Just checking in on Cali & then read your last post. Hopefully you have found out what was going on with her from vet by now & it is just a simple bug she picked up or something. I so hope to hear soon she is doing better.

UPDATE: She's eating OK but has a finicky appetite. That's just not normal for being on a steriod but it could be the other meds ruining her appetite. Speaking of...the good news on weaning all these meds. Tomorrow she gets Dilantin just once a day over the next week. Then we'll be doing every other day for 2 weeks, then done...YEA!!! She only has 2 days of tramadol left...YEA!!! Then she'll just be getting: Valium Q8 hrs, Prednisolone twice daily, Famotidine once daily. When we go back for our 4 week check, they are going to wean the Prednisolone and the famotidine goes with it.

We are going to our regular vet next Monday 4/30/12 so he can draw liver enzymes. Also, we bring her Wednesday to meet with a PT and I'm going to ask about getting a scan on her. There is just no reason for her to be so skinny at this point. I worry about a tumor or something...wow, what our minds do to us. Don't worry KJC, I've been in close contact with my vet and he thinks her problem is the meds.

We've had to resort to using American Cheese to stuff the pills since she has an aversion now to: Peanut butter, Duck pill pockets, Beef pill pockets. We are running out of options, LOL! She has discovered we are putting pills in them and she flat out refuses them. She's such a smart little puppy.

I did meds with one of my dogs for about 4 years. We wore out peanutbutter,any flavor pill pocket and american cheese. I resorted to chic sticks,shredded chicken wrapped around the pills,even hotdog. However he was a big dog and his tummy could tolerate foods that my little dogs cannt. Just some other ideas,you would need to check the ingredient list and fat content before using them.

my prayers are with you and your baby. Good luck

UPDATE: OMG-OMG I'm so excited! For the first time in 2 months Cali tried to scratch using her back legs!!!!! How we take those small things for granted yet it brought me such joy today! She has been completely unable to scratch at all, anywhere. I try to do it for her but I know she misses it. Well today, sitting on her pad on the floor she was cleaning her feet (she can't clean her privates though)....anyway, she actually made the motion of repetitive scratching with her back legs. I jumped up and scratched her neck and head for her. She loved it!!!

Another note: she actually took some beef pill pockets earlier. I didn't put pills in them, just gave them as a treat and she ate about 4 little balls. It helps that Mia gobbles them down right in front of Cali.

Anyway, just wanted to share the good news!

SOOOOOOOO awesome to hear!!!

that's really positive progress!!!!

Thanks for the update. i'm think of you guys all the time, so happy that you have something postive to hold onto.


she is such a fighter!:D

Give Cali a lynzy420 kiss, I think of her everyday...I so hope she gets better soon, you are great caretakers and I totally get the pillpocket thing! omg too funny! Miss Mini is on to this as well!

I have found an oldie but goodie thats been working though, a big gop of NUTRACAL - which probably would even be good for her at this point??
Also, I saw Nutracal for adult dogs the other day as well...I don't know if its something Cali could try.

Please keep us posted! Team Cali....go Cali go!

Glad to hear the wonderful update! What a rocky road you have been on. Keep it up with the positive updates:)

OH MY GOD!!! YAY!!!!! GO CALI, GO CALI! I somehow missed this before I posted! This is wonderful news thank you so much for sharing!!!

AWESOME....AND (its ok if she can't clean the privates, eh hem...just more pure kisses!!!!)))

((((((PINKDOG)))))))))

I needed to hear this good news!! I am very happy for you!!!!!!!! :D:D:D:D:D

I am so happy for you and Cali!!! It must have been a beautiful sight for you to see. :) Keep the great news coming!

On our way to PT right now. I will let everyone know an update when I get back.

I love reading the good news about precious Cali!!! She is such a strong lil' girl. I'm so glad she got a good report from MSU. I hope things go great at the PT appt. today. We're keeping Miss Cali and family in our thoughts and prayers!!! We are scheduled to take Dessa back there in 2 weeks for a check up. That place is AMAZING and has been such a Blessing!!! The people there are wonderful!!! I am still so thankful for this site. I don't know what I would have done without it. Sending Hugs and Kisses to Cali!!!

UPDATE: PT officially begins on Monday. I'm very excited about the place where we are bringing Cali. They will likely start her on water therapy just to build strength in her legs. We are going to take things slow with her. Next I'd like to get her to a chiropractor. She is taking her meds better now that I've added cheese to our repetoire. I just rotate the different treats. She still feels so bony to me so I'm going to have our regular vet recommend some hi-cal food. She has an appt Saturday with regular vet for blood draws to check liver.

Here is the place where we are taking her for PT (LOVE IT) and they are all from MSU! Click PLAY: Hospital Video - South Paws Veterinary Surgical Specialists

I feel the same way...about MSU and this forum! We go back in about 3 weeks. I hope Dessa is doing well can keeps improving.

I just wanted to say that I've read through your entire thread about all that your poor little Calli has been through. I'm so happy to hear that she's been improving and will keep her in my prayers.

Also, I wanted to say she's so lucky to have you as her mom. You've been doing such an amazing job looking after her care. I think that the physio and chiropractor should be very beneficial to help improve her motor skills and function.

She's such a sweetheart. Thanks for keeping everyone updated on Calli.

That's a great hospital. When I lived in Hammond my vet recommended LSU or South Paws. Let us know how it goes.

I use Gerber's Stage 2 Chicken Baby food to pill my dogs... bait and switch method. Two licks of baby food, then hide the pill, then two more quickly behind it. I also add the babyfood as an appetite stimulant when needed to their food. This was what we used at the vet hospital for all the dogs and kitties too.

I do not use any other flavors of baby food, as some of the dinner types contain onion powder. Turkey is higher in purines than chicken, ham is not recommended for Yorkies, and lamb can be too rich for sick pups.

Hi, I have been reading through the posts and am so glad Cali is feeling better. I wanted to suggest you try for pilling - sardine - sounds gross but I give my Enzo (6 year old male) 1tsp of Sardine daily - instead of a fish oil supplement, my vet believes in whole foods. Enzo gets 4 tiny pills a day for his seizures - chinese medicine, not conventional - and I just wrap them in sardine and he gobbles right up! That is his treat.

I have had great success with getting Enzo spinal/chiropractic adjustments - my Vet specializies in Chinese medicine and she can tell what is ailing a dog just by adjusting them. Enzo's no longer throws up (used to once or twice a week) and we are also treating his seizures with laser therapy - incredible! Laser therapy works at the cellular level and can treat all sorts of ailments. My vet also does accupuncture which is amazing too but decided to treat the seizures by laser. He has been seizure free since February 20th - just want to get the message out there that alternative therapies can not only help but CURE. You just have to do some research to see what is out there! Anyone interested in laser treatment - google "Erchonia laser", find their website and see if there are any vets in your area that treat with it. I travel almost two hours every other week for the treatments but so worth it in my book.

Hope for Cali's continued success!

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone!

As Cali is coming off her Dilantin, I feel that her legs are getting looser (if that's a word, LOL). When she flexes the back legs, they are really stiff. But when she relaxes them, they feel really loose. I think this is a good thing.

Next up: blood draw on Saturday. Hopefully my vet will change her food to a hi-cal option. Then Monday she starts PT! :)

Oh this sounds like such good news that her leg's are getting looser. Hope her blood work is all good.
Prayers still continue for Cali.

wow what a story! i just am now reading your thread and i must say you and ur family have had quite the journey. i am so glad that Cali is showing vast signs of improvement. You are such good parents. I will be keeping Cali in my thoughts for a full recovery. she sounds like a strong lil fighter who loves life! keep up the good work Cali! much love and hugs and kisses to you.

I am very happy to read of Cali's continued improvement. She is in great hands with you. :)

UPDATE: PT starting tomorrow morning. We will be starting off slow. Tomorrow is her first day without Dilantin as she is going to 7 final doses of every other day. I also get her lab results back. My vet said he woud recommned the amino acids mentioned here (thanks YTers!) in order to support her liver. He was slightly upset that we didn't know she was in liver failure although he has the utmost faith in MSU (and so do we). He is extremely glad they are weaning the meds and said the Prednisolone could be affecting her liver as well. She is such a happy little dog and never lets on that she's sick. My vet said the 2 days she vomitted were likely "sick liver" days but she is doing well now. She is 5# but he just wants us to feed her more of her regular food. We are doing 3X day now (plus treats).

I'll let everyone know what happens tomorrow after PT and the blood results.

P.S. I have a great idea for YT to make money for those on here that can't afford medical care for their yorkie babies...does anyone know who I should correspond with? My idea is sort of a donation thing when a yorkie passes (we can donate in honor of that baby) but more so for threads like mine. I could submit a photo of Cali and shirts could be made with a saying (mine would be "Team Cali" since you wonderful posters came up with that). Anyway, people here could buy a shirt and the proceeds could go to an account for those in need when their babies are ill. I would buy shirts with all of these beautiful yorkies from this forum for sure. What do all of you think? Just a thought...Thanks!

Best of Luck and Prayers for great results tomorrow!

UPDATE: PT went very well today. She did 6 minutes on the water treadmill (see pics below) and I don't think she is sore. She is getting bloated (I think from eating too fast) but this doesn't happen on a consistent basis. My vet called today and her liver enzymes are coming down and albumin up a tad. However, he ran her thyroid hormones and found them to be low. Tomorrow he will get her TSH back to see if she is truly hypothyroid. If she is, he thinks she may be having limb weakness from that. My little "puzzle pup" is hopefully getting put back together piece by piece. I so appreciate the cont'd prayers as I have moments of weakness....like now when she is bloated and uncomfortable.

Anyway, here ya go:
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Attachment 368224

She doesn't look to be afraid at all. I can't remember now but did they check her thyroid when this whole thing started ?

:thumbup:Continued prayers for the "puzzle pup". She is doing great and praying that continues.

AWW she looks so cute doing her water therapy. I hope they can figure out her thyroid issues.
Her bloating sounds like she has a lot of air in her tummy. Poor baby. Prayers still do continue for cali.