Prayers for Brandy

[Azusateach]

Well, I thought I dodged a bullet with Brandy being healthy when school started, but it wasn't to be.  She started out with vomiting & loose stools on Thursday, and has gone downhill from there.  Ended up taking her into the vet this morning, and 4 hours and $440 later, we know that her liver enzymes are about 7 times higher than they should be (70-118 is normal -- hers are 710).  So, she's on "sub-q" fluids & injectible antibiotics & Pepcid (my kitchen's a virtual pharmacy, between her & a cat with irritable bowel disease).  Couldn't even get her home before she threw up in the back of the car (thank GOODNESS for her foam bed!).  They're running more blood tests to see if she's picked up some sort of bacteria (maybe from camping?), which they could treat with different antibiotics.  Needless to say, it's very discouraging & distracting -- and exhausting.  She had the same thing at this exact time last year -- wish they could make a connection on it.  I sure don't want to look forward to this every fall!  So, please add my pooch to your prayer list ... she sure needs it.  Thanks.

Hopefully this won't impact Temecula ...

Laura

[DK&3kids]

Well, I thought I dodged a bullet with Brandy being healthy when school started, but it wasn't to be.  She started out with vomiting & loose stools on Thursday, and has gone downhill from there.  Ended up taking her into the vet this morning, and 4 hours and $440 later, we know that her liver enzymes are about 7 times higher than they should be (70-118 is normal -- hers are 710).  So, she's on "sub-q" fluids & injectible antibiotics & Pepcid (my kitchen's a virtual pharmacy, between her & a cat with irritable bowel disease).  Couldn't even get her home before she threw up in the back of the car (thank GOODNESS for her foam bed!).  They're running more blood tests to see if she's picked up some sort of bacteria (maybe from camping?), which they could treat with different antibiotics.  Needless to say, it's very discouraging & distracting -- and exhausting.  She had the same thing at this exact time last year -- wish they could make a connection on it.  I sure don't want to look forward to this every fall!  So, please add my pooch to your prayer list ... she sure needs it.  Thanks.
 
 Hopefully this won't impact Temecula ...
 
 Laura

Prayers are already sent!!!  I PM'd you, too.  Take care.

Kristi

[cjpoppin]

Dear Laura, so very sorry to hear about Brandy.......I know only to well how our pets make us feel and how they are part of our families......We have been through many vet visits with our little Pickles and know how it feels not to know just what is wrong with them......Hang in there and know our love and prayers are with you and Brandy........Carol,Jim and Pickles

[BootheBunch]

We are all thinking about Brandy...poor girl!  

Lisa

[brainpause]

My dog threw up his monthly heartworm medicine and had to change it. Is there something that she is getting yearly from you or the vet, or anyone else?

Larry

[Azusateach]

Nope.  The only common denominator between last year & this year is that it's September.  Beyond that, she's been camping.  Makes me wonder ...

[OC Campers]

Laura, I am not a vet but lyme disease is very prevalent up here in Northern California.  Angel was very sick last year (vomiting and high liver counts).  We took her to the vet and they ran a battery of tests including a ultrasound.  They finally did a test for lyme disease and that was it. Only cost us $1,500 to figure this out.   You were in Yosemite this year and last year.  Might be something to check out.

I knw how difficult this is.  Brandy is in our prayers.

Jacqui

[griffsdad]

Laura, so sorry to hear about Brandy girl. She's in our thoughts and prayers. Let us know if we can do anything. Dave, Lori, and Griffin.

[Azusateach]

Laura, I am not a vet but lyme disease is very prevalent up here in Northern California.  Angel was very sick last year (vomiting and high liver counts).  We took her to the vet and they ran a battery of tests including a ultrasound.  They finally did a test for lyme disease and that was it. Only cost us $1,500 to figure this out.   You were in Yosemite this year and last year.  Might be something to check out.

I knw how difficult this is.  Brandy is in our prayers.

Jacqui

Thanks for the idea.  I use the Advantix K9 on her which is supposed to keep the ticks away.  But you never know ...

She's thrown up twice more since yesterday afternoon -- once at 3:30 this morning (actually threw up 3X).  She's interested in food, but just can't seem to keep it down.  So, I'm off to the vet before school starts tomorrow.  I've got a friend spending the night tonight, so that I'll have an extra person with me & I can use the carpool lane.  I'll be late for school, but I think my principal will cover for me.

Keep praying, my camping family.  It's hard to not look at the dark side of this & take it places where I shouldn't ought to be going ...

Laura

[OC Campers]

Angel was on Frontline at the time she got the tick.  From what I understand, (somehow Randy found this out) the topical flea and tick medications are good for a month on fleas but only work for 1 week on ticks from application time.  It is just too coincidental that Angel had the same exact symptoms as Brandy.  We thought for sure Angel had a tumor on her liver but they gave her medication for a few months and now she is fine.
 
Jacqui

[Azusateach]

The vet called this morning (bless her heart!), and I asked about Lyme & Cushings, both of which were nixed.  So ... she's going back to the vet tomorrow because she's still throwing up.  Vet said it isn't because of her stomach, it's because of the inability of her liver to do its digestive "thing".  They can give her more care there than I can (different IVs, etc.), and hopefully she'll turn around.  

One thought the vet had is whether her mammory tumor has spread.  Might be picked up on an x-ray, might not.  If an x-ray shows that there's more tumor, we're done.  Can't fight something that's spread.  Lord help me if it comes to that.

[Dee4j]

sorry to hear about brandy...prayers your way. may sister is going thru something simular with her dog. vomiting etc.  hang in there

[oldmoose]

Laura,

Like I said on IM, our prayers are for getting Brandy well. Hope all turns out positive. I know when we lost Molly, we were really down for a while.

Moose

[wavery]

Thanks Laura,

Now my DW is crying. She fell in love at first sight with Brandy. She reminded us of Rex (our late Lab).

We pray that all will be well. We know how hard that is.

[Azusateach]

Brandy's back at the vet -- who knows how long she's going to stay.    Her liver counts went from the 700s to the 900s (normal is 118), and her bilirubin (sp?) went from .6 to 3, so she's pretty jaundiced.

Doesn't appear that her cancer is back, according to the X-rays, so that's good news.  We're waiting for the blood test results, which could take another 2-3 days.  But she's being well cared for, and I can rest in that.  Just wish we could figure out WHY this is happening.  

Thanks for your prayers, but she's not out of the woods yet, so keep 'em coming.  I'll keep you posted.

Laura