Patty's Ali - my precious, beautiful angel

[nibbles-mommy]

Re: Patty's Ali

Yes, at the end I was manually expressing Nibbles every couple hours. I really didn't even wanna start that, but with urging from the vet and b.f. did and I believe that's what was causing the UTI's, because of irritation and stopping to go on his own all together.

[pgcor]

Re: Patty's Ali

Not to belabor the belt thing Patty - but the belt I used to help TsinTsin walk after his stroke also helped him relieve his bladder.

[Autumn]

Re: Patty's Ali

Hi Patty
Have been checking in to see how you and Ali are doing. I'm sorry it's been such a tough time. Saying prayers for you and Ali.

[Patty]

Re: Patty's Ali

10:54am - She finally went and allowed me to hold the sling towel under her for stability. Trying to have a BM later may be more difficult.

I did try pushing on her bladder earlier but it wasn't helping. I offer water through the day. Sometimes she drinks sometimes she doesn't. She's not at risk of having too little water. She drinks with all 4 meals and occasionally throughout the day. I just like it when she drinks quite a bit more to help with the UTI situation.

Working on getting in touch with neurologist today and getting her meds across town.

Tim comes home tonight which will be helpful (let him do some of the carrying when needed ).

While Ali does not seem to be in pain, still wants to do some things though is quite tired, honestly? My gut tells me this is not a reversible situation. I hope I'm wrong but it's a feeling I have. Despite the feeling I'm looking at the positives and working from there.

Patty

[Patty]

Re: Patty's Ali

The neurologist took Ali's file home with him. Sounds like he sometimes calls from home and is in for a period of time 7 days a week at the specialty clinic. Hoping to hear tonight. At least this weekend.

I got Ali's meds. Will start tonight. If I may vent, I don't like it when companies won't list the inactive ingredients due to 'trade secrets.' I like to know what's in the things I'm taking myself or giving my dog.

She hasn't gone potty since I posted earlier. I carried her from the car to the back yard in the grass then went to get the towel sling. When I came back she'd made it to the corner of the yard and fallen over. Sigh.

[Patty]

Re: Patty's Ali

Ali's skin is just crawling tonight. She's flinching with me just gently pulling up on her skin. The needle insert seemingly like knives poking her. I pulled out twice thinking I must be in something, but aspirating the needle was ok. I injected completely the other side but same reaction as when I tried to stick the left. Her sensory response is just off the charts tonight.

[Rubytuesday]

Re: Patty's Ali

Hi Patty, I remember the escalating stress when my Basil dog didn't want to eat and how the stress would build around feeding time. I imagine this is similar to what you feel around injection time.

Really glad you have Tim's support. Hope you have some good family time with Ali. Hoping also her skin calms down and that you hear from the neurologist soon.

[buddingartist]

Re: Patty's Ali

Thinking of you Patty and Tim today and wondering how your girl Ali is and if you have heard from the neurologist.

Take care
Louise

[Patty]

Re: Patty's Ali

Updating on Ali...
Last night was pretty awful. Ali felt awful.
Bgs
243 fasting 6 1/2u lowered her KBr to 1ml
261 Hour 1 - only 18 point rise thinking we were doing pretty well
238 Hour 3 - 23 point drop in 2 hours not much in Ali's pattern. Her second meal will spike her. She wagged her tail and gave Tim a few kisses from her pillow but was very, very lethargic, uncomfortable.

Tried to get her to potty outside. Maximum assist to stay upright. When she could walk it was a few steps and she fell. No desire to even sniff the ground. It's 10pm and the last time she peed was 10:54am. She laid down and seemed so unwell.
261 - Hour 4 after all that effort outside.

I just knew I needed to get her to pee so we decided to take her down to the dog park. I always steer clear of areas lots of other dogs have been around because of her immune system and it's definitely compromised now, but we were desperate. Our yard has a slight slope. I wanted level ground, more space, and to perk her interest. I was hoping she would mark another dog's spot. It was lightly drizzling out, she walked a bit better with guidance for staying straight (still falling and knuckling under but better). She acted like she was going to go but never did. We were there about 30 minutes before heading home.

I picked her up out of the car and carried her in the door. I held her under her armpits and belly in front of her legs this time. Whether it was being active for so long or my carrying her (I could feel her full bladder but pressing on it before did nothing), she decided to walk toward the back door. I helped her out and she let me hold her up once she squatted to pee. Relief and thanks to God.

238 - Hour 5 - dropped back down 23 points, fed 1/2 her 2nd meal to avoid another shot since she'd been so sensitive that night. So much so she'd busted an anal gland with the stress of it.

307 - 12:55a very restless, uncomfortable, eyes half closed, pawing at face, sitting up every minute or so then laying back down.

8/18/12
315 AM fasting would not potty, gave 6 5/8u again just tenting her skin slightly for shot and the sharp point of the needle inserted seemed like knives to her, she ate, lowered dose of KBr, carried her upstairs after 30 minutes to rest with us
319 - Hour 1 - 4 point rise, resting but restless and very uncomfortable. Tim and I are talking about when it's time with her discomfort, pain with injections, difficulty eliminating, lack of desire to be touched for long, not knowing if she can make it through our experimenting on possible causes as she's just so very miserable.
295 - Hour 3 - took her downstairs and she pooped! Her demeaner really changed, still tired but you could tell she was feeling so much better. She wanted to sit at the front window. She and Tim sat there for 20 minutes with her leaning into him. Then she sat out front with me for about 15 while he took at shower.

244 - Hour 4 - fed 2nd meal
288 - Hour 6 - Restless feeling the early rise so we decided since she was feeling better to take her over to the airplane museum. I figured we'd just wander the pine trees for a few minutes, maybe she'd pee in a new place. She started walking better on her own. Still very wobbly but the BM this morning made a huge difference. Tim was behind a pine tree and whistled for her and her ears perked up while she tried to find him.

Neuro doc called while we were out there. What he sees in her videos doesn't appear to him to be brain tumor (or whatever it is we may be dealing with), but sedation. He asked about her other meds causing drowsiness, bgs from UTI contributing to the mix. Said let's take her off the KBr (exactly what Natalie said). He wants her off cold turkey vs. weaning as I thought. Said give her 1/8t table salt in a couple of meals and it will help flush the KBr from her system faster. It will take about 4-5 days to clear.

Then if she's getting better we'll have our answer. If not, obviously something else is at play. If her seizures become an issue again, we'll have to figure something else out.

I'd taken my notes in the car to ask questions in case he called my cell and was not multitasking well getting back into the car, pulling them out, hearing him, answering question, etc.

Forgot to include that we started at 1ml (500mg) KBr instead of the 1.1ml (600mg) he recommended after discussing with Dr. Dodds and my local vet. Then when her level was drawn at 2 weeks and I talked to the doc filling in for mine on vacation, that we raised the dose to 1.05ml (550mg) on Aug 6th. I plan on sending an email to let him know because perhaps if restarted she would tolerate a lower dose.

The dose of KBr she's on is already very low - the amount you would give a dog if they were already on another seizure med like Phenobarb instead of just the KBr by itself. But Ali is sensitive to little things, and as Natalie says, isn't a textbook case. She never has been.

So this is what we are trying. The fact that she's letting me help steady her with eliminating is huge. She's still not going as often but hoping she's getting more comfortable with the invasion of her personal space to accept help.

She did try to hop up on the ottoman herself this afternoon, which didn't end well. Still very weak in the back end and not out of the woods with it all but her interest is returning to some degree since having a BM.

Shot tonight was still a bit ouchy, but not like last night or this morning. I did increase her to 6 3/4u. When you rub her sides to pet her, it creates a relex action with her back leg and not in a good way. I think her allergies, like last year, have her skin on hyper drive. Then add the KBr which can affect skin and could be quite a combo.

Praying for the best!
Patty

Some pics...

Put Ali up on the couch (white sheet is background) next to Tim while he read the papers this afternoon and she sacked out.


Ali wobbling through the pine trees without me needing to hold her up looking for Tim when he whistled.

[buddingartist]

Re: Patty's Ali

Tks for the update Patty.

Let's hope that the elimination of the KBr gives you a positive response.

I can only pray for you guys and offer empathy for what you are going through with your girl. I have not forgotten how difficult and gut wrenching it is.

Take good care of yourselves and extra belly rub for Ali

Louise

[Rubytuesday]

Re: Patty's Ali

I was holding my breath all day waiting to hear.

So the info from the neurologist gives you some hope. I will pray for no siezures.

Don't forget I can send that backend harness to you. This is a link to one that looks similar.

http://handicappedpets.com/neoprene-...t-harness.html

Wishing for a good night for all.

[Judi]

Re: Patty's Ali

this is hopeful. And bless her heart looking for Tim. She is the sweetest girl.

Hugs and all the positive thoughts in the world to the 3 of you. Judi

[nibbles-mommy]

Re: Patty's Ali

Great to hear!

The wonders of a good poop

[SandyL]

Re: Patty's Ali

There's some positives in your update and it's good to hear! Good thoughts and prayers still coming for all of you

Sandy

[Ladybug]

Re: Patty's Ali

It's great to hear some uplifting news! Praying the trend continues and the seizures don't return.

Linda