Abby, the Shih Tzu

[Cindy Baxter]

Sheena, thanks for the info. I did call vet last night and apparently they did not do a platelet count Sunday night. When I take her in tonight I will ask her to give me everything. Abby is not doing well today so I’m afraid her count went down and will end up with a transfusion. My daughter has been taking her out to potty and she can’t get up to go, she will just lay there and go. This just broke my heart when my daughter called me to tell me that. She also said that she is breathing very heavy. Please pray that she will be okay and make it through…I so don’t want to leave her there alone if she does end up getting the transfusion, she’s never been alone and I know she will be so scared.

[admin]

Hi Cindy
I’ m so sorry Abby is not too good today – she sounds very weak & in need of veterinary care immediately. Never fear a transfusion – they are there to support our babies & get them through the worst times. She needs help & I would take her in right now – don’t wait, please.

The first transfusion is “free ” in that you can give unmatched blood, but it is better to get properly matched blood as there are less risks. Remember small transfusions are best – have a look at our info on transfusions – feel free to print anything from our site & take it with you. Crossmatched blood & blood products can be obtained from Hemopet.org for future use, but I hope your vet has supplies – they normally do.

Most vets will let you stay with your pup as long as you promise to be calm & quiet. I would hate to leave mine & understand your wanting to be there.

I promise lots of dogs on our site have needed transfusions – sometimes quite a few. We would NEVER give up on a person because they needed a transfusion – we would carry on until we found drug (s) that made them better – don’t ever forget that & take comfort that transfusions make them feel better very quickly.

I really want you to take Abby in immediately, so signing off for now. I will stay awake as long as I can – let me know as soon as you can what the vets are doing for Abby.

Love & hugs by the bucket load
Sheena xxxxx

[Vally]

Cindy, yes I think she sounds very very weak, and I think she needs to be checked quickly. Can you take her in? Let us know.

Vally
xxx

[admin]

Sorry Cindy – links you need:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/transfusion/
Just in case this is serious: https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/dic/
Blood products
http://www.hemopet.org/canine-blood-bank.html

[admin]

Sent you a DIC vet protocol by e-mail too.

[admin]

Hi all & Cindy & Abby

Cindy e-mailed me to say Abby’s PCV has dropped to 14 – she took her in to the vets as Abby became very weak. The vets want to hold fire on a transfusion for now.

Cindy – can you get the vets to check out Abby’s chest because of the heavy breathing? An x-ray or ultrasound would confirm or deny if she has any fluid build up around her lungs. A diuretic will help if she has any fluid. The heavy breathing could be because she is so anaemic & is struggling to get oxygen around her system though. Oxygen therapy would help her in that case. The pred also makes them puff & pant.

I do feel a SMALL transfusion would help her, Cindy, if she’s struggling this badly. It must be heartbreaking seeing her so weak. Many of us have had to hold our dogs up for them to pee & poo when they were at their weakest point & a decision has to made to help them with a transfusion when this gets too bad. All dogs are different & some cope better at a low PCV than others. There is no hard & fast rule on numbers really. I reiterate that transfusions are wonderful things that help our dogs get through the really rough stages. If she drops any more, you need to do something for sure.

Did you manage to get any blood test results? If so, send them on & I’ll try to keep my cross eyes straight this time!!!!!

Thinking about you
Love Sheena & the boys xxxxx

[admin]

Cindy – I forgot to say you need to push to get her on thyroxine immediately. It can make the world of difference. I am really glad they’ve given you tummy protection & Vally is doing you a chart.
Sheena x

[Cindy]

Hi all, just an update. Abby is still not eating, drinking a little. It worries me because I could not get her to take her round of meds last night nor this morning (pred and aza) was however able to give her the Atopica since it’s liquid. God bless our vet, she spend so much time with us last night explaining every last detail. I couldn’t ask for someone better to be on Abby’s side to get her through this. We are taking her back in today at 2:00 since her breathing is worse and no food in her system. I certainly hope missing a couple of doses of meds is not going to do more damage. They did give her a B-12 shot last night. She was running off a little this morning as well, I’m hoping it’s a side effect from that instead of something more serious.