This is a book, I know it, but, I don't want to leave anything out that might trigger something in someone's memory. Thanks for taking the time to read it.
My sister's 4 year old, nuetered male, Ben is having some serious and mysterious problems. On Sunday night, April 22, Ben seemed to be in significant pain, having dizziness, maybe seizures, wouldn't eat, and shaking. This was significant enough that he underwent exploratory surgery on Monday, 4/23. The vet found that his stomach was an entire ulcer. Entire. Ulcer. Of course, the cause was undetermined, but, biopsy done. Blood work, stool, complete labs. All came back negative for cancer, organ issue. The biopsy came back indicating a food type issue. I don't understand that, I don't know if it means there was evidence of food protein, or what. According to my sister, and she got it from the vet, it showed that it was food related.
Ben is/was not on any of the recalled foods. He was eating a special diet, something called Ebu (I *think* Maybe Evo...?). So, the left over food was sent to the lab for testing. Those results aren't back yet.
Ben was in significant pain from the surgery and the ulcer. "Normal" pain meds were not doing anything, and he was wincing, crying, whining, etc. So, the vet put a Fentanyl patch on Ben- maybe Wed. This takes 12 hours to work, and came off 3 days later. So, he was on the patch, and other pain meds, as well as antibiotics, no food, IV fluids, etc. Over the course of these few days, Ben was showing signs of improvement. He didn't get any pain meds yesterday, and the patch, and prolly alot of its effects, would have worn maybe by Monday am (4/30).
My sister went back to work this Monday (4/30). Ben spent Monday and Tuesday at the vet's office, for observation, as he wasn't acting right. It seemed like he had a seizure. So, my sister had him there for observation. He seemed fine both days there. Sunday night, my sister described the thing like this to me:
Ben would be lying down, and *immediately* startle, and try to snap at his rear end. Then, he would stand up, and crouch, as if he was pooping, but, he seemed to be stuck in that position, like his back legs couldn't get out of the crouch, and he was hunched over. He would nearly try to walk, but, of course, stumble.
This is similar to what he was doing before the surgery.
So, to the vets for observation Monday and Tuesday. She went to work on Wednesday, and had a pet sitter (that knows Ben, and looks after him daily, and has for some months) come by, and stay with him 4 hours. When my sister came home from work yesterday, Ben had vomited what appeared to be his breakfast (rice and beef), and bile. The pet sitter confirmed it wasn't there when she left around 3pm, and that she hadn't fed him, or, ran him (since he is still on restricted activity). She calls the vet with concerns, as this kind of seemed similar to what brought him in. Nothing really came of the call. "yes, that is odd" type of response.
She called me today (Thurs, 5/3) to tell me this: while Ben was eating his food this am (rice, pasta, home made), he was going back and forth on his front paws, the click, click, clicking of his nails is what drew her attention, and his paws were curled up...like a bird's feet...and he was standing on them like that. He was sniffing behind the bowl, but, there wasn't any food there, and still food in the bowl (so, he wasn't looking to find more food). Then, he did a really low growl, not *at* my sister, but, like past her, as if he saw something (she lives alone, with Ben). She called him to her, and he came, and seemed to be shaking. Of course, she is frantic again, and hesitated to leave for work.
She called the vet again, and asked for a referral to an internist, and she is waiting on that call now. Ben hasn't done anything abnormal since 7ish.
Has anyone had any sort of experience that sounds like this? Ideas? Guesses? It is so baffling, so scary, and just a horrible thing for my sister, as well as our family, and, of course, Ben, to handle.
Please keep Ben and my sister, Judy in your thoughts and prayers.
Johanna
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