Please pray for Fitzgerald - Page 4 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Anna Banana · 06-15-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

The only peace of mind I get with using petland's vet is that the vet office was around before petland ever opened and it's one of the larger ones in baton rouge (baton rouge folk, are you familiar with Sherwood South Animal Hospital?). There are 5 doctors there, and two of them I've met and they are very friendly and seem knowledgeable. With all the work they might have to do (if it's a liver shunt), it would cost more than I paid for the dog, and since petland is paying for it, I feel a bit better about that. The puppies might come from horrible horrible puppy mills, but perhaps the individual owners of these stores show a little more ethics in their customer service... just maybe...

Honestly, I think its just a company policy. Thank goodness it exists or a lot more people would be more heartbroken, and Petland would be richer.

Janie616 · 06-15-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Update:

The vet called me with this news: Fitzy's red cell count is up, GREAT!!!and there is no longer blood in his stools. They want to do one final blood test to see if it's a liver shunt. They will do it tomorrow, and if it is a liver shunt, they will remove it with surgery. He said that 75% of liver shunts are curable, and the other 25% are usually manageable with a diet. He also said that petland will take care of the bills.

that is very good of them, (covering the bills) .. you want YOUR Fitzy, not another pup ..
they should be responsible for the vet fees ...
our thoughts are with you and we hope for a speedy, permanent recovery ....

judyeve · 06-17-2007, 05:40 PM

Any news? Hug that little baby for me and Max please.

Yorkieluv · 06-17-2007, 06:46 PM

Did they do a bile acid test yet? What test is the vet going to do to determine whether or not it's an operable shunt? They should do a scintigraphy or portogram should because many times, ultrasounds are inconclusive...

wemple2 · 06-17-2007, 07:09 PM

Update on Fitz...Wondering how he's doing, and if there's any conclusive news yet?

GREENLEESNANA · 06-17-2007, 07:35 PM

Sending puppy get well wishes to you and he is on my prayer list!

xBUTTERCUPx · 06-17-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

The only peace of mind I get with using petland's vet is that the vet office was around before petland ever opened and it's one of the larger ones in baton rouge (baton rouge folk, are you familiar with Sherwood South Animal Hospital?). There are 5 doctors there, and two of them I've met and they are very friendly and seem knowledgeable. With all the work they might have to do (if it's a liver shunt), it would cost more than I paid for the dog, and since petland is paying for it, I feel a bit better about that. The puppies might come from horrible horrible puppy mills, but perhaps the individual owners of these stores show a little more ethics in their customer service... just maybe...

If it's the hospital off of Sherwood Forest Blvd then I know about it. My brother in law's gf takes her pets there and I've been with her a 3-4 times when I was visiting my husband's family and they are really nice and seems knowledgable. From what I've seen, they really care about every animal that step into their office.

Stephen · 06-18-2007, 07:03 AM

UPDATE:

Saturday morning, the vet did a bile acid test on Fitzy. The results will be coming to me in the next hour. He said 75% of shunts are operable and the rest are mostly manageable, so I'm trying to be optimistic.

In my opinion, Fitzy's back to normal. His poop looks normal and he's a little furry ball of energy again. We're upset at the original vet at this point because his first option was to put the dog to sleep and get another one. That was four days ago, and Fitzy is well again. Can you imagine if we had listened to that doctor?!?!

Yorkieluv · 06-18-2007, 10:03 AM

Geez, I know how you feel about that first vet...When Miko was a pup, the emergency vet told us that he wouldn't last through the night and refused to do a bile acid test...Well, here he is 3 yrs later

Stephen · 06-18-2007, 10:07 AM

well, I got the call.. It's a liver shunt, and they need to operate in the next couple of months. The bad news is that it's going to cost a pretty penny for this surgery ($1,500 or so) and Petland is going to cover about $500 of that cost (what I paid for the puppy minus $300 in previous vet bills).

Ida · 06-18-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SophieRose

Sending warm wishes to Fitz. Good to hear you saw the vet and he is also on worm medication. I have yet to have a poop specimen show worms. The only true test for me is that I examine and smell my pup's poop every time they go. Dontral Plus is very effective for all forms of those nasty worms.

Will watch for good news on his next visit. Sounds like you have a very good vet.

I hope Fitz is better soooooooon!!!!!!

Sorry - but I have to ask - Do you sniff your dogs poop everytime he/she goes?

Yorkieluv · 06-18-2007, 10:13 AM

I am sorry to hear that, but it's great news that it's an operable shunt. My baby's liver condition is inoperable and has to be maintained with special diet, lactulose, and supplements for the liver. Are you allowed to pick the vet that does the surgery? If so, I would definitely consider going to University of Tennessee...Dr. Karen Tobias is one of the best liver shunt vet in the nation. Did your vet prescribe a special diet for your baby? If not, you need to ask that they put your baby on Hill's L/D or Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14...Also, you should ask for lactulose and denosyl, especially if you're not going to be doing the surgery right away. But honestly, the surgery needs to be done as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more damaged the liver gets.

Also, I highly recommend that you join the liver shunt/mvd group on yahoo groups. The people on that group are extremely knowledgable about liver conditions and will help with any advice at all. Also their files section is very informative.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...d_MVD_Support/

wemple2 · 06-18-2007, 05:03 PM

Did they give the numbers on the bile acid test results? Curious, Winston just got his back, they don't seem terribly high so I assume this means no liver shunt??? Just wondered how high is high? My vet is waiting to "consult" with their specialist, hopefully I'll know more tomorrow...At least she's doing that much...Thanks.

Almost forgot, wish Fitz well...hope this can all be taken care of ASAP, and he'll have a long, happy, healthy life to follow!!!

SophieRose · 06-18-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ida

I hope Fitz is better soooooooon!!!!!!

Sorry - but I have to ask - Do you sniff your dogs poop everytime he/she goes?

Laughing because "yes, I do". Charlie is walked three times a day, and pick up his poop each time. It is a sure indicator if they are having tummy problems or worms.

judyeve · 06-23-2007, 07:53 AM

Thank goodness it's operable. I'd love to see what a 3rd vet would say if you could bring him the test results. I'm not that trusting of doctors, so I would want to be sure that Petland's vet has integrity. I'm sure he does, but just so you know that this is the real diagnosis.

Im sorry to be such a bummer. I just like to see all of the bases covered. I'm so glad you got a better diagnosis than that first vet!

06-17-2007, 05:40 PM	#48
judyeve Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,729	Any news? Hug that little baby for me and Max please. __________________ *Judy, Max and Annie* *Rest in Peace my Sweet Angel Gracie Leigh:*

06-17-2007, 06:46 PM	#49
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,178	Did they do a bile acid test yet? What test is the vet going to do to determine whether or not it's an operable shunt? They should do a scintigraphy or portogram should because many times, ultrasounds are inconclusive... __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

06-17-2007, 07:09 PM	#50
wemple2 Wee Winston Wiggles Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kewanee, Illinois Posts: 9,666	Update on Fitz...Wondering how he's doing, and if there's any conclusive news yet? __________________ As Ever, Kathy Intruducing Bentley Winston and Spencer: RIP My Sweet Angels

06-17-2007, 07:35 PM	#51
GREENLEESNANA YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: iowa Posts: 393	Sending puppy get well wishes to you and he is on my prayer list! __________________ Peggy {PrOuD NaNna to GrEEnlEE & Louee, and MommIE to PiXIe & GiA, MaTer & Gelee}

06-18-2007, 10:03 AM	#54
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,178	Geez, I know how you feel about that first vet...When Miko was a pup, the emergency vet told us that he wouldn't last through the night and refused to do a bile acid test...Well, here he is 3 yrs later __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

06-18-2007, 07:03 AM	#53
Stephen Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 37	UPDATE: Saturday morning, the vet did a bile acid test on Fitzy. The results will be coming to me in the next hour. He said 75% of shunts are operable and the rest are mostly manageable, so I'm trying to be optimistic. In my opinion, Fitzy's back to normal. His poop looks normal and he's a little furry ball of energy again. We're upset at the original vet at this point because his first option was to put the dog to sleep and get another one. That was four days ago, and Fitzy is well again. Can you imagine if we had listened to that doctor?!?!

06-18-2007, 10:07 AM	#55
Stephen Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 37	well, I got the call.. It's a liver shunt, and they need to operate in the next couple of months. The bad news is that it's going to cost a pretty penny for this surgery ($1,500 or so) and Petland is going to cover about $500 of that cost (what I paid for the puppy minus $300 in previous vet bills).

06-18-2007, 10:13 AM	#57
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,178	I am sorry to hear that, but it's great news that it's an operable shunt. My baby's liver condition is inoperable and has to be maintained with special diet, lactulose, and supplements for the liver. Are you allowed to pick the vet that does the surgery? If so, I would definitely consider going to University of Tennessee...Dr. Karen Tobias is one of the best liver shunt vet in the nation. Did your vet prescribe a special diet for your baby? If not, you need to ask that they put your baby on Hill's L/D or Royal Canin Hepatic LS 14...Also, you should ask for lactulose and denosyl, especially if you're not going to be doing the surgery right away. But honestly, the surgery needs to be done as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more damaged the liver gets. Also, I highly recommend that you join the liver shunt/mvd group on yahoo groups. The people on that group are extremely knowledgable about liver conditions and will help with any advice at all. Also their files section is very informative. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...d_MVD_Support/ __________________ Miko 's his Mommy Last edited by Yorkieluv; 06-18-2007 at 10:15 AM.

06-18-2007, 05:03 PM	#58
wemple2 Wee Winston Wiggles Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kewanee, Illinois Posts: 9,666	Did they give the numbers on the bile acid test results? Curious, Winston just got his back, they don't seem terribly high so I assume this means no liver shunt??? Just wondered how high is high? My vet is waiting to "consult" with their specialist, hopefully I'll know more tomorrow...At least she's doing that much...Thanks. Almost forgot, wish Fitz well...hope this can all be taken care of ASAP, and he'll have a long, happy, healthy life to follow!!! __________________ As Ever, Kathy Intruducing Bentley Winston and Spencer: RIP My Sweet Angels

06-23-2007, 07:53 AM	#60
judyeve Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,729	Thank goodness it's operable. I'd love to see what a 3rd vet would say if you could bring him the test results. I'm not that trusting of doctors, so I would want to be sure that Petland's vet has integrity. I'm sure he does, but just so you know that this is the real diagnosis. Im sorry to be such a bummer. I just like to see all of the bases covered. I'm so glad you got a better diagnosis than that first vet! __________________ *Judy, Max and Annie* *Rest in Peace my Sweet Angel Gracie Leigh:*