NN - Healing thoughts, please

migrandl

migrandl

New member
I really need NN prayers and healing thoughts right now.... I'm fostering a pup for the SPCA I work for, she's a mix that we had signed over to us as AC who's had a pretty rough start in life. Blaze is approximately 9 weeks old, and when she was signed over she had a severe case of pneumonia, dehydration and was severely emaciated (BCS was 2/5) and didn't have any type of veterinary care; who knows if she even got any vaccines. She fought hard and came to stay with us a week ago Friday because I knew that she needed to be with someone full time rather than at the shelter. Up until this past Thursday things were going along swimmingly - she'd gained over a pound, was going potty with the "big" dogs, even starting to ask to go out on her own. Not too bad for such a wee one! She's very loving, smart and I'm pretty sure she's never leaving us! She immediately attached herself to hubby and our former shy guy (Pheonix) is her bestest buddy! Anyway, this past Thursday she started having these gagging spells, and I ran her back to the shelter vet. They didn't find anything out of the ordinary, but did have a spell with one of the vet techs present (he's not the brightest bulb in the package, but ya gotta take what you can get sometimes!). Brought her home yesterday and all seemed fine. This morning (did I mention that she sleeps the night in our bed?) she woke us up around 6 am with what FINALLY clicked in my brain as a seizure. She's been having them off and on all day - I REALLY don't want to go to work in an hour!!! So I'm here asking for NN prayers and healing thoughts for little Blaze (who when she gets through this will become a permanent fixture in our house) soon to be renamed Vida. Thanks, guys!
 
Last edited:
nowhavethreebears

nowhavethreebears

New member
Prayers for little Vida.....Hopefully this is just a puppy thing and she will grow out of it?
How many times a day is she eating? Sometimes when they are tiny and get behind the eight ball like that, their blood glucose will drop during the night and they will seize.
Right before you go to bed see if she will take some honey or grape jelly or something otherwise super sugary and yummy.. she might just need some extra calories to carry her through the night.
I once fostered a tiny 1 1/2 lb maltese pup who would do the same thing every morning unless I put a couple of cc's of warm honey down her with a syringe every AM between three and four. Once she gained some weight and got on her feet, she was fine.
(this is not the same issue as her just getting enough food)
 
migrandl

migrandl

New member
She's getting 2 largish (3/4 of a cup) meals a day, sometimes an afternoon snack, plus whatever snacks the big guys get. I've been working on getting her weight up since she came here (when she was surrendered, she weighed 9.6 pounds at roughly 8 weeks - the "bloodlines" include: Dobe, Rotti, Shepherd, Timberwolf, Chow, Pit and I think there's one more in there) so I know she should be a lot bigger. I took her last Monday for a weigh in and check and she'd put on a full pound from Friday nite until Monday morning - so I know she's getting enough to eat. As far as we know, NO VACCINATIONS were ever given, and in my research I'm leaning more and more toward she's had distemper (between the pneumonia, eye and nasal discharge and now the seizures) and this is the neurological stage. While I was at work, the shelter director stopped by the house after talking with the vet and dropped some phenobarb for her, and helped hubby give one to her. She's been seizure free since around 8 pm, thank doG! Sleeping now, with a nice cool compress on her belly (she's feeling very warm, and naturally there isn't a thermometer in the house!) and has a very sticky face and ears from hubby and son attempting to get her to take some honey. She's had two generous helpings of chicken and rice, also. I WISH these seizures were just a morning thing, but unfortunately that's not the case. Thanks all for the prayers. Will keep you posted - and post some pictures of her as soon as I download them from my camera.
 
migrandl

migrandl

New member
Today is a good day! Blaze/Vida had a very hearty breakfast around 330 this morning along with a second dose of phenobarb, up again at 9ish (STILL can't believe the furkids let us sleep THAT late!) another good breakfast, all of her meds and a trip outside. She's been very bright today - and the vet called twice - wants me to at least continue the phenobarb for today. She was trying to talk with an internist about the pup, but they're closed (duh!) on Sunday. I asked her directly about the possibility of Blaze/Vida actually having distemper (the pneumonia, eye/nasal discharge when the SPCA removed her) and now the seizures... she didn't directly answer my question, thought it might be a possibility given the sypmtoms, etc and she'd like to pose that question to the specialists. She definitely wants to see puppers tomorrow morning. Believe me, once Blaze/Vida is no longer under the "roof" of the SPCA, she'll be going to MY vet. Not entirely impressed with this one. The important thing is Blaze/Vida is feeling much better, so far (knocks on wood) no further seizure activity and is helping me type this! Such a wiggle butt today! Thanks for your continued prayers - as always, NN ROCKS!
 
migrandl

migrandl

New member
Vida/Blaze went for a follow up today for her seizures. The vet finally got to speak with an internist who suggested getting a urine assay done to confirm distemper. Should get the results back within a week or so (it had to be sent to San Diego). In the meantime, Vida/Blaze weighed in at a whopping 12 pounds! Her spirits are good, no further seizures. We're going with a working diagnosis of distemper :( so I have scripts for phenobarbital and valium should she seize again for more than 3 - 5 minutes and rectal valium if we need it. Apparently Vida/Blaze hasn't been told that her prognosis is supposed to be poor! She just keeps going. The decision was left up to hubby and myself as to what to do - take her back to the shelter, like that's going to happen!, or let her live her life in our family. Since we'd already talked about this, I told the vet that we would keep Vida/Blaze for as long as she'd have us. I've been through a seizure dog before and know the ultimate outcome, but this little one deserves every chance she can get. The vet said that she'd somehow managed to find the perfect foster now permanent family, and it sounded like she couldn't be in better hands. As soon as she's out from under the auspices (sp?) of the SPCA she will be going to my own vet for follow up and probably a second opinion. I'm not thrilled about having to give phenobarb every day, 3 times a day but we'll go with that for now. In the meantime she continues to eat well (even tried a bit of pizelle tonight and loved it), experiment with new foods and follow Pheney around. He's loving the attention from her! Keeping fingers crossed for a decent outcome of the urine assay and a long life for our newest addition. Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers!
 
padkins

padkins

New member
She is very lucky to have you. Sounds like she is going to get all the love and attention that she will need. :D
 
migrandl

migrandl

New member
UPDATE:
My son told me when I got home from work tonight (this morning) that the vet called and the distemper test came back NEGATIVE!! This little girl is truly living up to her new name of Vida. What a load off of my mind - now I can get her to my vet sooner than I had thought, which will REALLY make me happy! TY for all of your prayers and good thoughts. I PROMISE - pictures as soon as I can upload them from my camera, really! LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top