Please keep Zoey in your thoughts and prayers

[gemy]

Originally Posted by kjc

I believe the issue of 'length of hospitalization' and crate time directly correlates to the amount, size and number of adult heartworms in the heart and if also in the lungs, and movement of the dog increases heartrate and can push out too many dead adult heartworms at one time creating major blockages. When the dog is kept quiet, the adult HWs are more gently and gradually moved through the dog's system.

Thanks that was my logical understanding as well, and thanks for the link to the other thread. I will go there and review the information

You guys are the best!!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by gemy

Well the specialist appt went well. Xrays were good, and showed no obvious signs of worm infestation in either heart or lungs. And they want to repeat the antigen test for HW. So more blood was drawn. This doesn't mean that there are no worms only that she is very probably in the early stages of this disease with a light worm load.

Specialist is feeling that if all goes well, she will only need to be in the hospital for 2 days, but then home to 6wks of strict crate rest.

The catch is due to the short shelf life of the drug for treatment, they have to order it in for specific cases, and they quickly checked with their normal suppliers, who have none at the moment in stock. So as we are coming up to a long wkend here, he doesn't want to start the treatment just before the big exodus out of the city to cottage country. May 24 here is the typical wkend to open the cottage. He wants to make sure that if there is a complication all specilists are available; so we are probably looking at early next wk before she goes in for treatment.

So again we wait.

There was a couple of things I found somewhat concerning; namely I asked about whether he will test for the strain, and if he will participate in the research study by the American Heartworm Society by submitting a small vial of blood, as there appears to be a disease resistant strain mp3. He response; he didn't know of the study, he didn't know about mp3, and he said "at this point I know more about it than he does"! HUH?

He did go onto to say that he does not see a lot of heartworm infections, that Ontario is rather low in this disease.

Anyhoo that is it for now.

I missed your update....I am so happy for you and Zoey that the xrays look good and that you caught this early, and that she doesn't have to spend a week at the hospital.

I continue to pray for her.

[kjc]

This webcast runs thru the 22 this month... I don't know how technical it is but the topics sounded very pertinent:

https://secure.aahanet.org/eweb/dyna...1-f7b9bd3b1350

[gemy]

Originally Posted by kjc

This webcast runs thru the 22 this month... I don't know how technical it is but the topics sounded very pertinent:

https://secure.aahanet.org/eweb/dyna...1-f7b9bd3b1350

Thanks now I just have to figure out how to join the webcast. I have joined the AAA

[gemy]

So yesterday, Magic and Razz went to the general vet, both had blood draws done (full blood panel ordered), Razz got another shot, and Magic got panacept for a tiny infection.
Magic's back and hindquarters still seem to be strong, and Dr Jack was happy about that. He had a tiny cyst that was aspirated and it was benign.
Now we wait for their results; probably I won't have any until earliest Tues, more likely Wed. Knowing my luck, it will be at the same time I take Zoey into the hospital

I'm praying hard that my other two are all fine; particularly with respect to heartworm.

[gemy]

Just finished speaking with Dr Jack; the good news is Heartworm negative on both Magic and Razzle...Thank you \Lord and YT prayers.

But there were a couple of anomalies:

Razzle has no evidence of liver disease; but his T4 is low. We are going to get a T4 equilb dialysis done.

Magic has some "peculiar" results as follows:

Plasma protein elevated, in fact quite high. I was told this could be due to infection or some other disease process.
How-ever his WBC is normal.
Bilyrubin and Magnesium are also quite high.

Dr Jack's immediate thought was diet, mine too; how-ever all pups are on the same home cooked food.

We are bringing in today stool and urine samples for Magic.

So again step by step, day by day.

[lisaly]

I'm so glad about the heartworm results for both of your precious boys, but I am so sad that you have concerns about the other blood results. I pray for positive results for all of your babies and for the gift of good health, love, contentment, and happiness for you and your family for many years to come. Your furbabies are in the shelter of your loving arms and, with your infinite wisdom and protection, I know that they are in the very best of care. I continue to hold you and your babies in my heart and pray for their health.

[gemy]

Thank you Lisa. Dave is off to drop off stool and urine for Magic, he co-operated with another BM on our short walk, and of course got to love and mark those trees on route.

I am very happy right now with Dr Jack, he told me over the phone he rushed the lab testing through, as he didn't want me to worry a moment longer about heartworm!

But I could tell in his voice he was concerned about giving me some less than perfect news on their blood results.

I just said Oh Dr Jack, okay step by step, what's the best next thing to do?

As you know I am a firm believer in the best diagnostic tests. They can give clarity or at least rule out other things.

When I look at the energy level of my pups, see their clear eyes, good skin, healthy coats it is very hard for me to believe any one of them is actually "sick". But I do know in the early stages of any disease, any outward signs are minimal if at all. How-ever I do take heart that my pups have an overall excellent health and are best positioned to fight off disease or infection, with great medical care, and at home care and lots of love.

[kjc]

Keeping you and your crew in my prayers....

[gemy]

Originally Posted by kjc

Keeping you and your crew in my prayers....

Thank you

[Maximo]

I am so relieved for you to read that Magic and Razz' heartworm tests came back negative, and I am praying that the other test anomalies are indications of things easily remedied.

Keeping your entire family in my prayers.

[gemy]

Thank you Kristin.

[gemy]

Update:

Magic: Stool sample normal. Urine elevated Ph 9 Also a bit of protein in urine.
Next step: full liver panel Add Vit C 1500mg to daily diet now. Cut out vege treats.

Razzle: t4 equil dialysis reading is 9 Range is 8-40 So low normal
Next step: full thryoid panel + we will do BATS

Zoey: I've yet to hear from hospital... urgha.

[lisaly]

Your Razzle stole my heart the first time I saw the sparkle in his eyes, and I've grown to really care about his packmates, too. Your furbabies have you, and I believe that your love of them and the lengths you go to keep them healthy and safe will provide the best medicine of all for them. I wish I could take away some of your worries away. I continue to hold you and your family in my heart and prayers.

[Maximo]

Keeping Zoey and your family in my prayers. Sending positive thoughts for the diet changes to fix Magic's problem and for Razzle's tests to come back within the normal range. I know they will.

Do you have baseline tests on Razzle to compare? Having had thyroid problems myself, I know that few humans are "normal" have ideal thyroid functions. Almost everyone is a little low or a little high. I'm sure his BATs will be good.