Guinness Is At The Vet - Possible Pancreatitis UPDATE

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE:

Last night was tough.  I was really thinking they should never have sent him home.  He seemed just as sick as he was when we brought him to the Specialty Hospital on Saturday.  He wouldn't move...just stayed in his bed in a ball.  He wouldn't eat or drink anything.  This morning I'm a little encouraged.  He did get up when I did and walked downstairs to go out.  I gave him all his meds and managed to get him to eat about two tbsp of chicken and rice.  So I guess that's some progress.  He still won't drink.  Right now he's back in his bed.  I'm taking him back to our Vet this afternoon just so they can check for dehydration.  I do think he's a little more alert because he will pick up his head when I say his name....last night there was no response from him to anything.  I'll update tonight after I see the Vet.

HE'S HOME!!!!

We just brought "the prince" home....and I call him that because that's exactly how he will be treated.  He's still a very sick boy...but I have him with me.  He is incredibly weak, probably because he hasn't eaten.  I think that's why they really wanted him to come home.  He would not eat the RX food, or their chicken....he ate two tsps of baby food last night but nothing again today.  He will not eat if I'm not there.  I have a big batch of "home cooking" on the stove right now.  He wants nothing to do with me.  I sat in the back seat with him, and he got as far away from me as possible.  He won't even look at me.  He ignores me when I speak to him...turns his head away.  As soon as he came home he went right to his bed and is just laying there.  He's mad at his Mom for leaving him, but dogs "live in the moment" so I'm thinking this won't last long.  He's still on lots of meds, but that's okay...it's what will make him better.  Murph is at Daycare so that Guinness's first few hours at home could be quiet.  So the battle is far from over...but the worst of it is behind us now.  Little by little he'll regain his strength, and he WILL start "dancing through life" once again.  I have no way to ever convey my love and gratitude to all of you who prayed and sent beams of positive thought into the universe for Guinness.  I truly believe that is what has helped him to turn this corner.  Please know that I will never forget your kindness.

NEW SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE:

I just talked to the Doctor.  Guinness did eat a little chicken last night, but he had diarrhea at 2AM..they have him a little more chicken this morning, and so far he's been okay.  He is calm and they are controlling the pain.  They are concerned about his latest blood work.  He has an elevated white count, and the main issue is with the "bands" (not sure what that means, but I'll look it up later).  This is not typical of pancreatitis and would indicate something else is going on.  There was also an elevation in his clotting times...they are going to repeat that test to confirm it.  They are considering a plasma transfusion.  They are going to go ahead with the Ultrasound tomorrow.  They will be looking for an abscess, blocked duct or tumor on the pancreas as well as looking at the surrounding organs.  They'll call me after that and we can discuss next steps.  Today is all about him getting fluids and some nutrition and resting....trying to stabilize him.  Tomorrow is all about diagnostics.  Today for me is all about trying to help poor Murphy who seems very depressed.

I haven't heard anything this morning...the Doctor will call between 10:00 and 11:00 after rounds.  I did talk to his "nurse" (they call them nurses, not Vet Techs) last night, and she said he was doing okay and had calmed down.  They did put him on pain meds, so that may be helping.  They were going to try to feed him (low fat RX food).  They said he really needed nutrition and I think they were trying to avoid any kind of "tube feeding" if at all possible.  He was able to walk outside to "potty", so that's a good thing, because in the morning he was not able to walk.  Murph is having a real hard time.  He keeps looking for his brother.  He's mopey and last night he wouldn't eat.  He did this morning, but very little.  Ben (the trainer) called last night and he said that this is normal, and we need to try to keep Murphy's schedule the same as always.  I am feeling less emotional this morning...it's 8 AM and I haven't even cried yet....a step in the right direction.  I'll update this later after talking with his Doctor.  Positive thoughts....HE WILL GET BETTER!

SAT MORNING UPDATE"

It was a bad night.....explosive diarrhea, like I've never seen in my life.  On my way to the Vet.  He's not moving again...has to be carried.  Awful, just awful to see him like this. 

FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE:

Well Guinness was readmitted to the Vet Hospital this morning.  He was very lethargic and dehydrated again because of the vomiting last night.  They are going to try some new meds and put him back on the IV.  The poor guy really didn't want to leave me this morning...he was stuck like glue to my leg.  Maybe today he'll turn the corner.

THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE:

Guinness seemed to do a little better this afternoon at the Vet Hospital.  He was interested in playing....and he was able to remove the bandage and pull out his IV even with the soft cone.  So, they gave me pages of discharge instructions, lots of meds, and said if he did well tonight he didn't have to go back tomorrow.  Well I got him home and gave his evening meds.  He wouldn't eat or drink anything....just wanted to lay down.  Then a few minutes ago he vomited what I think was his chicken and rice from breakfast...and all his meds.  So now I'm thinking he will be readmitted tomorrow.  It won't take long for him to become dehydrated again.

THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE:

Just back from dropping him at the Vet.  They told me this morning that this is an acute case of Pancreatitis and that it will probably be chronic.  As of late yesterday his enzyme levels had not come down....they will check again later today.  He will likely be there again tomorrow and they will be checking him every day or two for at least another week.  We have to talk later about diet.  They don't like the fat content in the Honest Kitchen...we may be back to home cooking permanently.  He will never be able to have anything other than chicken or turkey going forward....and no treats other than little pieces of chicken or turkey. 

Good news and bad news.  Guinness ate a little chicken & rice last night...and no vomiting or diarrhea which is a HUGE positive.  He just ate again this morning...with a little coaxing from Mom (hand feeding which I said I would never do).  The bad news is that he still won't move.  He doesn't walk.  We have to carry him everywhere.  He's very "out of it", and he hasn't had any pain meds all night so I'm not sure why.  He just lays where you place him and doesn't move or even pick up his head.  Weakness???  Off to get dressed and get him back to the Vet. 

Wednesday Update:

Still no word from the Vet.  This morning when I dropped him off (and he didn't want me to leave him) they said he would be there all day again on IV fluids and meds.  He will come home again tonight, but may have to be readmitted again tomorrow.  He is so weak that it's going to take us some time to get him back to himself.  He'll go back on home cooking, probably for at least a few weeks.  We have to keep him away from other dogs.  The Vet said that he will be very susceptible to all kinds of things for a while.  I thought I'd share this picture my DH took with his phone this morning.  Notice how far away Murph is from his brother....he's terrified of the cone....baby!

I just had to leave my little Dood at the Vet....boy do I hate that.  It looks like he may have Pancreatitis again.  We were up all night with this poor guy....vomiting and diarrhea.  Yesterday he wouldn't eat breakfast, but I didn't think too much about that.  He spit up some bile in the morning...I thought because of an empty stomach.   In the afternoon he had some diarrhea.  I attributed that to the treats he has on Sunday at Agility training.  Last night I made him some chicken and rice and he ate every bit of it, so I was thinking that he just had a little upset tummy during the day.  Then during the night he started vomiting a lot and several episodes of diarrhea.  He also became really lethargic and I could tell by his gums he was getting dehydrated.  So I brought him into the Vet as soon as they opened.  They asked me what he could have eaten that was different.  The only thing was at one point during Agility the trainer gave him a few of her treats when he was reluctant to go on the teeter.  It happened too fast for me to stop her, and I have no idea what those treats were.  I'm thinking that's what it had to be.  I only give him the Zuke's mini chicken treats for training, and those have never bothered him.  So, now I'm really worried about him, and I hate that he's there without me.  Please cross those fingers and paws that it's something easily treatable. 

UPDATE:

Guinness came home a little while ago, but he is a very sick boy.  The Vet thought he'd rest better here tonight, but he has to be back there first thing in the morning and spend the day again.  His diarrhea turned bloody during the day today, and she feels the pancreas is very involved.  He came home with a port that we will have to flush before bed and early tomorrow morning.  She loaded him up with IV fluids before letting him leave.  He's in a cone because of the port.  He's on meds and we have to keep trying to get him to drink Pedialite...which DH has just gone to get.  His butt is raw and also bleeding...we have to keep Desatin on it.  DH went to pick him up while I was making dinner, and the Vet Tech tried to give him some RX food.  He called me and told me there were corn and pork by-products in it, and he thought that could be a problem.  LOL.  I told him to not even think of bringing that garbage home.  A few minutes later the Vet called and she was laughing hysterically...she said the Vet Tech had no idea who she was dealing with.  So tonight I got to feed him a couple pieces of plain boiled chicken, and tomorrow I'll send his food with him.  It's been quite a day.  I have been a nervous wreck, although they're been good about keeping me updated.  Murph has also been pretty much a "mess".  He kept looking for his brother, and he would not eat without Guinness.  He seems to realize that Guinness is sick and he is not harassing him at all.  He keeps trying to lick his little "cone face".  The Vet said that Guinness was a real little "soldier" today.  He never cried and just kept looking out of his crate watching "the action".  She loves him, and said she kept checking on him, and the cute young Vet Techs were "sweet talking" him all day.  All this from a few pieces of "garbage treats".....I'm sure that was the cause and the Vet agrees.  Guinness's digestive system is so delicate that something as seemingly harmless as that can put him in this state.  I just wasn't fast enough to see it happen.  Thank you all for your positive energy and support.  I'm praying he can rest tonight...and we can get some sleep.  We were up most of last night, and we're exhausted.  I'll keep you all updated.  Nite....

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Jane, so sorry you are all still going through this but thank Goodness you have a Vet that obviously really cares.

You know dogs are the comeback kids on this earth, I think Guinness will be his old self as soon as he feels better.

I am glad that you are the one taking him in so that you can give him that special love only he needs. Just that little reassurance that you are there for him.

Good luck Guinness and feel better soon.

Prayers and paws crossed to you all.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Jane, I know this must be very hard for everyone.  I too think this is just what Guinness needs right now.  Lexi wishes we lived closer so she could sit with Guinness and read him a story.  Saying lots of prayers and sending hugs.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Poor guy. :-( I've been thinking of him all week. Thanks for keeping everyone updated. Get better soon Guinness!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Jane, I hope that little Guinness is feeling a little better by now, he is still in our thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry that you all have to go through such a diffficult time. It is good that he is getting more specialized care, it will be just what he needs to get him up and running again.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

This is just heartbreaking.  Praying for Guinness.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have to say again that I am completely overwhelmed by the kindness of our DK family.  I'm just reading all these "well wishes" for Guinness and I can actually feel the love and support that you're sending our way.  Guinness is at the Specialty Hospital and we won't visit him.  They said we could, but often dogs presume when they see you that you're coming to bring them home.  I won't do that to him.  The place is a new state-of-the-art facility with a highly qualified 24 hr staff.  They were efficient and nice enough, but I didn't sense the kind of warmth I get at my regular Vet's.  That's okay....right now we need their knowledge and specialized expertise.  They will call with an update in the morning, and I'll let everyone know what they have to share.  Again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.  You will never know how much this has meant to me and how it has helped me.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I just know that every time I come in to check on Guinness that you are going to say that he has made his turn for the better, and every time I'm so disappointed to see that he is not better, but worse.  Know that we continue to think of both of you and pray that these are the people to get him to turn the corner.  Give Murphy a little hug from us.  We will anxiously be watching in the morning for an update.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

How very hard it must have been to leave him there.  I will check in first thing in the morning and hope for some good news.  I am hoping that once Guinness is getting fluids and nutrition and his system has a chance to calm and recover that he will bounce back.  In the meantime I will say a special prayer (believe me that is rare for me!) for Guinness before I go to sleep.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Just checking in to check on Guinness. Still praying here...I will look for the update in the morning. Get a good night's sleep, Jane, I know it is hard not to be there with him.

[Jennifer and Jack]

On Jane I am so so sorry. Poor sweet Guinness must be so scared. I know you are too. I feel like everyone else, helpless to do anything. I am praying!!!! come on Guinness you can get better!!!!!

Thank you for updating!!!

[Sharon & Monty]

Dang it!  I really wanted to see a positive post today.  :(  So sorry Guiness is still sufffering.  This new location is the ticket to get him back on his feet and ready to rock and roll again.  Take care Jane. 

[Margaret & Pebbles]

Will light a candle at church tomorrow for Guiness, poor baby.  Keep strong, we are all here for you.