*********update and any advice*********
 

We brought Bella home from Anniston and I increased her Prednisone and added lasix once again. We took her back to vet on Friday to get her Albumin levels check and her level was just .1 it was .08 in Anniston. That is not promising, because her belly is filling with fluid and will until we get that protein level up to a sustaining level. Her little tummy is so full and she is lethargic and does have trouble breathing now. If I had a million dollars or whatever to heal her I would. I don't see the sense in taking her every week to the icu center which has cost me thousands of dollars already. Our local vet didn't carry the Hetastach, so we would have to drive hours away to get it and that animal hospital is to expensive for us to continue. Our vet has since has ordered Hetastarch for Bella , but this weekend has been torturous. I gave her a B12 injection yesterday and that seemed to make her feel a little better. The lasix hasn't seemed to do much good in respect to expelling fluid so she can rest either. Bella is only 6 yrs. old, and diagnosed last yr with PLE. She has had 2 relapses and this one is the worst so far. I'm at my wits end now. I don't know if I should try to continue or have her to go night night and rest. So heartbreaking for my husband and me. We love our girl dearly. Does anyone have any experience with what I'm going through? Please, I welcome advice.:aimeeyork

I can't give you any advice but I write to say I can feel your pain in your letter. She is and has been suffering so much and it is so hard on you emotionally and financially. It breaks my heart to hear of the suffering she is going through and I hope you can find the wisdom to know what the best thing to do for her is whatever that may be. That is a hard choice to decide to let her go night,night as you put it as I also know from experience. Sometimes that is the very best thing to do for them but it is your decision and I hope you are able to choose the best path to take for her. I wanted to write and offer you some comfort and I hope somehow what I said was a comfort.

I am so sorry.

Sadly, yes, I have had to deal with PLE and also PLN. I lost my PLE pup, Cookie, in March of this year....but, she passed from Lymphoma, not the PLE; BUT the PLE had been an issue for the past 6 months or so and she was on high doses of prednisone. My Olivia just passed from PLN...in the end they felt she also had PLE but it was never diagnosed. She had been diagnosed in 2013 and had a few bad episodes, but basically did really well over those years. Cookie did since 2011. So, there are success stories...they can rebound sometimes.

Sometimes you can get them to turn around. Cookie was admitted to ICU a few times and was given Hetastarch...it does work sometimes but not always. I will pray that it helps your girl. Actually, it probably is a wee bit promising that her albumin is .1 which is up from .08. The normal is very low...so any trend upwards is a good sign.

As for letting her go....I have walked that path many times and it is just so hard. All I can say is that I believe when it is time, they really do let you know.

I am going to say some extra prayers for you and your husband....and for your sweet Bella. She still may turn around....I have seen some of these PLE pups be really really sick and then bang...they start to get better. One of our YT members had a really sick one a few years ago ... she was refusing to eat and really going downhill. I suggested Mirtazapine and all at once she started eating and then responded to her treatments.. She is still doing well. She had PLE but it was from a fungal infection. My Cookie was .08 and turned around....so let's just keep positive thoughts. :)

Please keep us posted. I totally get it about the money...I would trade my house to have my Cookie back again.

Another thing.....you might want to speak with your vet about the Lasix. If it is not helping, I would ask if it is really important to give it. Until her protein loss is corrected, she will probably still have fluid.

I would honestly be concerned about the side effects of the Lasix. It can affect a lot of things....now, mind you, I am no vet and certainly not saying not to give it. It is just something I would ask my vet about....and if she felt it was important then I would certainly trust her judgement. I am a big one for asking questions.

Here is a link about the side effects in case you are not aware:
https://www.vetinfo.com/lasix-side-effects-in-dogs.html

I don't know if this thread will help, but this is Cookie's thread when she was diagnosed with lymphangectasia and IBD...perhaps something in there might help you....

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