Roxie, the beagle

[Vally]

Hi Irma, and welcome to you and Roxie to the site.

 

 

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[Sheena]

Hello Irma & Roxy

So glad yu’ve found us. I know you’ve been trying to contact Dr Dodds – I’m sure you’ll be able to discuss things with her very soon.

Roxy is a beautiful girl – how is she doing?

Love Sheena xxxx

[irma]

Update on Roxie, she is very ill and her regular vet says it is time to say good-bye. I have been blindsided with how quickly this whole thing happened and now looking back the last 2 weeks how much time and money we wasted treating the wrong thing.

I have completed an online consult with Dr. Dodds which was at first cautiously optimistic but today responded only that she sent prayers for Roxie. Her blood work today:

WBC 10.6
Corrected for nRBCs
RBC 1.9
Hemoglobin 4.7
Hematocrit 15%
NRBC 9/10 WBC
Platelet Count 27
Reticullocytes 2.5%
Absolute Reticulocytes 47,500
Corrected Reticulocytes .08
Vet said it was nonregenerative anemia. She had been improved just 3 days ago.

She has lost 5 pounds and is very weak and lethargic. She was shaking and panting today. She already had a blood transfusion when we were being told it was a “bleed”. Don’t want her to spend last days in hospital.

If anyone can offer counsel or advice I would be very grateful. She is eating and drinking and still wags or tries to wag her tail when she sees us. Her medications are prednisone, cyclosporine and today we added mycophenolate.

Contacted a vet regarding at home euthanasia. In shock and so saddened by this all.

[Patrice]

Irma,
I am sorry to hear about Roxie. You must be so worried and unsure what to do.

I wish I could help you but these test results are somewhat limited and I would need to see more test results. Have they done any x-rays or MRI or ultrasound?

Can you tell me anything about what they think is bleeding? Do they think there is an organ like the spleen that is enlarged and possibly bleeding? Perhaps they think it’s a tumor of some kind, did they say anything like that to you?

I’ve seen plenty of dogs recover with blood work like this. But we must consider Roxie’s age. There are some conditions common to many dogs as they age. They can contribute to this illness but may not be something that can be addressed.

If you can remember any of the things the vet talked about that would be helpful.

Anemia is a symptom, not a disease and is not necessarily painful. It can make a dog feel very tired. It is the condition that causes the anemia that we need to know. And more specifically is this condition treatable?

Is there any past history of illness that was diagnosed that might have led to this condition? Are you seeing your regular vet for this right now? Can you think of anything like tick disease liver problems kidney disease, infections? Was there ever a time where Roxie was really sick in past and seemed different after that?

While you are extremely upset now try to set that aside right now so you can think clearly. She still is happy to be with you and that tells me she is not in much pain, more uncomfortable and stressed by the clinic.

If this were me and I felt that I was sure nothing more could be done I would bring my dog home and spend as much happy time together as possible.

Roxie is not afraid of death, she has no way to imagine the future but lives for each moment. She is with you and that is all she ever wanted. Be with her happy and loving, show her how excited you are when she is with you. Sadness is something you must tuck away for awile. You can come here to share with us how you feel.

I will be thinking of Roxie tonight.
My best Patrice

[Vally]

Irma, Patrice has asked a lot of questions, which I think are very important as they can fill in some blanks.

I know right now you’re devastated and scared, but maybe if you can sit down and answer them, they’ll help us all to see what is happening.

Big big hugs Irma and some more prayers.
Vally
xxx

[Sheena]

Hi Irma

I know you are worried sick – as Patrice & Vally said, if you can possible give us some further information, it would help us to help you & Roxie through this. You also need to know exactly what is wrong so you can decide what should be done for your girl. I would want my dog beside me at home too – Roxie will be much happier getting cuddles & love from you.

Please know we will always be here to support you. I too will be thinking about you all the time.

Much love & big gentle hugs to you both
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[Irma]

This all began with a limp on 04/20/16. At first we were told it was a ligament. She took rimadyl and tramadol. It continued went on prednisone. Got much better. Took her to neuro which diagnosed cervical disc.

Then she crashed. Diarreha, shaking, severe lethargy. Had blood test and off to emergency room. 16% PCV, had blood transfusion. Told “probable” bleed. Where? X-rays, ultrasound- nothing. She had history of malignant tumor removed from liver. No evidence of reoccurance on imaging.

Did not want to do prednisone again because of suspected bleed. Symptoms returned, weakness, lethargy, more blood work. PCV 20 %. turned down another blood transfusion and went on prednisone and cyclosporine and other med can’t remember now. Better for a few days. Now relapse again and regular vet says nothing else to be done.

She is 13 1/2 years old but was always such an active and playful dog. Now she can barely stand and just lays on her mat. Her breathing is labored and is refusing her food. Got a bit of ham into her today.

She has gone from 26/27 pounds to 21 pounds in 3 weeks. She is so thin and so weak. She still has the cervical injury or whatever it is. Don’t want her to suffer anymore.

[Patrice]

Irma,
Can you please tell me if they performed any kind of tick test? The most prominent sign of Lyme disease in dogs is a limp or shifting limping. Ticks usually never pass on one disease, but rather there are multiple co-infections depending on the area you live in. Some ticks diseases can lead to the symptoms you describe as they proliferate into the body.

In some areas of the country there are also outbreaks of a virulent form of canine influenza, leading to severe illness. Leptospirosis can also cause serious illness and is in many places around the US.

I would want to believe that vets automatically test for these things, but I have found that in some cases they do not. It would be important for you to ask if these tests were done and what the results were.

It’s been less than a month since this happened. Do you know if they have used doxycycline for any length of time? This is an antibiotic that is used to treat tick diseases. Please find out for me.
my best
patrice