Medical Procedures Question.... Natalie is sick again... :( - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Mom2BabyNatalie · 11-08-2007, 06:11 PM

Well, we had an appointment today for a follow-up with Natalie.... it was scheduled for tomorrow, but she just wasn't doing well today so I took her in.
Of course most of you know that we've fought some serious upper respiratory problems over the past couple of months and Nat has been very ill....
Since she hasn't responded as well as expected to the aggressive oxygen therapy and antibiotic treatments, has gone completely off her food again and won't even drink water on her own - and has lost another couple of ounces... they finally went ahead and did a chest x-ray this afternoon...................
I thought that part of this may have been her reacting to the excitement of baby Gracie coming into her world.... but .... I guess I was wrong....
Well, I knew when they brought the surgeon in to "explain" things, with his drawings and "soft spokenness" that there were problems bigger than we all thought.
Evidently, Natalie's chest x-ray shows an enlarged heart.... lots of gas and fluid around the heart and in the lungs..... I didn't hear much after that as I just started sobbing and went into a sort of hazey state....
I heard - "ultrasound", "surgery", "it's not necessarily an end-all" and "don't cry, we're going to do the very best we can for her".........
So, after 4 hours, we were headed home with more Clavomox and they are going to try Tetracycline - in the event the fluid in her lungs is because of infection that the combination of Clavomox & Baytril she's been on hasn't gotten rid of.... and a prescription for Lasix, to take the fluid off and around her heart and lungs.... (which I need to go pick up in a minute).
So they say the next step is to schedule an ultrasound... which they don't do there, so they're working on some referrals.
I know that some of the state universities have vet programs and will sometimes to some procedures and treatments at a more reasonable cost.
My question is... how would I go about finding out more information to see if perhaps Natalie may qualify for such treatment???
I'm in Oklahoma.... so of course we have OU (but I don't think they have a vet program) and about 3 hours from OSU..... but I just don't know the first thing in how to go about it.... and didn't think about it until after I left the vet's office and they had closed for the evening.
Has anyone had any experience with any of the above?? Any direction? Much needed advice??

Please continue praying for our sweet girl...........

GinosMommy · 11-08-2007, 06:23 PM

Oh Dena! Much love and good thoughts for speedy and safe healing for baby natalie! Im sorry you are going through all this. Its so hard. Stay strong!

BIG HUGS!

Stacy

Keno · 11-08-2007, 06:25 PM

i hope Natalie shows improvement ... she appears to be a fighter ... good luck!

our thoughts are with you ....

AngelWorks · 11-08-2007, 06:25 PM

Oh dear---------warm and healing thoughts for you and your baby.

littlewhip · 11-08-2007, 06:26 PM

Oh NO, Iam so so very sorry

I dont have any anwsers for you but please know that little natalie and your family is in my prayers, I hope you can find a good hospital that can help your sweet girl, hugs to you both

kalina82 · 11-08-2007, 06:30 PM

i'm so sorry your going thru this. i know it can be expensive. call your vet back in the morning and talk to him about possible vet school options. if those are a no go, you're gonna have to take her to a specialist. You can apply for care credit, and if you don't qualify ask a parent to fill it out or co-sign. there are ways around it if you, yourself, do not qualify for whatever reason. Also the specialist may take payment plans but its unlikely based on the one i work for.

Good luck and i hope her chest clears up soon.

Patti · 11-08-2007, 06:32 PM

I would definately get her seen by specialists they have much more experience. When my last Yorkie Gracie had severe heart and lung problems from a collapsed trachea and I contacted by phone the Texas A& M university vet clinic and they were very nice and helpful. They sent me a research paper on a study the had done on collapsed trachea and the vet told me that in their opinion where Gracie's collapase was they wouldn't recommend surgery. So maybe you can try calling there to start. Good luck I know how terrible you must feel.

nvnvgirl · 11-08-2007, 06:32 PM

Oh, Dena~ my heart is totally with you! I can't even imagine being in your place right now, and I hope I never have to know! I wish I knew anything about it, but I don't. All I can do is offer you my prayers and best wishes that sweet little Natalie will come thru this ok. I was SO happy last week when she was coming around....was it the infection that contributed to her enlarged heart? Gosh, I feel so badly for you; I wish I were closer to go with you to the vet's. I know how panicked I felt and how alone when Max was sick with pancreatitis and I was all by myself on a Friday night.....I wish I could do something to help, but I guess all I can do is pray for you and Natalie to be ok. You are doing everything you can for her, just know that in your heart and don't leave her if you don't have to. Seana

jencar98 · 11-08-2007, 06:32 PM

OSU at Stillwater has one of the best schools for veterinary medicine. Your vet should be able to give you a referral to a doctor or specialist at the university.

Hope you get some good new soon. Bless her little heart.

erino77 · 11-08-2007, 06:39 PM

Oh my, poor sweet Natalie. This is just heart wrenching. Many of prayers and positive thoughts coming to your precious baby for an easy recovery.

Keep us updated. I agree she does seem like such a fighter.

laurenr · 11-08-2007, 06:45 PM

Oh my goodness Dena! I am so sorry you are going through this with little Natalie again! I wish I knew more about this condition, but sadly I don't, so all I can offer you is my full support.
I do think that having the ultrasound as soon as possible is a very good idea. I know that Banfield is an excellent facility and did a Google search for a location in your area and found this:
http://www.banfield.net/health/searc...&submit=submit
Here is a copy of their info from their website:

"Oklahoma City South (405) 682-8387
1417 W I-240 Service Road,
Oklahoma City, OK, 73159"

How stressful for you, and so sad that it is happening the same time as bringing little Gracie home.
Please know that my thoughts are with you,

Lauren

yorkiecrazy · 11-08-2007, 06:54 PM

Oh poor little baby...I'm so so sorry. Sending prayers your way. My heart goes out to you and little Natalie.

GET WELL SOON NATALIE

Tissy · 11-08-2007, 07:16 PM

I am so sorry she is still having problems....I can relate being owned by a tiny baby myself. They can get so sick so fast!
I live near the Mississippi State Vet School and have been there on occasion with my bird, although they do not have an avian vet there they do have exotics vet. I called them when I was thinking of having Delilah spayed and having her baby teeth extracted. Well, they were higher than the area vets. You would think at a teaching facility that they would be happy to have the patients to teach their students and the prices would be more reasonable.

Will be praying that Natalie will have a miraculous recovery!

Mom2BabyNatalie · 11-08-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvnvgirl

Oh, Dena~ my heart is totally with you! I can't even imagine being in your place right now, and I hope I never have to know! I wish I knew anything about it, but I don't. All I can do is offer you my prayers and best wishes that sweet little Natalie will come thru this ok. I was SO happy last week when she was coming around....was it the infection that contributed to her enlarged heart? Gosh, I feel so badly for you; I wish I were closer to go with you to the vet's. I know how panicked I felt and how alone when Max was sick with pancreatitis and I was all by myself on a Friday night.....I wish I could do something to help, but I guess all I can do is pray for you and Natalie to be ok. You are doing everything you can for her, just know that in your heart and don't leave her if you don't have to. Seana

Right now they're saying that they aren't even sure she ever had an infection... that IF the enlarged heart is a congenital problem, it has just worsened as she got older and now because it is so enlarged, it is pushing on her trachia (sp?) causing her to cough.... of course the fluid around her heart and in her lungs, gives the appearance of congestion - - and with the wheezing and snuffles.... all offered itself as a common "cold" or at worst, the pneumonia - - which they had previously diagnosed her with.
But now since the chest x-ray... they say it "explains a lot of things" ... like why the oxygen therapy, dry cool vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, and medications did not heal her....
I think at this point, the antibiotics are more for my sake then hers.... but they call it the "cat hurt" approach.... they may not help her, but they can't hurt her - - at least we're doing SOMETHING in wait of the ultrasound.
They said the lasix is what's going to save her at this point.... getting the fluid out of there is the most important step.

................................ I'm just numb................................

Mom2BabyNatalie · 11-08-2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laurenr

Oh my goodness Dena! I am so sorry you are going through this with little Natalie again! I wish I knew more about this condition, but sadly I don't, so all I can offer you is my full support.
I do think that having the ultrasound as soon as possible is a very good idea. I know that Banfield is an excellent facility and did a Google search for a location in your area and found this:
http://www.banfield.net/health/searc...&submit=submit
Here is a copy of their info from their website:

"Oklahoma City South (405) 682-8387
1417 W I-240 Service Road,
Oklahoma City, OK, 73159"

How stressful for you, and so sad that it is happening the same time as bringing little Gracie home.
Please know that my thoughts are with you,

Lauren

Thanks so much for the information... though I haven't heard many good things about Banfield... at least not in this area...

I'm going to do some research tonight about the team at OSU and try to contact them in the morning.... I'm sure nothing major will be able to happen with it being a friday, but at least they may be able to offer some peace of mind and some clue as to what may lie ahead for my baby girl....

11-08-2007, 06:11 PM	#1
Mom2BabyNatalie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: "OOOOOOOOOOKLAHOMA... Where the winds go sweeping or' the plains!!!" ::la, la, la:: Posts: 2,036	Medical Procedures Question.... Natalie is sick again... :( Well, we had an appointment today for a follow-up with Natalie.... it was scheduled for tomorrow, but she just wasn't doing well today so I took her in. Of course most of you know that we've fought some serious upper respiratory problems over the past couple of months and Nat has been very ill.... Since she hasn't responded as well as expected to the aggressive oxygen therapy and antibiotic treatments, has gone completely off her food again and won't even drink water on her own - and has lost another couple of ounces... they finally went ahead and did a chest x-ray this afternoon................... I thought that part of this may have been her reacting to the excitement of baby Gracie coming into her world.... but .... I guess I was wrong.... Well, I knew when they brought the surgeon in to "explain" things, with his drawings and "soft spokenness" that there were problems bigger than we all thought. Evidently, Natalie's chest x-ray shows an enlarged heart.... lots of gas and fluid around the heart and in the lungs..... I didn't hear much after that as I just started sobbing and went into a sort of hazey state.... I heard - "ultrasound", "surgery", "it's not necessarily an end-all" and "don't cry, we're going to do the very best we can for her"......... So, after 4 hours, we were headed home with more Clavomox and they are going to try Tetracycline - in the event the fluid in her lungs is because of infection that the combination of Clavomox & Baytril she's been on hasn't gotten rid of.... and a prescription for Lasix, to take the fluid off and around her heart and lungs.... (which I need to go pick up in a minute). So they say the next step is to schedule an ultrasound... which they don't do there, so they're working on some referrals. I know that some of the state universities have vet programs and will sometimes to some procedures and treatments at a more reasonable cost. My question is... how would I go about finding out more information to see if perhaps Natalie may qualify for such treatment??? I'm in Oklahoma.... so of course we have OU (but I don't think they have a vet program) and about 3 hours from OSU..... but I just don't know the first thing in how to go about it.... and didn't think about it until after I left the vet's office and they had closed for the evening. Has anyone had any experience with any of the above?? Any direction? Much needed advice?? Please continue praying for our sweet girl........... __________________ Dena,Gracie,Mia,Amelia, Kissy, Little Man Sebastian& the "York'ish Cecilia" ~ My precious Natalie Kaye, you will ALWAYS be in my heart ~ I LOVE YOU!!!

11-08-2007, 06:23 PM	#2
GinosMommy Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 2,161	Oh Dena! Much love and good thoughts for speedy and safe healing for baby natalie! Im sorry you are going through all this. Its so hard. Stay strong! BIG HUGS! Stacy __________________ Stacy, Mommy to: Bianca the Bichon 3-6-06, Gino the yorkie 3-15-07

11-08-2007, 06:25 PM	#3
Keno Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: people go to heaven for the climate, to he!! for the company. Mark Twain Posts: 657	i hope Natalie shows improvement ... she appears to be a fighter ... good luck! our thoughts are with you .... __________________ If you cannot be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

11-08-2007, 06:25 PM	#4
AngelWorks Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OC,NY Posts: 1,604	Oh dear---------warm and healing thoughts for you and your baby. __________________ Cill Dara Handcrafted - my esty shop Proud member of the CrAzYcLuB i am seeking, i am striving, i am in it with all my heart- Vincent Van Gogh

11-08-2007, 06:26 PM	#5
littlewhip My six pack Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: wiith my furbabys Posts: 7,823	Oh NO, Iam so so very sorry I dont have any anwsers for you but please know that little natalie and your family is in my prayers, I hope you can find a good hospital that can help your sweet girl, hugs to you both __________________ Charlie, Joey, Shy, Jasp,Molly Mae & Karleigh

11-08-2007, 06:30 PM	#6
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Jersey Posts: 6,691 Blog Entries: 1	i'm so sorry your going thru this. i know it can be expensive. call your vet back in the morning and talk to him about possible vet school options. if those are a no go, you're gonna have to take her to a specialist. You can apply for care credit, and if you don't qualify ask a parent to fill it out or co-sign. there are ways around it if you, yourself, do not qualify for whatever reason. Also the specialist may take payment plans but its unlikely based on the one i work for. Good luck and i hope her chest clears up soon. __________________ Kellie and Morgan Girls Soccer Team Goalie!!!!

11-08-2007, 06:32 PM	#7
Patti Donating YT 10000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 18,947	I would definately get her seen by specialists they have much more experience. When my last Yorkie Gracie had severe heart and lung problems from a collapsed trachea and I contacted by phone the Texas A& M university vet clinic and they were very nice and helpful. They sent me a research paper on a study the had done on collapsed trachea and the vet told me that in their opinion where Gracie's collapase was they wouldn't recommend surgery. So maybe you can try calling there to start. Good luck I know how terrible you must feel. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : Maya's Mom RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

11-08-2007, 06:32 PM	#8
nvnvgirl Lovin' to the MAX!! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yorkieville Posts: 2,714	Oh, Dena~ my heart is totally with you! I can't even imagine being in your place right now, and I hope I never have to know! I wish I knew anything about it, but I don't. All I can do is offer you my prayers and best wishes that sweet little Natalie will come thru this ok. I was SO happy last week when she was coming around....was it the infection that contributed to her enlarged heart? Gosh, I feel so badly for you; I wish I were closer to go with you to the vet's. I know how panicked I felt and how alone when Max was sick with pancreatitis and I was all by myself on a Friday night.....I wish I could do something to help, but I guess all I can do is pray for you and Natalie to be ok. You are doing everything you can for her, just know that in your heart and don't leave her if you don't have to. Seana __________________ Seana and Max and Madison too! Member of the Little Gentlemen's Club and Proud Member of the Spoiled Rotten Club

11-08-2007, 06:32 PM	#9
jencar98 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,955	OSU at Stillwater has one of the best schools for veterinary medicine. Your vet should be able to give you a referral to a doctor or specialist at the university. Hope you get some good new soon. Bless her little heart. __________________ ~Ruby & Reno~ http://okyorkierescue.org

11-08-2007, 06:39 PM	#10
erino77 Currently Suspended! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,503	Oh my, poor sweet Natalie. This is just heart wrenching. Many of prayers and positive thoughts coming to your precious baby for an easy recovery. Keep us updated. I agree she does seem like such a fighter.

11-08-2007, 06:45 PM	#11
laurenr Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 2,153	Oh my goodness Dena! I am so sorry you are going through this with little Natalie again! I wish I knew more about this condition, but sadly I don't, so all I can offer you is my full support. I do think that having the ultrasound as soon as possible is a very good idea. I know that Banfield is an excellent facility and did a Google search for a location in your area and found this: http://www.banfield.net/health/searc...&submit=submit Here is a copy of their info from their website: "Oklahoma City South (405) 682-8387 1417 W I-240 Service Road, Oklahoma City, OK, 73159" How stressful for you, and so sad that it is happening the same time as bringing little Gracie home. Please know that my thoughts are with you, Lauren __________________ Besotted Mama to Magical Mango and Granny Spanky - their Yorkie paw-prints cover my heart.

11-08-2007, 06:54 PM	#12
yorkiecrazy Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Houston area Posts: 2,456	Oh poor little baby...I'm so so sorry. Sending prayers your way. My heart goes out to you and little Natalie. GET WELL SOON NATALIE __________________ Jamie - Gracie's Katie's and Chloe's mom // Take a look - Designs By Villette : Phoebe 12/9/00 - 9/15/01 : Chloe 6/28/01 - 2/15/02

11-08-2007, 07:16 PM	#13
Tissy YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Starkville, Mississippi Posts: 387	I am so sorry she is still having problems....I can relate being owned by a tiny baby myself. They can get so sick so fast! I live near the Mississippi State Vet School and have been there on occasion with my bird, although they do not have an avian vet there they do have exotics vet. I called them when I was thinking of having Delilah spayed and having her baby teeth extracted. Well, they were higher than the area vets. You would think at a teaching facility that they would be happy to have the patients to teach their students and the prices would be more reasonable. Will be praying that Natalie will have a miraculous recovery! __________________ Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.