High Protein & High White Cell Count
 

This morning, my tiny Kia did not get up at her usual time. I get up at 5:30 each morning to get ready for mass, and she usually squeaks and lets me know around 6:45, that she is ready to get up, too.

I was in and out of my bedroom, as I was getting dressed and I noticed she was really sleeping.

Finally, around 7:20, before I was going to leave, I went in and leaned over her, and asked her if she was ready to get up.

She didn't even lift her head. I gently lifted her into my arms, and she was soaked in urine. She never wets the bed. She had lost control of her bladder.

I offered her breakfast; her favorite food, she refused it.

I called the Vets office at 8:30 and they said my Vet was in surgery, but bring her in and another Vet would examine her, and my Vet would be available for a consult.

Kia couldn't put her weight on her front paws. She couldn't walk across the exam table. The Vet observed a head tilt and leaning to one side.

She said she suspected it is neurological. She ordered a Geriatric profile since Kia is almost 10 and 1/2 years old. She weighs 4#s.

She said it could also be an infection.

Her heart rate was normal, so was her temp.

The Vet checked her ears, but was unable to get the scope down deep enough to see the eardrum in one ear. She has tiny ear canals. My regular Vet can do it.

She offered me two options: hospitalize her and let the Vet observe her, or let her give Kia intravenous fluids to prevent hydration and take her home and observe her myself.

I opted to have her give Kia the fluids, and bring her home. She would have been terrified to remain there.

As soon as she was given the fluids, Kia was able to follow me back and forth across the exam room 6 times.

The Vet prescribed Clavamox and Prednisolone.

We brought her home and she immediately gobbled down 3 T's of her favorite food, and around noon, she asked for her cookie. And then she wanted to take a long walk around my property, checking under every tree and bush for bunnies.

We took a nap on the couch together, and when we woke, she demanded her dinner and ate it all, and asked for more.

The Vet called this evening, and said her protein and white cell counts are high, and wants her to finish the meds and be re-evaluated then.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Sheila

Sheila, I cant give you advise about this but lots of support and prayer. You are such a giving person and a true animal lover. I hope all goes well for you guys....Lissette

Lissette,

Your support and prayers are even more important than advice right now. Thank you so much, and thank you for the kind words.

Kia seems perfectly fine, but I am skipping morning mass for a few days just to be on the safe side. My DH is retired, and he watches her, but I just feel better, being here with her.

Sheila

Oh Sheila, my gosh. How scary that must've been to see your baby in that condition. The high WBCs could be from infection, did she have a fever at all? Interesting that she bounced back so quickly like that. I mean, it kind of sounds like she became dehydrated and/or hypoglycemic...perhaps due to this possible "infection", but I'm really just guessing here. If she had an ear infection, I'd *think* she would have had nausea, but who knows. Just thinking out loud, mostly.

At any rate, I will keep her in my thoughts and please do update us on how she is doing. HUGS to little Kia. :)

Ann,

Believe me, I was terrified. She was so still and limp. No fever at all. Yes, you're right, the Vet did mention an infection. She mentioned brain. I wish my regular Vet had not been in surgery, I would have liked him to look inside the ear canal this Vet couldn't get the scope down inside.

I smelled her ears, before I took her in to the Vet, and they smelled good.

Thanks for your thoughts.

She seems fine this morning; ready to get up this morning; ate her breakfast very well. But I will be skipping mass for awhile.

I will definitely keep you updated.

Sheila

Just thought of this...and doubt it's this...but do you think she could've been bitten by anything?

Gosh I hope she is okay. My heart was in my throat reading your description, guessing how I would've felt if that happened. It is very hopeful that she may be bouncing back already. Lots of good thoughts coming your way. :)

Yes, Ann, actually, she had been bitten by a tick the week before Mother's Day and I told the Vet, and she said she could have contracted a tick-borne disease, but after the test results were back, she ruled it out.

We found the tick immediately after it attached and removed it before it had a chance to feed, but still, they can gt the diseases just from the bite.

She seems to be bouncing back, but I won't relax until my regular Vet evaluates her. He has treated her since she was a puppy and he knows her very well.

Believe me, if I observe even the smallest change in her, she will be right back at the Vet's.

As we drove the 15 minutes the the Vet's office, I was so afraid we we going to lose her.

This shows the importance of having a long term relationship wit your Vet's office and never, "waiting it out".

Thank you so much for the good thoughts.

Sheila

Sheila, the raised white cell counts indicate that her body is fighting some sort of infection. The meds may have been the right ones for whatever she had.

Hi, Baron.

I decided to clean Kia's ears, as I was concerned that the Vet was not able to get the scope down, deep enough to visualize the ear drum. Sure enough, when I cleaned that ear, Kia fought to pull her little head away from me.

So, I called the Vet, and she agreed, Kia has an ear infection and she said the meds will clear it up.

Thanks for your input.

That loud noise you hear is my sigh of relief!

This baby had me scared half to death!

Sheila

Sheila,
As soon as I read "ear infection" I let out my own sigh of relief! What a scary experience to go through with your precious baby. I am so glad she is going to be ok.
Honestly, I would have completey come unglued if I found my Suzi in that kind of condtion. How heartbreaking.
I hope the antibiotics take care of the infection and Kia will be just fine in know time!

Thank you. It truly was a scary experience! I am still shaky today. When I picked her up and she was so limp, I knew either she had gone hypoglycemic or something else was terribly wrong,

When she refused food, I knew she had to get to the Vet, NOW.

There's never time to hesitate with these babies.

But Lord, I've aged 10 years!

She's back to barking when my text message rings. :)

Sheila

I'm so happy your baby is doing better! I'll keep her in my prayers. Sending you both healing and peace.

Nadezda & Lulu

Thank you so much! And thank you for the healing and peace. My hands still shake as I type today.

Sheila

Sheila I am so glad Kia is doing better. I know how scared you must have been. You are so right about having a vet who knows them and you. I will keep her in my prayers. I still have he pictures on my computer she is just beautiful.

Ok, that would have sent me over the edge!
What a horrible feeling to have found her like that.
My heart goes out to you.
However I am sure knowing that it is an ear infection and that they are treating it gives you a huge sense of relief.
Thank goodness!!:thumbup:

Patti, thank you so much. You know what Kia means to me. She is my world.
Thank you for the prayers. I believe the prayers everyone has been saying is really what has made the difference.

She is still just as beautiful!

Hugs,
Sheila

Believe me, I was terrified! And on the way over to the Vet, to have her so still and quiet in my arms, I was so afraid I was going to lose her.

I am so relieved it was not neurological as the Vet had thought at first.

Thank you so much!

Sheila

How's she doing, Sheila? Hope she is feeling better and better. :)

Ann,

Thank God, she is doing very well! She insisted on getting up with me at 5:30 this morning, and sat in her stroller in the bathroom while I showered.

She shared my oatmeal with me, before I went to mass.

And I called Rich when I got out of church and he said she ate her breakfast very well.

She just took her meds, and she takes them so sweetly.

Thanks for asking, Ann.

Sheila

Oh Sheila I am so relieved after reading this entire thread that pretty Miss Kia is doing well. I have a sick baby too and know how it feels when they are sick..your heart just sinks.

Keep us posted on how she is doing.

Thank you, Cyndi. I will feel much better, when her regular Vet re-evaluates her on the 16th.

How is your baby doing now?

It really is the worst feeling in the world when they are sick.

I lost my first Yorkie to renal failure, and when I saw Kia laying in urine, my first thought was her kidneys.

Sheila

Shelia I am just now seeing this thread. Im glad your Kia is doing better. What a scare you had!

Thank you, Lisa. I'll tell you I was so afraid I was going to lose her. I finally felt safe enough to leave her with Daddy this morning and go back to mass.

Sheila

Oh, Sheila, I'm so happy to hear your baby is doing better, and that you can attend mass — it's so important that you receive the spiritual support that you need, in order for you to be able to support your little one!
May St. Francis bless both of you with full healing!!!

Thank you, so much! I was very happy to return to morning mass, after missing two mornings. I attend mass every morning. I am a Eucharistic Minister in the Catholic Church.

This morning at Intercessions, I thanked the Lord, for the blessings He bestowed on Kia this week, and asked Him to grant her a full life,

St. Francis is my favorite Saint! All of my 35 years of Orphaned Wildlife Rehab, I credit him with my successes, as I always prayed to him.

So, I thank you for the blessings of St. Francis.

Sheila

Oh I am so relieved Kia is doing better. i will keep her in my prayers!

Thank you, Patti. Kia is doing so well, that we are thinking of taking a trip on Sunday evening, since our Pastor wil be on vacation next week.

I am amazed at how well she is doing now!

Thank you for keeping her in your prayers.

Sheila