My little Maggie Bear!!

[Aggie_Ama]

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.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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.

[smilingcat]

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

[ClockworkOrange]

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..........

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.

Anyway Amanda, still have my fingers crossed and it's good reading how things are going.

Hugs to little Maggie Bear.

Clock

[Aggie_Ama]

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.

[Brandi]

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.

[Aggie_Ama]

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.

[bmccasland]

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!!!

[smilingcat]

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