Doberman with AIHA

[Karxlee]

Hi Everyone

We’ve had an update from Rutland – Louis’s condition hasn’t changed overnight, he is still quite unresponsive and is sleeping all the time. They did manage to get him up and out for a wee and a poop, but he was exhausted afterwards.
Stefano has said if the drugs don’t arrive today then we need to consider putting Louis to sleep because he feels Louis has had enough now.

We have almost run out of time, and it’s heart breaking, even if the drug does arrive, he’s really not in any fit state to have it, but if he doesn’t then he will die. I never thought we’d be at this point, call me naive, but I always thought he would pull through this, considering the horrendous time he’s been through over the past 8 months.

I want to thank everyone for your support, you have all been amazing, I glad I’ve had this week off work to spend with Louis. It just seems time is now against us, I have contacted Dr Dodds but she is away in Vegas so her reply will probably come too late.

I need to try and make sense of what’s happened – but I feel I never will be able to.

We need that drug to arrive today and we need Louis it stay with us until it does, both of which I don’t think will happen.

xxxx

[Vally]

Karyn I’m so very sorry he’s doing so poorly right now.

Dr Dodds always answers quickly. Even with all her work and travels.

Big hugs
xxx

[admin]

Hi again Karyn

Yes – Dr Dodds usually is usually pretty quick, even if she’s up to her neck in lecturing etc. We are all thinking about you, all hoping he’ll be OK, all sending love & positive vibes.

Love & massive hugs
Sheena xxxxx

[Karxlee]

Hi Everyone,

We’ve just got back from seeing Louis, he is in a real bad way, the drug didn’t arrive today. His PCV is 16% which isn’t the lowest its been but there’s something else going on that’s even worse and we cannot find out what it is.

When we got there we were taken to his room and he was led on the mattress with a pillow under his head, he didn’t get up when he saw us or even wagg his tail. His eyes were following us, but he just didn’t move.

We tried to get him up on his feet to go outside for a wee, but he couldn’t hold himself up, it was like his legs weren’t being recognised by his body. It was pitiful to see, when John tickled his front paws he moved them, but nothing happened when he ticked his back legs.

We are at a total loss as to whats going on, it now feels like he has a neurological issue.
He’s not in any pain or distress, so we are waiting for the other drug to arrive tomorrow to see what that does.
But if we are being totally honest with ourselves we will be going back to Rutland tomorrow to hold him whilst he’s put to sleep.

We are heartbroken.

[Sheena]

Karyn this is so sad to hear – you must be at your wit’s end. And frustrating waiting for the damn drug. Come on Louis -we all love you.

[admin]

Hi everyone

I am posting on behalf of Karyn who has just phoned me.

I am so very sorry to have to tell you that Louis didn’t make it. He has passed away. Karyn will post when she feels she is able to.

My lovely Karyn & John, I am devastated & sad Louis could not fight any more. No one could have done more than you two have & you gave him a wonderful life where he was loved beyond expectations. Rescuing him & Olga from bad situations tells me you both have big hearts. I know they are broken hearts today. My tears are falling as I write. I can only send you my deep & heartfelt sympathy, dear friends.

Much love & I wish I could reach out & hug you

Sheena

[Vally]

Oh Karyn, I’m so very very sorry. I loved his blog and felt as if I knew him. He was such a beautiful character. I know you’re heartbroken.

He knew he was well loved. Keep that in your hearts.

My sincere condolences,
Vally

[Karxlee]

Thank you Sheena for posting, and thank you to everyone who give me advise and encouragement.

We are heartbroken as you can all imagine.
Louis passed away in his sleep, so sparred us the terrible decision of putting him to sleep. They believe it was most likely a blood clot that had broken off and travelled to his brain, which makes some sense of his symptoms we saw yesterday. He wasn’t able to stand up or bare any weight on his back legs. We on the other hand are totally blaming Leflunomide, the more we look at the side effects the more we believe we should have stuck to our gut feeling and not given it him. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and if we don’t try to let go of the ‘blame’ feeling we have – it will destroy us.
Louis was loved so much, and we feel we did everything within our power to save him, but we just couldn’t. Like many other families that have gone through this same journey, we were beaten, and as difficult as that is to take, we need to find some comfort in the families that have beaten this killer.
Louis was too young to die, he was only 6 years old and just over 8 months ago he was fit and healthy and as we called him -bullet proof, little did we know this killer was in his system just waiting to spring into life. I’m very bitter at the moment and that will pass, as I travel the grieving road.
Rutland have offered to do a post-mortem for free, however they would not be able to do an in-depth one the same why Liverpool Uni would. We have declined this because it would kill me if we found out we could have treated this.
The new drug arrived at Rutland today – just too late to help.
We are beyond heart broken, I’ve just cleared all the drugs he was on away, and bagged them up. I’ve pottering round the house not really knowing what to do with myself, and I have yet to face closing his blog down, from something that was just for fun is now only a memory of what we had.
Rest in peace our big brave boy,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx