I hope we are making the right decision

[furrykidmom]

Our 7 year old Boxer girl has been in the emergency hospital for five days now on IV fluids and meds for vomiting and diarrhea. They have done a full X-ray series and have ruled out a blockage, torsion and mehaesophagus. Blood work was all normal except some mild dehydration which is also resolved. She is being fed boiled chicken every four hours which she is keeping down. She is retching but not vomiting about once every 24 hours. She had her first bowel movement in three days today which was diarrhea. We are ready to bring her home. They want to keep her. I feel we can medically manage her at home. I was a vet tech for 15 years. I am currently a registered nurse for the past 18 years. I am wise enough to know when to seek medical attention and we already have an appointment with our regular vet on Tuesday. What would you do?

 

[furrykidmom]

Okay we are at the emergency clinic. They still want to keep her. She has a fever. They think from the IV. It has since broke. She is anxious to go home. We want to wait for an abdominal ultrasound and more blood work to rule out disease processes. We are still going to take her home and come back to see the internist tomorrow. I want to see how she does at home without the stress of the hospital environment and stranger danger. I want the IV out if it is the possible source of infection. I think a line holiday is in order.

 

[furrykidmom]

We told them if things are coming back negative move on to the next test. No more watching and waiting. Lets be more aggressive in finding a diagnosis.

 

[Gatorblu]

Have they checked for pancreatitis? I know when Thor first came down with it they never checked and we went almost a month before I finally asked for them to check. (You would have thought they being educated in medicine would have known to check for it.- We have since changed vets.) When Thor does have a flair up, I take him to the regular vet during the day to be watched and get IVs, but he comes home at night (pumped full of sub-q fluids) and can get the rest he needs. Maybe this would be a good course of action for your girl to relieve some of the stress but still get any extra care and tests she may need. Positive, healthy (((vibes))) coming her way!

 

[furrykidmom]

Thank you so much

She has been in for Five days. IV fluids, Pepcid, metronizadole and multiple other meds. She just is not completely responding.

We did opt to leave her to see the internist tomorrow. They said if we took her home it would be weeks before she could get an appt. I know to some that may sound like a hoax but it works the same way in a human hospital with testing and specialists.

Our vet would have never taken this on. PVSEC is a state of the art facility with all specialties like a human hospital. She is in the best place but also the most expensive place. Routine care without tests is about $500/day. She is my baby and I will do anything that will give her quality of life.

Thanks to all that read this and Gatorblu for your response. We will continue to update

 

[Tuff Love]

Poor thing :( Sounds like she is in the right hands. Sending healing vibes your way- I hope they can find out what's making her so sick soon and get her on the way to recovery.. Hang in there!

 

[squidracer]

Maybe an MRI or CT scan could see something they are not seeing on an x-ray. Just a thought.

 

[Jan]

Sending lots of positive healing vibes your way. --------> Hopefully she is feeling better soon.

 

[furrykidmom]

Maybe an MRI or CT scan could see something they are not seeing on an x-ray. Just a thought.

They did an ultrasound. Today they did a needle aspirate biopsy of her lymph nodes. Results tomorrow. If negative then scope or exploratory surgery or bring her home and treat empirically and see what happens.

Time will tell.

Thanks to all for your support. These are the hardest times.

 

[packblt]

Sending hugs and healing (((vibes))) to you and your girl.