ll go on my Care Credit though, so no big deal.)
She’s asleep on my lap right now. She seems to be comfortable. She sure was worried that I might leave her there again. Every time someone came in the room she’d run behind me and hide.

She has some crusting/scabbing in her ears now. This is beginning to look more like what I’ve seen online in vasculitis cases. So this vet must know his stuff because there was no sign of this last weekend.

Please let this be it. Please let her get well. Please let her thrive again.

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts for my wee Jenna. xxxx

[jerseygirl]

Please let this be it. Please let her get well. Please let her thrive again.

Ditto ditto ditto.

Very glad to hear she’s coping ok with the veggie kibble. That one’s more affordable then Hills too.

[MimzMum]

Luckily they’ll let me return the unused Hills for a refund.
She’s a bit uncomfy due to what the meds do to her tummy, but I’m hoping that she will acclimate to it and will feel better as we go on.
She may be looking a bit lighter red in the ears. I’m trying not to get my hopes up. Every time she’s seemed better I get a setback.

It will likely be quite a while before she is well again, I just hope she can hold out and not be hurting the whole time.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m glad you were able to get in to see the better vet.

Many prayers and ((((Vibes)))) coming your way. Hoping for an Easter Miracle and that she will be well again very soon.

Hang in there, Mimz… You’re the best fur Mom ever.

[MimzMum]

Thanks LPT. Although I feel a pretty rubbish one to be honest.

Had I been more careful of her diet and stuck to my guns regarding the treats she got when she got them, or meds that we used to treat her were more thoroughly screened, perhaps she wouldn’t be ill now. There is no cure for hindsight, but I tend to get very angry with myself for making stupid mistakes.

She’s a bit pukey this morning. Occasionally yesterday she would cough or gag, today she is full on almost bringing something up but swallows it back down. I have to wonder if it’s the pentoxifylline, or if it’s the benadryl tablets that I have to crush up and syringe in. They are terribly bitter and I think they might be causing stomach acid. Either that or she’s still just not eating enough to keep her tummy from feeling nauseated.

Took her out for a wee and now she’s snoozing. I have a call in to the vet as to how to proceed. Hopefully we can contain it with a dose of her sucralfate, although I know that doesn’t always work either.

She should’ve had another shot of cerenia, or been given tablets to take home. If there was even a chance she might begin vomiting again it is too great a risk and too far for us to have to keep driving in if she needs something for this.

She is still such a stressball. I do my best to remain calm but I have to say the last three weeks have taken their toll and my fuse is short.

I don’t mean I get angry at her, God Forbid! I just can’t hold it together and if things start going wrong with her again I’m not certain we could pull her out of it.

Yes…bring on that Easter Miracle! One, please! (holds up hand) A cure for my baby! Thank You in advance, Lord!

[Monkeybun]

Is Jenna doing any better today? I keep thinking of her, and you, and how you guys are doing. Hope she is doing better!

[MimzMum]

Sorry guys, I can’t believe I’ve forgotten to update this.
She is doing so much better. She went up to the maximum dose of medication last week and today she has totally clear skin except for some residual redness and scabbing in her ears. The doctor called today and is pleased enough with her progress that he will wait to see her until after the 20th of the month barring complications.
Her appetite has returned with a vengeance, although she is more of a mooch now than she ever has been. She can’t have anything but her special kibble so it’s very hard to find time to eat anything myself that she won’t expect a bite of.
She eliminates much better now also. And more often. 0_0
She’s even had episodes of spontaneous playing.
Sometimes she still gets pukey but the moments that she seems nauseated are few for now, she can be a bit shaky too and she’s definitely clingy. I am not even allowed to pee without supervision…lol
Got that miracle. Now if we can just keep her well with minimal side effects.
Thanks everyone for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.

[jerseygirl]

Very happy to read she’s feeling more comfortable again.

[Monkeybun]

I’m so glad she is more comfortable now, even if she’s more anxious… I would be too, if I had her health issues! *hugs*

[LittlePuffyTail]

Yay! Our miracle! I’m so glad to hear this!

[Author]

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