Update - Our scare with Charlotte - healthy to dying in 24 hrs - long

[Jennifer Tramell]

Our goldendoodle Charlotte has always been as healthy as a dog could be.  We had her hips tested - great, annual vaccines, flea/tick/heartworm preventative, no sensitive tummy issues, perfect weight, no reason to worry about anything.  

Earlier this month I woke up to undigested vomit.  Normally I don't worry about vomit, but the day before she had no appetite.  I had fixed her some tasty food and she ate it, now her tasty dinner was on the livingroom floor.  Along with the lack of appetite and vomit, she seemed unusually lethargic, so at 9am I called the vet.  Now, I have never needed to call the vet for an appointment - other than yearly check-up/vaccinations, but I knew something was wrong.  My appointment was for 5:15 pm and as the day wore on, I was counting the minutes.  Charlotte was dehydrated, lethargic, and around 1 pm I noticed that her color was off.  I called the vet again and they told me that if she wouldn't drink on her own, to squirt fluids in her mouth.  I forced some doggy pedialyte into her and she started drinking a little on her own.

By the time we arrived at the vet, Charlotte was jaundice.  The vet took one look at her and said "if she were a poodle, I would say she has auto-immune hemolytic anemia".  Well, Charlotte is a 50/50 goldendoodle, but she is definitely more poodle than golden.  The vet ran a couple blood tests and while we were waiting Charlotte literally faded before our eyes.  By 6 pm, she barely lifted her head off of the vet's concrete floor.  The blood test came back with one of the numbers (sorry, I don't remember what one) at 9.5 - a normal dog would be 40.

The consensus was that she needed an emergency blood transfusion or she would be dead in under 6 hrs. The vet said that the problem was finding a donor dog - she didn't have one in the office and she needed one as big as possible.  Our response was that our Webster is 88lbs and my sister's Charlie is 72 lbs.  I numbly grabbed my cellphone and called my sister (who was home with my kids).  I said "Hello.  Bring Webster to the vet."  I was still processing the fact that my sweet Charlotte, not even 3 years old, was dying before my eyes.

Forty minutes later, my sister arrived with Webster and Charlie in her van.  My dad arrived with my brother's two dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks) and his goldendoodle - all over 60 lbs.  We had an army of blood donors in the parking lot of the vet :-).  Webster was brought in, prepped, and gave a huge bag of blood.  The vet said it was some of the best blood she'd ever seen.  The transfusion began with Charlotte laying on the concrete floor and our vet sitting next to her.  The vet sent us home and we began the waiting game.

The next couple days were spent crying and wondering if Charlotte would ever come home.  This all started on Monday and on Thursday afternoon we brought Charlotte home.  The vet's office couldn't believe how much better she was, however, her numbers were still only 11.

For the past 2 weeks, Charlotte has been slowly recovering.  Last Friday we all rejoiced because her numbers are up to 18.  Today we have another blood test and we are hoping her numbers are up even higher.  She is on twice/day prednisone, a med for auto-immune, and an iron supplement for anemia.  She has become a celebrity at the vet's office because she literally went from dying to being the office sweetheart.  Because she has responded so well to the treatment, the assumption is that Charlotte has an Auto-Immune disease, probably hemolytic anemia. (My vet's office isn't equipped for specialized diagnostic testing but I wouldn't trade them for anything.  The image of our vet (not a tech) sitting on the floor with Charlotte, and then cleaning up her pen so we could sit and visit, is burned into my memory.)

Since we've been home, Webster hovers over Charlotte.  He follows her around when they go outside and looks like he is standing guard as she goes potty.  When my sister's dog, Charlie, came to visit, Webster wouldn't let Charlie get too close.  Webster waits patiently for Charlotte to eat her food, then finishes it when she leaves (her food gets doctored up so it's yummier than Webster's).  He is our "Hero Dog" and she is our "sweet girl".

Here's the scary thing - we don't know what triggered this disease.  Apparently it can be dormant for years and triggered by a vaccine, heartworm meds, tick bites, a virus, just about anything.  It is common in poodles, and especially females.  We hope that Charlotte's numbers will come up and stabilize and we will wean her off her medications.  However, our vet said that she should NEVER receive vaccinations again and she is regarded as "fragile", but will hopefully live a regular healthy life.

I wanted to let everyone know of this potential danger.  As our vet said "she could pass for a poodle", so people with more poodle doodles should know of this poodle predisposition.  Apparently vaccines are a common trigger, and ticks seem to be really bad this year.  If you see signs of loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, jaundice - make sure your vet tests for auto-immune disease.  It can come on quickly and might be an issue of life an death.

Update ----  Yesterday afternoon (5/24) we had another vet visit to test Charlotte's blood.  When we first took her in, it was 9.5, spent over 2 weeks at under 12, last Friday she was up to 18 (we did a happy dance), and yesterday it was 28!!!!  I think normal is around 40 so we are more that halfway there - woohoo!  We are slightly decreasing her meds, encouraging more activity (of course, not pushing her), and get to go 2 weeks before the next check-up.

 

I don't know if anyone on DK remembers, but almost 3 years ago we actually lost Charlotte.  She was 9 weeks old and ran off with Webster - who came back.  We found the next day because a friend had received an email from a HOA president who had received an email from an outlying homeowner with a picture of a found puppy.  It was truly a miracle and now we feel as though God has twice saved our Charlotte. 

Thank you for all the kind words.  I'm not as active on DK as I used to be, but I still consider DK part of our doodle family :-)

[Adina P]

Super scary episode!  Amazing dog loving friends and awesome brother Webster.  Really so neat that he was protective of her :-) 

[Pat and Traveler]

What an awful experience!  Charlotte is a trooper, and Webster is a sweet brother.  Hugs to all of you, and hope your little girl continues to improve and doesn't have any more episodes.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, what a scary week.  I am so happy that all has made a turn for the better and hope the numbers continue to go up.  Hugs all around.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

OMGosh Jennifer I was in tears reading this and can only imagine what all of you were going through.   Poor Charlotte and I am so glad things are much better and I'm praying for a full recovery.  Webster is a "true" hero and a real sweetie to keep watching over her while she recovers.  Big hugs and prayers to all of you!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Wow, I'm so glad everything turned out okay for Charlotte. That must have been a terrifying experience for you! It's so sweet how Webster is Charlotte's 'guardian' now. I take it he wasn't that way before? Thank you so much for the 'heads up'. My Lucy gets mistaken for a poodle all the time. This info is very good to know!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

this brought tears to my eyes-so happy she has stabilized.  She is lucky to have a loving family, including her big brother, to love and care for her.  Here is hoping for a full recovery and in the meantime a restful weekend for the whole family.  

[Ginny Nightingale]

wow--how absolutely awful to hear what you are all going thru--but what a great resource to have all those BIG dogs in the family! I am glad things are improving--keep us updated as we will all be hoping that she continues to improve!!

[Gail and Bailey]

Reading about your ordeal had me in tears too.  So sorry for all you have been through!  Sending hugs to Charlotte and wishes for a speedy recovery!  Webster gets a big hug too, for being the best brother ever!

[Wendy and Myla]

That is so scary!  So glad that she's home and Hero, oops, Webster, deserves a medal!!! 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you so much for sharing your terrifying story. I am so glad to hear that Charlotte is doing better and pray she recovers completely. Thank you for letting us all know about this disease.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

OMD, that had to be terrifying.  I am so glad you had Webster to be such a great donor.  I am so glad that Charlotte is doing better.

[Elaine Leitelt]

I know how scary that can be.  My daughter's beagle has the same thing.  Almost died about 8 years ago when he was diagnosed.  He does not get ANY vaccinations either.  He's had a couple bouts over the years, none as bad as the first one but generally doing well for many years.  She found lots of good info online.  Hope she continues to improve.