Aa
Undiagnosed 3 months no cure
My dog, Dakota, is a coon hound mix, 6 years old. About 3 months ago, he was diagnosed with Lyme's Disease.
When treated, he seemed to get a bit better, and then he became gravely ill. His muscles cramped up until he could hardly lift his head. He began losing massive amounts of weight. The doctor thought he might have an auto immune disease, so she began giving him prednizone. He seemed to get better so we weened him off and his condition came back. The doctor increased the steriod again for a few weeks then began to lower the dose. He stopped eating and we put him on a prescription diet b/c he wasn't holding his bowels. Slowly his stool became normal, but since the lowering of the dose of steriod, his condition has started to return. Now he is on Azathioprine and the steriod. We have begun to week him off the steriod and slowly his condition has returned.
He has begun to pant harder, he is lethargic, has lost most of his muscle mass, more than 15lbs. He has stopped eating as of yesterday, he still drinks a ton of water. We took him for a walk this evening, his stool has once again become runny, and he started to vomit during the walk. We were trying to give him a boost of esteem. Being sick so long has taken its toll on him as well and we thought staying positive with him was a good thing.
The doctors still do not not exactly what is wrong with him. He has gone through bacterial tests, skin tests, blood works, cbc's. Everything but a spinal tap basically. The Vet is treating him for anything a spinal tap would show.
We are desparate. We want so much to save our beautiful Dakota.
But we don't know what ails him. Could his disease be something other than auto immune, something we overlooked?
It's been since the beginning of March and still no answers. No one can tell us if he is going to make it.
Please help.
When treated, he seemed to get a bit better, and then he became gravely ill. His muscles cramped up until he could hardly lift his head. He began losing massive amounts of weight. The doctor thought he might have an auto immune disease, so she began giving him prednizone. He seemed to get better so we weened him off and his condition came back. The doctor increased the steriod again for a few weeks then began to lower the dose. He stopped eating and we put him on a prescription diet b/c he wasn't holding his bowels. Slowly his stool became normal, but since the lowering of the dose of steriod, his condition has started to return. Now he is on Azathioprine and the steriod. We have begun to week him off the steriod and slowly his condition has returned.
He has begun to pant harder, he is lethargic, has lost most of his muscle mass, more than 15lbs. He has stopped eating as of yesterday, he still drinks a ton of water. We took him for a walk this evening, his stool has once again become runny, and he started to vomit during the walk. We were trying to give him a boost of esteem. Being sick so long has taken its toll on him as well and we thought staying positive with him was a good thing.
The doctors still do not not exactly what is wrong with him. He has gone through bacterial tests, skin tests, blood works, cbc's. Everything but a spinal tap basically. The Vet is treating him for anything a spinal tap would show.
We are desparate. We want so much to save our beautiful Dakota.
But we don't know what ails him. Could his disease be something other than auto immune, something we overlooked?
It's been since the beginning of March and still no answers. No one can tell us if he is going to make it.
Please help.
So thats little Dakota, how precious,,,,yes, very hard after passing...you think you see them pass by, or hear thier collar tags clang, or theres a toy or a habit they do...so much to deal with after the fact...so much...then you remember, and the tears build up..
And, other pets do mourn, I learned that too....
Dakota was a really cute little thing...his pic does him well....
Take care of yourself!!!
And, other pets do mourn, I learned that too....
Dakota was a really cute little thing...his pic does him well....
Take care of yourself!!!
we are doing okay. Still greiving. It's weird..we thought that the hardest decision was helping him pass, but the hardest thing is living without him.
I wish that I could tell our other pups it was okay, but they are missing him too and seem really depressed.
It's been a strange couple of days. Definately an adjustment.
I wish that I could tell our other pups it was okay, but they are missing him too and seem really depressed.
It's been a strange couple of days. Definately an adjustment.
That must have been one of the most difficult decisions you had to make. I am so sorry to hear that Dakota passed on. It sounds like he knew it was his time to go and he had his family around him, loving him to the end and after.
It is of little comfort, I know but he was loved and cared for all his life. And he passed outside under the trees with birds singing in the background. If it's possible to say such a thing, Dakota died well - with his people and outside rather than in a vet's office.
You did everything you could and your "fur baby" knew it.
Feel free to post here anytime while you are going through your grief. Most of us have been through it too.
Hugs to you ....
lonewolf
It is of little comfort, I know but he was loved and cared for all his life. And he passed outside under the trees with birds singing in the background. If it's possible to say such a thing, Dakota died well - with his people and outside rather than in a vet's office.
You did everything you could and your "fur baby" knew it.
Feel free to post here anytime while you are going through your grief. Most of us have been through it too.
Hugs to you ....
lonewolf
I am so very sorry for your loss. From your posts it is obvious you did everything possible for your little friend. Know that he is in peace. God bless you all.
I am so sorry for you, I know you did everything in your heart to keep your Dakota by your side, but, the best gift an animal can recieve is the love of your companionship he shared w/you and your family during his lifetime....and the love you and Dakota shared to the end...
You now have a bright and shining star in the heavens, I believe our stars are each and every twinkle belongs to our animals who have shared our earth and go to the skies for longlasting light of a star that twinkles so bright, and Dakota will be an angel to walk w/you everyday and life leads you...
I lost one months back....you'll cry, mourn for a long time....I know you and your husband loved your dog unconditionally, for its takes the strongest love of all to have compasion to let your little Dakota go....and you right, Dakota spirit is running, barking, and havin a blast on what they call "Rainbow Bridge" and his spirit is with you always, and maybe one day you can get another pet, for its quite obvious that your love would be so greatly needed by another pet whos out there in need...
Take your arms and wrap them around your shoulders and give yourself a hug from me!!!
Very sorry for your loss, and wish you all the best, you were a wonderful pet owner!!!
You now have a bright and shining star in the heavens, I believe our stars are each and every twinkle belongs to our animals who have shared our earth and go to the skies for longlasting light of a star that twinkles so bright, and Dakota will be an angel to walk w/you everyday and life leads you...
I lost one months back....you'll cry, mourn for a long time....I know you and your husband loved your dog unconditionally, for its takes the strongest love of all to have compasion to let your little Dakota go....and you right, Dakota spirit is running, barking, and havin a blast on what they call "Rainbow Bridge" and his spirit is with you always, and maybe one day you can get another pet, for its quite obvious that your love would be so greatly needed by another pet whos out there in need...
Take your arms and wrap them around your shoulders and give yourself a hug from me!!!
Very sorry for your loss, and wish you all the best, you were a wonderful pet owner!!!
Thank you for your comments and suggestions.
This morning Dakota was worse than the night before.
His urine was brownish as if his kidneys were shutting down.
It didn't much matter the financials, if we could have just found a cure.
This afternoon the vet came to our home and helped us let Dakota pass. We were outside under the trees, there was a nice breeze and the birds were chirping. Dakota wagged his tail for the first time in weeks and then rested his head in my husbands lap.
It was a very painful decision, but we feel that it was the best for him. The Vet said we were doing the right thing. He was truly an awesome dog. A true freind and companion. Our home is a bit quieter this evening, its an adjustment. But we know that he isn't hurting anymore.
This morning Dakota was worse than the night before.
His urine was brownish as if his kidneys were shutting down.
It didn't much matter the financials, if we could have just found a cure.
This afternoon the vet came to our home and helped us let Dakota pass. We were outside under the trees, there was a nice breeze and the birds were chirping. Dakota wagged his tail for the first time in weeks and then rested his head in my husbands lap.
It was a very painful decision, but we feel that it was the best for him. The Vet said we were doing the right thing. He was truly an awesome dog. A true freind and companion. Our home is a bit quieter this evening, its an adjustment. But we know that he isn't hurting anymore.
Oh my goodness, I feel so sorry for the little friend, poor thing, all those tests, yuck. going to the vet is stressful to the lil' friend and financial to you.
So the vet is chasing symptoms...hum...the panting is danger....I know that from my experience, thats not a good sign at all....keep the dog as calm as possible, lots of TLC, try to hand feed one bite, then another later, an so on...ask the vet if your friend can have something to calm down with, like ativan,,,is the tongue/gums/ bright/dark red??
I tell everyone the same thing,,,,,boil rice, drain rice, keep water, and syringe the water in small doses and alternate with mild flavor (not red) gatorade and even thru the night...
Your coming up on the wknd, do you know your vet's schedule and where the nearest hospital is??? A dab of pepto bismal too to coat stomach and intestines, for 15lbs, just about 0.8ml, its like a 1/4 tsp...my suggestion is not to walk him, keep him calm, and watch the panting,,,,call you vet....you sound in trouble...my dog last week was shutting down like yours different cause of issue, but I took the ICU matter in my own hands, I did get a sedative shot for my dog, had it not been for that, I would have lost my dog while the panting was happening...then I came home and started syringing very little amounts all day and all night, keeping calm, no loud noises, letting dog lay w/me and calmly petting and soothing, we pulled thru after 3 days of this...you have be dedicated to handle this type of work w/the pet...
Most dogs will try their whole heart to stay w/you out of their pure innocent love for you, they will not let go unless they can't no longer, and/or left at vet during crisis and give up cause you're not there...
I hope this is just something that will pass for you and yours, and everything will get better, I don't want to sound remorse, but I am very sensitive to dogs w/ certain symptoms, maybe over sensitive...Please keep site posted, I am sure other will post today and give more advice/suggestions and hold your hand during difficult times...give your little friend a big hug for me:o)
So the vet is chasing symptoms...hum...the panting is danger....I know that from my experience, thats not a good sign at all....keep the dog as calm as possible, lots of TLC, try to hand feed one bite, then another later, an so on...ask the vet if your friend can have something to calm down with, like ativan,,,is the tongue/gums/ bright/dark red??
I tell everyone the same thing,,,,,boil rice, drain rice, keep water, and syringe the water in small doses and alternate with mild flavor (not red) gatorade and even thru the night...
Your coming up on the wknd, do you know your vet's schedule and where the nearest hospital is??? A dab of pepto bismal too to coat stomach and intestines, for 15lbs, just about 0.8ml, its like a 1/4 tsp...my suggestion is not to walk him, keep him calm, and watch the panting,,,,call you vet....you sound in trouble...my dog last week was shutting down like yours different cause of issue, but I took the ICU matter in my own hands, I did get a sedative shot for my dog, had it not been for that, I would have lost my dog while the panting was happening...then I came home and started syringing very little amounts all day and all night, keeping calm, no loud noises, letting dog lay w/me and calmly petting and soothing, we pulled thru after 3 days of this...you have be dedicated to handle this type of work w/the pet...
Most dogs will try their whole heart to stay w/you out of their pure innocent love for you, they will not let go unless they can't no longer, and/or left at vet during crisis and give up cause you're not there...
I hope this is just something that will pass for you and yours, and everything will get better, I don't want to sound remorse, but I am very sensitive to dogs w/ certain symptoms, maybe over sensitive...Please keep site posted, I am sure other will post today and give more advice/suggestions and hold your hand during difficult times...give your little friend a big hug for me:o)
Just a guess - could he possibly be diabetic? Or even have a case of MS (sorry, I don't know the technical term for it). It sounds a lot like what our pit went through years ago.
Re-reading your message, it looks like your dog has been through a lot. You could try contacting Dr. Cheng here at MH.
I also wonder if some of his problems might be "emotional". Before writing me off as crazy, dogs do have emotional reactions to certain things, just like humans. Maybe his illnesses have taken their toll not only in his body but in his emotions. A vet could tell you better or an animal psychologist - if you want to take that route. If he was my dog, I'd try another vet and just keep loving and caring for the dog; let him know you love him no matter what he does or how he feels - give him a reason to hang in.
Please let us all know how you and Dakota are doing.
Hugs and good thoughts to both of you ....
lonewolf
Re-reading your message, it looks like your dog has been through a lot. You could try contacting Dr. Cheng here at MH.
I also wonder if some of his problems might be "emotional". Before writing me off as crazy, dogs do have emotional reactions to certain things, just like humans. Maybe his illnesses have taken their toll not only in his body but in his emotions. A vet could tell you better or an animal psychologist - if you want to take that route. If he was my dog, I'd try another vet and just keep loving and caring for the dog; let him know you love him no matter what he does or how he feels - give him a reason to hang in.
Please let us all know how you and Dakota are doing.
Hugs and good thoughts to both of you ....
lonewolf
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