Really worried about Libby

[Ellie May]

I am very sorry to hear about Libby.

It is so difficult to know what to do in an emergency like this. Everybody has different ideas and it is confusing. Not everyone will agree with what is decided and that's ok. People here just really want Libby to get better.

I love my vet to death and trust her with the kids, but she isn't right 100% of the time because she is human. That's where specialists come in. It is never wrong to get a second opinion. If you are comfortable without doing that, it is ok. She is your girl and you need to do what you think is best. However, standard of care for this is different than what is being done. Her best chance of getting through this is to make sure all the right meds and food are being given. As said above, that is really impossible without a diagnosis. I'm not sure why a bile acids test and urine culture haven't been done to at least help rule out a couple things. It wouldn't be a bad idea. I agree that a full thickness intestinal biopsy could be too much on her. Thankfully specialty hospitals have endoscopy available which may work for her.

Low fat is good, but more goes into diet than that. Please have her protein checked often. Some vets would admit and start hetastarch at the level it is now. Her extreme lethargy at home would concern me very much.

Also, PLE can be secondary to some things including heart disease. An echocardiogram may (or may not) be recommended.

[Patti]

Thanks! Connie had a lot to digest yesterday and having gone through the blood work reports it showed the albumin is at 2.0 up from 1.7 a week ago. Libby is playing the bubble game on the I pad and acting much more normal. Libby is showing good improvement. Since she is seeing results with her current treatment Connie feels comfortable with her vets diagnosis and treatment plan. She thanks everyone for their prayers.

[kjc]

Thanks for the update... so glad to hear Libby is doing better.

Just wanted to add that vets can feel a thickening of the intestines and it doesn't show on xray. I'm thinking the vet that said she saw it just didn't want to go into how she could feel it, as many lay people would trust an xray over a hands-on exam.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by kjc

Thanks for the update... so glad to hear Libby is doing better.

Just wanted to add that vets can feel a thickening of the intestines and it doesn't show on xray. I'm thinking the vet that said she saw it just didn't want to go into how she could feel it, as many lay people would trust an xray over a hands-on exam.

Well thickening of intestines shows on ultrasound but it wasnt noted here. So I would defer to ultrasound over subjective vet exam.

[ladyjane]

I do hope she continues to improve; but I must say I am still concerned and actually a bit confused.

Yesterday she had, as Connie stated, "a lot of protein" in her urine. She further stated that she is "losing muscle mass and weight" daily.

Now, where my confusion lies is in the diagnosis...is it suspected PLN or PLE??

IF it is PLN, has a UPC been done? That would usually require a cysto but her vet had her catch a urine, so my guess is it was not done. My Olivia had a few of these. The other thing is that IF it is suspected PLN why is metronidazole being given??

She said that her vet said he palpated her intestines and felt a thickening...never heard of that before, but if that is true, then the metronidazole makes some sense .. and perhaps he thinks this is PLE. That still does not explain the protein in the urine.

Just totally baffled here and really wish that she had a diagnosis to hang her hat on. I also just want to say that one lab value alone is not something to base things on...the fact that her albumin is at 2.0 and she is losing weight and muscle mass...and possibly has protein in her urine is very, very concerning. My Olivia has PLN and was admitted to ICU for protein and albumin levels that were in the low normal range (I believe her albumin was 2.3 or 2.4). Just wanted to throw that out there.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Well thickening of intestines shows on ultrasound but it wasnt noted here. So I would defer to ultrasound over subjective vet exam.

Yeah, I am totally confused about that....

[107barney]

Any updates on how Libby is doing? I am praying daily.

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Any updates on how Libby is doing? I am praying daily.

I have also wondered how she is doing? I guess she doesn't want to update. Prayers still being said.

[Patti]

Libby is doing much better. Connie will update when she gets the next round of blood work
Friday. She thanks everyone for their continued prayers.

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by Patti

Libby is doing much better. Connie will update when she gets the next round of blood work
Friday. She thanks everyone for their continued prayers.

Thanks for the update Patti.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Patti

Libby is doing much better. Connie will update when she gets the next round of blood work
Friday. She thanks everyone for their continued prayers.

Thanks Patti. Please let her know we are thinking of her and sending prayers for sweet Libby.

[MandiesMom]

Still praying super hard for Libby. And for Connie.

[ladyjane]

Still praying for Libby. Hope she is doing better.

[MandiesMom]

checking in to see how Libby is doing. Still in my prayers.

[107barney]

Hoping for good news on Libby after the blood work tomorrow and that she has continued to feel well since Connie's last post.