Our six year old Vizsla may have a health problem

Well it's Wednesday, haven't heard anything negative from the vet. I did have to call yesterday because the younger vizsla, Ruby, chewed up half a packet of yeast. She couldn't have any dry dog food for the rest of the day, because the vet was concerned it would ferment. Can you believe that???? Everyday is an adventure with these dogs.

For his Lordship, I love grey hounds. Too many wind up in rescue when they age out at dog tracks. It's very sad because they are such lovely dogs. I remember a volunteer when my Dad was hospitalized came to visit with a therapy greyhound. The dog jumped on the bed with Dad and put his head on Dads lap. It was very sweet. I'm pretty sure dogs are better than most people.

We spoke to the vet last night, Sophie needs additional testing on Friday. They plan to keep her for 8 hours and draw blood during that period. Dr. Reed said Cushings hasn't been entirely ruled in or out, but it appears suspicious. He seems to think whatever is going on is in early stage but requires more investigation to determine whars causing imbalance in blood and urine samples. I figure we won't know what's happening until early next week. Sophie seems to be ok except for her water consumption. Bummer

Sophie heads off to the animal hospital in about 6 hours. She's not going to be happy, and neither will we. Poor girl has to stay for 8 hours, frequent blood draws, she won't be happy with us when she gets home. I really hope this test rules out Cushing's. I want her to be healthy and happy, she's only about 6 and a half. We love our dogs.

That's another bummer. Hope it all works out, but the expense will be there no matter what.

Well the doc suggested a wait and see. The next test will be a sonogram of the adrenal glands. She seemed to be better, but she's back to drinking a ton of water and needs to void more frequently. I will have to schedule the sonogram, I'll call today and get the ball rolling. Hopefully they will be there, we had 9 and a half inches.... That shouldn't be a show stopper, but I have to find the businesses that will be open. The snow is pretty, but it's a hazard. Snow screws up everthing.

Not a good day today. Yesterday Sophie threw up everything she ate in the morning and seemed unwell. Took her in to rule out an obstruction, luckily no obstruction but the blood work came back this morning and she's back at the hospital for IV antibiotics and fluids. Her liver is in trouble, we hope this treatment reverses the levels but are also waiting for an opening with a liver specialist for probably at least a sonogram and possibly a liver biopsy. The vet said liver disease was rare in this breed especially at this age, so I'm hoping its an infection which the docs say is treatable allowing the dog to completely recover. Her sister Ruby keeps looking for Sophie, and is much less active than usual. When it comes right down to it, mr. Glitterbag and I aren't feeling terrific either. We will bring her home tonight and return her for treatment again in the morning. By that time, new blood results should be in, so hopefully we will see improvement.

Hopeful here.

Picked her up tonight, she was on IV fluids and antibiotics all day. Taking her back in the morning for another blood test, if the levels drop we will bring her home and administer oral meds. Apparently we will need to see the liver specialist for a sonogram to check out all the innards which hopefully will rule out anything that can't be cured. Sigh, we love the doggies

crossed fingers

Thanks, I appreciate that.

OK, the vet called at 6 PM tonight, and the news wasn't great. Her liver levels doubled overnight, so unless she starts throwing up or gets sicker over the weekend we will see the liver specialist on Tuesday at 11:30 for consult and likely sonogram.

I'm a member of the Conestoga Vizsla club, so I called the rescue folks tonight trying to locate the breeder who sold us the dogs. Here is where it gets sticky, apparently my breeder is not as much as all that, as I originally thought. Plus there seems to be some health problems that gets passed along the line. She is going to try to find a number for my breeder, I just want to alert him to Sophie's condition and hopefully find out if he is aware of any other dogs with liver problems.

Hopefully I won't be posting any dire news. I'm expecting or hoping that the liver specialist will diagnose and provide a treatment plan for Sophie.

Ok, now it's the 15th of April 2014, tax day in the US. Took Sophie back to the liver specialist today for a 4 hour blood test. They drew blood every hour, and now the liver specialist is leaning toward leptospirosis. She will need to have blood drawn weekly to assure the infection affecting her liver is being eradicated, and we will have to have her younger sister tested to make sure she has not been affected as well. Here's the really happy news. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans. Oh joy, my grand daughter plays with Sophie and Sophie adores her. The chance of this disease being transmitted is small, but holy ****.

This is better news than I dreaded, but it's still serious. We have wooded areas that are extremely dense yet small because the developers have been expanding on every inch of real estate they can build on or pave over. So, the wooded areas are chock full of raccoons, fox, deer and 'possums. So they wander thru our yards, leaving waste and urine behind. But, they were here before us and they don't have a rep that can move them to a better area. My dogs are current on their vaccines, and have been inoculated against leptospirosis. That's fortunate because there are 6 values they test for and Sophie tested positive for only one. I'm happy we kept her and her sister current for vaccines, but the lesson learned is dogs can get sick even if you have taken every precaution. Much like us, we try to stay healthy, but sometimes life has a different plan.

Sorry to hear this, but glad it's been caught.

Thank you OB

Today sweet Sophie's number came up. She had been doing so well since the last time I posted on this thread. Even last night she was romping and stomping with her sister and barking at the UPS trucks. About 12:45 this afternoon, she had a loose movement and seemed to feel ill and a little unsteady. She kept moving to different spots, she'd plop down, stretch out a bit then move to another spot and do it all over again. Around 2 it seemed as if she was feeling better, then the mail truck came and she ran to the glass door and barked her brains out like she does everytime mail gets delivered. Then she laid down by by feet and I hummed and stroked her until she got drowsy and seemed to settle in a little. She walked to her crate about 2:45 and settled in there. I still thought she was better, but I was going to take her to see the Vet, just in case. Ten minutes later, she moved again, but her head didn't look comfortable, so I placed another piece of bedding under her head to assist. I thought it seemed drafty so I was about to get her a blanket......I touched her and nothing happened. Didn't sink in, and I called her name but she didn't blink or move, which was so odd. It gradually hit me that Sophie wasn't coming back, She was 8 yrs and 4 months old.

Our Vet was shocked as well and he did a quick necropsy. There were no obvious signs of distress but he did find a dark thickened area on her heart. The tissue samples will be sent out for examination, but his best guess right now is that the dark thickened area make have shut her heart down. The tests won't do our sweet pup any good, but I Want to see if there is anything I should tell the breeder about. Probably not, we just want to know. They only good thing for me was that she didn't suffer any terrible pain. I know she was not feeling great, but it was all over quickly. It's very raw, we are going to miss her like crazy. She was such a spirited, ornery and loving girl.

Thoughts are with you upon your loss. Take time to recall the wonderful times you had with her. Those are yours forever. Clearly, she knew she was treasured and loved.

I'm sorry Glitter. Losing a dog always kills me, even if expected. Take care of yourselves, I know you'll miss her a lot.

So sorry Glitterbag.

Lovely that you were there and nurturing her when it happened.

This is so hard, I know.

Thank you Sturgis and Ossobucco, I've never had a dog die at home before. I had not a clue that today was it. I talked to my Vet earlier and I thought she should be seen, and the vet tech said I could drop her off and the doc would check her out when he finished surgery. I'm so glad I didn't, she would have died at the animal hospital without me. I'm a little fuzzy tonight on what I've written, but I do want to thank both of you for the kind thoughts and words.

Thank you bunny, we still have her younger sister (6 & half) who is also a sweet girl but is an accomplished pickpocket and pilfers tissues from my purse. I don't know what Ruby thought or sensed. She would go over to Sophie and wag her tail and sniff her ears and nuzzle her. They still play like puppies, well 40 pound puppies.