Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 2,855

2 members and 2,853 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,031
Threads: 248,489
Posts: 2,568,440
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, isismomma
Page 3 of 6 FirstFirst 123456 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 51

Thread: Alpha!

  1. #21
    BPnet Lifer dakski's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-08-2014
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    4,802
    Thanks
    8,109
    Thanked 9,691 Times in 3,863 Posts
    Images: 134

    Re: Alpha!

    Alpha needs your thoughts and prayers. I'll cut to the chase.

    The doctors think she has doxycycline hepatotoxicity. It's exceptionally rare and her vet hasn't seen it in ten years of practicing.

    Her liver is in deep trouble and she has been at the emergency vet for 3 days now. They think they figured out the issue and we will know more tomorrow, and are hoping and praying for improved liver function and no permanent or fatal damage.

    Please keep her in your thoughts.

    The full story:

    We got Alpha a year ago and although she had some minor issues, including a stomach infection (forgot the name) that we treated effectively, she's been great. She's a total sweetheart and the picture of health, or so we thought.

    When we got her, she was 15 months old and had been abandoned at 6 months and spent 9 months in kill shelters in Mississippi. We imagine her size and energy level were factors in her not getting adopted, but who knows. Either way she ended up with us. We adore her.

    When we adopted her, she tested negative for heart worm, and we've been giving her preventatives monthly since. Two weeks ago she had her annual exam, vaccines, and blood test. Sadly, she tested positive for heart worm. The theory is she had it when we got her, but it was a fairly benign/low infection that wasn't able to test positive at the time because of the low values or early stage nature of the worms. Fast forward to now and the preventatives slowed the progression, but she has it, but not terribly bad. She needs antibiotics and steroids and then injections. The total treatment takes about 4 months, but the worst part is she cannot exercise that entire time and is crated, except for going out to the bathroom, the last 7 weeks, to prevent a hemorrhage or clot.

    Did I mention that Alpha is a bundle of energy?

    Anyway, about 2 weeks ago, we put her on Doxycycline to kill the bacteria the heart worms can carry and steroids/prednisone, but I forgot the exact reason for that. She was doing fine. Fast forward to 10 days on meds and Friday. Katie goes to Indiana to visit her best friend. I am left holding the fort, keeping Alpha calm, taking care of the reptiles, and the other two dogs. All good. Alpha seemed very sad Friday night, but she's never been without her mamma. Heck, Tyler, our 14 1/2 year old mini Schnoodle was whining all night because he missed mom, so no big deal.

    Saturday night, Alpha didn't want her meds, or peanut butter, etc. I managed to get her to take them, and she ate, but then vomits all over the bed a few hours later. Okay, hmmmm. Maybe something is up. I'll see how she is in the morning. The meds are probably upsetting her stomach and I'll call the vet in the morning to see about other meds to counter. Of course, it's July 4th weekend!

    Well, the next morning I wake up early and the bed is covered in urine and Alpha's laying in it. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG. She never pees in the house, let alone the bed.

    I rush her to the Emergency Vet 40 minutes from our house - the best one in the state. They have two animals that just got hit by cars and can I leave Alpha and they will examine her and call me with a report? She seemed stable, but lethargic (their words). I say sure. I'll be a nervous wreck sitting in my car for 5-6 hours and everyone thinks it's stomach upset from meds and the prednisone and cause excessive urination, etc. hence wetting the bed. Stomach upset + feeling sick + prednisone = peeing the bed.

    They call about 4 hours later and ask if they can do a routine blood test so they can send her home with anti-nausea meds. I say, of course. 2 hours later the vet calls and is in visible shock. Alpha's liver numbers are off the charts (literally) and he cannot believe she's not yellow, unable to move, or dead. They put her on an IV fluids and liver meds, but choose to keep her on the antibiotics because if she survives, we still need to treat the heart worm. She's due for an ultrasound Tuesday morning assuming she's alive and stable.

    For two days her levels get marginally better and she begins eating a little. Good sign. Tuesday morning, the ultrasound shows that it's not the two (original) biggest fears; something congenital or cancer. However, what the heck is causing this? The vet calls with the report and says he thinks it's doxycycline hepatotoxicity. He says it's so rare that they really never think to go there initially. Let's stop the doxy and see how she is tomorrow (Wednesday 7-6-22). At this point, her normal vet has gotten involved, says he's never seen this diagnosis, but agrees with it and is hopeful.

    Obviously, I am having trouble sleeping and am hoping for good news later today and that she is on the mend.

    Her vet and the team at the emergency vet are all putting their heads together in the hope that she pulls through and we still have to deal with the heart worm. Obvisouly, standard treatment is out for her.

    I cannot reiterate enough how rare this is. This is research paper worthy. I guess she takes after her dad (me). Kidney transplant and all. They have written papers about me at Yale here in CT because of some of the adverse reactions I've had. They said no one has a kidney 10 years later that had as many issues as I did. Well, I pulled through, so let's hope the same for Alpha.

    Thank you all for any thoughts and prayers you can send Alpha's way and I will keep you posted.

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to dakski For This Useful Post:

    Bogertophis (07-06-2022)

  3. #22
    BPnet Veteran Homebody's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-19-2019
    Location
    Jersey City, NJ
    Posts
    1,554
    Thanks
    5,298
    Thanked 2,151 Times in 1,164 Posts
    Images: 22

    Re: Alpha!

    Thoughts and prayers.
    1.0 Normal Children's Python (2022 - present)
    1.0 Normal Ball Python (2019 - 2021)

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Homebody For This Useful Post:

    dakski (07-06-2022)

  5. #23
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,182
    Thanks
    28,081
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts
    Oh my gosh, what a terrible ordeal for you & your precious pup!

    I agree though, Alpha takes after you for rare & serious issues! And I sure am hoping she gets through this as well as you've done.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    dakski (07-06-2022)

  7. #24
    BPnet Lifer dakski's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-08-2014
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    4,802
    Thanks
    8,109
    Thanked 9,691 Times in 3,863 Posts
    Images: 134

    Re: Alpha!

    It could be a miracle.

    After stopping the doxy, her liver values came in even more.

    SHE'S HOME!

    Not out of the woods yet. Blood tests over the next few weeks will determine if there is damage (as well as some other tests if needed) and if so, to what extent.

    So far so good. She's pretty exhausted, but she did gobble down her dinner and her dinner time meds.

    I'll keep everyone posted, but OMG, what a crazy week!

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to dakski For This Useful Post:

    Bogertophis (07-06-2022),Homebody (07-07-2022)

  9. #25
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,182
    Thanks
    28,081
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts

    Re: Alpha!

    Quote Originally Posted by dakski View Post
    It could be a miracle.

    After stopping the doxy, her liver values came in even more.

    SHE'S HOME!

    Not out of the woods yet. Blood tests over the next few weeks will determine if there is damage (as well as some other tests if needed) and if so, to what extent.

    So far so good. She's pretty exhausted, but she did gobble down her dinner and her dinner time meds.

    I'll keep everyone posted, but OMG, what a crazy week!
    What a horrible scare, & what a wonderful update! Let's hope she continues to improve & gets totally back to normal. Whew! Just being "home" often helps recovery too.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    dakski (07-06-2022),Spicey (07-06-2022)

  11. #26
    BPnet Lifer dakski's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-08-2014
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    4,802
    Thanks
    8,109
    Thanked 9,691 Times in 3,863 Posts
    Images: 134

    Re: Alpha!

    Quote Originally Posted by Bogertophis View Post
    What a horrible scare, & what a wonderful update! Let's hope she continues to improve & gets totally back to normal. Whew! Just being "home" often helps recovery too.
    Thanks Boger. Still not out the woods, and she's wise to me wanting her to take her pills and has now refused peanut butter and figured out how to unwrap ham and cheese to get pills out. Whipped cream cheese worked and we got the pills down! However, I am little worried I am going to have to mix things up to get her to keep taking her pills (3X a day!).

    She got very energetic once the noon dose of trazodone wore off. Not good, she needs to stay very calm. I just gave her another dose and she's fast asleep again.

    Please, everyone, keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I am very optimistic at this point, but still very nervous and of course, wanting a full recovery.

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to dakski For This Useful Post:

    Bogertophis (07-06-2022),Homebody (07-07-2022)

  13. #27
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,182
    Thanks
    28,081
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts
    Yes, we'll certainly keep her in our thoughts. It's frustrating when our dogs learn to un-mask their disguised medications, & many of them do- but I also learned how to just "pill" dogs by going in from the side of their mouth & quickly pushing the pill to the back of their tongue/mouth, then preventing them from spitting it out. Sounds worse than it is, but the "end justifies the means" when the meds are essential. I've never had my fingers chomped doing this, but a little practice does make it easier.

    I think there might be other techniques too- ask your vet. I've lived with many dogs over the years, & I don't take "no" for an answer, lol. I have only one dog now, & mercifully, he's not on any meds yet, even at age 15. I had another dog that passed last year at age 16, & she was on a bunch of meds.

    When you offer the "disguised" pill, do you just hand it to her? One thing that helps is IF your dog will beg for & catch a treat out of the air- they often gulp it down without so much scrutiny. (But when a dog is groggy, not feeling well, or not hungry, obviously that won't work either.)
    Last edited by Bogertophis; 07-06-2022 at 10:50 PM.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  14. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    dakski (07-06-2022),Homebody (07-07-2022)

  15. #28
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,182
    Thanks
    28,081
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts
    How's she doing, dakski?
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  16. #29
    BPnet Lifer dakski's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-08-2014
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    4,802
    Thanks
    8,109
    Thanked 9,691 Times in 3,863 Posts
    Images: 134

    Re: Alpha!

    Even better today, Boger. We won't know for sure how well her liver is until next week (Thursday) when she has a blood test.

    All indicators point to her feeling better. She's eating, going to the bathroom regularly, and being a love as always.

    I am still being (cautiously) optimistic, but feeling better everyday she's doing well.

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to dakski For This Useful Post:

    Homebody (07-07-2022)

  18. #30
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,182
    Thanks
    28,081
    Thanked 19,739 Times in 11,797 Posts

    Re: Alpha!

    Quote Originally Posted by dakski View Post
    Even better today, Boger. We won't know for sure how well her liver is until next week (Thursday) when she has a blood test.

    All indicators point to her feeling better. She's eating, going to the bathroom regularly, and being a love as always.

    I am still being (cautiously) optimistic, but feeling better everyday she's doing well.
    That's wonderful news, truly! I was hoping you'd have signs of improvement today- appetite & all- that's very encouraging. I'm so glad for you & Katie (& critter family).
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

Page 3 of 6 FirstFirst 123456 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1