please cross fingers for Kobie

[kobieeli]

Can I ask for some positive vibes from everyone today? Kobie has to have a complete blood panel done this afternoon. She's been coughing for almost three weeks, and the antibiotics we've been giving her haven't helped. The vet thought it was probably kennel cough, which is no big deal; she had it when we adopted her from the shelter two years ago.

Now the vet thinks it might be a case of Valley Fever, and we're terribly nervous about that. VF is a disease caused by a fungus that lives in the dirt in parts of the Southwest US, and if you inhale the spores it's bad news. We're in a major VF area here, and other dogs (and people) have been getting it since this fall. Most of the time an infection is nothing too major, kind of like a bad cold or flu, but it can also turn deadly and it never goes away. I have a friend who almost died of it--his case turned into meningitis! Sooo, we're nervous...and hoping Kobie has caught something else. Anything else.

Thanks. I'll let you all know the news whenever we hear it.

[Albea]

Fingers and paws crossed for Kobi. Also possitive thoughts and wishes that the problem is not a serious one. Let us know how she's doing.

[aly]

Ohhh no :( Poor Kobie. I will be praying for the best. Try to stay strong and brave through this tough time and know that we are all thinking of you and your family. If you need anything, don't hesitate to email me.

Good luck dear, sweet Kobie.

[LoudLou]

Poor Kobi.:( :( Fingers and paws crossed here too. And positive vibes vibing out to you now.....

[RachelJ]

Poor baby, I know a cough that hangs on for a long time can really wear one out. We'll keep the Kobie in our thoughts and prayers and send out get well vibes from our house.

I have this thing I do when anyone is ill at our house. I call it the healing hands. Just put the hands of a loving person on the sick one and let the love flow through them. My husband thinks I am silly when I do this, especially when I make him put his hands on me when I am sick, but it always helps me...so there. :D

[AdoreMyDogs]

Oh poor little Kobie :( I will say a prayer for sure. That is so scary :( I really hope it's nothing too serious and he can fight whatever bug is causing the cough. What Rachel suggested works...honestly it sounds strange, but for some reason it seems to quicken healing time! Kobie, be well buddy :(


Originally posted by RachelJ

I have this thing I do when anyone is ill at our house. I call it the healing hands. Just put the hands of a loving person on the sick one and let the love flow through them. My husband thinks I am silly when I do this, especially when I make him put his hands on me when I am sick, but it always helps me...so there. :D

OMG, Rachel, I do the same thing! My hubby actually taught me about "healing touching" and I swear it seems like it works! When I'm sick or hurt, he sends loving healing energy to my hurting part with his hands on the area where there is pain, and he just sends energy and light and love. I do the same thing for him and I did alot of that to Graham's leg during his recovery. I was not sure if my healing touch was going through the cast, but I tried anyway :)

Anyway, I will for sure send well wishes for Kobie. I really hope all is well. Please tell us how he's doing as soon as as you find out.

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Perry, Daisy and I will be thinking positive thoughts for Kobe today and pray that nothing serious will come out of those tests.
Hugs to Kobe.
Jackie

[tatsxxx11]

Dear, sweet Kobie and Mom....All paws here are crossed and prayers are coming your way. Hang in there precious Kobie. We all love you and pray that you will be well soon. Big, big get well hugs and kisses for Kobie. Love, Sandra, Cody and Star

[lizbud]

Prayers and Good Positive vibes are coming your
way from Indy. I pray for Kobie's complete recovery
and a long, long happy life of good health !!!

RachelJ, I believe in the "healing hands" method
myself. I know it does work although I can't explain
how it works.
Prayers & Good Wishes for Kobie from Liz & Buddy.

[KYS]

Rocky, Sheba and Pepper are here for you too!
Sending lots of slurpey kisses and woo woo get
well wishes your way.

[ellensy]

Sending Kobie all the best get well wishes and she'll always be in our prayers.

[Sudilar]

Big time prayers are coming your way, Kobie!!!!!! Hang in there and get well quick!!!!!

[kobieeli]

Thank you for your good thoughts, everyone!!

We just got a call from the vet. Kobie's bloodwork doesn't indicate Valley Fever, thank God. She's got a high white cell count, though, and very high counts of something called eosinophils, which together suggest that she's fighting either an allergic or parasitic problem. Yuck. Now she's started on a low dose of prednisone along with the antibiotics, and we have to bring a stool sample Monday. The vet thinks she's either got allergic bronchitis, or maybe a giardia infection. So guess who will be on the computer this afternoon doing internet research on these conditions...:(

I did the healing hands on Kobie last night when she woke up coughing, and although my DH just snorted at it I really think it made her go back to sleep more easily. I should do this for her every day. :)

Thanks again, everybody--
Amber

[tatsxxx11]

I am so relieved Amber that Kobie got an all clear on the Valley Fever!! Hopefully the pred. and antibiotics will start to make Kobie more comfortable very soon. I know a few others here have had experience with girardia. An excellent vet info. site is www.vetinfo.com Hopefully others can offer some advice and info. on girardia! Keep up those loving, healing hands of yours! The healing power of love is amazing! Hugs and kisses and sloppy licks from Sandra, Cody and Star

[lizbud]

I'm so happy it was not VF. Will continue to pray
and send Good Positive thoughts your way.
Please keep everyone updated when you can.

Hugs & Kisses (and loving/healing touches) to Kobie
from Liz & Buddy !!!

[Sudilar]

I don't want to sound like a broken record here, but IF Kobie is put on Metronidazole for Giardia, watch out for a rare reaction and liver damage. It is rare, but it does happen (to Killian, of course.) Watch for no appetite, orange urine, pale gums and yellow whites of the eyes. Killian did not have giardia, but he was put on this med to clear up his mouth condition. Good luck and continued prayers coming your way!

[aly]

I am SO relieved it is not Valley Fever! I will continue sending my well wishes until Kobie gets better. I know how hard it is to hear your little one coughing. Hopefully it will be cleared up before too long.

[Dixieland Dancer]

Dixie and Dusty have their paws crossed and are saying their prayers for a quick and complete recovery for Kobie. I believe in the healing hands too! Get Well wishes for Kobie!!!

[kobieeli]

Thanks for the tip about the giardia med, Sudilar--I'd forgotten that was what got Killian so sick. Isn't it horrible that some medications can make things worse than the actual disease is?

Well, Kobie seems to be responding to the prednisone. She's hardly coughed since late yesterday, and she slept through the night without waking up with a coughing fit. The vet said that IF the pred ended up working she may have allergic bronchitis, which she described as "kind of like asthma for dogs." (I actually laughed when the vet said that--all I could picture was Kobie wearing a little shirt with a chest pocket, and a spray-inhaler thingy in the pocket! My dad ALWAYS has an inhaler in his pocket for his asthma.) :D

Anyway, we'll see what the other tests tell us tomorrow or Tuesday...

[Albea]

Kobie:
We are sooo happy to know that you are feeling better, that your illness was not as serious as your mom feared and that you are on your way to recovery.
Our paws and fingers are still crossed for you.
Big hug and kisses sweet girl.
http://www.photogra.com/galleries/35174/curr/9634185_20020209_130859_20020209131615.jpg

[tatsxxx11]

What wonderful news Kobie, dear!! We'll keep praying that you continue to get better and better every day! So glad to hear that you slept quietly through the night, precious one.

And Kobie...Star here. Aren't Mom's just SiLLy sometimes??? Pocket protector!!:D

[Sudilar]

Glad to hear you're feeling better!! Don't feel bad, I carry an inhaler wherever I go, too!! :)

[Gio]

I only had a chance to read this topic today. I really hope that in the meantime Kobie is feeling much better!

[Gio]

Any news on Kobie yet?

[tatsxxx11]

I've been thinking of Kobie too....Please let us know how he's doing!!

[Sudilar]

Same here.

[Logan]

Come on back and let us know about Kobie when you can! He has a huge fan club! :)

[kobieeli]

Sorry about being away for a bit and neglecting Kobie's "fan club"!

Kobie had all kinds of tests run after we found out that her blood panel indicated either a parasite or allergy problem. Basically, the parasite angle has now been ruled out: no heartworm, fecal worms, lyme disease, giardia, etc. That was a relief--I hate the thought of a wormy, critter-infested dog.... :p

That just leaves allergies of some sort, and those are really hard to pin down. The vet pretty much said that we could spend about $300 to run a blood allergen panel (which might not even pinpoint the exact allergy at all!), or just control occasional allergy outbreaks with low doses of prednisone. She's responded well to the pred so far and hasn't coughed for almost a week. I guess unless she starts really being sick from this "doggy asthma" or whatever she has, we'll just keep a bit of pred around and see if it helps.

I know any steriodal medications aren't safe for long-term use, though, so I hope we won't have to give her this stuff very frequently. She definitely eats and drinks a lot more when she's on it, and she had what we jokingly called a "steroid rage" tonight when she lit up on Eli for taking her rope toy. :eek: Eli thinks Kobie's meds are pretty cool, though, because when she takes her pill in a piece of cheese he gets some cheese too!

Thanks for all the concern, folks! I'll keep y'all updated on the saga of the Kobester...

-Amber

[AdoreMyDogs]

Way to go, Kobie girl! I am glad your not coughing anymore...that's a huge relief! Listen, that brother of yours is a cutie pie...don't "light up" on him anymore :)

[ellensy]

Glad that Kobie's doing great! http://www.plaudersmilies.de/lol2.gif

[Dixieland Dancer]

I believe you already feed Kobie Innova. A friend of mine has Dixie's brother and he was allergic to the turkey in the Innova. Very strange, but when they put him on California Natural he did much better.

You may want to consider switching to California natural as an added precaution that it's not a food related allergy.