(This picture was taken before Scout got sick. She's wearing the sweater I bought her to wear when we go snowshoeing).
Scout didn't rally like the vet had hoped on the prednisone. She was on IV fluids for most of the day and the vet added vitamin B12 to the fluids to increase her appetite. I was really encouraged by the fact that she ate canned dog food--without me having to force it down her throat--when we got home last night. (she hadn't voluntarily eaten anything for over a week). She wasn't feverish or sick to her stomach and seemed more responsive to her surroundings.
But she still won't move. She's very flaccid, like a rag doll. Just kind of flops down wherever you put her and never changes positions. She's walking around a bit faster and smoother today (when we make her stand up to go out and go potty), but really doesn't care to move at all. So unlike the Scout we know and love!
She goes back for another round of IV fluids and prednisone today, we may start her back on the docycycline since her tummy has had a chance to rest. Dr. McNabb keeps going back to tick-borne diseases as he puts all of her symptoms together. All the antibiotics we've given Scout so far seem to really make her nauseaous, I'm not sure how much of the doxycycline she was able to keep down.
My friend, Tobi, from Wyoming, keeps sending me fun dog quotes. Thought I'd share a few with you all . . .
Dog Logic
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings
The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -Andy Rooney
Dogs love their friends & bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love & always have to mix love & hate. -Anonymous
Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.
-Franklin P. Jones
If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -Unknown
My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. -Mark Twain
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret
5 comments:
Hi there, DOn't give up on Scout! It seems like she is rallying and just needs time to heal. CHances are she is so weak from the fever she doesn't feel like moving. WHen Sweep had his accident it was 9 days before he even tried to eat or stand or walk. I'm sure glad your vet is trying different things and i am praying for her to recover fully and get back to that wild little dog you know. So many times i think man i wish they would stop barking and settle down and then when they get sick like this all you want is to see them tearing around again because then you would know they are feeling better.
Karen Porter
Hi Karen! I don't have your email, so hopefully you'll read this! Scout improved so much after her second does of prednisone today that it was like a miracle! Eating, getting out of her bed and walking around . . . the vet was surprised to see the change when we took her back in today. So now he's thinking it might be a polyarthritic autoimmune thingy . . . treatable with prednisone. Thanks for your encouragement and keep praying!
Shawn
Hi there, it's karen@porter.bz
Oh i'm so glad she is doing better. She sounds like one tough little dog which shelties usually are. Maybe she has turned the corner and will now respond to the treatment. I will forard this site to a firend who has shelties and see if there is anything she knows about this condition that might help you out.
Karen
Has Scout been tested for Erlichia?
We are keeping you all in our prayers.
Has Scout been tested for heavy metal poisoning? Specifically lead poisoning.
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