Vibes for Brody, Please

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Brody!

Just out of curiosity, is there any way you can stretch the truth a little to get Brody in sooner than Firday? I know it's not nice, but if you call them & say, "Hi. I've got an appt. for my dog on Friday. He has heartworms. He seems to be getting worse. I'm really worried he won't make it until then." I've done it with Twitch & it was worth stretching the truth a little(actually, I was scared she would die before her appt.). I really think the sooner Brody gets to the vet, the better.

I am taking him in a few minutes. I will update you when I get back

Oh Tanya! Tons of prayers for your sweet boy!

Tons of vibes for you and cute little Brody! I really hope everything is ok

Tanya (lots of huges & vibes)

and some good news... my bosses dog had heartworms bad last year and survived the surgery and medications while being really sick - so it can happen!

Tanya,

I hope all is going ok at the vet. It is so hard not knowing what is going on.

Tanya, I sending lots and lots of health vibes to sweet little Brody, and lots and lots of calming vibes to you, and lots and lots of and love to both of you!!!

Ok, I am back at work. I had to leave Brody and can't pick him up until 5:30

This was a new vet and they were actually great. The vet spoke with me for 30 minutes and I told her every single detail I could think of that has happened in the 6 months we have had Brody. Some of you will remember he hasn't been very healthy at all since he showed up at our house. The good news is that the vet does not think the collapsing episode is related to the heart worms. His lungs sound clear and if the heart worms had progressed to the stage where collapse occurs, he would be much worse off and his lungs wouldn't sound so well.

Her thinking at this point is that he had a seizure. She is not sure what else is going on, but has kept him for observation. They are doing a full blood panel to check organ function, a fecal test, urinalysis, and something else They are also going to try him on Hills something or other food (sorry guys stressful day I am forgetting the exact name), because he really hasn't eaten a good meal since Thursday.

The next step... once the test results come back, the vet hopes to find some cause for the seizure. She warned that they can't always find a cause and at that point he would be diagnosed with epilepsy. She discussed possibly putting him on seizure medication called phenobarbital.

The test results will also identify exactly what stage his heart worms are in and where we should go from here with treatment. The good news about treatment at this new vet is that they split the treatment up. They don't aim to kill all the worms at one time. Instead they go for half at a time. This minimizes the risk of clots or complications.

Sorry this post is so long! I am feeling a bit better now knowing that Brody has a good chance of surviving. I apologize for being so upset this morning. I just had the feeling I was losing my little guy. I know we aren't out of the woods yet, but we are certainly better off than we were. 5:30 can't come around quick enough! I can't wait to pick him up.

Thank you all so much for the good vibes you have sent Brody's way. I know they are helping.

I will post another update as soon as he is back home safe with me this evening.

Don't you dare apologize for being concerned about your sweet little boy

It sounds like you found a VERY good vet.

Sending lots of vibes to Brody

Sounds like a great vet - its a pity it takes case like this for us to realise our vets don't care/bother as much as we thought... and don't apologise at all - if more people were worried about their animals we wouldn't have half the shelters etc we have!

((hugs and vibes))

Tanya, please don't apologize for being upset - we've all been there with our babies, and understand perfectly. I'm so glad to hear that this new vet doesn't think the situation is as bad as you'd imagined. Just remember - many dogs do survive even severe heart worm infection. I know of one Collie who was considered a "goner" at two, survived the arsenic treatment (this was about 11 years ago), and lived to the ripe old age of 14.
I'm a wee bit skeptical about a seizure, as he's been with you since Thanksgiving, and hasn't had one before. I'm no vet, but I find it more logical to assume that the heart worms, kennel cough, diarrhea and resulting dehydration have left him so weak that the heat "hit" him and caused the collapse, i.e., that he fainted. I'm sending lot of your way.

Originally Posted by jcat

I'm a wee bit skeptical about a seizure, as he's been with you since Thanksgiving, and hasn't had one before. I'm no vet, but I find it more logical to assume that the heart worms, kennel cough, diarrhea and resulting dehydration have left him so weak that the heat "hit" him and caused the collapse, i.e., that he fainted. I'm sending lot of your way.

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I am glad that you feel this way also. That was my thinking as well! I feel like he just passed out for a moment. It's hard to describe but he went down just like a person would when they faint. Brody had been in the air conditioning all day and was only stepping outside for the first time in 8 hours. But the patio is VERY hot. The sun beats right down on it and no breeze makes it through. I know he hadn't been feeling well, and not eating, so I really would make sense to me that he had fainted. I think the foaming at the mouth led her to think a seizure
In any case, I can't express how pleased I am to be having all of those tests run on him. My other vet felt it was unnecessary I feel like the results will paint a clearer picture of Brody's health and will let us know exactly what we are looking at.

My good vibes also coming your way, Tanya....and I as well echo the "don't you dare apologize for caring so much!"...
Brody is so lucky to have such a good mum.

I'm so glad to hear that Brody is with a good vet who seems to really care for his health and wellbeing. I'm glad you'll have a clearer picture of his overall health, as well as what is going on with him right now.

I'm glad to hear the vet doesn't think it's heartworms causing this problem!! Hopefully, it was just the heat & nothing's wrong with Brody.

I'm glad you were pleased with this vet. Sometimes a new pair of eyes will see things we might have over looked.

Extra hugs for Brody!!!

Have followed Brody's story since you posted about finding him. Hope the new vet works out well for him.
Anne

glad you found a vet that really seems to care and know what they're doing lots of continued vibes for Brody!
And also don't worry about being upset, its so hard when our pets are sick, they can't tell us what is wrong and we tend to imagine the worst, been there, done that!

Squirt....you know I"m here for you and Brody......think positive and I'm sending all the prayers and vibes I can for your little boy.............