Please, good thoughts and prayers...

by **katiek0417** » July 20th, 2009, 1:31 pm

Oh, and here are some pics I posted of Asja, the babies, and the contraption we came up with to protect Dru's wounds

viewtopic.php?f=28&p=344830#p344830

by **Jenn** » July 20th, 2009, 3:52 pm

Glad she's feeling better!

by **CinderDee** » July 21st, 2009, 12:55 am

She looks really good and the puppies are so tiny and adorable!

by **katiek0417** » July 22nd, 2009, 12:07 am

Just a quick update (I need to try to catch a few hours of sleep before I'm up again to feed puppies)...

I took Dru back to the vet today. The wound has not shrunk at all since Friday. They are trying some new bandaging on her that they think might promote skin/tissue growth. The vet thinks it might be another 3-4 weeks before we see that wound finally close. That being said, she will have to remain on the amikacin and daily fluids until it fully closes (the risk of re-infection are too high for her to go off of them)...

I know that what we're doing will save her. I do. But, she's becoming a pin cushion. Today, at the vet's office, all she wanted was to be on my lap...and she just kept looking up at me with those big trusting eyes of hers, and I feel so bad for what she's being put through...and I feel guilty that I took her to that first crackpot of a vet to begin with.... :sad2:

Sorry, guess I'm just tired...

by **CinderDee** » July 22nd, 2009, 3:08 am

Hang in there, Katrina. :hug3:

I sometimes felt the same way when Kato was going through chemo, especially this last time when he almost died. We do the best we can. If it weren't for you she might not be with us now.

by **Malli** » July 22nd, 2009, 3:28 am

But Dru wants to live, and whats a little discomfort for that? I'm sure it must be discouraging, but you gotta look at the bigger picture :hug3:

by **call2arms** » July 22nd, 2009, 11:21 am

It's all worth it, Katrina. It'll be better soon, it's a rough moment to pass...

by **katiek0417** » July 22nd, 2009, 12:57 pm

CinderDee wrote:Hang in there, Katrina. I sometimes felt the same way when Kato was going through chemo, especially this last time when he almost died. We do the best we can. If it weren't for you she might not be with us now.

I don't know how you did it, Dee...seriously...this absolutely kills me...we were giving her the amikacin last night, and she started yelping...and it breaks my heart (and it doesn't help that Greg gets mad at me when I break down in tears :rolleyes2:

)

I know that she wants to live...at least I hope that's what she wants...she has no life right now...she's on quarantine, she goes to the bathroom a few times a day...but it's out, potty, then right back in...We do bandage changes, fluids, etc...but again, it's out, then immediately right back in...no playing with us, no playing with the other dogs...I try to do short walks with her...but she gets tired pretty quick...

Thank you everyone for your support...I know I'm talking gibberish, and just being stupid...but...well, you know...I just feel bad that Dru is in pain, and there's nothing MORE I can do for her...

by **Jackuul** » July 22nd, 2009, 1:09 pm

That vet, the kook who said she had no infection... must be put down.

by **CinderDee** » July 23rd, 2009, 6:38 pm

katiek0417 wrote:
CinderDee wrote:Hang in there, Katrina. I sometimes felt the same way when Kato was going through chemo, especially this last time when he almost died. We do the best we can. If it weren't for you she might not be with us now.

I don't know how you did it, Dee...seriously...this absolutely kills me...we were giving her the amikacin last night, and she started yelping...and it breaks my heart (and it doesn't help that Greg gets mad at me when I break down in tears )

I know that she wants to live...at least I hope that's what she wants...she has no life right now...she's on quarantine, she goes to the bathroom a few times a day...but it's out, potty, then right back in...We do bandage changes, fluids, etc...but again, it's out, then immediately right back in...no playing with us, no playing with the other dogs...I try to do short walks with her...but she gets tired pretty quick...

Thank you everyone for your support...I know I'm talking gibberish, and just being stupid...but...well, you know...I just feel bad that Dru is in pain, and there's nothing MORE I can do for her...

You're not being stupid at all, Katrina. :hug3:

You're a compassionate woman who loves her dog. It's a tough thing for you & Dru to go through, but it will all be worth it once she's better and the puppies are weaned. You really are a terrific owner!

Tell Greg to lighten up or you'll ignore him next time he's sick. :wink:

by **katiek0417** » July 23rd, 2009, 7:09 pm

CinderDee wrote:You're not being stupid at all, Katrina. You're a compassionate woman who loves her dog. It's a tough thing for you & Dru to go through, but it will all be worth it once she's better and the puppies are weaned. You really are a terrific owner!

Tell Greg to lighten up or you'll ignore him next time he's sick.

Thank you, Dee :hug3:

And, wait, so nothing will change if I ignore him when he's sick? :wink:

by **CinderDee** » July 24th, 2009, 1:22 am

And, wait, so nothing will change if I ignore him when he's sick?

A woman after my own heart. lol

by **cheekymunkee** » July 24th, 2009, 4:22 pm

How is she doing today?

by **katiek0417** » July 24th, 2009, 4:33 pm

cheekymunkee wrote:How is she doing today?

I actually just got back from the vet's office!

There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel! :dance:

We're not out of the woods, but I feel like I finally have something good to write about.

We got to the vet's office today for a bandage change...and he came in and looked at her, and thought there might be enough granulation to close up the wound! So, the minor sedation for a bandage change turned into a surgery complete with intubation.

Well, he was right...he was able to fully close her wound...he did put in a drain (b/c she's still draining), but at least now she doesn't have a gaping wound on her belly!

He also took some yuck from it, and is sending it for a culture...she's only been on the amikacin for 7 days, and her numbers were sky high when she got cultured the first time, so he knows the infection isn't gone, but he's at least hoping the numbers are going down (if they aren't, we will have to change the antibiotic she's on)...so, now my fingers are crossed that (1) these stitches hold (he thinks they will...but, well, she's Dru); and (2) that her "organism count" is decreasing...

But, I really am happy...he said that if the stitches hold, it will significantly cut down on her healing time (he was telling me before that skin granulation only occurs at about 1mm per day, and her wound was 2.5-3 inches wide...you can do the math to see how long it would take to close! :rolleyes2:

)

So, YAY!!!! :dance:

by **amazincc** » July 24th, 2009, 4:49 pm

Yay!!!!

Dru seems to be a tough little cookie... she must get that from her Momma Katrina!

by **katiek0417** » July 24th, 2009, 5:01 pm

amazincc wrote:Yay!!!!

Dru seems to be a tough little cookie... she must get that from her Momma Katrina!

I wouldn't go that far, I nearly passed out when they put in the IV cath...I was standing there watching...they went to start the intubation, and I was like "ummm, I'm leaving."

I came back after they were done, and she was still out cold, and she looked dead...I nearly cried! :sad2:

So, tough, no....just persistent, I think...

Of course, we go to get in the car, and she jumps in...great, so the jumping is starting again! :rolleyes2:

Oh, but we did have a moment where I felt just awful...we were walking in to the vet, and they take us in through the side b/c of the risk of contamination...and we get in the door, and she put the brakes on...I had to drag her back... :sad2:

by **pitbullmamaliz** » July 24th, 2009, 5:02 pm

I'm so glad that it seems like she's doing better!

by **Malli** » July 24th, 2009, 5:08 pm

great!

we're crossing fingers and paws!

by **cheekymunkee** » July 24th, 2009, 6:19 pm

WOOHOO!!

by **CinderDee** » July 25th, 2009, 1:31 am

Great news!!! :clap:

Please, good thoughts and prayers...

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