Sick yorkie - need advise fast
 

About two weeks ago my yorkie started to throw up yellow bile --- took him to vet, he was dehydrated and RBC was high --- vet diagnosed pancreatitis (sp) --- he stayed at the vet for three days on fluids via IV only and then came home --- he wouldn't eat anything at home so three days later we brought him back to vet; vet gave move IV fluids and nutrient shot under skin. Four more days more and dog still hasn't eaten so we brought him back to vet again (today) -- after we dropped of the dog, he apparently took a turn for worse and suffered a seizure; blood tests showed low blood sugar ---they gave him fluids again and he recovered. They did more blood tests and found that test results were worse than two weeks ago. They then did an ultrasound and fund out the pancreas, kidneys, liver, heart, adrenal glands ... everything looked ok and don't think he has pancreatitis

Now they think he has polycythemia vera (PCV) because all the time his RBC (red blood count ?) was high --- at first they thought that the high RBC was caused the the dehydration, now they think it was the other way around and the PCV was causing the problem - theres apparently a blood test that can be done to check for this and they are doing this tomorrow.

The question(s) I have is (1) are we going down the right path here --- we have dog, won't eat, lethargic, throws up yellow foamy stuff, red blood count is high, dehydrated, has low blood suger levels and may have suffered a seizure and (2) If I wanted to get this dog to the best Yorkie doctor in the country, who would that be ?

Please help with any advice/suggestions etc

Thanks

Harold

OMG! That poor little thing! I have no advice for you but, just wanted to say that I hope and pray all goes well for your little one.

i'm sorry your having so many problems with your yorkie. You might want to see a internal medicine specialist if want more if not better information. your regular vet is good i'm sure but a specialist is always better.

Don't know if he's the best in the country, but I found this on Terri Shumsky's site. She's gone now but was one of the most knowledgable about Yorkies. Maybe if he's still in practice you could contact him.

http://www.vassarsquare.com/

Dr. Dale A. Heisler, D.V.M.

I went to the ACVIM web site and found a potential specialist in CT --- I sent him am email but haven't heard anything back yet.

Theres 5 vets (DVM) in the practicego to --- they took care of my previous yorkie for 15 years; they seem to know what they are doing but this is a unique condition by their own admission so if there were someone else out there that was an yorkie expert, I would seek a second opinion.

Thanks

The yellow foamy stuff could just be from not eating. My Tinkerbell does that too if she does not eat for a while. Do you think he may have ate something and it is blocking something internally? Well I guess that they could tell that on the scans and stuff. Well I hope that you find out what is wrong with your little baby. Good luck and I will be praying for you and your baby.

I can't help you, but he's in my prayers.

Bumping in hopes of someone seeing it.

I don't think I can be of much help, but I can at least try......it's a long ways from you, but I know they do a lot of good stuff at UC Davis vet hospital. Maybe you could check with them and they could give you some direction? I feel so badly for you and your little one. My Max did have pancreatitis, and thank God it resolved after a weekend of what your baby went thru at the beginning. You and your pup are in my prayers. Please keep us updated on how he does and what they find.

Hope you find answers soon!! Praying for you and your baby!!

Wondering how your pup is progressing? I would hope your vets have outside sources to contact and evaluate this serious condition. Personally, I would be very frank with your concerns and do not hesitate to voice your fears.

Warmly, Deborah

PS I have walked in your shoes and it is so frightening. Bless you.

We took him home from vet on friday --- they don;t have someone there 24 hours a day so Vet thought it would be better if he came home over night; we brought him back Sat morning - he go more fluids and IV meds --- he is home right now and will spend the night with us --- if he is going to pass on, its going to be at home with us and not in the some strange kennel.

We still haven't gotten the results of the blood test to check for the PCV -- but the Vet today removed some blood from the dog and gave IV solution in hopes of thinning out his blood -- the belief now is that with the ultrasound eliminating problems with internal organs that the high red blood count and varying blood sugar is the main issue.

When he came home today (Sat) his was a bit better (atleast he seemed to me to be better but I am grasping at any good sign I can see) -- he slept in my arms for 3 hours while wife went out to get some karo syrup --- Vet wants us to mix up the special food with some karo and try to feed it to him several times a day to get him eating -- basically mix everything up and force feed him using a big suringe. So far 4 hours have gone by and he hasn't thrown up his food which is a good sign.

The Vet wants the dog back in on Sun - she is making special trip to see him give him more fluids ...

I am waiting to see the results of the blood test for the PCV -- they have medicines that can be used to treat that but they are very very strong (basically drugs used to treat lukemia/blood cancers) --- so I don't want the Vet to start these until the test confirms the diagnosis.

Thats where we stand right now ---

your prayers are welcome.

Its now Sunday night and I am hoping that the worse has passed --- he is starting to show some life. The latest blood work looked much better after two bleedings of 4mL each to reduce the RBC over two days.

I have gotten him to hold down some food (karo mix with I/D and water) --- he still will not eat but atleast he is holding down what we give him. His temors have stopped and his blood sugar has stabilized. he slept thru Sat night with out waking up and seemed to be restful (as was my wife who has been up with him almost every night, afraid to go to sleep)

Another good sign is that he tried to bite me when I was feeding him with the syringe --- he has always been a high spirited dog and it good to see that his independence and stubbornness is coming back :) --- he can bite me all day as long as it means he is feeling better.

He is going back to the vets twice a day to get fluids and recheck his blood. We havent gotten the test results back on whether he has the PCV but the blood letting has made a big difference.

I am hoping/praying that the worse has passed. I thank everyone here for their prayers - I am sure it helped.

Just to let you know, I don't know if it can help but my Bikini was on fluid for 5 days and wouldn't eat. After my vet and I decided to remove it, she started eating 2 hours later. The fluid filled her up and she wasn't hungry... She got so sick, I thought I would loose her. So I know its not easy when they are that sick.

Keep us updated ;)

Its now Thursday Nov 1 and change in dog is very positive ---

He is now eating and drinking and very happy --- yesterdays vet visit was good - they removed the IV and he doesn't have to come back until next week. We still don't have results of the test for the polycemthymia vera - thats not back until next week but he is doing much better and everyone is happy

I am happy to see that he is doing better. I hope that he continues to do good.

Good to hear he's doing better!
 

I just saw your posts and read through them.I'm sorry to hear he was so sick,but thankful he's doing so much better!:cheer:My hairy baby is running a fever-keeping watch on her.It is a good thing when they get back to being snipey and lively after seeing them sick.

Well - its 11/9 and things have take a turn for worse - dispite numerous blood lettings his RBC keeps rising. The test for polycythemia vera was negative, ultrasound and x-rays revealed no turmors and tests for the proiten enzyme was negative too --- Vet says theres nothing more she can do -- she offered to refer us to a specialist but doesn't hold much hope --- I am looking around for the right person but to be honest I don't hold out much hope either - and I have spent lots of money ( > $2k) and while I would do almost anything for this little guy, I simply can't justify spending thousands more --- right now its a wait and see -- his RBC is increaing slowing and the question is whether it will peak out at a level that he can live with --- at this point I think that only prayers will work so please continue to include my dog in those prayers.

My aunt had a blood disorder of too many platelets and also sticky platelets. They used a chemotherapy treatment that slowed the production and helped add ten years to her life. She also went in for periodic PT testing to check her clotting time and adjust her blood thinner appropriately.

You'll be in my thoughts!

Same problem --- the problem for the Vet is that the test for the polycythemia vera was negative/inconclusive so she was hesitant to give him that drug because of its adverse side effects.

Right now we are waiting to see what happens --- we can continue to remove blood at intervals but eventually they will run out of places to take blood from --- each time it has taken longer for the RBC to increase so our hope is that it will stabilize at a some resonable level. He will not eat very much right now so the vet has put him back on stomack medicine and pepsid AC.

Thanks

HH

I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers today...

Have you ever fed him chicken jerky treats? My Dudley went through all that stuff, they couldn't find anything wrong in dozens of tests. They started him on ampicillan? and he got better in a couple days. They finally determined that he had gotten a bad batch of chicken treats. Of course they were made in China, even though they were sold in Petsmart. Just a thought. Have they checked his urine for glucose?

By some chance, do you use Inteceptor? One of my families had a very similar thing happen to their 2 yr old male. They were fit to be tied. Their Vet tried everything, including exploratory surgery. After a month of IV, and supportive care, and the day he was due for the Inteceptor, he just snapped out of it, and started eating. They realized that he had taken sick the day after the Inteceptor, a month prior. They use something else now, and he has been fine since, and they are convinced that he had a reaction to the Inteceptor. I don't know much more, but I told them I would pass on the info if I heard of similar symptoms.
Praying that you find help for your little guy!

Its 11/16 --- interesting --- we brought him back to vet, they did a RBC and found that it hasn't increased - still at 61%. A bit high but not catastropic. But he is still sick. They did more blood work and now suspect Addison's ---

To answer earlier questions

AZ --- I will check on what heartworm medicine --- I think it is Interceptor but theres not a strong connection to the start of the sickness and the pill (atleats in my memory).

DM -- with all the problems on pet food coming out of china -- I will check but as far as I know the dog pretty much eats the same treat which is some type of jerky treats.

My wife is driving dog to vety right now - the vet says that bloodwork points to Addisions and says theres a definitive test that will prove it --- I pray that he is right because the dog is the center of the family and all of us (me, wife, 4 kids) are hurting with him and he needs to get better.

Good Luck! I hope he is alright. The vets I had said the same thing. Addison's, Lepto, but everything came out negative. He had glucose in his urine but not his blood. Please ask them about this, just in case.

Just wondering how he is doing? I pray that he is better soon for you, your wife and your kids!!!!

11/19 --- On Friday the vet gave him a shot thinking that it was addisons -- he acted much better over the weekend. He is eating again and generally acting much more normal. they also gave us pills -- predisone 1/2 tablet a day. We haven't gotten the results of the blood test yet but it seems like finally we are heading in a good direction --- best christmas present we could ask for.

Its 11/24 - this should thankfully be my last post here --- 1 week now into his recovery and the change is fantastic - he is now eating and playing. He has put on some weight (not back to his presickness weight yet). Kids are extremely happy, wife is very happy and I'm quite pleased too. Xmas can early for us this year. I want to thank people for their advice and their prayers --- both were helpful.

Thanks again.

So glad to hear your baby is on the mend!! What a blessing!!!

So glad to hear that your baby is doing better. Thank God almighty:woof: