Kimmy I am just seeing this now. Prayers for Chipper. Poor boy must be scared, but very lucky to have found you in time. Hope all turns out well.
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Kimmy I am just seeing this now. Prayers for Chipper. Poor boy must be scared, but very lucky to have found you in time. Hope all turns out well.
Kimmy and Andy,
We are keeping Chipper close to our thoughts. Please let us know soon how he is doing. I know how you feel...we've been there too many times ourselves. It's just NO fun. Our emergency vet here has saved a few of our dogs!
Mega prayers being sent to Mr. Chipper (and his mom 'n pop, too)!
Here's hoping some good news is right around the corner.
Kimmy, Andy and Kia,
{{{{hugs}}} to you while you wait to hear about darlin Chipper.
I hope so much he will pull through this. He's too sweet a dog not to get a good life with all of you. Please get well, Chipper.
Just wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you Kimmy, of your precious Chipper, the entire family. Sending you lots of love and hugs as you, we all wait for some news. Please, please get well, Chipper.
Sandra
Hey guys. We had a 5 p.m. appointment and then stopped by to see Chipper on the way home.
The barium showed NO obstruction.
Sooooo...back to the drawing board so to speak. While the blood test came out negative for Addison's there is however a rare form of it that while Addison's decreases both cortizol and aldosterone, the rarer form will only cause one or the other to decrease.
So when we stopped by to visit he was in the process of having blood drawn several times. Basically they draw blood, test it, wait for a set time period, draw more blood, test it.
So, for example, if the cortizol level is flat line through all of the blood tests, then it's very likely to be this form of Addison's. If the cortizol level rises and falls, then it's not Addison's.
They seem very determined to get to the bottom of this mystery illness.
Chipper perked up when he saw us, but his ears soon dropped when I think he realized he wasn't going home just yet. Poor guy.
Still keeping poor Chipper in our thoughts and hoping he is home soon.
Awww Chipper. I know its hard to be away from your new parents. I'm sorry you have to be going thru all of this. But your new mommie and daddy love you and want you to get better. I pray that those wonderful doctors find out what the trouble is very soon. Hugs for a doggie.
Thanks for the PM, Kimmy. I haven't been on PT lately so I didn't even know Kia got a brother. ;) I'm SO sorry to hear how sick he is though. :( I know he's in the best hands ever, but is there any chance it's allergies? CJ had diarrhea when we first got him too - nothing as serious as Chipper, but still diarrhea - and after months and months we finally tested him for allergies and sure enough, he's allergic to lots of normal cat food ingredients. Like I say, I know he's in good hands, but what's one more test?
Good thoughts and prayers on there way!
As sad as I feel for the poor little guy, I also feel for you two, as I know the stress of waiting and wondering and worrying can get to you. Take care of each other, and I will definitely add a specific request in Chipper's behalf to my prayers.
I hate seeing the innocent suffer - young or old, human or canine or feline or equine, any living being. I know there's a reason for the Tests we go through, but they challenge my faith constantly.
Hugs to you, Andy and the kids at home, Kim - and prayer hugs are being sent to Chipper.
I'll be checking for updates -
omg! I am so sorry, Kimmy that you guys don't know what it is! :( it could be anything. what is Addison's disease? :o more good thoughts and prayers going out for Chipper, you, and your family! I hope the vets can rule out what is causing his pain. :( poor guy. :( hugs to you all including Chipper!
:( Still keeping Chipper in my thoughts. It's so hard to see your babies sick, and even harder when you have no clue what they are sick from. :( Is he getting any better on the fluids?
I'm sorry I haven't replied before now, but I am keeping poor Chipper in my thoughts.
Hopefully it's nothing too serious and he will start feeling better soon.
Kimmy, I'm sorry that you still don't know what's causing Chipper's illness.:( Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are still being sent his way. Please take care. ((((HUGS))))
:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by ramanth
Hard to believe he's got the Minds & Diagnostic Skills of U-M Vet School "stumped"!
Sure hope they get the solution discovered soon so Chip can perk up his ears
and GO HOME!
Hang on Kiddo - you've got the Whole World Praying for you!
;)
Oh Poop!! :(
Still praying for you guys and think about you!
Dr. Beal called at 6 a.m. and apologized for waking me (it was okay actually because I slept through the alarm...had he not called I'd likely be late for work :o ).
Anyway he said he just had to call because he was so excited. Chipper is doing MUCH better!! :cool: They gave him some medication last night and he perked right up! He showed interest in food (nearly stole one poor nurses lunch :rolleyes: :o :D ), and when given a little dog food, he wolfed it right down and kept it down. No vomiting at all. Had some diarreha but no blood in it.
They are still waiting for the results of the blood tests they were doing yesterday and he'll be seeing an internist. I should be hearing from the internist by 11 a.m. Because of his reaction to the medication they feel without a doubt that it's Addison's, but the internist will know for sure.
Based on the internists opinion, Chipper will either come home today or will stay one more night and come home Friday.
Andy and I swung by the clinic on the way to work this morning and Chipper pranced into the waiting room, tail high, butt wiggling, looking so very much alert. He leapt into my lap and covered me with kisses. It was so great having the old Chipper back. :D
WOOHOO!!!!! That's awesome! I will keep checking for updates! Keep in mind I have a test to type and a stack of papers to grade because we have to send out grades tomorrow, but, where am I??? Doing much more important work...checking on Chipper!!
I am so glad to hear that he is doing better...will the meds be a lifetime thing then?
If it is Addison's, then yes, he'll be on medication for the rest of his life. However, the treatment is once a month and he can live a long full life. :D
Woooooo woooooo! Woooooo! (Group howl)
What a relief to read your post this morning! You know his improvement's got to be impressive for the vet to call at 6 am! (((hugs))) Prayers & healing vibes going out that Chipper is on the road to recovery, good health & many years with his new family!
Kim I'm so sorry I wasn't able to reply until now. I don't get on very often anymore. I am so glad to read the new updates and hope they only continue to get better. Poor guy :( I'm so glad you took him, because if you haden't, who knows what would have happened to him. I bet the rescue orginization or foster home would never have invested this much time or money into him.
Keep up the good work, Mr. Chipper! You have found yourself in the very best of homes and we all want you to stick around for a long, long time!
Hey Kimmy (and anyone else in the area that might be interested),
If you guys can swing it, you should come down on Saturday the 9th with the pups and get their picture taken with Para Noel (sp) (Father Christmas) at the shop. His costume is amazing and we will have the fireplace lit and he will be in a comfy rocker and there are stockings hung on the mantle with the Christmas tree right there...for $9 you get a Polaroid in a cute paper frame or for $13 you get the Polaroid, a digital mailed to you, and a 15 sec video... We would love to see you guys and have a chance to see Kia again and meet Chipper man! The pictures are from noon to 3.
Now this is the kind of update I was hoping for:D Glad to hear he's feeling a little more "chipper" today...hope it continues!
More prayers that all goes well and they've found out exactly what's wrong and that it can be managed easily.
This update makes my gloomy day seem brighterhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...eys/jossun.gif.
Yippppeeee!!!
Still praying for his continuing recovery
Ya hoo!!!!!!!!!!!
Good news first thing in the morning. Atta boy Chipper!!
Yay! After wiping away the leaky happy eyes, I did a quick happy dance around the office. I am so happy to hear that they seem to have found the problem and a cure. I will continue to keep you and Chipper in my prayers. Okay I am off to do a quick google search on Addison's disease now. I don't know anything about it, BUT, I am thinking that if you and Andy hadn't adopted this little guy when you did, he wouldn't be around today. Hugs to you.
YAY I'm so glad to hear he's getting better! PT prayers at work again. I hope he gets to come home today.
Wooo hooo!!! Group hug, group holler, oh happy, happy, happy dance and tears!!!:DQuote:
Andy and I swung by the clinic on the way to work this morning and Chipper pranced into the waiting room, tail high, butt wiggling, looking so very much alert. He leapt into my lap and covered me with kisses. It was so great having the old Chipper back. http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/biggrin.gif
I'm so happy to hear the good news, Kimmy! Oh, happy, happy, happy!!!:D
Can't wait to hear your boy's back home with his wonderful Mom and Dad and sibs!
GET WELL SOON, CHIPPER!:)
A very sweet woman named Michelle just called. She is a internal medicine student there at MSU and wanted to go over some of the procedures they will be doing today. There was a lot to cover but I think I can remember it all from my hastily jotted notes. :o
They said they got a sample from his latest diarreha and they are going to check it for parasites. A flotation to look for eggs and a smear to look for an overgrowth of bacteria.
If he does have parasites they do not plan to just sign it off as the problem as parasites could be secondary to something bigger.
He has been given the wormer panacure in the meantime though.
Although Dr. Beal feels strongly it's Addison's, the internist doctors, Dr. Byle and Dr. Ruckland want to cover all the bases and not put their eggs in one basket so to speak.
Chipper will undergo an abdominal ultrasound today where they will look for signs of Gastro-Intestinal issues such as IBD, pancreatis, and colitis. If they see anything suspicious during the procedure they will needle the cells for a biopsy.
Cancer is not totally out of the question but they don't feel it's the underlining issue. More of a better safe than sorry procedure. :)
In the meantime, they'll await the blood work back for signs of Addison. As it stands, his steriod levels are low (which are controlled by the adrenal glands) but his electrolytes are fine and with Addison's they are typically imbalanced. His protein levels are also low but that could be due to a gastro intestinal issue and not necessarily Addison's.
One of the internists will still be in touch later this afternoon to answer any questions and explain the procedures more or how they are doing.
~~~
Molly, I'd love to come visit. I don't think we have anything going on that day but of course we'll have to see how Chipper is doing. :)
That little man has been through hell! Lucky for him Andy fell in love eh? I can't wait to meet him!! I'm excited now! I sure hope the tests show something conclusive so that you don't have to be guessing anymore.
Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that Chipper has not be feeling good, but I'm glad he's doing better today. I hope he continues to improve :)
Oh Kimmy! Poor Chipper sure has been through a lot but I'm glad to hear he's feeling more .... chipper :p I do hope they get to the bottom of this and that Chipper has many more years of good health with you and yours.
I'm so glad to hear that Chipper is doing much better.:D Now hopefully the doctors will be able to find out what's been causing his illness. I'm still keeping him in my thoughts and prayers.
Just an FYI, your vet probably knows this info. If you are sick and have an inadequate adrenal response (ie, your cortisol is not as elevated as it should be by the stress of your illness), you will be even sicker. You will improve with steroids, like Chipper did, but it won't cure or treat the underlying illness. It would be unusual for Addison's to not have abnormal electrolytes (and its pretty amazing if his electrolytes were normal with all the vomiting and diarrhea, but they produce opposite electrolyte changes so sometimes they sort of cancel each other out when you check labs).
So, good for the vets that they are continuing to look and not be satisfied with his initial response to the steroids. Hopefully Addison's is it, as it would be easy to treat.
Jakesmom
I slept thru the morning and am so glad to come here and see that at least you are 'getting' somewhere!
still sending prayers and lots of love!
Disturbances in electrolytes is usually only found in primary Addison's disease or where the adrenal glands themselves are incapable of producing insufficient cortisol. When in the rare event sodium/potassium levels become imbalanced in secondary Addison's disease especially high potassium it can lead to rapid heart failure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jakesmom
Vomiting, lethargy are common symptoms. Signs of Kidney failure can occur, and that sometimes misleads the Vet. An ACTH challenge test is the only true test that will confirm Addison's disease, and it's a given the Vet school will run that test to measure the adrenal response.
The most common cause of secondary Addison's is prolonged administration of a cortisteroid such as Prednisone and stopping suddenly. If external drugs are not involved another common cause is a Pituitary tumor. It suppresses the Adrenal glands production of cortisol. Usually the tumor is very slow growing and not addressed. Other secondary hormonal causes which suppress adrenal function can cause secondary Addison's disease.
Treatment consists of the administration of oral fludrocortisone acetate (Flurinaf) for the rest of the dog's life. It will be important to minimize stressful conditions e.g. avoid hot/cold environmental temperatures. Likewise a controlled diet will be important in the future.
It sounds like the Vet school is doing a very complete, and excellent job with the diagnostics.
Deep breaths... deeeep calming breaths.
Okay.... bad news and good news.
Dr. Byle called to introduce himself as the doctor that took Chipper's case. The bad news is that because Chipper was given food, they can't run the tests today that they want too, since Chipper needs to fast for 8 hours. Also since he was given medicine, it might skew some of the results.
They also want to wait for the results on the ACTH looking for Addison's. And Dr. Byle was told those results won't come in until tonight.
They can however do the ultrasound which he will under go in a couple of hours.
So this is how it will go.
Tonight they will draw blood after his 8 hour fast. If the ACTH comes back positive they will not do any other tests and will start treatment accordingly.
If the ACTH comes back negative, they would like to take the blood taken after his fast and do a:
1. Bio Acid test - checks the liver
2. Cobalamin/Folate, PLI, and TLI - test is sent to Texas; will be a week before results are in
3. and a GI endoscope - 3-4 days for results
Good news really is that they are being thourough and I really want Chipper to get better. But it comes with a price.
Right now the bill is at $1,100. With the ultrasound, it goes to $1,500. If he has Addison's, that's the total cost. Dr. Byle says it's possible but unlikely though.
If those other tests have to be run, the cost plus his additional stay at the clinic will run about $3,000.
:eek:
Time to rob a bank. Deeeep breaths.
Wow, I'm so sorry! I know how you feel though, Buck's emergency surgery last month was over $1,000... Money that I definetly do not having lying around!
Kimmy,
I read this just now. I am so sorry for all that trouble for poor Chipper and for you. Hope everything goes ok with the tests.