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Back in the hospital with elevated kidney counts. We are on the last ditch effort, if they come down we have to try subcu and check in a week. The vet said she is a fighter, she should be feeling like crap but she isn't acting like it. But he also warned us there is a chance that this will be in vain. DH wouldn't give up on the little bear yet so she is enjoying hospitalization until Friday. I feel pretty hopeless and nothing is going to snap me out of that tonight, hopefully sleep will.
:(:(:( Sending more prayers that everything will come out for the best.
Poor doggie :( ((Aggie & Aggie dh)
Big hugs for little Maggie Bear. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...e/pinkdust.gif
Clock
Poor Maggie Bear. I'm sorry she's back in the hopsital. I hope that it goes ok. She is in our thoughts (that's Mac-dog and me!).
So sorry to hear Maggie is doing poorly and had to go back to the hospital. Hope she gets to feeling better soon.
Thanks ladies. I had a good cry last night you know the wheezing, alligator tear popping kind. I still feel really bummed for the little bear and anxious. We have fur children not the human kiddos, it is amazing how much emotional value you invest in your pets. My husband the eternal optimist says she will pull through, hope is all we got. I wish I could bottle his enthusiam. He was diagnosed with crohns and put on IV therapy indefinitely, his response to me saying I felt bad for him "I just play with the hand I am dealt, all you can do." One of the most profound things anyone has ever said to me. So we will let Maggie play her hand.
The vet said if he thought it wasn't worth a shot he wouldn't have offered it but we got a fighter and if we can afford it we should let her try. So we are. He compared the way she feels to the flu, she feels awful but she isn't in physical pain. Like you can hold her and cuddle her without her wimpering. I really worried we weren't doing right by Maggie by keeping trying but the vet thinks that is the best thing to do if we can.
If she pulls through I imagine you would have to keep her on subcutaneous water shots every day or every other day for long term. Not everyone is prepared to do this. Ask your vet about that issue.
I'm sorry she's having such a struggle. I know it's terribly painful for you.
Dear Maggie Bear,
We all have our thoughts on you and wish you a speedy recovery. You have a wonderful momma, your dad has lots of positive energy for you and your doctor sounds very nice so hang in there.
from my family with 14 fur babies,
smilingcat
sending good thoughts and positive vibes. Please take good care of yourself, too!
He is think every other day or maybe every third day. We don't like it but it is a better option than euthanization. It would unfortunately probably not keep her in the clear for long, not as long as she deserves.Quote:
Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
Aw, I'm so sorry to hear that she has taken a bad turn again. It is very, very hard, I know.... :(
I'm so sorry. Keeping your little fur baby in my thoughts and hope that she gets her own miracle.
:(:(:(
Sending good vibes and prayers!
Well she was happy to see us today. All the techs love her so much I wonder how many hearts will break if there isn't good news tomorrow. She was still really mellow and napped and DH's arms while we were there. They had to move the IV to the back leg so now 3 are shaven, maybe I should just ask them to shave the 4th one. :rolleyes: Tomorrow is when we find out if she pulled off one more miracle, going to be hard to sleep tonight.
On top of that Heidi is acting like someone gave her drugs or something, freaking out like crazy because she smells Maggie on us. She is like a 3 year old who was given too much candy tonight.
You and Maggie will be on my mind tomorrow. Good Luck.
Thanks Jes. Unfortunately I just got off the phone with the vet. After having her there since Tuesday night on aggressive IV fluids the BUN only came down 6 pts from 104 to 98. The PHOS dropped quite a bit but is still elevated. The CREA didn't really budge.
The option is hospitalize over the entire weekend and hope for a miracle or bring her home and try Sub-Cu. I am leaning towards just bringing her home and letting her be with us. I mean last time we hospitalized 6 days and got 3 weeks. I just don't think we are going to get what we want from continuing to keep her in the hospital. The worst is my husband already paid for a mountain bike race tomorrow, I don't want to go anywhere tonight. I want to stay home and hold my little bear. The best is sitting at work crying and not wanting to tell my male bosses I cannot deal with having a sick dog.
(((((((Aggie_Ama & Maggie))))))
Sometimes being at home, being quiet is the best medicine, and it sounds like you've reached that point. Hope you have a good weekend. Sigh.
(((((((Amanda & Maggie)))))))
I'm sure that you and Maggie are more important to your DH than his race.
And you might be surprised about your boss, too, I know I've gotten outpourings of sympathy from males I really didn't expect to (and I've also had females repeatedly express that they felt no attachment to their pets, fwiw). If you're not getting anything done at work anyhow, can you take a personal day?
Keeping the prayers coming.
I got to think of him to and I think taking his mind off things might be the best medicine. We haven't decided whether to bring her home for the weekend or wait. He is calling on his vet friend one more time just to give a second opinion. My mom said she would still keep Maggie overnight so we can go, then he can race and after that we have all weekend. Warped to some but DH needs something to channel his frustration and racing does that.Quote:
Originally Posted by OakLeaf
I understand it and sympathize. I don't think there's anything wrong with him riding. When my dh can't "fix" what's wrong he goes for a really long run, situps, pushups, weights, etc. Works out all of his frustration and feels better after. I understand the pull to do both...take care of your little fur baby and just go hit something as hard as he can (in this case, a good mountain trail). Good luck with all of your decisions and big hugs about Maggie. I really do continue to hope for the best.
Personally I would keep her at the vet's until after the race.
My reason is this- when my cat Pearl was literally on the verge of death from kidney failure, we had her for several days at the vet's on a constant IV fluid drip. Unfortunately, we had to take a Fri-sunday trip- a commitment that we literally could not get out of.
The vet warned me before I left for the weekend that things looked grave, and that the constant fluids were her only chance, along with the antibiotics for her infections that were induced by the kidney failure. She was literally drooling bloody mucus, that's how bad she was. :( It was breaking my heart.
But though she was lethargic she didn't seem in awful pain, she would purr whenever petted, and I knew her only chance might be the vet's IV water hookup. So with heavy heavy heart I left her at the vet's while we did our trip. I knew she was in the best of hands and they were so gentle and loving to her there.
I couldn't bring myself to phone during the weekend. When I came home, I drove directly to the vets without calling because I was sure she would be 'gone' and for some reason I couldn't bear to find that out over the phone.
I got there to the waiting room, they said "just a minute"....then opened the door and Pearl literally came bounding out to greet me happily. :eek:
After that I had to give her sub-cutaneous water injections every other day for a year. She has been very happy and 'mostly' healthy since then, as long as I give her very wet food 'soup'.
I only tell you this not to falsely raise your hopes (because Pearl could just as easily have not made it, it was that close, and your Maggie is certainly in serious condition as well) but simply to say it's OK to keep her at the vet's on direct IV for an extra day or two while you go to your husband's race. It might be the best choice for Maggie, might give her that one little extra boost she might need from the extra fluid intake. Consider giving her that chance- her latest tests don't seem great but they 'have' improved a little while on IV, right? I would say if they start getting worse than before then there's no point in continuing.
I'll be thinking good thoughts for you.
My goodness, the time and thought that went into the above post from BleeckerSt_Girl, such good advice and so carefully written with your feelings being taken into account.
I can only send my warmest thoughts to you and your husband, for darling little Maggie Bear.
Hugs
Clock
(((((((HUGS))))))))) I hope your weekend is a nice peaceful one. When My little fur friends are sick I can't think of anything else but them. Keep keeping us posted on how all is going!. Butterfly kisses heading your way!
Lisa- Thank you for the kind, thoughtful, LONG and helpful post. It made me feel like keeping on with Maggie is okay and going to the race was okay too. Sometimes we feel so torn on what we should do you know?
Everyone else- thanks for the support, it is so hard when you can't explain to people you know personally how much your fur kid means.
So Friday we went to see Maggie and the Doc before leaving town. The comforting thing is to see the pain your vet feels that your dog hasn't returned the numbers he wants. If you go back you see that this is a new vet but he has won our support 10x over. He said other dogs with Maggie's levels he would likely not suggest Sub-Cu but we got a real fighter, she is eating, she is happy to see us and the techs (who adore her) and she isn't vomitting. Since she won't act the way he expects he is treating her, not her values. She will go home Monday with daily Sub-Cu for a week. After that we test and see if she maintained, improved or tanked. If she tanked we know what we have to do. He said he doesn't really know what to expect with her she kepts defying his expectations. He said we may get a week, a month, six months. He really doesn't know. He also said he prays for this "Little kid" to trick him again, I am not overly religious but what a sweet thing to say.
DH did race and it was not a good one. Turns out he had a wire bead coming loose and didn't know it. Three flats later he walked his bike across the line for last place missing the cut off to do another lap (which he couldn't because he would have just flatted again), they didn't DNF him because he walked 5 miles of the course instead of taking the short cut. He is a stubborn one! I am glad we went and we got to enjoy some tasty Mexican food afterwards with our cute as a button niece so it wasn't a total loss.
And no matter what happens with Maggie I am glad we took the gamble. If she only gets one more week it will hurt like hell but we will know in our hearts she fought and we didn't stop fighting for her. It has been a pricey gamble but go back to 12/26 and tell me she wouldn't get much more time I would still pay to get those weeks. Take me back to 2004 and tell me she was going to be a sickly dog who didn't might not make it to old age but would be a joy for the time she could give you and I would drive 3 hours to snatch her from the breeders. Maybe she has another trick under her fur she hasn't shown. Maybe it is just her poker face again.
Those of you who read this far, thanks. :)
Amanda,
So good to get that update! I'm sure everyone from this thread has been waiting to hear, and rooting for Maggie.
It sounds to me like your head is in a good place and you are getting prepared for all possibilities. All of you are doing everything possible.
When Maggie comes home be sure to mix some water into her food to add yet another source of water into her. Water is the key for flushing natural waste toxins out of her body that her kidneys cannot. Maybe try to make her food like a thick soup.
I have to tell you one more thing because your last post made me think of it...
When I left Pearl that critical weekend on IV at her vet's, my vet tried to prepare me for the worst- she said to me that I should know that she had never had a cat survive with lab test numbers as poor as Pearl's were. Three years later, I always kid her about that when I bring Pearl in for one thing or another, and she always says how Pearl proved her wrong and made her change her mind about what was 'hopeless'.
I think there is always hope when your pet is still eating and acting happy to see you. If Maggie is not going to make it, you can feel good that you gave her every chance short of letting her suffer in pain. And when Maggie's time comes (whether this week or 3 years from now) you will be lovingly there for her.
Hi Amanda,
You are doing the best you can for her and that is the best gift you can give. And Bleeker's comment are really the best advice I've heard.
Maggie is special and I wish her the best. Song from Diamond Rio keeps going in my mind. "one more day".
We are all pulling for Maggie and for you. You are the best thing that happened to Maggie.
Take care,
Smilingcat
Going slightly off topic but reading the above, I too am the same but when I come on TE Forum I feel really close to you guys, despite the distance and at times I feel so upset and actually find myself saying similar things, I guess it's not such a bad thing. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama
Anyway Amanda, still have my fingers crossed and it's good reading how things are going.
Hugs to little Maggie Bear.
Clock
Well the news this morning wasn't as good on paper. Her values dropped over the weekend but not substantially. The vet offered that we could leave her another night but at some point it seems in vain, she is still double what she should be and at nearly a week of hospital at this point. We decided to bring her home and enjoy whatever time she has left. He said one more night of hospital might mean one more day on her overall life. But really does that mean one day she spent at their hospital? We don't have a way of knowing and in our hearts know she needs to come home. She needs hugs, we need hugs. She was so damn happy last night to see us and eat and love on us. He did tell us we can't leave her there forever, that is not fair to Maggie or us, visiting for one hour a day (and we have been by nearly every day she was there). Another night likely will provide help but it would probably be minimal, he did say it was fair to her to come home. We are still trying subcu but I don't think we have many nights, at least we have this one. Bad day to not wear waterproof mascara for sure.
I think you should bring her home and spoil her rotten! She wants to be with you and your dh more then she wants to be at the vet that I am sure of. Enjoy her as much as you can with the time you have with her. I have lost animals way to young and wish i had taken the time to enjoy them more. You just never know how much time you will ever have. Spend this time with her. Good luck and (((((hugs)))))) to you all.
For all the anger I cannot put into words. My mom knows a miniature schnauzer breeder, a good one that does genetic testing and the like. She said they do not breed the girls until they are TWO and only allow TWO litters before retirement. We got Maggie right before her fourth birthday and she had already had "3 or 4" litters. I am assuming the bred her young, frequently and without much care for her health. My poor beautiful girl, I am just glad we got to love her more than she ever knew those first four years.
Can the vet leave in a heprin lock IV and show you how to give her fluids? Either that or just show you how to attach the needle to the bag and tell you how many cc's she needs? I was giving Erin 100 cc's daily for the last couple of weeks of her life, and if I can do it solo, you certainly give Maggie fluids.
I think bringing her home is the best medicine. There living, and quality of life. Frankly I'd be much happier at HOME!!!
Hi Amanda,
Beth and Brandi is right. Home is the best place, being loved, cared in a familiar setting with familiar smell. sub-cue isn't that hard. Emotionally it was hard to administer to my cats. I know I had more difficult time than my cat.
Take a day or two off and spend some long time together. It helped my cat Murphy and it helped me. I sat on the couch with him in my lap and I just read books to pass the time. Stroked his head, his ear... He enjoyed the soothing touch of his mom. That's the important thing for maggie bear too. To feel comfortable.
I wish you well and peace to Magie Bear, she has a wonderful mom.
sincerely,
smilingcat
Amanda,
It sounds like the vet IV treatment did not turn things around for Maggie this weekend. I'm so sorry.
I know this is a terribly sad sad time right now. But the best you can do now is shower Maggie with love, which you are doing. I'm glad you have her home now. Keep in mind that she doesn't know anything except that she doesn't feel too good and that you are pouring attention all over her. She must be happy about that.
Do keep giving her sub-cu water. being dehydrated is not comfortable from what I have read, so keeping her fluids up as best you can will make her more comfortable for her last few days. After a while she will not want to eat anymore. I guess for me that was the point where I would help them 'cross over'.
Again, I am so very sorry.
Maggie has been so very lucky to have such a love-filled life with you. Just keep thinking how lucky and well loved she has been...her happy life...all because of you and your family.
Lisa said it so much better than I could. I'm so sorry the news isn't better.
I didn't want to say it going into the weekend because you were clear how much you and your DH needed the break, and there's nothing wrong with that. But, my Xiao Shieung died at the vet's while they were trying to save him. We were actually in the car on the way to visit when we got the call. :( There were many things surrounding his death that I felt horrible guilt for, but that's definitely one of them.
Bring her home, let her feel your love surround her, be with her when the time comes.
Hugs to you all.
I can't add anything that hasn't already been said. I know how hard it is to lose a pet. It's been over 4 years since I had to put my sweet kitty to sleep, and sometimes I still want to cry about it. But I relish the time I had with her, and I know I did the right thing for her.
Stay with your puppy and love on her. That is the best thing you can do. My heart goes out to you.
I'm so sorry for the bad news. I never give up hope until it's truly time, but I agree with everyone else who has posted, that she will have better last days at home. I've been in a similar situation with a very sick old Boston Terrier, and it was horribly sad for us, but I was glad she was with us at home until it was time for her to go to the bridge. I spent the last weekend of her life downstairs with her, sleeping on the couch, so I could comfort her between seizures, even when she couldn't see or hear me. I am very glad I had that time, even though it was emotionally wrenching, and my eyes were never dry. Our pets are just so much more comfortable at home with their "pack".
Thinking of you and Maggie Bear.... :(
Ah, Amanda. I'm sorry.
Oh Amanda - my heart is breaking for you, your DH and your little Maggie Bear. You're trusting your heart, which is the right thing to do. She'll tell you when it's time. Until then, shower her with love and treats (as I know you will). You'll look back on these memories and treasure them - even though they'll still hurt like h3ll.
Hugs,
CA
No one told Maggie how sick she is. When the vet tech (one of the many she loves brought her in) she started bouncing on her. Then she heard the vets voice (Maggie is blind) and ran to him then we called her and she bounded over to us jumping on DH and then me, then DH, then me. She wore herself out being so excited! The vet tech came in and showed us how to do SubCu which Maggie doesn't mind at all right now and that is good because with her frail condition she is getting 100 cc two times a day.
We brought her home and she bounced right to the backdoor then came in and went straight to her water dish. Made up a good ol' bowl of "gruel" and she ate it like they hadn't been feeding her. Wandered around the living room part of the evening, then made herself at home in her bed. We know she is on borrowed time because her values are still extremely elevated and it is very unlikely subcu will bring her down but last night was a gift.
Thank you all for the support. Most of my family has been there but at the same time think we are crazy for fighting for her. My husband's stepmom yesterday told me we should put her to sleep. My mom just reminds me that my Pawpaw let his cat suffer.