Need insight: Sprite dx with hydrocephalus - Page 3 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

kmarla · 04-10-2014, 06:34 AM

Thank you all so much for the support and uplifting words. We have decided to give Sprite the chance of having a long life even knowing the risks involved. She is pencilled in to have the surgery April 24. The neurologist is sourcing the parts for the shunt as she needs a certain paediatric model, and once he has them we will firm up the date. So this is coming up very soon as there is an urgency to doing this. She hasn't had a seizure since last Thursday but she has this constant little tremor that worries us. Hopefully all will go well and Sprite will be back to her happy, busy little self shortly!

Marhcarter · 04-10-2014, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarla

Thank you all so much for the support and uplifting words. We have decided to give Sprite the chance of having a long life even knowing the risks involved. She is pencilled in to have the surgery April 24. The neurologist is sourcing the parts for the shunt as she needs a certain paediatric model, and once he has them we will firm up the date. So this is coming up very soon as there is an urgency to doing this. She hasn't had a seizure since last Thursday but she has this constant little tremor that worries us. Hopefully all will go well and Sprite will be back to her happy, busy little self shortly!

ladyjane · 04-10-2014, 06:57 AM

Lots and lots of prayers for little Sprite and for you.

107barney · 04-10-2014, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarla

Thank you all so much for the support and uplifting words. We have decided to give Sprite the chance of having a long life even knowing the risks involved. She is pencilled in to have the surgery April 24. The neurologist is sourcing the parts for the shunt as she needs a certain paediatric model, and once he has them we will firm up the date. So this is coming up very soon as there is an urgency to doing this. She hasn't had a seizure since last Thursday but she has this constant little tremor that worries us. Hopefully all will go well and Sprite will be back to her happy, busy little self shortly!

We will keep you and Sprite in our prayers. Please know we are all here for you!

Buster Brown · 04-11-2014, 10:53 AM

Keeping Sprite and you in our prayers.

107barney · 04-22-2014, 08:11 AM

I know Sprite's date is coming up for surgery later this week, and wanted to wish her and you well. Please update when you can.

windwalker · 04-22-2014, 09:52 AM

Always ask yourself, "Am I doing this for the dog or me", taking into consideration recovery and quality of life. We kept "Sig" alive and happy for 2 years and 4 months with kidney failure, but her quality of life was great till the end. We spent may times hand feeding her when she refused to eat, as long as she kept her muscle mass and was not in pain we held on. She had a great life till the last week when we could not get enough food in her, but the Vet had told us 6 to 8 months when the blood tests diagnosed the problem, so we feel good getting 2 years and 4 months.

Its a hard decision to put your dog to sleep, but look at it from the dogs view when you decide on surgery or not. You'll do the right thing which ever way you decide that way, prayers with you and the pup.

ladyjane · 04-22-2014, 09:57 AM

Praying for Sprite and family...

kmarla · 04-22-2014, 05:23 PM

We are waiting confirmation that Sprite's surgery is still on for Thursday. The hospital will let us know if everything's a go tomorrow morning. Poor little Sprite has had a couple of seizures in the last week and several brief episodes of ataxia, where she has difficulty walking and controlling her balance. Yes, the question of her quality of life is topmost in our minds. It is always a difficult decision to make, but the neurologist does think she has a very good chance of a normal life if the surgery is successful. We do not want to see her suffer and are prepared that we might have to make the choice of euthanasia if the surgery doesn't go well or her symptoms don't improve significantly after. We had to euthanize our 15 year old cat in January this year after treating her for kidney failure for 2 years (yes, she was a fighter till the end too), so finding ourselves in this situation again is very difficult, especially since Sprite is only 3 years old. I will post an update tomorrow, but thank you all again for your support and kind words.

kmarla · 04-23-2014, 07:05 AM

I just got off the phone with the neurologist and unfortunately her surgery will be delayed. It seems they're having trouble sourcing the shunt at a reasonable cost. They are trying to have it shipped from the States but there is some kind of an issue with it crossing the border. In the meantime we have an appointment tomorrow with the neurologist to have her medications readjusted. Hopefully this will help her in the short term. I was mentally prepared for the surgery tomorrow so have to now readjust my thinking. Hopefully we'll have a date for early next week. Please keep us in your thoughts!

gemy · 04-23-2014, 07:22 AM

Not to butt in but have they tried Univ of Guelph to see if they have a shunt of the required size? Or Univ of B.C.?

ladyjane · 04-23-2014, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarla

I just got off the phone with the neurologist and unfortunately her surgery will be delayed. It seems they're having trouble sourcing the shunt at a reasonable cost. They are trying to have it shipped from the States but there is some kind of an issue with it crossing the border. In the meantime we have an appointment tomorrow with the neurologist to have her medications readjusted. Hopefully this will help her in the short term. I was mentally prepared for the surgery tomorrow so have to now readjust my thinking. Hopefully we'll have a date for early next week. Please keep us in your thoughts!

I am sorry for the delay. So stress inducing.

You are in my thoughts and prayers...

kmarla · 04-23-2014, 07:50 AM

Excellent question and I'm assuming yes, including St. Hyacinthe (Univ. Montreal) but I'll double check at our appt tomorrow. They've also looked at the U.K. It seems the best quote is from the U.S. but there's some kind of border issue? At least we know the worst case scenario for the cost of the part if it comes to that.

kmarla · 04-23-2014, 07:55 AM

Thank you Ladyjane. My stomach is in knots right now but we'll just keep going and hopefully have the surgery in a few days.

107barney · 04-23-2014, 08:27 AM

Aww this stinks

I'm sorry, I hope they can figure this out quickly.

04-10-2014, 06:57 AM	#33
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,490	Lots and lots of prayers for little Sprite and for you. __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

04-11-2014, 10:53 AM	#35
Buster Brown Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toluca Lake, CA Posts: 5,491	Keeping Sprite and you in our prayers. __________________ CarolynBuster Brown "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

04-22-2014, 08:11 AM	#36
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	I know Sprite's date is coming up for surgery later this week, and wanted to wish her and you well. Please update when you can. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

04-22-2014, 09:57 AM	#38
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,490	Praying for Sprite and family... __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

04-23-2014, 07:22 AM	#41
gemy YT 2000 Club Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Huntsville,Ont,Canaada Posts: 12,340 Blog Entries: 2	Not to butt in but have they tried Univ of Guelph to see if they have a shunt of the required size? Or Univ of B.C.? __________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018

04-10-2014, 06:34 AM	#31
kmarla Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 105	Thank you all so much for the support and uplifting words. We have decided to give Sprite the chance of having a long life even knowing the risks involved. She is pencilled in to have the surgery April 24. The neurologist is sourcing the parts for the shunt as she needs a certain paediatric model, and once he has them we will firm up the date. So this is coming up very soon as there is an urgency to doing this. She hasn't had a seizure since last Thursday but she has this constant little tremor that worries us. Hopefully all will go well and Sprite will be back to her happy, busy little self shortly!

04-22-2014, 09:52 AM	#37
windwalker Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Tucson,AZ Posts: 244	Always ask yourself, "Am I doing this for the dog or me", taking into consideration recovery and quality of life. We kept "Sig" alive and happy for 2 years and 4 months with kidney failure, but her quality of life was great till the end. We spent may times hand feeding her when she refused to eat, as long as she kept her muscle mass and was not in pain we held on. She had a great life till the last week when we could not get enough food in her, but the Vet had told us 6 to 8 months when the blood tests diagnosed the problem, so we feel good getting 2 years and 4 months. Its a hard decision to put your dog to sleep, but look at it from the dogs view when you decide on surgery or not. You'll do the right thing which ever way you decide that way, prayers with you and the pup.

04-22-2014, 05:23 PM	#39
kmarla Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 105	We are waiting confirmation that Sprite's surgery is still on for Thursday. The hospital will let us know if everything's a go tomorrow morning. Poor little Sprite has had a couple of seizures in the last week and several brief episodes of ataxia, where she has difficulty walking and controlling her balance. Yes, the question of her quality of life is topmost in our minds. It is always a difficult decision to make, but the neurologist does think she has a very good chance of a normal life if the surgery is successful. We do not want to see her suffer and are prepared that we might have to make the choice of euthanasia if the surgery doesn't go well or her symptoms don't improve significantly after. We had to euthanize our 15 year old cat in January this year after treating her for kidney failure for 2 years (yes, she was a fighter till the end too), so finding ourselves in this situation again is very difficult, especially since Sprite is only 3 years old. I will post an update tomorrow, but thank you all again for your support and kind words.

04-23-2014, 07:05 AM	#40
kmarla Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 105	I just got off the phone with the neurologist and unfortunately her surgery will be delayed. It seems they're having trouble sourcing the shunt at a reasonable cost. They are trying to have it shipped from the States but there is some kind of an issue with it crossing the border. In the meantime we have an appointment tomorrow with the neurologist to have her medications readjusted. Hopefully this will help her in the short term. I was mentally prepared for the surgery tomorrow so have to now readjust my thinking. Hopefully we'll have a date for early next week. Please keep us in your thoughts!

04-23-2014, 07:50 AM	#43
kmarla Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 105	Excellent question and I'm assuming yes, including St. Hyacinthe (Univ. Montreal) but I'll double check at our appt tomorrow. They've also looked at the U.K. It seems the best quote is from the U.S. but there's some kind of border issue? At least we know the worst case scenario for the cost of the part if it comes to that.

04-23-2014, 07:55 AM	#44
kmarla Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 105	Thank you Ladyjane. My stomach is in knots right now but we'll just keep going and hopefully have the surgery in a few days.

04-23-2014, 08:27 AM	#45
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	Aww this stinks I'm sorry, I hope they can figure this out quickly. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy