The vet got the bloodwork results this morning already...Mom did not have numbers, but he said her creatinine and liver enzymes were "slightly elevated" but he said that could be due to dehydration...all other numbers were "normal ranges"...
He said to keep her on the antibiotics and canned food along with kibble....it is Hills Science Diet Puppy Food in the large can that she is eating twice a day, and we mix it with kibble so she must eat some kibble too...she is drinking water well, I would say that between her and the resident feral cat, which Mom has named Priscilla (she is a pretty calico so we are almost 100% sure it is a she) they drank about 2/3 gallon of water in a 24 hour period...
Abigail is walking ALOT better, wagging her tail and wiggling all over the place, and not shivering any more....except when we put the field leash on her...then she sat and trembled because she has never been leashed before...except to go to the vet, so that will take some work to get her used to the leash and walking that way....
The vet wants her back in a few weeks to repeat bloodwork and see where her levels are at that time, after she has eaten adn gained strength, before making a final diagnosis of kidney or liver problems...
My Mom's Abigail
Re: My Mom's Abigail
I'm so glad mom got her in and got bloodwork done, however, did the vet say anything about the weight loss?
Was slightly elevated interpreted to be over the normal range or high normal, do you know? Were all of the liver enzymes elevated or just a few, and might have been due to stress? (i.e., the ALT can elevate during stress, but if all relevant liver enzymes are elevated, vet might want to investigate further....the weight loss could be due to a liver problem, and likewise the enzymes could be elevated due to weight loss or some other liver condition)
Good approach on rechecking those enzymes...if renal disease were suspect, at least she could get Abigail started on conservative treatment (appropriate diet, fluids support) to at least slow the progression. Hopefully, it's not renal disease at all, but let us know how the recheck on bloodwork goes, K?
Was slightly elevated interpreted to be over the normal range or high normal, do you know? Were all of the liver enzymes elevated or just a few, and might have been due to stress? (i.e., the ALT can elevate during stress, but if all relevant liver enzymes are elevated, vet might want to investigate further....the weight loss could be due to a liver problem, and likewise the enzymes could be elevated due to weight loss or some other liver condition)
Good approach on rechecking those enzymes...if renal disease were suspect, at least she could get Abigail started on conservative treatment (appropriate diet, fluids support) to at least slow the progression. Hopefully, it's not renal disease at all, but let us know how the recheck on bloodwork goes, K?
..........Traci
Re: My Mom's Abigail
Thanks Traci...
Mom did not ask for numbers, she remembers him saying they were slightly elevated and he thought it might be due to the stress of the week...
He did ask about the weight loss and palpated her body while she was there...and since her teeth looked good, that is why he was concerned about liver and/or kidney functioning, because of the weight loss...
He also told her to keep Abigail on the canned SD for puppies for the weekend at least, and see how she does coming back onto kibble...I think we will be getting more canned food come Monday as she is really eating that well...or maybe some kibble that can be mixed with warm water...I think I mentioned that already in another post, but for now, we will keep her on the kibble she normally eats...
She has gained noticeable weight just since we have had her confined, much to her chagrin...and I tell you, lastnight she wanted to follow Mom to the house, and I ended up having to carry her back to the shed...for as thin a she looks, she is quite hefty!!!....
But there is no chance of letting her run the farm now...especially if it does turn out that she will need daily meds...but we are all hoping that since he did not seem too concerned the whatever the numbers were, that he is attributing it to stress and dehydration at this time and will take a more aggressive approach if need be after the recheck...
I will keep you posted on progress...
Mom did not ask for numbers, she remembers him saying they were slightly elevated and he thought it might be due to the stress of the week...
He did ask about the weight loss and palpated her body while she was there...and since her teeth looked good, that is why he was concerned about liver and/or kidney functioning, because of the weight loss...
He also told her to keep Abigail on the canned SD for puppies for the weekend at least, and see how she does coming back onto kibble...I think we will be getting more canned food come Monday as she is really eating that well...or maybe some kibble that can be mixed with warm water...I think I mentioned that already in another post, but for now, we will keep her on the kibble she normally eats...
She has gained noticeable weight just since we have had her confined, much to her chagrin...and I tell you, lastnight she wanted to follow Mom to the house, and I ended up having to carry her back to the shed...for as thin a she looks, she is quite hefty!!!....
But there is no chance of letting her run the farm now...especially if it does turn out that she will need daily meds...but we are all hoping that since he did not seem too concerned the whatever the numbers were, that he is attributing it to stress and dehydration at this time and will take a more aggressive approach if need be after the recheck...
I will keep you posted on progress...
Re: My Mom's Abigail
I keep wondering whatever happened, if it was because she was scared off by another animal, or disoriented or maybe ingested something toxic? I also wonder if she wandered off and was sick with vomiting, etc, which could have caused both the dehydration and weight loss. I wonder if mom could look around Abigail's favorite places and try to determine if any toxins were suspect? Oh of only they could talk to us!
Hopefully nothing serious, and he is right, it could be due to anorexia and dehydration, but in such a short period of time, the weight loss is a bit worrisome, as are the number of liver enzymes.
But, a recheck should tell more.....
If necessary, you can use any kibble and add water to it. Most won't produce that "gravy"-like appeal, but it would at least give her additional moisture in the diet. You could try to mix a suitable kibble with suitable canned (but try to stay away from the cheap brands, this could make things worse) and add a bit of water to the mixture as well, just be careful about mixing to avoid GI tract upset, diarrhea/constipation, etc.
Hopefully nothing serious, and he is right, it could be due to anorexia and dehydration, but in such a short period of time, the weight loss is a bit worrisome, as are the number of liver enzymes.
But, a recheck should tell more.....
If necessary, you can use any kibble and add water to it. Most won't produce that "gravy"-like appeal, but it would at least give her additional moisture in the diet. You could try to mix a suitable kibble with suitable canned (but try to stay away from the cheap brands, this could make things worse) and add a bit of water to the mixture as well, just be careful about mixing to avoid GI tract upset, diarrhea/constipation, etc.
..........Traci
okay...
No toxins that we are aware of...Mom does not keep chemicals around and no plants this time of year...unless she ate a dead animal that was rancid or something, but with the COLD weather we have had, that is unlikely as well...
oh I wish she could talk as well....When David and I wandered the hills and timbers last weekend looking for her, we were watching for any signs of where she may have laid down, vomit, urine and poo...we found fresh urine and poo...the only tracks were here, followed from the shed and yard...deer...rabbit, and pheasant...no blood...no fur to suggest a fight...no dead animals...but with the weakness in her hind end and the way she was holding her head, I cannot help but wonder if she suffered a slight stroke while she was out and it took her that long to come home afterwards...even though she is not showing that weakness or lopsidedness now...
Here is a picture of her, taken yesterday...her left eye is the one she had a stick go into when she was a puppy, so it has a whitish cloudy glaze over it all the time...but the vet did not want to remove her eye then because she was still growing, and since then, it has never bothered or shown signs of infection and she acts like she can possibly see shadows with it, so we left her be when she matured...
No toxins that we are aware of...Mom does not keep chemicals around and no plants this time of year...unless she ate a dead animal that was rancid or something, but with the COLD weather we have had, that is unlikely as well...
oh I wish she could talk as well....When David and I wandered the hills and timbers last weekend looking for her, we were watching for any signs of where she may have laid down, vomit, urine and poo...we found fresh urine and poo...the only tracks were here, followed from the shed and yard...deer...rabbit, and pheasant...no blood...no fur to suggest a fight...no dead animals...but with the weakness in her hind end and the way she was holding her head, I cannot help but wonder if she suffered a slight stroke while she was out and it took her that long to come home afterwards...even though she is not showing that weakness or lopsidedness now...
Here is a picture of her, taken yesterday...her left eye is the one she had a stick go into when she was a puppy, so it has a whitish cloudy glaze over it all the time...but the vet did not want to remove her eye then because she was still growing, and since then, it has never bothered or shown signs of infection and she acts like she can possibly see shadows with it, so we left her be when she matured...
Re: My Mom's Abigail
Could have been a stroke, but would be rare, and any other health condition could cause the same symptoms. With a stroke, chances are, she would have been much more debilitated. I'm assuming the vet checked her heart and lungs, but wonder about her blood pressure etc (i.e. hypertension). An xray could be helpful to see the heart's shape and size, but I would imagine this could get costly for mom. Seizure disorders might be ruled out as well, but the first diagnostic is usually bloodwork anyway. It might be a good idea to have mom be sure to keep an eagle eye on her and watch for any continuation of or any other symptoms.
She is adorable, and that face, what a sweetheart!
She is adorable, and that face, what a sweetheart!
..........Traci
Re: My Mom's Abigail
Tambrey- she is so cute...reminds me of my Honey...a sweet lil ole lady pupper.
Re: My Mom's Abigail
with just the stethoscope, her heart and lungs I am assuming were good as well, since he did not comment on them, just listened, as routine, of course...he did not check BP, but that is a possibility as well...we have a BP machine, but of course the cuff is too big for her legs!! and I have no idea what a normal BP is for a dog her age and size anyways...
But if we could get a cuff to fit our machine, is it something we could monitor at home, like Mom and hubby do?
Oh believe me, Mom is watching her for any changes good or bad...so no worry there....
I think she has a sweet face as well...and she LOVES belly rubs!!
But if we could get a cuff to fit our machine, is it something we could monitor at home, like Mom and hubby do?
Oh believe me, Mom is watching her for any changes good or bad...so no worry there....
I think she has a sweet face as well...and she LOVES belly rubs!!
Re: My Mom's Abigail
No, the vet has proper cuffs for pets at the clinic, would be best to have him check BP, especially due to her age, hopefully no renal issues, but with renal usually comes hypertension if it isn't monitored or controlled.
..........Traci
Re: My Mom's Abigail
Just wanted to update...Abigail is still on antibiotics, or near to done....10 days worth...eating 2 cans of SD for puppies each day, along with kibble...trying to dig her way out of the shed 
and yesterday the bowling alley owner went to get some part to repair a lane, and he uses the other side of the machine shed to keep extra parts....he opened the door, Abigail came charging out and of course would not "come" for him...
So he came up to the library, where Mom was working on her weekly newspaper column, and took her back to her place....by the time they got back, and it is only a 4 mile drive, Abigail was up to the treeline at the top of the hills again....
HE called her and surprisingly she stopped and turned....Mom scolded her to "get back down here right now!" So Abigail turned and trotted back down the hill to Mom, let the man pet her, and went back into the shed....
Mom said there was no noticeable limping and she is gaining weight very well....
Of course, we will still do another bloodwork in a couple more weeks and see how that is going....then take things from there as to what treatment, if any....
And come spring, Mom will be getting a nice new fenced area for Abigail to run and play safely and stay near the house!
and yesterday the bowling alley owner went to get some part to repair a lane, and he uses the other side of the machine shed to keep extra parts....he opened the door, Abigail came charging out and of course would not "come" for him...So he came up to the library, where Mom was working on her weekly newspaper column, and took her back to her place....by the time they got back, and it is only a 4 mile drive, Abigail was up to the treeline at the top of the hills again....
HE called her and surprisingly she stopped and turned....Mom scolded her to "get back down here right now!" So Abigail turned and trotted back down the hill to Mom, let the man pet her, and went back into the shed....
Mom said there was no noticeable limping and she is gaining weight very well....
Of course, we will still do another bloodwork in a couple more weeks and see how that is going....then take things from there as to what treatment, if any....
And come spring, Mom will be getting a nice new fenced area for Abigail to run and play safely and stay near the house!