Gus doesn't feel good :(

[boxmom]

... Sometimes I feel like people think I am overreacting, but I just love my babies so much..... You know how you get the feeling that you just know??...

So glad Gus is still doing great. I know exactly how you feel. You know your babies best, and I really believe we develop a "sixth sense" sorta thing and know when they are in peril. Never doubt that no matter what others may think.

 

[sasmeow]

I am a TERRIBLE mommy!!!

The vet sent me home 2 weeks ago with antibiotics for Gus. I gave it to him a few days, then stopped. I know that's not good (especially since I am a nursing student, I should know better), but I thought because he was fine, that nothing was wrong with him, and didn't want to give him antibiotics he didn't need. I was wrong!!!!! I took him to get his liver enzyme (ALT) level rechecked and now it's 1310!!!! Up from 1100, which was VERY high. I feel terrible. I could be killing my dog. So, he is now on the antibiotics for a month, and another drug to protect his liver. She is not sure what's going on with his liver, but wants to run bloodwork in 2 more weeks. I hope it goes down. I feel so terrible that I could be hurting my boy! I am the worst mommy ever. She said that they can show no signs of liver disease until it's too late, so hopefully if something is wrong with his liver, we caught it early. I would have never know anything was wrong if he didn't have something going on with his mouth (whatever it was). She thinks he could have some type of infection in his liver. He could have lepto. He can't get vacinated against that because he had a reaction. She said that dogs can act totally normal until 80% of their liver is destroyed. I hope he is ok! I am so scared for my boy. Hopefully his level will go down in 2 weeks. If not, they will run more test to see why it's so elevated. I am taking Izzy to my regular vet to have bloodwork done just to make sure she is ok. She said he could have something that Izzy could catch. So, I'm just having her checked out too.

 

[Box Boys]

You're NOT a terrible mommy!

We've all done that with our kids (or ourselves)...stopped the medication before we're supposed to because all seems well. Don't beat yourself up over that.

Do let us know what the vet says. I saw that video clip...oh my goodness. Poor Gus. That is not the rambunctous fun loving and speedy Gus that me and Buster met with a couple months ago to play with. God love him!

Buster and I are praying that Gus is ok and will be back to his old self real soon. Good idea to get blood work done on Izzy too. I know we were talking about getting Buster and Gus together for a playdate, but lets hold off and make sure Gus has the energy and is feeling better first.

Beth

 

[Gruntsmom]

Awww........I got tears in my eyes watching the videos of Gus. :( I'm so sorry to hear that his liver enzymes are still so high. Sending loads of healing vibes to your sweet boy. Please keep us posted. Lots of hugs for you.

 

[Chiefsmom]

Thinking of Gus and sending healing vibes in his direction! Please keep us posted! Chief and Sam send wiggles and licks!

 

[HurricaneBox]

Awww sorry to hear about Gus! You are NOT a bad mommy... I hate having my baby on meds too, you were just trying to do what was best. You can't be right 100% of the time. Point is, you were looking out for your baby and that makes you a FANTASTIC mom, not a bad one. I am sending lots of get well wishes to Gus, hopefully whatever is up with his liver will be fixed by the antibiotics and you won't have anything to worry about soon. At least you caught it.... as your vet said, no symptoms until too late usually... the fact that you knew your baby wasn't well, even it was for another reason, may have saved his life! Way to go! appicon

 

[Box Boys]

Sarah, let us know if there's an update on Gus...thanks.

 

[sasmeow]

Sarah, let us know if there's an update on Gus...thanks.

He doesn't go back until the 25th of this month to get his ALT level rechecked. I will post if anything happens before then. Hopefully his level will be down in 2 weeks.

I am taking Izzy on Tuesday to get her blookwork done, just to check. She is due for her yearly checkup anyway. It's just scary that they can show no signs and have such an extremely elevated level. The vet thinks his mouth thing was unrelated, and maybe the only reason we found the high liver enzyme. If his mouth wasn't hurt, I would have never know. It's scary, so that's why I am getting Izzy checked to just make sure. If he has something contagious, she could have it too.

 

[sasmeow]

I am taking Gus to the vet Wednesday to get his bloodwork done. I decided to let my regular vet take over for now, at least for the bloodwork. I feel more confident right now with him than with the internist. She wanted to do all kinds of stuff and I think some of it is a little too much. So, I drop him off in the morning, and they are drawing blood to test his bile acid levels. I am not totally sure what that is, but I guess it gives a better idea of how the liver is actually functioning. He has to stay a few hours for that. I am so worried about my boy. I need to stop reading about everything that he could have. I just hope his ALT level is way down when he goes in.

I also thought of something else. I never asked my regular vet is he uses ACE on boxers. And I was thinking, when Gus was neutered, he was on an EKG and he had an arrythmia during the surgery. I took him to a specialist and they could not reproduce it. So now I am wondering, what if he gave my boy ACE and that's what caused the arrthymia. How scary would that be??? I am going to ask him on Wed. if he uses ACE. It would also mean I wasted over 200 bucks to see a cardiologist!!

I will post after our appointment on Wednesday. Please keep those positive healing vibes coming Gus' way, and pray that his ALT went WAY down!!

 

[Gruntsmom]

Sending more healing and positive vibes for Gus. The bile acid testing (liver function) isn't bad, just takes time. Blood drawn after fast, then he will be fed, and then another blood draw. Took a little over 3 hours when my Grunt had this test done. Hope Gus is feeling OK, and that his ALT levels will show normal range. Please keep us posted..hang in there.