Thread: 2010 isn't starting out so good

As most of you know, I lost my mother on Oct. 24/2009, and one of my horses on Nov. 26/2009. Now something else has come up. You know, sometimes it just never seems to end.

Bram (my handsome eleven-year-old Golden Retriever) was pretty sick Sunday night, so I called and got him into the vet on Monday (yesterday). They did blood work and found that his liver enzymes (at least I think he said the word 'enzymes') were five times the norm.

What does that mean for Bram?

Zentonil 400 (pills) to aid and hopefully get his liver back under control, vitamin E to help repair probable liver damage, more pills to coat and settle his stomach (Sucralfate and Cerenia), and lots of rest and TLC. It also means an ultrasound and more thorough testing starting at 8 am on Wednesday to see what caused this in the first place so they can figure out where to go from here.

The vet said it could be anything from some idiot throwing some tainted edible over the fence, to gallbladder infection, to spleen problems (spleen would be ideal - a spleen is a blood reservoir and a basically unnecessary organ, so they can remove it and that would be that), to a tumor in his liver.

Not sure if this post is a rant, or what. Guess I just felt the need to share.

Sorry to hear that Hawke. I hope your pup gets better soon and that it's nothing serious.

Yep, me too. Thank you for the well-wishes, Kayleigh.

Agh, not a good start to the year for sure, Hawke. Sorry to hear that your four-legged friend is now having health problems. Hope things get to looking up soon.

What a worrisome time this has been for you! So sorry, hope it works out well for Bram.

Damn. Not much to say at a time like this. Hope things get better, is all.

So sorry to hear that, Hawke. I've always maintained that it's much easier to deal with the sudden death of a beloved pet than a lingering and dangerous illness. When confronted with that death, a person can bury their friend, mourn, grieve and move on. But illness? Worry, hope, dread, expense, stress.

I'm not a praying guy, but before I fall asleep, I try to send out good thoughts. I'll keep you and your pup in mind.

Everything comes in 3's

Hoping it is something fixable for Bram. And I am really sorry about your Mother, and your horse. Hugs

Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers and kindness. They mean more to me than I can say.

As for the requested update…

Wednesday’s ultrasound showed nothing, which of course is good. But high protein levels in Bram’s urine (which they also managed to get), added to everything else, suggested either Cushing’s or kidney disease (they had to wait until Friday to do the three-hour Cushing’s test because the anesthesia used for the ultrasound would effect that test).

Just to say, where Cushing’s is manageable with medication, kidney disease is a death sentence with no reprieve.

So they did the Cushing’s test on Friday and it turned out positive. (30, for those who know what I’m talking about). So he’s now on chemotherapy tabs for a week to try to stop his pituitary gland from making the adrenal glands work overtime. There’ll be more blood work when this week is up to check, and if the meds are working and the numbers are back to normal, and if they are, then the dose will be whittled down to a few times a month. Without treatment, Cushing’s can kill via causing heart failure, kidney failure (which is why kidney disease is still on the table… but as the vet says, let’s deal with one thing at a time), liver failure, blood clots… the list goes on and on. With meds, and with the assumption that his kidneys will come back to normal once the pituitary is under control, he could be back to his old lovable self for many more years to come. Just this major hump to get over first—the initial start up and the crucial third to fourth day (one of which happens to be today) of possible side effects, which, if it happens, will necessitate an immediate antidote.

I’m guardedly optimistic.

Thank you so much, Candrah. Kidney disease is still on the table, but hopefully with meds and such it can do a reversal or at least be stopped from causing even more damage.

Today is the third day—one of the crucial biggie days—and he's doing great so far. (Knock on wood.)

They pushed his retesting up to tomorrow morning. Here's hoping his numbers will be back to normal. (Knock on wood.)

Crosses fingers, eyes, toes.