Prayers and PD PLEASE! My puppy is at the hospital UPDATE P2

[theSurlyMermaid]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I had one of my old ferrets overnight at a vets office once. I had a gut instinct when I went in that it was not a great vet but I just recall it being the only place I could get her in that day.

Anyway, they kept her overnight and when I asked to visit and called, they were SO awful to me. Basically they made me feel like I was being a pain in the butt because I was very concerned about my pets well being. (I was concerned because they were telling me to get her surgery that I had a strong sense she would not survive).

Anyway, one of the staff was just flat out rude and asked me not to call again until they called me. (I called maybe 5 times in a 24 hour period).

The next day, I took Bandette out of that vets, brought her to a different one that was a lot farther away and they told me there was no way any vet should have considered surgery for her, put her on some medication and she lived for 9 years with the cancer that eventually took her life. The other vets were so nice and let me come in and visit her when she stayed overnight and they were sweet as pie every time I called.

Okay....I don't want to hijack the OP's thread with any more about good vets vs. bad vets.

Ugh, how horrible! Yeah, I've had my share of run-ins with vets, but never the staff, only the actual doctor. Usually, it's about disagreements in treatment.

Not to hijack the thread, but a quick anecdote. In NYC, I saw a holistic vet for primary treatment and a regular vet for blood and urine work. When we thought Penny (my Yorkie) had a liver shunt based on some abnormal liver values, I had a regular vet tell me I should do a liver biopsy to be sure. On a four pound dog, a liver biopsy is a major procedure. My holistic vet and I agreed to wait and see if her liver values returned to normal after a few months, as often happens, before doing anything invasive. We scheduled an ultrasound and all was well. The regular vet STILL argued for a biopsy despite the fact that if anything was really wrong at that point it would have been at the molecular level and only treatable though a diet change. She actually said it would be "on me" if we didn't follow her shoddy advice. I refused to be talked down to and prevailed.

Oh, and after three months, Penny's liver values were normal again and have been ever since.

I never, NEVER trust any vet without thoroughly "vetting" them myself.

 

[MinnieMe2]

When my basset was ten months, she became critically ill and had to spend three days at Tufts. I was told I could come see her any time, and to call as often as I wanted. I chose to not visit Matilda because every time I did (and it was only twice), she would try to stand up and leave with me. It broke my heart to see her so sick and so weak, still wanting to stay with me. But I did call a few times a day, always with bated breath. I was terrified that every call might be the one with bad news. But we were lucky, and slowly Tilly's recovering, though it would appear that she has suffered some permanent neurological damage.

I'd be a little leary of a vet who isn't willing to let you see your puppy while in their care, and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to call for updates on her condition. I sincerely hope your little one pulls through.....

 

[phillybeth]

Have your vet check for liver shunt, also known as portal systemic shunt (PSS). It is a malformation of the blood supply to the liver that allows unfiltered blood from the intestines to go directly into the circulatory system without the toxins being filtered out by the liver. Puppies are fine until they are weaned (as momma's milk has no toxins), but soon after can show failure to thrive, poor weight gain, seizures, and neurological problems. Most cases can be corrected with surgery and the pups go on to live healthy normal lives.
A liver biopsy will NOT show a liver shunt- a dye test is needed to visualize the circulation. It's not a problem with the liver but with the circulation.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Originally posted by phillybeth
Have your vet check for liver shunt, also known as portal systemic shunt (PSS). It is a malformation of the blood supply to the liver that allows unfiltered blood from the intestines to go directly into the circulatory system without the toxins being filtered out by the liver. Puppies are fine until they are weaned (as momma's milk has no toxins), but soon after can show failure to thrive, poor weight gain, seizures, and neurological problems. Most cases can be corrected with surgery and the pups go on to live healthy normal lives.
A liver biopsy will NOT show a liver shunt- a dye test is needed to visualize the circulation. It's not a problem with the liver but with the circulation.

I would be stunned if the doctor doesn't bring this up. This is very common in small breed dogs.

There are different kinds of liver shunts...PSS, described above, and MVD or microvascular dysplasia. With MVD the shunting occurs at the molecular level and can only be diagnosed through liver biopsy and treated through dietary changes.

Vets should ask if your dog appears to be confused, or has trouble walking or seizures...especially after eating.

 

[SnoWhite]

Although our story isn't like yours, I can say that you really do get attached to the little ones quickly!
We bought a Norwich Terrier several months ago. We went to visit him several times before we were able to bring him home. Every time we went he seemed just fine, very playful and adorable.
The day we were supposed to pick him up, we got a phone call saying that he had died the night before. The last time we went to visit him he was sleeping most of the time. I thought he was just tired, but apparently he had Parvo.
There was nothing they could do, by the time he got to the vet he was too sick.

I was devastated, we hadn't even brought him home but it was so hard. I cried for weeks!

Now we have Lilo, and she is very healthy. She will be 5 months old in a couple of weeks.

I will be sending good thoughts and PD your way for your puppy!

Lisa

 

[Serena]

Those little furbabies just jump right into your heart and make themselves comfortable don't they.

I'm hoping your baby pulls through and I would be visiting at lunch and later if I felt like it. If you notice that the puppy gets agitated then cut back to just calls, but I'd be going crazy too and they should understand that.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Thanks for all your kind words!

I saw him this afternoon, and he laid and slept in my lap for a good hour before I handed him back over. They found a parasite, which they are treating, and the Vet said he would recover from that if we could keep him alive long enough... he said he was very malnourished. He has been throwing up and having diarrehea most of the day, but he said that when little guys get sick, their entire system gets sick, so they gave him a shot to stop the vomiting and he was able to eat and drink again. Of course, they have to do it so slowly...

Vet said that the little rascal (his words) on occasion would jump up, wag his tail, and run around in his cage! That would completely wear him out, and he'd laid back down and sleep. Which threw the entire staff for a loop, since he appears to be halfdead most of the time! He says that he's just hypoglycemic because of the parasite and such...

He thought he was injured because of how he was holding his head, but it turns out he was just too weak to hold his head up. When he got a bit of fluid in him, he was very active and everything was normal. That was encouraging.

He said he can't promise he'll make it, but that they're doing all they can. I hope he's giving me worse case scenerio.

I'll keep updating! They're keeping him overnight, and he said to call at 830 tomorrow morning and he'll let me know how he is doing. I am praying for peace of mind, I'm having a hard time concentrating on school or anything for that matter.

In answer to thoughts about calling, they haven't minded at all and just told me I was a typical mommy. The vet sat and talked to me twice at length about him, and the assistants let me have a room with him for as long as I wanted... I left after an hour, because it was time for him to get some more fluids and I didn't want to be in the way for that.

Thank y'all sooooo much.

 

[Dan Murphy]

My very best wishes, Aimeedyan, for you little guy. Hoping he does well, improves in the coming days. I am thinking he will do well. :hugs:

 

[phillybeth]

So glad the news is encouraging! I hope you call his breeder and let her know, the other pups will probably need to be treated for that same parasite. Fingers crossed for your little guy!

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Sending good thoughts to your little sweetie for improvement today and tonight and even better news tomorrow...

 

[Serena]

It sounds like that puppy is a fighter. I hope he makes it.

 

[stamper]

Glad to hear they have figured out what's wrong and are treating him. Poor little guy! Hoping all goes well...I'll be watching for an update!

Just want to add my vote that you call the breeder ASAP! She really will want to know if she is reputable at all. The other puppy owners need to know. If I were the breeder, I would want to know.

Take care and give the little guy some love from us!

 

[Pop Daddy]

Im rooting for your puppy

 

[Jockaroo]

Hugs to you and your pup. Hope he gets well quickly and back in your arms.

 

[Pugdog007]

Best wishes to you and your new puppy. I hope he is ok.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I did call the breeder tonight. She was very nice, reassured me that he WAS dewormed and she has the vet receipts to prove it... said she would have never ever sold him if she knew it was ill, her vet had affirmed he was okay. She said it would hurt her reputation to attempt to get away with that, and i tend to believe her... she reassured me that if he didn't pull through that she would give us another pup. Course I dont WANT another one, i want mine, but at least I know she's cooperative without me being nasty.

She is going to have all the other pups checked tomorrow, and said she's going to get a new vet. She wants me to update her constantly about it.

I actually felt better after talking to her, I was fearful she would give me problems. But she hasn't.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Sounds like you have a good vet and a good breeder. am so glad they are okay with you calling/visiting.

Glad he's doing better. Sounds like he's a tough little guy.

Keep us posted!

 

[stamper]

Good! I'm glad you talked to the breeder and she told you just what I was hoping she would. There should be a replacement if needed...hopefully there won't be a reason to need it! Sounds like she is a good breeder and she is right that her reputation would take a big hit if she had known he was sick and sent him home with you anyway. In the dog world, reputation is everything!

Keep us posted on the little guy's condition!