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To Vally, Sheena, Brigitte, Mary , ann Patrice and anyone I may have forgotten,
Sunny made it through yesterday with at times labored breathing. The atopica was added as well as low doses aspirin. This morning she has diarrhea and her stomach is gurgling. I know she does not feel well. But the little sweet thiing tried to get up and go to the door each time. She is a shih tzu and her hair has gotten rather long this summer and I will need to do a home clip. It is tough to see her go this. After she was potty trained as a pup I could tell anytime she did have an accident , it was her who felt worse. Oh this awful disease. How unfair to these beautiful pups.
I will keep you posted. So the atopica, is it known to do this to their stomachs? I wonder why it says to give on an empty stomach. I have the anti ulcer med picked up today for her (rite aide was out of it yesterday of all things)
Maura
Hi Everyone,
I have noted today Sunny’s tummy looks yellow-ish. I thought she may have pee’d on herself but (remembering my dad who died from pancreatic cancer) it seems more jaundice. Seems like Sunny is not winning this battle or catching any breaks. My heart is breaking for her and all the things I know she would love to be doing right now.
I have not read “The Bridge”posts yet for fear of feeling like i have lost hope. But the way things are progressing I thought I would read it a bit. It is true , given the fact that recovery is possible, I have a moral dilemma. Sunny is still fighting , I can tell. But reality seems very difficult that she may not recover. Keep praying for me and my Sunny. She has never left my side in 6 years 2 months. I had some crummy stuff happen in my life and I sort of just clung to her, identified myself as her momma and felt a big connection to others because of HER. She is a little angel.
Today I am having to take a shower though and begin to engage in a bit of life. My husband said he would stay with Sunny while I take our daughter to get new school supplies. Why does it sometimes feel worse to even begin to live knowing she is so ill.
Thank you for supporting me during this time.
–Maura
Dear Maura,
Yes it is such a dilemma. I am glad you get a couple hours out of the house and how great that your husband is supporting you. I know this disease is all consuming and it is hard to think of anything else but Sunny right now. Try and relax a bit and focus on your daughter, it will be good for both of you. You will come back home a bit refreshed and able to face the fight for Sunny again.
Sunny’s accidents are for sure a side effect of the drugs. I know that she would never do her business inside if she could help it. Right now she is just too weak to make it out there. With peeing, it can even be that she already lost a lot of her muscle function and she does not even feel when she has to go. But be assured this will not take very long and will get better. I am sorry,but I can not remember if Atopica is given with or without food. Maybe someone else knows, if in doubt check with the vet again. What is VERY important at this point is a strong stomach protectant! Sunny should be on Sucralfate or Carafate 2 if not 3 times per day. This medication coats the GI tract and also helps to prevent ulcers. The only thing is that it does such a good job that it has to be given away from all other medications and food. This could make a big difference though. I don’t remember if the hypothyroidism has been addressed. I know you mentioned it early on but you never said if Sunny is on soloxine or any other thyroid supplement. I know that adding this could make a huge difference in her building those red blood cells.
It is fairly common for dogs to get jaundiced with this disease. As Sheena said, it seems to get worse before it gets better. I have seen dogs recover from situations just as bad or worse that Sunny’s. I would however recommend to try and see the vet before the weekend, maybe that was the plan anyway?
Don’t go to “The Bridge” before you have to. Dogs live in the moment and I am sure if you could ask Sunny how she feels, she would just say, just let me sleep for now. She has gone through a traumatic event and needs lots of rest to heal. I know you will do your best to get food and those darn pills into her. Take it one hour at a time and stay positive. I have no doubts that you will know when Sunny has had enough.
Thinking of you and best wishes,
Brigitte
Hi Maura
Your right about the yellowing probably being jaundice (also called icterus). This is often seen when red blood cells are broken down & the liver has difficulty in re-processing the amount of bilirubin from the destroyed red cells. It is often seen with haemolytic anaemia. Are her eyes a bit yellow too? And her gums? If so, she could be destroying the transfused cells & maybe some of her own still. I hope I’m jumping the gun here & her eyes & gums are OK – please can you let me know straight away as I don’t want you worrying over nothing, but I do want to help you with this if it is a problem.
Love & hugs, Sheena xxxx
Yes, it does sound like jaundice, which is indeed very common. I agree the peeing is a problem – they simply can’t help it. We managed Honey by leaving the back door open all the time – easy for us, as we live right out in the country! And we don’t like the central heating on too much….. but if it’s possible to let her have more access, then it might be easier.
The stomach protectant is vital, and I would urge you to check with the vet about atopica (as I said before, I remember them telling me it should be given with food).
Keep trying to stay positive, Maura – spending time with your daughter sounds like a great idea.
love
Lynda
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
![Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4.jpg "Brigitte\'s Cleo, Ripley, Enzo and Guest \\"Rockin\\"")
