Breathing Problems?

[infernostang69]

I'm new on here. I've searched for other threads similar, but haven't found anything, and I'm sorry, but I feel like I'm running out of time. I'm also sorry this is so long, but I'm freaking out a little bit now.

Everything started a couple of weeks ago. Our baby, Anastasia, had her first round of shots on Monday Sept 13th. At the time, she was a little over 10 weeks old. We were VERY reluctant to get them because she only weighed 1 lb 0.8 oz. She had been sneezing the week before her shots, but I thought it was allergies from her new food (she was born with a nervous disorder that she has since grown out of, so she was bottle fed for a while), so when I switched her food (I know it was bad to do suddenly) she quit sneezing, so I thought it was just allergies because Bil Jaks has corn in it (we switched her to Natural Balance - Duck allergy formula).

After her shots, she was soooo hyper. Running around, eating fine. Tuesday night, she didn't eat a whole lot. Wednesday morning, she was falling over, so we took her to the vet immediately. She was hypoglycemic, so they gave her sugar water, and said she might be coming down with something. They wanted us to continue giving her sugar water every once in a while.

Saturday after her shots, Sept 18th, she had been sneezing again the night before, so we took her to the vet. She had a slight temperature 102.6, so they put her on amoxicillin. She was up to 1 lb 1.5 oz then. She hasn't had much of an appetite at all since then. We took her to the vet Wed Sept 22, and they said she wasn't running a fever 99.7, so the amoxicillin must be working. We told him she seemed like she was having trouble chewing, swallowing, or breathing because she was making a really weird noise when she would chew. He looked her over and said she seemed fine to him, the noise was probably from her nose being stuffy. She had thrown up a few times, but it was just mucus (vet said that was normal since she had a cold).

She ate mushy foods for a few days, now she'll only do liquids. She seems like she's having trouble swallowing and breathing still. I called the vet Sat morning, Sept 25, but he said as long as she's eating something, he thought we should wait until today to bring her in. She was down to 13.5 oz on Fri, but I've been force feeding her now (liquids only) and she's back up to 14.5 oz. She tried to eat her solid foods the last two/three days, but she just chewed it up and couldn't swallow it. She is cutting teeth still, too.

So, when we took her in today, they said it seemed like she was having trouble breathing. We're like 'duh'. They kept her today on IVs and ran tests on her. She's too small to do a lot of tests. They said they think her liver is fine (no liver shunt - thank God because that's what I was afraid of), there's no signs of worms or parasites, but all of her blood work came back elevated. They couldn't get her to pee. I swear that she is potty trained on her potty pads, and they just had her in a cage with a heating pad, so they're freaking out because she didn't pee the whole time she was there - like 5 hours - so they think she has a kidney problem. They didn't feed her or give her anything to drink the whole time she was there. We told them she hadn't had much to drink this morning and we didn't feed her yet because we knew they'd be doing tests.

They kept the IV thing in her arm, and they want us to bring her back tomorrow to put her on an IV again all day. She's been walking around a little bit, even now with the IV thing in her leg, but she has been for the last 3 days. She's been more alert the last few days also, was peeing a lot because we've been keeping her hydrated until today, because they didn't (except the IV). She just seems to be having trouble breathing still. They did an xray and said there was a little bit of fluid in her lungs, but they think she has a kidney problem. My husband and I aren't vets or doctors, but are we missing something? If she's having trouble breathing and has fluid in her lungs, how is it a kidney problem? They want us to get a urine sample, but they left that stupid thing in her arm, and she can't squat with it in. The first thing she did when she got home was poo standing up.

We're thinking about getting a second opinion, or trying to get a urine sample and not let them have her again until they test it. Her urine has been clear. Wouldn't it be dark if she had a kidney problem? And, she hasn't peed since she's been home (because the vet didn't give her anything to drink). They also said that there is a really really small chance that she had a reaction to the shot. I had a ferret who died because his kidneys failed (renal failure) and they showed me the xray. You could see on the xrays that his kidneys were failing.

Any thoughts about what could be wrong with our baby? The vet is stumped, too. Could she have pneumonia? Her temperature was really low today, 98.6.

[Patti]

I am sorry your little one is not doing well. I would get her to another vet or an er facility that has more experience with little ones. It sounds like it could be pneumonia and that needs to be treated immediately. Do they think there is something wrong with her kidneys because of blood work results? I would get her in today as she is so tiny and they go down fast. Please keep us updated.

[infernostang69]

We took her to a different vet this morning. They think there is something wrong with her kidneys because of her kreatin (sp?) and BUN levels. The new vet is putting her on an IV and IV antibiotics. Her poor little eye was sealed shut from goo, like a cold in her eye.

My husband just got off the phone with them. This vet is talking with specialists. Ana is doing a little better now that they got her to eat and put her on an IV again today. Her kidney levels are still really off, and they don't know if it is reversible. Her kidneys aren't absorbing protein. If there is any hope, she'll be going to the specialist today.

Could her immunizations have caused this? She was perfectly fine before she got them. This vet think she was born with a kidney problem that is suddenly showing up now. My grandparents breed yorkies, and we got her from them, so I know that it shouldn't have anything to do with bad breeding.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by infernostang69

If she's having trouble breathing and has fluid in her lungs, how is it a kidney problem?

Any thoughts about what could be wrong with our baby? The vet is stumped, too. Could she have pneumonia? Her temperature was really low today, 98.6.

The kidneys play a *major* role in fluid management -- so, yes, fluid in the lungs can definitely be related to the kidneys.

What 'shot' / vaccine was given? Was kennel cough/bordetella given? The vet really shouldn't have given any vaccines if she had been sneezing previously. If her immune system was already vulnerable, the vaccine may have pushed it too far.

If this had progressed to pneumonia - her white blood cells should be elevated, she'd likely be 'coughing', and fever is often common. {paradoxically though, sometimes pneu can cause a lowered body temp...}

Are both BUN and creatinine elevated? Slightly, moderately, or severely?

[Patti]

I hope the new vets can get her feeling better. I had a yorkie that was born with congenital kidney failure and she didn't have any symptoms until she was 6 months old.
But if it is kidney disease a kidney specialist can do a lot to help them. I will keep her in my prayers.

[ladyjane]

I am so sorry little Anastasia is so ill. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.

[infernostang69]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

Ana is home right now. The new vet put her on an IV of fluids again today and an IV of broad spectrum antibiotics that is supposed to stay in her system for 14 days. I've never heard of anything like that. We have to feed her every two hours, special diet, and make sure she's getting plenty of fluids. Antibiotic eye drops twice a day.

This vet said that if she's going to fight it, she'll get better, but if it's hereditary, then there is nothing anyone can do. So, it's a wait and see again.

Ana had her Distemper, Adenovirus 2, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, and Coronavirus vaccinations.

Her white blood cells were elevated. Hemoglobin was low. Both her BUN and creatinine were severely elevated - like what you would see with renal failure that's why I've been freaking out.

I don't know if she's been 'coughing' now, she sounds like she's having a panic attack, then starts panting. She had been coughing last Fri night/early Sat, and that's why I had called the vet Sat morning, but he wanted to wait to see her until Mon. (He must have misunderstood or something because when he saw her Mon, he was freaking out about her breathing)

This new vet actually conferenced with specialists and said she has done everything that they recommended. She thinks that Ana is better off at home for now, unless she starts having complications.

Ana hates her bandage on her foot, and she doesn't want to sleep anymore, poor thing. Hopefully that's a good sign. I'll keep you all updated.

[ladyjane]

Yes, there are one dose antibiotics that are now used. They are great! That way you don't have to worry about getting all of the doses in to her.
Thank you for updating!
I will continue to keep little Ava, and you, in my thoughts and prayers.

[infernostang69]

I want to thank everyone again for all of your thoughts and prayers. I have to do this now or I'm not going to be able to.

My husband got up to feed her at 5 this morning, I got up, but he told me to go back bed. I guess after he fed her, she started having one of her breathing episodes, and then her heart just stopped while he was holding her. I guess I should thank God for taking the choice of euthanization away from us because I don't think I could go through that again. She is in God's hands now.

Anastasia "Peanut" Rushton 7/1/2010 - 9/29/2010

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by infernostang69

I want to thank everyone again for all of your thoughts and prayers. I have to do this now or I'm not going to be able to.

My husband got up to feed her at 5 this morning, I got up, but he told me to go back bed. I guess after he fed her, she started having one of her breathing episodes, and then her heart just stopped while he was holding her. I guess I should thank God for taking the choice of euthanization away from us because I don't think I could go through that again. She is in God's hands now.

Anastasia "Peanut" Rushton 7/1/2010 - 9/29/2010

I am so very sorry ! My thoughts are with you and your husband. RIP little Anastasia.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by infernostang69

I want to thank everyone again for all of your thoughts and prayers. I have to do this now or I'm not going to be able to.

My husband got up to feed her at 5 this morning, I got up, but he told me to go back bed. I guess after he fed her, she started having one of her breathing episodes, and then her heart just stopped while he was holding her. I guess I should thank God for taking the choice of euthanization away from us because I don't think I could go through that again. She is in God's hands now.

Anastasia "Peanut" Rushton 7/1/2010 - 9/29/2010

Ohhh I am SO sorry. Rest in peace Anastasia.

[Tinksmygirl]

I am so sorry. RIP Anastasia.

[Ladymom]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[megansmomma]

I am so sorry. RIP sweet baby girl

[roseslevi]

I am so very sorry for your loss, please accept my condolences.