UPDATE -- Miss Kitty now home and much better!!
 

I am so choked up from reading all the kind and caring posts, I'm having to type through my tears. You people are wonderful, and I'm so thankful for all your advice--lots of it very detailed, very helpful, and extremely encouraging. I especially want to thank Dwerten for the many posts, with very specific and incredibly knowledgeable information about possible diagnoses.

I'll cut to the chase:

I was able to bring Miss Kitty home from the vet's today, after being on an IV from Saturday morning through today. Her blood work values were WAY, WAY, better today:

current BUN: 37 (down from 192. [Normal value is around 25].
(In a previous post, I reported her initial elevated BUN reading as being 400. I don't know where I came up with that figure. I apologize. This time, I had the presence of mind to write down the numbers, so I wouldn't get them mixed up.)

current Creatinine: 0.8 (down from 4.3) [Her current 0.8 is a normal value]

Talk about bouncing back!! As many of your posts suggested, she has fought back valiantly. I'm sure all the heartfelt prayers on her behalf, coming from this forum, helped her turn the corner.

The vet does think that Pancreatitis might be an issue (which is the diagnosis that just about everybody on this forum has been suggesting from the very beginning!!) The vet says we'll need to monitor her blood work for awhile before he can lock in that diagnosis positively. Although Dwerten's posts (and posts of others) gave me specific blood work values to inquire about which are indicative of Pancreatitis, I am ashamed to admit that I can't report on those blood work results. I was at work when the vet called today with the happy news that Miss Kitty was much better and could come home; I didn't have access to the posts in the forum telling me what Pancreatitis items to ask about in the blood work results; and I couldn't linger on the phone, getting all the blood work values, because my boss is not very understanding about personal calls. My husband picked Miss Kitty up from the vets (I so wanted to do that, but I couldn't get off work !!). Therefore, since it is hopeless for me to ask my husband to obtain that kind of information without a specific written list--the bottom line is that I wasn't able to get any more specific information from the vet today.

We are supposed to take Miss Kitty back to the vet on Thursday, for more blood work, and this time I'll be more prepared. Although I'll be sending my husband with Miss Kitty again (I still won't be able to take off work)--this time, I'll send a list of the "Pancreatitis-indicative items for him to ask about, so I can get the blood work results on those items and can report that information back to this very valuable forum.

She is very lively, just like "normal," but I can't believe how much weight she has lost since last Friday morning. If I thought she was frail and had no fat reserve before -- boy, she's a walking skeleton now. But what an appetite she's now showing, and hopefully, that walking skeleton appearance will disappear soon, if she keeps eating like she ate supper tonight!! The vet sent home low protein food for her (in case it is Pancreatitis she is suffering from). It is called Purina EN Gastroenteric Formula. The protein is 6.5% / crude fat is 3%. She scarfed her normal supper serving down in a heartbeat. By "normal," I mean that I gave her the amount I normally do--expecting her to eat a teaspoon or so, then have to be coaxed to eat another teaspoon or so, then turn her nose up at the 3/4 remaining. Instead, tonight, she finished the whole portion without any coaxing, then started sniffing around and under the food bowl trying to find "leavings." After watching her continue to do that for awhile, I decided that if she was that persistent, she must still be really hungry. I gave her another full portion. (I was afraid to give her too much -- afraid that she would start throwing up again, but she was so persistent, I couldn't help myself.) Anyway, she ate almost all of that second portion, then laid down for awhile, then got up and finished that portion. She has kept it all down for over an hour, so I think we're good --that she is not in danger of throwing it back up. She has never eaten that well, the whole time I've had her!!

Concerning your many posts about your fears that I was trusting my sweet Miss Kitty to an incompetent vet--I certainly believe your fears were warranted with respect to the FIRST vet I saw at the clinic. The first vet I saw there was young, inexperienced--but that doesn't excuse him for his failure to do any blood work, or take an x-ray when I first brought Miss Kitty in on Friday. That was totally irresponsible !! I don't think she would have gone so far down, if good vet treatment had been offered at that initial visit.

Anyway, all's well that ends well -- although I realize this hasn't "ended" and that Miss Kitty will need to be monitored very closely, probably for the rest of her (hopefully) very long life. I think I can trust the second vet I saw at the clinic--one of the top small animal vets there (there is one other vet at that clinic that's considered to be "his equal" or maybe slightly above him. Anyway, that second vet did all of the tests each of you were recommending, and I believe I can trust him to continue to treat Miss Kitty successfully.

In the event, however, I DO need a specialist for kidney malfunction, or Pancreatitis, does anyone care to suggest a specialist in the Tarrant County / Johnson County, Texas area?

I have to let Miss Kitty out to go potty, now, and then we're going to bed and cuddle and sleep. Thanks again for everyone's support. I am blown away by it.

I will of course keep everybody updated, in case there is more advice you'd care to give, about her continued treatment. I'll let you know more specifics about blood work, as soon as I have that information myself.

Take care to all, and to all a good night.

GREAT NEWS that she is home with you!!! Wonderful. It sounds like you're in better hands with this 2nd vet. As you already said, she'll have to have more care/monitoring going forward - but you're on top of it. :)

I'll leave it to the pancreatitis experts on here to give you further advice. I'm just so happy to read this positive update! :)

This is great news so happy and yes .8 for creatinine is normal as anything below .9 is good -- i am thinking bun was 40 not 400 but 40 is still high.

you need to have vet give you copies of all blood work and keep a file at home as i keep all tests and bloodwork in a file for each of my dogs so if i have to go to another vet they can see everything.

The test you need to ask if they did is cpli and tli and when they pull blood you need to pay for that add on definitely if they think it was pancreatitis.

It is a low fat diet not low protein diet. She is still a puppy so she needs protein -- the diets that are low fat are dd diets, purina ha is 8% fat, iams low residue, eukaneuba and sounds like that diet you have is low fat too. This is why she was not eating as it sounds like she was feeling sick as diet was too high in fat or she may have inflammatory bowel disease which triggered the pancreatitis so make sure she does not have any diet with potato in it as white potato is inflammatory and many dogs vomit on potato. Demi and dex both vomit on potato but dee dee can eat it.

Do not over feed so if she is hungry feed 3 times a day as you need to let her pancreas and tummy rest and over feeding can trigger it again so be careful. No treats ever again and no people food period - you need to get a year behind you before doing anything so only her dog food - PERIOD - if dogs get this then they are likely to get it very easily again so you have to be very strict. if they get it over and over they can get diabetes or epi and you do not want to give your dog insulin shots daily. This disease is very serious and 50% die from it. Do not be weak to those pretty brown eyes and give her anything. This disease is also very expensive to treat.

Only ask for that other vet and i would complain about the one who did not do proper protocol as they obviously need more training as when a dog is vomitting you immediately do xray then blood work even a new vet should know this and the fact that this vet gave your dog a steroid shot made the thing 10xs worse as the steroid inflamed the pancreas further so this vet could have killed your dog and i have been worried ever since your last post :( Also when pancreatitis you cannot have any meds, liquids, or food through the mouth for 48-72hrs and he sent you home with meds through mouth -- the reason you need to complain is this vet could hurt another dog sadly. New or not these are basics.

Please be very careful as my dex was home for one week and relapsed and it is not uncommon for them to relapse or get bacteria infections after having this so you are not completely out of the woods so be very careful. I would also recommend giving spring bottled water.

also the fact that this vet did not give you i/d by hills is a huge plus as most vets give that and that made dexter more sick as it has pork in it and specialty hospital said that this is the worse food for pancreatitis

i emailed my group with texas people on it to see best vet and specialty hospital in your county if they live in that county

the other thing that upsets me about first vet is every vet knows that pancreatitis is the worst at thanksgiving and if any vet knows yorkies they know they are prone to pancreatitis so the fact that this vet did not get a clue to this is beyond me :(

I am happy to read your baby is doing so much better.
I know how frightening it must have been for you. I have
been threw it and you feel helpless. Bless her little heart
and spirit to rally back. What a strong little one she is.
She will gain the weight back fast if she continues to eat.
Bud lost 2 1/2lbs. and gained even more back. LOL
Only best wishes for the future,


Hugs,

yep dex gained it all back and then some -lol - here is how skinny he got after pancreatitis :( in this pic

I am so glad Miss Kitty is feeling better and got to come home! :bravo:

It's very easy to get confused about bloodwork numbers when you are upset and worried about a sick pet. I always ask for a copy of all test results. I also keep this link bookmarked (or you can download a copy):

A typical blood chemistry panel usually includes

Dehydration can really skew bloodwork results. Lady had HGE a few months ago and they thought she might be in acute kidney failure from her numbers.

Elevated Amylase indicates pancreatitis. I'm surprised the first vet didn't pick up on that.

So glad to hear she is getting better YAY~YAY~YAY


...no more chicken liver (very dangerous to give in high amounts) and definitely no more deli meats (they are soooooooooooo bad to give, filled with so much sodium and preservatives)

Alot of dog food companies make 'toppers' - so when she is way way way better, you can look into some of those ;)

I am so happy your baby is doing better. My Dixie was diagnosed at 6 months with congenital kidney failure. Her kidney's never developed normally. Her bun was off the vets charts. I took her to a specialist (nephrologist) who thought he could help her but sadly her kidneys's were so underdeveloped nothing could be done. The specialist did an ultrasound which showed her kidney size and more complex tests. He said that he had many Yorkies in his care and they did really well for many years, so hopefully if your baby does have kidney problems they can be managed. I will keep her in my prayers.

i wouldn't use toppers with a pancreatic dog -- as toppers are gravy type things right?

How is she doing tonight ?

Oh no, not gravy like...

There is a company that makes 'dried' chicken pieces and it just crumbles to a dust and you can sprinkle alittle bit as a topper - Would that be ok for a pancreatic dog? :(

im glad your babys doing better bbut if you have doubts ask for another opinion before you leave the vet office! your paying for it they should do whats needed

yeah but i really would stick with natural foods so what i do is get organic chicken breast and bake one every 3 days and use that to entice demi but she does not have any pancreas issues but for dex i give him a couple pieces as treats but he has been good for 2 years before doing this. I think the best thing is if she can just ead her food and get a good 6 mos behind her then you are almost home free but always have to be very careful

UPDATE: comments on others' helpful posts; a question about Miss Kitty's management
 

Again, thanks to all who continue to offer advice on Miss Kitty's management post- what we all believe is an attack of Pancreatitis, although that hasn't been positively confirmed by the vet --as he still has other things to rule out (a Lepto test is supposed to be ready by Wednesday--that is my vet's last concern--that it could be that instead of Pancreatitis).

First, concerning everyone's continued speculation that perhaps a Thanksgiving guest surreptiously fed Miss Kitty something fatty--bringing on the attack of (probably) Pancreatititis--that's impossible, as we had no guests on Thanksgiving. We were packing for a temporary move / our old house sold / our new house is being built). But--the Royal Canin Babydog 30 which WAS her regular dry food (before the attack) has a very high fat content (20%). Not that she ever eats a lot of the dry, but some days she does choose that over the wet offerings I give her on the same plate (chicken or beef baby food / chicken liver, etc.). As I've posted, the night of the start of her sickness, she ate only chicken liver off her plate of four small offerings of her various foods (which always included the Royal Canin Babydog 30). However, a meal or two prior to the meal where she ate only the liver, I can't remember exactly when--she ate only the Royal Babydog 30--turning up her nose at the other offerings on her plate. (You will recall from prior postings that, due to her finicky eating--I had been giving her four different choices, each meal (each just a small portion)and that she rotated as to which was her "favorite of the day/meal"--and that she would eat one choice that particular meal, pretty much leaving all the rest almost entirely untouched. So, if anything caused the Pancreatitis attack (if that's what it was) then it was probably the Royal Canin Babydog 30, don't you think? That had, by far, the highest fat content of any of the other food offerings I ever offered her for consumption.

Next, concerning postings that I must never deviate from her vet-recommended food, so as to avoid future Pancreatitis attacks, I have to ask a question about the one treat I've been giving her to assist in training her to come, to sit, etc. Especially, I need a treat to reward her for coming--because otherwise, she plays "keep away" from me. (I keep a very light leash on her (while she is loose), when outside, so that, if I go to pick her up, and she starts the "keep away" game, I can simply step on the leash to stop her flight, then pick her up. But, I prefer to instead reward her WHEN she comes (and she's been getting better about it, knowing there's a treat at the end if she comes, then sits on command, and stays still so I can pick her up without "trapping her" with the leash). The lunch mean (Oscar Mayer) that I've previously used for the treat--the ONLY food that she never turns her nose up, are cut into miniscule slivers--I'm talking probably 50 to 75 pieces out of a single THIN slice of lunch meat. In fact, the pieces of ham are SO SMALL, that when I give a piece to my Corgi, after wolfing it down, she always immediately searches the ground to see if she dropped it -- she can't actually taste that she swallowed anything!! (I generally carry different, bigger size treats for rewarding my Corgi, while training outside.) Anway, the fat content for the ham, according to the packaging, is only 3% / the protein is 10% / the salt is less than 2%. Can I not continue to use that ham as the treat for outside potty breaks? In the past, I NEVER gave her more than 3 or 4 tiny slivers of ham per potty breaks (which generally come every 2 to 3 to 4 hours--depending on her requests to go out.) I only gave her those small portions BEFORE, to keep from spoiling her appetite at meal times. Now, I think it would do no harm to continue the same, very small treats, in training---and that it wouldn't endanger her in connection with possible future Pancreatitis attacks. There has to be some reward, in training--otherwise, where's the joy for her? If that ham is absolutely WRONG to give her (to manage the Pancreatitis), there is NOTHING I've discovered that is tasty enough that she would eat it everytime offered. Certainly none of the dog foods I've tried--including the vet-prescribed one, which she continues to eat inside, but turns down outside, if she has eaten within the last four hours or so. Any other suggestions? Remember, it has to be unbelievably palatable, or she won't continue to eat it--although she might eat it for a day or two. (Her appetite has slowed down, she's no longer wolfing down the vet-prescribed food, but she is continuing to eat a "life-sustainable" amount, at least.

Thanks, again, for the advice previously given, and hopefully, the advice that will come in as a result of this post.

No lunch meat at all.
Remember also, that fat content is with added moisture.
If you take the moisture out mathematically and convert the ham to a dry matter basis, the fat content is probably quite a bit higher than 3%. The same goes for canned and baby foods. Ham is one of the very worst foods to trigger pancreatitis. I would avoid it altogether. How is she with very lean chicken or very lean fish? Vegetables? Twenty percent fat is not a high fat diet at all. It is too high for her now but 18% is still considered low fat. Ellie's vet and nutritionist are fine with her being on an 18% diet after one acute case of pancreatitis. It depends on the vet and how the dog is doing. I would be nervous to continue wtih 20% food though and while she is recovering while you still aren't sure, it wouldn't be uncommon for the vet to use something with 5-10% fat.

Nicole, it depends on the fat content on a dry matter basis for the toppers.

Nope, no lunch meat. Ham and other pork products are key triggers for pancreatitis. A co-worker of mine almost lost her Yorkie Sugar after her dad slipped her a tiny piece of ham during brunch.

"If you feed table scraps or cook for your dog, be sure to avoid fatty foods such as gravy, bacon, ham, sausage, margarine or processed foods. Feed only unseasoned meats and leave out the veggies and fruit."

Pancreatitis

You do not want to chance another attack. While pancreatitis is scary enough, repeated bouts can cause the pancreas to stop producing insulin (diabetes). Lady has been a diabetic for seven years and trust me, you don't want to have to give Miss Kitty insulin shots twice a day for the rest of her life.

I wanted to edit my last post to say Ellie's vet and internist are fine with it, not her vet and nutritionist.

Ladymom, why no fruit and veggies?
High fiber is good for dogs with pancreatitis (I'm sure it depends on the type of veggies) and veggies are in most dog foods...

That was a quote form the article I linked to, but I read it to mean you should leave the fruits and veggies out to eat. But I think you may be right.

I have no idea why they would say not to feed fruits and veggies as long as they are cooked or the skin removed. :confused:

I just found this:

"Often dogs with diabetes can be prone to pancreatitis, and pancreatitis can lead to diabetes. In cases like these, it would also be a good idea to watch the amount of sugar in the diet. This would include high glycemic vegetables, fruits and honey."

Pancreatitis | B-Naturals.Com Newsletter

Now, that makes sense. I have to be careful about which fruits and veggies I feed Lady since she is diabetic. Green beans and blueberries are low on the glycemic index. Veggies like corn and peas are high as are many fruits. Watermelon, for instance, is the highest fruit on the glycemic index with a glycemic load of 72 compared to apples at 38.

Fruits Glycemic Index Food List from FIFTY 50

That makes sense.
The first one was a bit broad...don't give fruits and veggies and that wouldn't be good.

It seems fruit would be the most concern (since corn and pea aren't really veggies anyway).

It's amazing how many people consider corn, peas, lima beans, etc. a vegetable....my son, for instance! :)

lol, I know.
If corn is a veggie then rice is too.;)

And potatoes, too! :D

Miss Kitty -- I'm convinced -- no ham!! or other lunch meats for treats
 

First, I want to apologize--some of the posts saying "no lunch meat whatsoever, including ham" look like they were posted BEFORE my question asking "can I continue giving very tiny slivers of ham" -- and because of that, it appears that I am simply ignoring the very good advice given in this thread. However, those several posts saying "No--absolutely not" must have come in while I was writing my lengthy post, and I didn't see them before I submittted my "ham inquiry" -- in effect, passing in the mail the repetitive, and very smart advice to "nix the ham."

I think the suggestion of one poster that "baked chicken breast might be a good substitute treat" is a brilliant one -- I bet it will be the very treat that Miss Kitty will like well enough to allow me to use it as a training treat-- offering only tiny slivers, of course. I can't imagine that she would eat any veggies as her special treat--some of the foods she turns down smell so good and meaty that I would eat them !!

I guess I should stop posting these food questions here? Now that the dire emergency has passed, should I start a new link in the health and food forum for any additional questions I have? Right now, I'm all out of questions, all of you have been so thorough.

Tomorrow is Miss Kitty's next appointment. I'll be sending a copy of this thread with my husband with highlighted portions showing the pancreatitis markers to look for in the blood work (thanks Dwerten!!) so that my husband can ask specific questions about the new blood work results. I'll also make sure my husband brings home a copy of the results (as suggested in this thread), so I can start a file on Miss Kitty (and so I can post the complete results for everyone's inspection in this thread). I would love for this episode to have been a fluke, and that she'll be healthy for a long, long time into the future (since I'll be feeding her a low fat diet ever so carefully from now on). But, just in case, I'll have her current blood work results to compare against any new blood work that has to be taken, if she takes ill again.

So--to keep from "wearing out" this Emergency forum any further, I won't paste any more "food/diet-related questions". The last post from me in this thread (unless her new blood work is bad, perish the thought) will be Miss Kitty's blood work results from tomorrow's vet visit. If the results of the blood work are as good as I hope, I'll say a glad goodbye to this Emergency thread.

I can't help but repeat myself--all of you guys have done so much to assuage my worries and answer my many frantic questions. I'm so glad I wandered onto the forum. So is Miss Kitty, otherwise she might have been the "dearly departed Miss Kitty" by now. So many posters on this thread encouraged me to immediately take her back to the vet on Saturday (even though I had been sent home from the vet with meds on Friday), and even though she appeared to be getting better. It was because everyone was so aghast that no blood work had been done on her that propelled me from where I was "teetering back and forth" about whether I should take her back to the vet, or just "wait and see" for a day or so. If not for the advice of this forum, I might have done just that--waited for awhile. As it turns out, we took her back to the vet in the nick of time. I believe she would have died if she hadn't been taken back that very morning, and immediately placed on an IV. Now that's a scary thought--how close I came to losing her.

I don't want to jinx her by crowing about her recovery, but I do want all of you to know that I realize you all played a large part in that recovery (thus far). Hopefully, she will stay on this upward spiral. (Right now she's playing in my lap like a madwoman!!--she is such a kick when she's feeling good!)

I'll talk to all of you tomorrow, when I report on Miss Kitty's new blood work.

P.S. I love how polite this forum is--even when people have differing opinions. That is very rare on a web forum.

Also, look at lunch meat labels to see how much sodium and other processing there is in the food. It reads scarey enough for us (people) much less for a very small/toy dog.

Since this thread was started when your pup was sick or had an emergency, it's okay to keep it open and talk about food. If you'd rather get out of this section though and go somewhere happier, you could start a thread in health and diet. :)

so glad all is working out so well for your baby :) and so glad we could all help you as it makes me feel so good to know we were able to help a baby with what we learned the hard way it is like paying it forward :) you will have that chance to do the same for others too as we learn something every day that is for sure ---

i would continue to post food issues on this post because others will know it is pertaining to pancreatitis case by reading the whole thread as i would be concerned you post on a new thread and they do not know about the kidney values and the pancreatitis and give you a treat that could possibly harm her at such a vulnerable stage -- honestly I would stick to the baked chicken breast only and kibble but even now i would just do the food -- i only gave dex his food for a year after as i did not want to take any chances and i strongly suggest that of yours too as she is so little and it could re-occur easily so please just stick to her food and give her the food as a treat as they think it is a treat coming from your hand mine do so try that first as to fragile at this point and we do not want a relapse which can easily happen as dex relapsed 3 times so you are not entirely out of the woods so please be extremely cautious with her - spring bottled water as you want her drinking as much water as you can due to kidney values

i am so glad she is doing well and that you trusted us in taking her back and getting that blood work as some people may not have done that and it could have been to her detriment - better to be safe than sorry and you did the right thing :) I was so scared when you did not post over those few days i went into panic mode posting a ton of messages in case you popped in as i knew she would be ok with the right protocol and sounds like second vet had a clue so that is great

definitely no lunch meat due to sodium and fat content - one girl on here her dog had a tiny piece of pork chop and got pancreatitis - yours is so tiny it can take a tiny piece and it adds up in their system so it may not be the last meal but all the ones leading up to it. If she will absolutely not eat her food then go to costco and buy the organic chicken breasts and i freeze them in single baggies and defrost and bake on 350 for 40 minutes every 3 days as i think they only last 3 days in fridge after cooked and i dice up tiny pieces but they maybe get one or two tiny pieces - remember they are tiny dogs so what seems like a small amount to us is alot to them - but my first recommendation is nothing but dog food period - her pancreas and tummy needs to rest

Miss Kitty update -- sorry it's been so long coming
 

Dear all you wonderful Yorkie folks:

First, I apologize for waiting so long to post an update--but Miss Kitty's blood test values have been fluctuating so much, I couldn't bear to come here to post the results and get even more scared by hearing from posters with similar problems with their Yorkies. Okay, call me an ostrich hiding my head in the sand. For the present time, Miss Kitty is in a very good place, and I totally owe her health to all the good advice from the posters herein. I have not been giving Miss Kitty a smidgeon of food, except her recommended prescribed can food the vet gave me to feed her--and for training snacks outside--the poster who said "she'd think it was a treat because it came from my hand was right--she does accept the canned food as a treat (I had tried other normal doggie food as a treat from my hand, in the past, but she never would eat it if she had eaten a meal in the last several hours. With the current canned food, she likes it well enough that she'll always accept it as a "treat" out of my hand.) Thus, we have eliminated one of the worries--that I'll cause Miss Kitty health issues by giving her something I think is healthy, but is really not. Just canned prescribed dog food is good enough for both of us !!!

I am sorry to report I still haven't received:

"a cpli and tli add on for pancreatitis as the amylase and lipase will not be indicative of pancreatitis but the cpli and tli will tell you exactly if this is pancreatitis" as especially recommended by Dwerten.

In my defense, I printed out and sent Dwerten's post concerning this special testing WITH my husband during the very next vet visit (I work days/my husband works nights / my boss is an ogre about letting me off to take my dog to the vet--so my husband Casey is generally elected to make the vet visits without me). However, while my husband was at the vet's, he learned that the head vet I've been using was out of the office attending a seminar. One of the younger vets was elected to check Miss Kitty (my husband didn't know to ask for a higher level vet). That vet talked my husband out of any more blood work / tests at that point--since Miss Kitty "was so obviously feeling better." A few hours after my husband left the vet's office on that day, I called the vet to find out blood work, and when I learned that no blood work had been done, I almost lost it. I eventually talked to the vet who had made the decision not to test, and he literally begged me not to chew my husband out when I got home--took total responsibility for talking my husband out of more blood work. I explained to him how vital blood work monitoring was, because Miss Kitty can quite literally be "top of the morning" one day, and puking her guts out and refusing to eat the next--and that the head vet had RECOMMENDED that we absolutely get blood work.

Then--for the next visit, my husband had lost the printed copy of the post from Dwerten containing the very informed recommendations for "a cpli and tli add on for pancreatitis"--and I certainly couldn't remember what that extra blood work is called off the top of my head. (I couldn't check this forum, because we had my laptop packed away (moving). So, just the normal blood work was done. Ditto for the next visit -- we were still moving, couldn't access Internet to retrieve Dwerten information about special testing.

So, I'm stupid. Now that I've unpacked my laptop, obtained phone service so I could check this forum, and looked at the blood work we've been routinely receiving on Miss Kitty and realizing that Dwerten's recommended testing has not yet been done, I feel totally inadequate.

Here's the testing that has been done, and for the most part, I'm giving only today's values. (At the end of this post, I'll give the history of the BUN and Creatinine levels that are indicators of possible kidney malfunction.)

WBC 8.5 (normal= 6.0 to 17.0)

LYMF 4.6 (normal =1.2 to 5.0)
GRAN 3.1 (normal =3.5 to 12)
MONO 0.8 (normal = 0.3 to 1.5)

(three directly above also shown in percentages, as follows below:

LYMF 54.7% (normal =0.0 % to 99.9%)
GRAN=36.7% (normal =0.0 % to 99.9%)
MONO 8.6% (normal = 0.0 to 99.9)

HCT 39.6% (normal = 37% to 55%)
MCV 61.1 (normal =60.0 to 72.0 )
RBC 6.48 (normal = 5.50 to 8.50 )
HGB 13.4 (normal = 12.0 to 18.0)
MCH 20.6 (normal = 19.5 to 24.5)
MCHC 33.8 (normal = 32.0 to 38.0)
RDW% 21.3 (normal = 12.0 to 21.0)
MPV 9.9 (normal =6.1 to 10.1)
PLT 110 (normal = 200 to 500)

The following testing doesn't say what is normal, but only shows a marker if something is ABNORMAL:

GLU 84 mg/dl
ALP 216 IU/L (MILD ELEVATION -- insignificant, per vet)
T-PRO 6.4 g/dl
ALT under 10 IU/L
ALB 2.8 g/dl
T-Bil under 0.2 mg/dl
Amy-W 672 IU/dl

All of those were today's results.

The following is the history of her BUN and Creatitine tests:

BUN (normal: 9 to 26)
11/29/08 195
12/01/08 37 (after being kept over weekend and being given IVs)
12/09/08 39
12/16/08 29

CREATITINE (normal: 0.5 to 1.6)
11/29/08 4.3
12/01/08 0.8 (after being kept over weekend and being given IVs)
12/09/08 2.3
12/16/08 2.1

The Lepto testing is being repeated, because last tests showed low "positive" on a couple of Lepto markers. HERE's where it gets interesting. On one of the vet visits (when main vet was at seminar), vet told Casey to "check to see whether breeder gave Lepto virus, this could explain why Lepto was showing low positive. We called breeder, she said she would never give that vaccine to puppies as small / young as mine -- and wouldn't give it to older Yorkies unless there was an active outbreak in the area -- due to the fact that Yorkies have historically had bad reactions/including kidney damage, due to the vaccines. (According to my reading, current Fort Dodge vaccines are supposed to be better, but not all vets are using the "less problematic" Fort Dodge vaccines. When we reported back to the vet that breeder hadn't given Lepto shot, he looked in file, and it showed that FIRST vet (before I got the main vet) had given the Lepto vaccine. When my "main vet" quizzed first vet about the vaccine, that vet said he would never "give Lepto to a small/young Yorkie puppy, and that it must be an error in her file. (Can we say COVERUP ??) I'm highly skeptical about first vet's answer--she probably did receive Lepto vaccine from that moron--he's the one that sent her home without any blood work, and after having given her a Cortisone shot that would be totally contraindicated if Pancreatitis was the diagnosis--which we didn't know at that point (and still don't know, really). Anyway, since I can't prove the first vet gave the Lepto shot--I'm instead moving on toward treatment (cure), not playing the blame game.

It's ridiculous and embarrassing that I've continued to have all this testing, and have forgotten to get the key Pancreatitis testing. I'm not horribly worried about Miss Kitty at this point -- her BUN and Creatitine levels continue to fluctuate up and down, slightly above normal levels.

I would take her straight back in for the Pancreatitis bloodwork, but today's vet bill was $195, and I've been spending anywhere from $95 to $600 (weekend stay at vet) every WEEK since Miss Kitty first was taken ill. The till is empty right now. I'll have to wait for her next scheduled testing in a month, then put my foot down about specific Pancreatitis blood work. Of course, if she doesn't continue to thrive (eating very well / very active) -- we'll be back in sooner. Right now, she is more "normal" than she ever has been--meaning that, besides being very active and alert, as she always was before she got sick, she now has a good appetite for almost every meal. That, in itself, is a miracle !!!

Since the food prescribed for her is equally good for kidney problems / Pancreatitis problems (both low fat AND low protein), I believe we're okay waiting the month to get the Pancreatitis testing. Anybody disagree?

Thanks for your patience in reading this overlength post. I suppose I've proven that I know no other way of posting.

Everybody give their Yorkies a special hug from me. They are truly God's gifts to us.

Take care.