Oh my friends...so sorry I've been so unavailable these past few weeks.
On 11/11, on the drive back from our visit to Best Friends Animal Society - me and 3 gals from our rescue group found an emaciated German Shepherd about 1.5hrs NE of Flagstaff, AZ...in the middle of nowhere basically.
I just happened to be looking to be looking to the right while we were driving on Hwy 89, going 70mph, and between 2 small hills there was a small flat spot -- and there I saw just a *flash* of a dog's profile - just a fraction of a second! And I yelled out to the ladies in the car "There's a dogggggg!" -- and miraculously -- we caught this stray dog, whom we named Tucker.
Who was Tucker? He was the SWEETEST and gentlest and most loving little soul. He’d walk up to anyone – and run his forehead gently up against you or into your lap – to nuzzle, be petted, or to hide there, or to be hugged and whispered to. And he’d just stand there forever if you let him, just soaking it all up – whatever you were willing to give him. Wanting to be nurtured and loved and protected and wanted and seen and appreciated. That was Tucker.
In Flagstaff, we hospitalized him overnight - then drove him down to Phoenix with us the next day. To nutshell what happened btwn then and 12/3:
- severe emaciation (Vet could not give body condition of even 1..!)
- severe dehydration
- tick fever +
- severe anemia
- severe diarrhea (basically water)
- eventual diagnosis of pancreatitis (once GI panel results in)
- E-tube placed (so I could tube feed caloric/water needs from home)
- received subq fluids at home
- severe ascites developed (fluid in belly)
- abdominocentesis done twice (draining of belly fluids, horrible recovery!)
-
late diagnosis of PLN (serious kidney issue)
- saw multiple vets, 4-day hospitalization, Internist, 4-5 ER vets
Despite all of this, it truly seemed like he was going to make it - he was only 3yrs old!
And the tragedy was -- his early ascites (fluid in belly) was
solely attributed to GI (ie, emaciation, low protein/albumin). And in actuality, at that FIRST sign of ascites -- that Vet *should've* ALSO considered the kidneys as a cause of that ascites - done a simple urinalysis - and we may have had a PLN/kidney diagnosis extremely early on -- and gotten his ACE-inhibitor medication on-board to assist his kidneys immediately
.
Sadly, that was not the case. His PLN diagnosis was way too late -- his poor body already flooded with fluids, and the system to remove the flood was broken. And the ACE-inhibitor wasn't going to be therapeutic for 10-14 days. We didn't have days
.
On 12/1 (Friday night), was in ER - almost lost him - BP dove off at home bc belly had filled w/ SO much fluid, was obstructing abdominal perfusion. Belly drained 2nd time, IV fluids + IV steroids. Brought home that night. Went to his Vet Sat morning with rescue team - asking for Hail Mary / Last Resort plan -- really wasn't one. Added oral steroids, couple other things. Hoped for best.
He did okay mostly overnight. But Sunday 4am gums getting paler. I knew he wasn't holding blood pressure. I called my rescue gals - we knew it was time to let Tucker go...we could not put him thru any more, he was too weak. So, Sunday we had a service come to our house and he was surrounded by SO MUCH LOVE - me, husband Tony, 2 other gals, our doggies...candles, warmth, love....
We love you Tucker, we love you SO much! We so wish we could've gotten you the long life you deserved. You were precious beyond words, truly...
....