I think I'm losing my baby
 

I don't think my boy has much time left. On Tuesday he started coughing. It sounded like he had something caught in his throat. On Wednesday, it was obvious it might possibly be more. Up several times during the night, drinking more water, tummy feeling tight. Called the vet, but phones down. Big snowstorm here had large power outages and trees down. Convinced myself Thursday was slightly better. Got an appointment with the vet at 2pm. The vet thought he had fluid and took an X-ray. Showed a pleural effusion., Sent us immediately over to an internist. Internist drew some fluid and fedexed it immediately out, along some blood work. Won't have those results until probably Monday. Fluid possible causes: low protein, high pressure or tumor in chest. Columbo had slightly low protein a month ago at senior check up. No tumors seen in X-ray, no enlarged heart or masses, so starting with looking for cause of low protein. Internist checked protein again and this time much lower, 1.2. Protein can be lost 3 ways: through the liver, the kidneys or GI. Liver was ruled out last month with a bile acid test. So she suspects a protein losing enteropathy or nephropathy. She was reserved about giving a prognosis until she has a diagnosis, but everything I've read says prognosis is poor. Maybe a couple months. He was fine a few days ago. She said she has seen this with no symptoms before. When she has a diagnosis, we will attempt to stabilize him and manage it with medication and diet. I am heartbroken. How can this happen to him? My husband and I can't stop crying. We lost our golden retreiver to cancer at age 10 exactly 10 years ago. Just like him, I envisioned Columbo living to a ripe old age. Columbo turned 9 in October. He had both his knees done last year and was all set to live happily for many more years. He's uncomfortable because the fluid makes breathing harder. He's doesn't feel good, but is still eating, peeing and pooping normal. I've searched the internet and can find no encouragement. Please pray for my sweet, helpless little boy. I don't want to lose my boy like this, not now. Not this young. Oh god, what am I going to do?

im sending many thoughts and prayers.

I am so sorry your baby is sick. Prayers are being said for him and the entire family. Let us know what the results show.

I am so sorry Columbo is going through this. Praying for your precious boy and you.

Don't give up! Pups with protein losing enteropathies can be treated and some do well. I have one with lymphangectasia (loss through intestines) and one with protein losing nephropathy (loss through kidneys). Here are a couple of threads about each of them. Perhaps they will give you some hope.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ia-update.html

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...phropathy.html

I will keep Columbo in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted please!

Don't lose hope......praying for a good outcome!

I am so very sorry.

So sorry he is sick, and I hope he can hang in there and receive treatment for whatever the condition is. Prayers are going out to him, and I hope he does get to stay with you much longer.

Thank you for the links. They do give me a bit of encouragement. My immediate worry is the fluid in his chest and getting through the weekend. My husband now has me worried. He was not at the appts yesterday where we got the bad news. He keeps asking me why there wasn't something done to help him immediately while we wait for test results. I guess I just assumed that they couldn't do anything until they have a definite diagnosis as treatments could differ depending on what the underlying cause is. He is worried Columbo might not make it through the weekend when the vets office is closed (except for ER). He is under the care of the internist now and she said to contact their office if we need anything, but I put in a call to my regular vet to see if he thinks there is need to worry as we go into the weekend. They didn't put him on any meds or diet change or anything yet. I don't know if I should be worried about this. The internist did apologize that it would Monday before test results came back. I know they hurriedly packaged up his fluid sample, urine (maybe blood, too?) and to get on the fedex truck that was to be there any minute since it was late afternoon. He has been sleeping all day, other than his morning meal, pee and poop. I just want to get him through this, get him stable and be given the chance to try and manage it. I looked up the nearest vet nutritionist and there are 2 at Virginia Tech 2 1/2 hours away. I am happy to drive there if needed. Both my kids went to school there, so I know my way around.

Thank you everyone for the prayers and well wishes. I believe they really do help and we really need all we can get. Please keep them coming.

I will pray that his condition can successfully be treated with diet and that he will have a long happy life. Wish there was something I could do to help. Just know he's in my prayers. :hands:

I am soooo sorry that your baby isn't doing well right now! But don't give up hope yet! I will be praying for you, DH and your baby! Please take care of yourself and try not to worry (trust me I know easier said than done).

I'm so sorry. :(

I remember your last thread and honestly felt that the vet was not being thorough enough. Reading this thread today I have the same thoughts on this internist.

I\'m not sure why they have not hospialized him. They can figure out sone way to get the fluid dwn consistently even without a diagnosis. They should be able to do some imaging abd rule out tumors and then have some idea of what drugs to use.

IMO, PLE and PLN can be treated successfully in a lot of cases with immediate intervention. I think you should go to the Virginia Tech ER right now abd let them deal with this.

Praying!

Sending prayers your way. It is so hard to watch them when they are sick and feel helpless to help them :(.