Quote:
Originally Posted by Scoobstersmom  My husband is afraid that waiting over a week to start treatment when she's already sick and has been so sick for a week is a really bad idea (I tend to think that, too, but I am SO afraid the steroids will kill her).
----------------
By the way, Dana, I just wanted to add that you are NOT waiting a week to start treatment. You are doing many appropriate things to help her. Fluids, antibiotics, ursodial, denamarin - that is all appropriate treatment for liver disease. The pancreas just has to heal on it's own, and the fluids will help. I would not push her to eat, especially if she's vomiting. If anything you can try a very small amount of over-cooked and very mushy rice or boiled white potato (no skin) pureed in a blender and fed by syringe. Give her just 5 ml and see if she holds that down. If she does, give her another 5 ml an hour or two later. And continue that through the day. If she's holding that down tomorrow, you can add a little baby meat chicken to the puree and increase the amount a little but keep feeding her the very small amounts frequently. She won't starve in a day or two and it will give her pancreas a chance to heal. Just make sure she stays well hydrated. The one thing you need to do is get your vet on board with treating her kidneys. Giving fluids and getting the phosphorous down and feeding a low phosphorous diet are the best things you can do for her kidneys. If she were mine and I did not see a huge and significant drop in the phosphorous by today, I would be pushing to add a phosphorous binder. Since the vet's office is probably closed on Sunday, I would also see about bringing her home with sub q fluids that you can give yourself at home.
Let us know what the numbers are today.
All the best,
Diana and Scooby |
I did not say she is waiting a week for treatment. I don't KNOW what is appropriate treatment. All I am suggesting is that if she were my pup, I would be at a 24 hour facility now. I have never heard of having to wait for one week to see a specialist with an extremely ill pup. In my experience, a very sick pup is seen immediately once referred and, if the situation is emergent, hospitalized and then a plan made. I have never spent more than approximately $3,000 to $5,000 for the ICU and appropriate testing; and usually the pup is discharged in about 3 days with a diagnosis and plan. Going back and forth to a general vet is expensive, not to mention stressful on the pup. I personally would never allow a vet to give fluids day after day and test day after day....Just me and how I do things. I am very fortunate to have excellent vet care in this area. I have learned a lot over the years of having very, very sick pups in my care. I won't even allow pancreatitis to be treated at my general vet as it can turn bad very quickly.
You and the OP seem to have become bonded so to speak; and you seem to think you know best what this pup needs, so I will bow out. I am not here to monitor this pup's lab values and care....I don't do that as I am not a vet and feel those things are best left to vets. I have voiced my opinions and shared my experiences. Nothing more for me to add except that I will pray for Bumble.