Update on Lincoln

[Mary ann & Lincoln]

Well, we spent all day at the Penn Veterinary Hospital at U of P yesteday. 

They did some test, kidneys are good.  

they did joint jap to culture the fluid, they came back fine.  Not immune related, so not related to the Lyme. Now they think it is  Panosteitis.  It is seen in larger breed dogs.  It is a painful bone growing condition (sorta like growing pains) so we have to have xrays again to see if that is definatey the reason.  He is on pain meds and a inflammatory.  We will follow up wiht our vet today .  If this is the reason then he will outgrow it with hopefully few lingering effects. If not , we will have to go back to see an ortho.  Ortho did exam him, but they are not sure until the xrays.  They couldn't do the xrays yesterday since he had been sedated for the fluid tap and was too woozy.  He is still not eating much at all.  He will eat chicken once and then turn up his nose the next time.  Not ground beef and rice.  He did eat some steak and he is eating yogurt mixed with peanut butter ( I give him his pills that way)  He also will eat some liverwurst.  Hope is that if we get his pain managed he will regain his appetite. He will drink water if I put the bowl under his nose. 

Hope we get his figured out and he starts eating - he has lost about 3 llbs so far!  

Thanks for all your ongoing good thoughts and prayers. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks for the update, Mary ann. I hope the meds help Lincoln feel better very soon. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

This Is good news.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh all of this must be so concerning....hoping you get things figured out soon.

[Mary ann & Lincoln]

Thank you all.  It is so sad to see him so mopey and just laying there.  that is just not my doodle boy!   We have an appointment later today for the xrays to hopefully confirm the diagnosis. 

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Hope they give you an answer!  Fingers crossed for you and your boy!

[Amy and Annabelle]

Thanks for the update. I hope he is back to his old self soon.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you so much for your update.  I hope it turns out that it is just 'growing pains' and all will be well eventually.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Hoping that it is growing pains and that he begins to feel better soon.  Hard to see them in pain.

[Terri and Harley]

Sending you some virtual hugs, good thoughts and healing light.

Terri and Harley

[Mary ann & Lincoln]

We got the confirmation this morning from our vet and U of P.  He has improved some from the pain meds and anti imfammatory.  He is getting around alittle better and is eating more than he was but not normally yet.  I think we will have a hard time getting him back on dog food!   He is really getting spoiled. Deli turkey, yogurt, peanut butter, liverwurst.  He actaully got one of his toys last night but only for a few minutes, but more than he had done in over a week. 

the good news he will outgrow this at some time but may take up to 2 yrs.  He will improve with the pain meds and anti inflammartoy and may have some relapses long the way.  So he will be on and off the meds as needed once we get him back to normal.

We were so excited yesterday to see him moving more and jumping on the couch.  Lincoln is slowly on the road to his normal doodle self.  I don;t think I will complain about his puppy crazies any time soon!!! 

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Mary ann, this is great news! 

Regarding the food, rather than high fat foods like liverwurst or peanut butter, you might try eggs, either scrambled or hard boiled. Most dogs love them, and egg protein is very good for them. As long as he's getting spoiled with people food, it might as well be something really nourishing, lol. :) 

[Mary ann & Lincoln]

Karen, I tried lots of healthier options, it is frustrating. He just spits it out or turns his head. I have tried scrambled eggs and he just turns his head away. He ususally does like them, He will eat some plain yogurt too. I have tried ground beef with rice , no go! I give him his pills with peanut butter, so he is not getting a large portion. He won't eat his treats either. He ate some chicken once, now he turns his head away. I tried so many things and the deli turkey and liverwurst seem to be what he will eat. (my husband & I had sandwches so we gave him a taste and he actually ate it!) He will eat some shaved steak too. I am going to try some ground turkey to see if he will eat that.
Any and all ideas are welcome. He needs to eat and gain some of his weight back. He has lost about 4-5 lbs
Thanks again apprecaite your ideas.,