My Dax is Gone

[Laurie and Tasha]

It has actually been a while - Dax crossed the Bridge on January 21, but I have really been too upset about it to post until now. On January 4th, my sister was here visiting and said, "Daxie is breathing funny." I looked at her, and she was relaxing on the living room floor, but was huffing and puffing. I rushed her to the vet and xrays were taken. There was fluid in her chest. Fluid was tapped and sent for analysis. She was diagnosed with chylothorax, and a couple of days later, we inserted a chest tube and she was hospitalized for 5 days. We wanted to give her a chance to recover. My vet taught me how to drain the fluid from her chest, and I brought her home. I was removing around 110 cc of fluid daily from her. I did some research on the internet and read about a supplement called Rutin which was thought to have some success in treating this condition. I started her on this, even though my vet was very doubtful it would help.

She was losing weight, not eating very much, very lethargic and dehydrated. On January 19 (this was a Saturday), I took her back to the vet for a checkup, and mentioned that she had not had a bowel movement since she had been home. An xray was taken, and there was a lot of dry stool in her bowel. My vet recommended that I give her 150cc of sub-q fluids on both Saturday and Sunday, and if she did not have a bowel movement by Monday, he wanted to give her an enema. He also wanted me to syringe feed her a can of A/D every day.

She did have a bowel movement late Saturday night after I administered the fluids, but I just couldn't put her through any more. She was already running from me every time I came near her, and she was getting weaker and weaker. My vet said we could not leave the chest tube in indefinately, due to risk of infection. We briefly discussed surgical options, but they have very limited success and Dax was 13 years old.

There was no hope, and I said goodbye to her on Monday morning, January 21.

I had never heard of chylothorax before. Horrible disease.

[Cleo]

I'm so sorry. I've never heard of that either but I'm sure Dax knows you were doing everything to help her.

[Traci]

OMG, Laurie, I am so very sorry, my heart just breaks for Dax and you.

I know you did everything you could for her, and I'm sure she knew that. I remember when you adopted her into your heart and home, and I know that you gave her the best of everything in her life.

Chylothorax occurs when there is an infection present, oftentimes originating from the intestines, and can be difficult to treat. Sometimes it involves the thoracic cavity, sometimes it involves both the thoracic and abdominal cavity, and the spread of fluid (chyle/infection) is difficult to control, despite constant draws of fluid. I don't believe that surgery was an option for Dax, and may have exasperated the condition. Please know you made the right decision for your precious baby girl.

My heart so goes out to you, Laurie....safe and gentle journey, sweet sweet Dax...(((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

[Tina B and crew]

I am so sorry to hear about your Dax. Breath easy and run and play sweet Dax.