Duke made it home
 

But let the prayers keep coming. He was in for a bleeding ulcer caused by the prednisone, and got two units of blood. I was told he was eating and such, and his counts were coming back up on their own, indicating the bleed was stopped. So I get him home, situated, some water, made some ground beef and rice. He ate about 10 good mouthfuls then stopped. So I decided he has had a hard few days and needs to rest. I come down a bit later and he had pooped dark tarry stool again, loose, and managed to try to crawl away from it by of course dragging himself through it. At first I thought it was a lot but after I calmed and called the vet back, I realised it was not quite as much as I thought, just smeared nicely. SO the vet assures me he thinks it is left over blood in the tract and to keep an eye on it, that he is on strong anti-ulcer meds that should control the bleeding and that his numbers indicated the bleeding had stopped and his body was compensating. Please please keep us in your thoughts, if this is happening again it is over. We cannot afford another red cent at this point. I will keep all you prayer warriors and well wishers informed; please God let it just stop now.

I'm glad he made it home. Prayers for you and Duke and for things to start looking up for you! hugs too...big one

I'm glad he is home....and has people who are so willing to do everything they can for him.

OK, not for the weak stomached...but you KNOW you will read anyway and then say, "ewww..."

So a second episode of the tarry stool, only this time it seemed not as much, not quite as black (though still distinctly black) and more solid then the first one. And not as (ok stop reading now) odd smelling. I wish he would go BACK to his rug area, the one with the shower curtain liner under it and the layers of wee wee pads so this wouldn't be so hard to clean up.

OK I need to go recheck him, my 4yo DD decided he might get cold and made a balnket out of his wee-wee pads. Keep thinking of us, I am taking it as a lightly positive sign that the poo seems to be sort of normalizing, though still a sign of a very sick doggie. And he doesn't want to eat or drink.

It's just like having a child, isn't it? Have a nice hot bath, read a nice 4 year old story, and know you are doing what you can.

beccachow, I'll be thinking of you. I hope he gets well soon.

Hang in there! When my dog Seamus had stomach issues he would suddenly SPRAY bloody diarrhea everywhere. Oh, the smell! Poor little guy took a long time to recover too.

Has the vet made any prognosis on his neurological injury?

Yipee update!

We have PEE. Yeah, yeah, I'll go clean it up in a second, but he hadn't peed since Saturday on his own, he had a catheter. And one more episode of ickiness, only this time definitely a smaller amount, better formed, and looking a little tinier bit normal. Plus...

HE ATE!!! Ground beef and rice, just a handful but I am cooking up a hamburger patty to stuff his meds in. He had this cone on to keep him from chewing at a decub ulcer he has on his right hip, nasty NASTY and deep, gi-normous, so they stitched this bandage in place and swore he would NEVER be able to get it off. Then gave him a flexible cone. That cone was causing him major stress. SO any-who, I go out there for the latest poop detail and see the indestructible bandage gone. SO I said, you know what? If this stupid cone didn't keep him away from the sore, the HECK with keeping him this stressed out. I have it covered in a million ways, gauzed and taped and a diaper over it, I know he'll have it gone again in no time. They keep forgetting...THIS DOG CAN WALK. Not well, not for long, but let's say that every time I have cleaned up an icky I have cleaned it from some other part of the basement. I didn't have him in his pen because he was too weak to move, right? Maybe not so much. SO he is on his:

Shower curtain liner covered by:
Carpet remnant (I have two, one to clean while the other gets dirty) covered by:
Two towels, flolded in half and cushy soft (towels are a dime a dozen, well, if I ever get money again) covered by:
two layers of pee pee pads covered by:
Duke laying on a towel in a diaper. Never mind that it took me forever to fit that stinking diaper over that sore's bandaging.
And his child's pen around him. He is definitely looking around, brighter and more alert.

I am off to flip his burger and change him. Drat, that diaper took forever to figure out, lol.

Good news! Eating is soooo important. And looking brighter is sooo good to :) You are a good mama

Poor guy! Praying he continues to get better. Hang in there!

glad he's eating! Bandit cut his front pad one time and I like to have never kept a bandage on it...it would bleed all over if I didn't. He looked so funny walking, well limping, around with a sock duct taped on his leg.

really great to read a good update. go, Duke!

No eating today. Looking sad. Not sure what else I can do except the obvious. But I hate the thought of putting him down when we just spent over $2000 to save him.

Becky, I've been there too. Thousands in vet bills and a failing best friend. Think about what Duke would want you to do. He may pull out of this and may not. You've done your best. It's basically up to him now.

Hugs from Peg

Have you contacted a specialist?

good post....hugs from me too

I've been following this situation too, also sending prayers. If it helps, we have been in very similar situation in the past, too. If only there was some kind of guide book or easy answer, but there isn't. I think in some ways it is easier to deal with serious illness in a human family member, because there is usually so much support and guidance from the medical people. With our pet family members, not so much. Whatever happens, you have our support.

Thanks all. Not sure what all to make of him today. He has some "up" moments, like giving my DH kisses while he was bathing him, but some "down" moments like refusing to eat much. I am hoping tomorrow will be a better day after his stomach has another day to come back in line. I can't realistically expect him to be up dancing a jig when he was so close to death a few days ago, or expect him to eat voraciously when he had a stomach bleed that still is probably uncomfortable.

No, I haven't been able to consult a specialist, I simply don't have the $$. We did have the accupuncturist back out again today, and he seemed to respond to her. Maybe just time and rest. I caught him in the act of attempting to go somewhere (who knows where) a little bit ago, he was sitting up and looking quite guilty. I gently but firmly told him to lay back down and he gave me the whites-of-the-eyes pathetic look. We changed out all his bedding and gave him a quickie sponge bath. He has his "up" moments but he seems so easily tired.

Just keep thinking of us, I just want another year or so from him. We will never be ready to let go, just don't want to lose him like this and so close to everything else that's been going on.

I hope with all my heart he recovers and my previous offer stands.

Thank you, Ravenlost, that means the world to me. I know everyone can appreciate the awfullness of what's going on, but this probably really hits home for you in light of the year you have had.

Today my DH called me downstairs to see Duke, and I was panicked thinking he had taken a turn for he worse, instead I came around the corner to see him sitting down in his pen, panting with his "smile," looking quite happy. He had also managed to get out of the diaper, off all the bedding and had moved his entire pen off the wet bedding. I am leaving his pressure sore open to the air for a few minutes here, I swear even that looks smaller. He did balk at Pedigree dog food, and dry dog food, so I am off to see if I can find something to interest his appetite. Hotdogs, maybe a burger patty. Keep your fingers crossed, he looks like he is resting easier today.

Fingers, toes, eyes, etc. crossed. I'm holding you all close to my heart and hoping with everything I have that Duke recovers.

You might try some baby food chicken or beef mixed with some boiled white rice. Canned pumpkin (not pie filling) is supposed to be good for dogs with gastric distress.

My dogs never had much appetite for regular dog food when having stomach troubles. I would give them boiled, skinless boneless chicken meat, cooked hamburger, cooked eggs, mixed up with pieces of soft bread. Some people swear by hamburger and rice, but mine have never liked rice that much, bread would work better. Another thing good for a recovering stomach is, yogurt. I would give them some vanilla yogurt, nothing with fruit in it. Cottage cheese is another thing most dogs like, that is easy on the stomach. Here's hoping he improves each day!

Maybe he is just tired of burgers and rice. At this point to keep his strength up, offer him anything he will take.

My dog Sharpie was attacked by coyotes and wouldn't eat. His appetite varied wildly. Whenever he wasn't interested in one food, I tried another one. One of his fav's (which I didn't think was to healthy) was those little Vienna weenies in a can. I almost always could get him to take one of those. Works great for getting meds down too.

My prayers are still coming for you both.

well, he is currently on a diet of chicken nuggets and hot dogs, lol!

For a heartwarming update, see my post "Ummm I take that as a yes." He is much more with us now, though his muscles are starting to waste away and I need to start trying to excercise those back legs. He still has a tickle reflex in one back paw, but not the other; he can, however, move both legs still and wag his tail. I have started some ice therapy on his spine in case of swelling, needless to say we won't be using a lot of steroids now. I will also be switching it up with some heat.

Good to hear he is feeling better! I may have suggested this already, but it sounds like he would be a really good candidate for a dog wheelchair to help his recovery. You can learn about them at www.handicappedpets.com
My vet had one that we were able to borrow, so perhaps you could ask about it at the vets you are using. It is amazing how much it helps them, both physically and mentally.

Thinking of y'all!! Your post wondering if that was a yes gave me chills...wow! I hope Duke pulls through this and I totally understand what it's like to fork over thousands on treatment like this. We did it with Tori (still haven't gotten the bill, but not complaining, either) and still lost her last month. It's all up to Duke right now...and know you're doing the best you can for him! He's lucky to have you!