Tweet
I am typing about a family dog named Katie who is approximately 8 years old. She is a pointer/aussie mix who wandered up as a stray puppy and has been loved ever since. The problem started on May 19th when another family pet that she loves to play with came to visit. They like to play outside in the yard and in the woods surrounding the house. (Could this problem be linked to an animal bite???)
Katie had a huge lump on the side of her neck. She was immediately taken to the vet who said it was a severely swollen lymph gland on the left side of her neck ONLY (strange?). She didn't seem to want to eat much but was thought to maybe have discomfort from the swelling. Lump was aspirated and was NOT malignant - she had 1/2 degree high temperature. She was given oral and injected Doxycycline and oral Dexamethasone (could either of these cause acute kidney problems??).
Within 2 days, the lump was gone and her personality was almost normal. Then we noticed that she was getting up a little slowly and still not eating much. Went to a new vet who cleaned her teeth and while she was anesthesized, did an x-ray. Found spurs on vertebrae-no arthritis-but that didn't seem to be the problem. She did blood work and heartworm test was NEGATIVE but BUN and Creatinine were both elevated. After one bag of IV fluids, both numbers improved but stayed elevated. This vet prescribed her: Ciprofloxacin, Enalapril Maleate, and Previcox (taken off after 4 days due to vomiting). She also gave us kidney failure dog food but she was already refusing to eat at that point. We are now 10 days into this and Katie still totally refuses to eat (even tried treats,etc.) or drink. The only water we think she is getting is bottle squirted water which mostly pours out the sides of her mouth. She vomits anything we can get into her stomach including the medication (if given seperately, they sometimes stay down). She tries to go to the bathroom - doesn't look like anything comes out. She is not totally lethargic and once encouraged to go outside will prance around and bark almost as normal and is still as lovable as always! She does not seem to be in any pain, discomfort or distress but she does look for grass to eat every time she goes out.
Any advice at this point would be great - we are desperate and the vet doesn't seem to be able to offer any further help since we don't know if it is chronic or acute or even treatable.
I just tend to think that the swollen gland out of the blue and this kidney trouble with no previously noticed indications are rather coincidental - maybe it is just wishful thinking that it is treatable but there is always hope!
Thank you ahead for any advice.
Katie had a huge lump on the side of her neck. She was immediately taken to the vet who said it was a severely swollen lymph gland on the left side of her neck ONLY (strange?). She didn't seem to want to eat much but was thought to maybe have discomfort from the swelling. Lump was aspirated and was NOT malignant - she had 1/2 degree high temperature. She was given oral and injected Doxycycline and oral Dexamethasone (could either of these cause acute kidney problems??).
Within 2 days, the lump was gone and her personality was almost normal. Then we noticed that she was getting up a little slowly and still not eating much. Went to a new vet who cleaned her teeth and while she was anesthesized, did an x-ray. Found spurs on vertebrae-no arthritis-but that didn't seem to be the problem. She did blood work and heartworm test was NEGATIVE but BUN and Creatinine were both elevated. After one bag of IV fluids, both numbers improved but stayed elevated. This vet prescribed her: Ciprofloxacin, Enalapril Maleate, and Previcox (taken off after 4 days due to vomiting). She also gave us kidney failure dog food but she was already refusing to eat at that point. We are now 10 days into this and Katie still totally refuses to eat (even tried treats,etc.) or drink. The only water we think she is getting is bottle squirted water which mostly pours out the sides of her mouth. She vomits anything we can get into her stomach including the medication (if given seperately, they sometimes stay down). She tries to go to the bathroom - doesn't look like anything comes out. She is not totally lethargic and once encouraged to go outside will prance around and bark almost as normal and is still as lovable as always! She does not seem to be in any pain, discomfort or distress but she does look for grass to eat every time she goes out.
Any advice at this point would be great - we are desperate and the vet doesn't seem to be able to offer any further help since we don't know if it is chronic or acute or even treatable.
I just tend to think that the swollen gland out of the blue and this kidney trouble with no previously noticed indications are rather coincidental - maybe it is just wishful thinking that it is treatable but there is always hope!
Thank you ahead for any advice.
Comment