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HLC and all who have asked about and extended their good thoughts and prayers on behalf of my dog. Thank you all. You are all so dear to be thinking of my dog, and giving me your kind works of support... So here's the story:

As of last night, by the time we went to bed....
The bottom line is that she has been placed on anti-seizure medication, and is back home resting after her horrible day, yesterday. The blood test showed some elevations in one of her kidneys, (1.8), and her globulins were also high, (3.9). Also, one of her liver enzymes was slightly elevated, but the vet wasn't worried as much about that as the other stuff. The thyroid portion of the panel won't be available until tomorrow. They didn't do a brain scan. They said the only way to determine whether or not there's a brain tumor is to do an MRI which is, unfortunately, cost prohibitive. So, the vet has opted to act as if we are treating straight forward seizures caused by something else. As well, she advised us to switch to a different food that is basically a special kidney diet. So far, since we brought her home she has had no seizures. She ate, drank a ton of water, went out to do her thing several times, and seemed kind of drunk and wobbly.... but HEY! We have her home with us, and seizure-free for now! Yeah!

Update this morning... She slept like a puppy through the night, ate and drank normally this morning, had her rx, and paced around a bit.... but seems o.k. ... Now she is sleeping. I'm going to stay home with her all day today, to observe her and give her all the tlc she needs (and deserves!).

So glad your baby came home with you.  In a six week time span I lost three cats and almost lost a dog two weeks after the cats.  The cats were 16 & 17 years old and two had health issues that precipitated their death.  I know how hard it is to let go and what a joy to bring them home again. 

Socal, thanks for the vet's update's and more than anything else you're girl will have Mama giving her lots & lots of TLC, As only us animals lover's know how to do, in the best and worse of time's, when it come's to our family pet's well-being and health. Socal, don't forget to give yourself  some TLC too.

bobdmac:
Good report on your dog, Socal. Maybe once things normalize, they can dial down the medications a little bit so she isn't so loopy. What did the vet think the elevated lab values mean?

Me to bobdmac:
Well, bobdmac, my notes are sketchy, because she (the vet) talked pretty briskly. I'm still waiting, actually, for the thyroid portion, but... She just mentioned what I noted in my post ... the levels, etc. The only other comments were that with respect to the globulins, the elevation could be due to any number of things: parasites, inflammation, or cancer to name a few. She isn't that concerned about the liver, and didn't indicate a reason why the one enzyme might be slightly elevated. What I find fascinating is how is it that they are able to discern that just one kidney has an elevated reading, as opposed to the other, from just a blood draw. I wonder if they drew something directly out of her kidneys? I was not in the back when they did the test... I was in the waiting room, so who knows? Does anybody know that's reading this how they could know that? Anyway, her "blood counts" were good, and I like the sound of that. And, I'm feeling really positive about switching her (my dog) slowly to the new kidney-diet food. That, in combo with the rx -- which I hope you're right about her maybe getting to taper off of it... or perhaps she'll develop a resistance to the side-effects. -- should work modern medical miracles on her!

AnimalFriend:

So glad your baby came home with you.  In a six week time span I lost three cats and almost lost a dog two weeks after the cats.  The cats were 16 & 17 years old and two had health issues that precipitated their death.  I know how hard it is to let go and what a joy to bring them home again. 

AnimalFriend: I'm so so sorry for your loss. It is so heart-wrenching when they go. I've lost dogs

Update on POSSIBLE EXPLANATION for my dog's SEIZURES:

So the vet just called and said that her THYROID result is low. He (the female vet we saw yesterday is off today...this one is our usual vet and he's great, too) said they like to see dogs' thyroid level between 1 and 4. My dog's is at "Point 8". So she's hypothyroid. He also said that hypothyroidism in dogs is a possible cause for seizures! Needless to say, I'm taking him up on his recommendation to put her on thyroid rx, as well. Anything to prevent those awful seizures! Also, she's rather lost her spark, today. But Dr. says that will come back in about a week. I'm so happy... : )

Good news, Socal. Who knew? I imagine the combination of hypothyroidism and the medications could also contribute to her lack of spark.

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"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one" –– A. J. Liebling

Thanks for the report on your dear dog and the update, Socal.  We're pulling for her here in Chicago.  BTW, what's her name.

That is good to hear.

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Yesterday is history
Tomorrow a mystery
Today is a gift

socal:

Update on POSSIBLE EXPLANATION for my dog's SEIZURES: So the vet just called and said that her THYROID result is low. He (the female vet we saw yesterday is off today...this one is our usual vet and he's great, too) said they like to see dogs' thyroid level between 1 and 4. My dog's is at "Point 8". So she's hypothyroid. He also said that hypothyroidism in dogs is a possible cause for seizures! Needless to say, I'm taking him up on his recommendation to put her on thyroid rx, as well. Anything to prevent those awful seizures! Also, she's rather lost her spark, today. But Dr. says that will come back in about a week. I'm so happy... : )

Socal, I am so glad you, at least have a lead, now. That always helps in situations like this. The not knowing is the worst.

I sent you an email.

 

 

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The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

Hi guys!... AnimalFriend weeyin, bobdmac, HLC in Chicago, Observer, and wings2c:

Thanks, guys for your posts, kind thoughts and ideas. We're hoping to wean Honey off of her anti-seizure rx eventually, if and when her thyroid level tests in the normal range. In the meatime, she's doing fine... just a bit of a wobbly legged, clingy space cadet. She follows us around like a puppy, then stands there not knowing what to do with herself... She wants the company, though, while she's thinking about making up her mind!
Thanks for your email, wings2c.. I just read it, and will respond later this afternoon. We're about to have lunch...
Later guys... socal

Socal, I can just imagine how yuor Honey looks at you. I'm sure the drugs have her a little stoned. When I was a kid, we had a dachshund that ate anything. My dad spilled some wine one day, and she lapped it up. He was intrigued by this and poured a little into her dish, and then a little more. At first, it was funny to see the way she sort of traipsed around a little sideways, but then we all started feeling badly for her as she looked at us, with this confused look in her eyes, always wanting to be nearby. My dad felt so badly about the whole thing that he ended up carrying her around with him for the rest of the afternoon.

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"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one" –– A. J. Liebling

bobdmac... I just read about your doxie's experience, and at the last sentence couldn't help but say.."aaawwww"... for two reasons. I've had a couple of doxies in my life, and know their personalities well. The last one was our kid before we had a real kid. We had him for almost 10 years, ever since he was just a 2-mo.-old pocket-warmer. I was eight months pregnant, and very emotional when I took him to the vet for a large swelling in his neck. The vet announced it was probably cancer, and to be kind we should put him to sleep. So I left the vet's office that day alone, and forever separated from my beloved doxie-kid. I was bereft on and off until our son was born almost a month and a half later. Things have a way sometimes of happening for a reason, though. Our doxie was very jealous and territorial.. not a good mix with a newborn in the house. Anyway.. the other reason I said aaawww was that that is exactly how our Honey is right now. You nailed it with your memory.. Thanks for sharing that story, by the way. I do know that your Dad probably did feel pretty bad about that.

Awwww, indeed.  Socal, you took me back to my childhood, which was a long time ago.  One day, my older brother came  home with a blonde cocker spaniel tagging along and asked whether he could keep her.  This had happened a few weeks previously with an Irish setter, which turned out to belong to a new family in the neighborhood, so my parents thought we'd find the owner of the cocker too.  But that didn't happen.  We named her Honey.  A few weeks later she presented us with 7 puppies.  We lived in a semi-rural area and someone had apparently dumped her when she got pregnant.  She found a good home with us.  Now I'm pulling extra hard for your Honey!!!

Russell mentioned in the current observation thread, I think, that he was going to create a pet forum at Socal's suggestion.   He did.  It's a separate forum from this hawk forum.  I just checked it out and he has posted a wonderful story.  All cat lovers especially should read it:

http://community.kjrh.com/forums/thread/3058433.aspx