Well the Vet called and said his BUN is at 86, normal is 6-25, Creatinine is 2.1, normal is .5-1.6, his phosphorus is in the normal range but he does have elevated monocytes, which I think indicates infection. Says it can be caused by Valley fever and wants to do that test or take some fluid from his spine area up by his neck as there was a somewhat cloudy looking area that showed up on the x-rays that their not sure of...said it could just be arthritis. My head is spinning and he still is not eating, just lying around.
JJ & Sandie
Li'l Jack, Pickles & Bunny the chihuahuas...Chewy, poodle 6/15/95-7/4/08 We will always love you Chooch.
2003 Chevy 2500HD,LT,CC,SB,4x4,Duramax/Allison
2007 Starcraft Homestead 262RKS
For my money, and unless the vet objects, I'd get him on fluids and start hosing him out a little... The vet may say "well he's drinking, so its not necessary" to which my reply would be "unless it is going to harm him, I'd prefer to be doing it, when can I pick up the fluids?" But that's just me. You could also try the pedialyte idea, though I don't have any personal experience with that...
susan
What I want to know is, when are they going to start selling Comfort Zone for HUMANS????? 'Cause some days...
Code2High wrote: For my money, and unless the vet objects, I'd get him on fluids and start hosing him out a little... The vet may say "well he's drinking, so its not necessary" to which my reply would be "unless it is going to harm him, I'd prefer to be doing it, when can I pick up the fluids?" But that's just me. You could also try the pedialyte idea, though I don't have any personal experience with that...
Susan's entirely right. If his BUN and Creat are elevated, his body is not handling things on it's own. I'd opt for an IV for 24 hours then retest BUN and Creat after the diuresis. The big question now is can the current situation be turned around? We all hope for the best.
Doug
Doug & Sandy
Megan (14 yr old Golden)
2008 Southwind
2001 Honda CRV
Our regular vet has been out of the office for a few days, so I haven't even talked to him. The one I saw wants to do a Valley fever test and mentioned nothing about fluid therapy. We are opting not to have the VF test done now until my regular Vet reviews all of this on Monday. I will be calling him about the fluids then. Chewy ate 1/2 of a boiled chicken breast and did liven up a bit after that. I am going to start making his food again like I did before as he refuses and I mean refuses to eat that prescription diet food, even the canned so I am really stuck.
We were camping last weekend and I missed this update post, sorry. I was thinking about your Chewy this morning and found it.
How is he doing now? Is he eating any better? How is the home cooked diet going? Did the vet recommend administering fluids? I am hopeful a combination of things will get him feeling better soon.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.... Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
Thanks for your concern Cat. He is not doing well at all. Fluids, nothing has helping him. He has eaten less and less everyday and so far today, he has not eaten, drank or even gotten up. I feel its time for us to let him go and stop his suffering. My dh is really having a hard time in making that final decision. When do you know when its time??
Oh no I am so sorry.......I am so sorry your Chewy isn't eating. Did your vet recommend any other protocol that might help? Have you considered a second opinion? I am not suggesting you do anything different than what you are doing, just throwing ideas around.
Making "the" decision is something that is always heartwrenching. There is no certain way to know when it's time.... I have struggled with this too many times, it is never easy and always full of second guessing on my part. I finally have to realize that quality of life is is not measured by quantity. When I feel that quantity is all they have and they are just exsisting rather than living.... well that's when I force myself to closely examine what should be done. I can't stand the thought of making the decision but I also can't take watching my beloved pets if they are suffering.
No easy answers and certainly no advice from me on this topic.... like I said I have struggled with it too many times myself. I will send up a prayer for Chewy as well as for you and your husband for the courage and wisdom you need in the coming days.
I am so sorry that Chewy is not doing well. Koko's liver appeared to go very bad fast. She didn't eat after Friday and drank very little. We had her on Carafate for her stomach and that helped her drink, but she just went away in her sleep on Monday morning.
Barb
The "logical" answer is... when you have done everything you and your vet can think of, (including a second opinion if appropriate) and you have no way to fix the problem, and the quality of life is gone, without any reasonable hope of improvement.
Where you have an older animal, and you aren't sure exactly what is going on, but have tried a variety of things and the animal is not getting better, you also have to start thinking about how much time the animal has left under the best of circumstances... ie you push through, find the problem, and are able to fix it... what the chances are of that happening at that animal's age, and what you're willing to put him through (in terms of time spent being unwell, medical procedures, and so on) for the chance at that smaller amount of time.
But that's all just logic. In reality, you look at your animal and listen to your heart. But be patient with the spouse, and let him come to this in his own time. Not every animal has to be "put down" and when they're ready to go, I promise you nothing will keep them here. Chewy would rather wait until everyone is on board with him leaving, than to leave behind heartache and grief and guilt.
This is something we all have faced. Last fall when Sofie got to the point where she wouldn't eat it helped to make my decision.
We knew what we were facing from the start and we vowed she would not suffer, that we would put an end to it for her.
When we had about four days of her not eating and really failing I tried one last thing, I grilled her a T-Bone to entice her into maybe nibbling, she turned away. As heartbreaking as it was for us it was worse for Sofie, being a Lab they live to eat and she loved a piece of steak now and then.
She also had this look in her eyes, you know in your heart that they are asking you to help them.
If you think Chewy is at this point, and I pray for you that that may not be the case, it's a little easier if you make your decision based souly on your love and the best interest of Chewy.
I hope it gets better for all of you.
Online
I am so sorry.......I am so sorry your Chewy isn't eating. Did your vet recommend any other protocol that might help? Have you considered a second opinion? I am not suggesting you do anything different than what you are doing, just throwing ideas around.
