sassy is relapsing.

[Brigitte]

Alyssa,
I was so happy to read your last two posts! I think you have more than one reason to be happy and positive too. I love your vets attitude! They are open to suggestions and not at all on a high horse. Sharing information is so important with this disease. Sassy is clearly starting to feel better and she will feel better every day. Just be patient, it will happen that she is back to her old self!
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Alyssa]

Okay, got the results. I do not have them infront of me to scan but I will later tonight but here is what I Was told over the phone:

Lipase was only 72, with normal being up to 200. He saw no indication of pancreatitis. This was after a 12 hour fast.

In addition – the lab test actually showed normal whites! We tested her Wednesday and they were 22. This blood was drawn on Friday and it came back at 16, from the lab (idex?). Now her normal is 9-10 so that is still high for her, but they’re in normal range – so either they came down or the test was off? He did say it is mostly neutraphils (spelling??) which indicate infection somewhere. Again I’ll have the results to post later when I go pick them up.

Her PCV was 44 Wednesday and was 47 with the lab test.

So… I don’t know? What it EVER pancreatits? I honestly can’t say it was nothing. With pain so bad the vet wanted x-rays when she saw her, and it happened everytime she ate.

She has not had a single problem since Wednesday morning,when the x-rays were done and it was at that time that we switched to the easy digest/low fat RX food. That is all I’ve been feeding her. Shes very hungry because I’ve been pretty limiting and am only just now increasing the food, but *something* happened as over the weekend she is a totally different dog again. She sought out her toy today and squeaked it for a minute, pounced on it. She is jumping in the couch again just fine after 3 weeks of not doing it at all or without a lot of help. She is awake and alert instead of sleeping all the time. She wants to go outside to lay in the sun, and she just drops and rolls/kicks in the grass. All of this has been absent along with the “episodes” she had. Also now laying in a ball and such…something was definitely wrong with her tummy area.

[Alyssa]

It’s hard to believe the white count was 6 points off, and showing lower, but the pcv is 3 points higher. I’m going to guess the blood draws were around 38 hours apart. Could the whites have dropped that much in that time? She was given amoxicillian for 1 day before I switched it to Doxy. If she was having an active pancreatits attack when we drew the blood Wednesday (she was having an attack of SOMETHING), could the whites of been elevated from that alone & came down after 36 hours of not having an attack? I’m just trying to make sense of this. I was told pancreatits would cause elevated whites.

I just really want to know what this was so I can avoid it!!

[Alyssa]

Oh Sheena – you did tell me I think before stress could send out white counts?? Maybe she was in so much pain Wed. Morning the whites were up? By Friday she hadn’t had an attack for 36 hours and was MUCH happier at the vets.

[Sheena]

Hi Alyssa

This is guess work without seeing the results from earlier & that is not possible – we don’t know which of the white cells were high. As long as she’s fine now, stop worrying, please, it won’t do any good worrying! As long as the values are normal now, Sassy is getting better. Just be careful with her diet – nothing fatty, no non-doggy food, nothing that will upset her tummy, and see how she goes.

Love Sheena x

[Vally]

Wonderful news Alyssa. Such a relief. Enjoy your day/night – think this calls for a glass of wine. None for Sassy.

Love Vally & Bingo

[Brigitte]

Alyssa,
I just had a thought. I don’t remember what kind of supplements Sassy is on. My GI sensitive Enzo is getting digestive enzymes and probiotics (Fortiflora) daily and it seems to help. I also remember giving it to my AIHA dog Kahlu. These are things that are not crazy expensive and if it does not help it won’t hurt either. Could be worth a try. These dogs digestion is so messed up and it is no surprise they get sore, bloated and upset tummies.
I totally agree with Sheena, stop worrying. I know this is so easy to say for me, but I have been where you are and know worrying will not help you or Sassy. Of course you always need to be on the look out, watch for signs of discomfort, but don’t obsess. You are doing a great job!
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Alyssa]

Here are the test results:

http://i.imgur.com/64pv9u8.jpg

The cPL test is on the very bottom

The remarks from the lab are also there, stating no parasites seen/large platelets & clumping? is this a concern/should she be on more aspirin?

Brigitte – I did forget that, I am giving a digestive enzyme but no probiotic (were concerned that it could trigger immune response at this time) – shes taking Prozyme original formula. This is something I started about the time she started to get better.
Other supplements include milk thistle powder & liquid sam-e.