vet visit - the good and the notsogood

[Twice]

I had Abbyhead to the specialist last night for new bloodwork. Every-single-thing was elevated above last month. It seems that while I was here at work, my son accidentally left the gate to the kitchen open. Dear, sweet little Abby got into Roxys Beneful. She ate almost the whole bowl! Guess when I found this out? At the vet. After she threw up big pieces of food. Now we have to go back in 2 weeks to re-run the tests.

BUT! I found out some good stuff so I guess that was worth the price of admission She is gaining about a pound a week! At 5 months, 3 weeks old she weighs 22.2 pounds. She will always be small. They predict her adult size to be around 30-35 pounds at most. (OMG Adult size!! ) According to her doctor, her PCV's are normal so I guess that means no more anemia. I'm giving her spinach twice a day and I just ordered some blackstrap molasses to help with that too.

Each time I take her to the specialist they do an ultrasound to see if her kidneys are shrinking or if there is any more visible damage. I never knew this because they don't charge me for it. So far, there hasn't been any more visible damage, the cysts haven't changed or multiplied and her kidneys have actually grown. My biggest concern these past few weeks was that she would outgrow her kidneys, that she would continue to grow but they wouldn't and not be able to support her. (point of reference here) depending on the type of dog, adult kidneys range in size from 4 to 9cm. Abby's are 7.9 so she can't/won't outgrow them

AND!! The new scans show that they aren't as damaged as we originally thought. Normal JRD shows as bumpy, wrinkled, shriveled up little bean shapes. 90% of the surface of Abbys kidneys are smooth and healthy looking. She said that neither she nor any of her colleagues have ever seen it present like this. She is definitely NOT a textbook case.

I also found out one maybe not so good thing. While they were taking her into the back for blood work they noticed that Abby has sort of a gimp when she walks so they brought her in to see an orthopedist (also no charge). He says she has "luxating elbows, likely due to a congenital connective tissue issue". He says it may improve with age or her body might learn to compensate but, due to her condition, he doesn't recommend surgery.

Has anyone ever heard of this luxating elbow thing?

 

[Twice]

oh, there was one more thing.

She seems to have a small yeast infection on her face. The doctors said that they could give me something but if I got it from them it would cost a fortune. They said I could get it at Petco but by then I had shut my recorder off so I don't remember what they said to get.

Does anybody have an idea of what she might want me to get?

 

[2BullyMama]

WOW... what a roller coaster. You are doing such a great job with her... maybe you should be a doggie nutritionist

I did notice her limp/gimp and the elbow sort of crocked on Sunday, but I figured it was all part of her issue so I did not mention it.

 

[Chunksmama]

Did the explain the lucrative elbow? My friend's bullie has an elbow/knee issue that they basically said is that the tendons are weak and they have him walk uphill (I think once a day) until he stops limping and it works! Every so often he reinjures it and they do the walking uphill again.


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[Twice]

WOW... what a roller coaster. You are doing such a great job with her... maybe you should be a doggie nutritionist

I did notice her limp/gimp and the elbow sort of crocked on Sunday, but I figured it was all part of her issue so I did not mention it.

That's what I thought it was too.

 

[LaurenA]

Crazy Abby, she just wanted to keep you on your toes.
I don't have any idea about the yeast or elbow, but I just wanted to say you have done amazing things for her! She must thank her lucky start every night that she found you!!!

 

[Saalwi]

Roller-coaster is right on... So glad she's doing ok....she's a real inspiration (you, too!)....keep up the good work.

 

[GRACIE11]

Gracie's mom weighs 35 pounds that great news.....when the vet took ex-rays of her right front paw because she was limping he said she had a sprained paw and bone on bone in her elbow, growth plates were open and she is still growing. I don't know if that is anything like you were talking about

 

[Twice]

Did the explain the lucrative elbow? My friend's bullie has an elbow/knee issue that they basically said is that the tendons are weak and they have him walk uphill (I think once a day) until he stops limping and it works! Every so often he reinjures it and they do the walking uphill again.


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They said it was something she was born with. Something about the joints and ligaments in her front legs not forming correctly? They said it's common in bulldogs. That's why I thought I'd ask you guys if you'd heard of it. There's nothing that I can do about it. The ligaments aren't there (or at least, they aren't right) so no exercise, diet or vitamin will help it. They can't operate because they can't sedate her. It's just something that she will have to live with. I was just curious what living with it will be like for her. Everything that I can find on the subject is written for people way smarter than me.

 

[Lucy-licious]

You are such a great momma [MENTION=4225]Twice[/MENTION] and little Abby is beautiful

 

[RiiSi]

Sweet girl and you are doing such a good job! But for what reason you feed her spinach twice a day?I have read that spinach has oxalates that are not good for kidneys if fed a lot. And that it interferes with the calcium absorption.

 

[Twice]

Sweet girl and you are doing such a good job! But for what reason you feed her spinach twice a day?I have read that spinach has oxalates that are not good for kidneys if fed a lot. And that it interferes with the calcium absorption.

I was giving it to her to boost her iron level. As soon as the molasses comes in I'm going to switch her to that. I was also told that I could give her pieces of liver to boost it but that scares me. No one says what kind of liver (beef? chicken?) and I can't find a feeding guideline. How much to I give her? How often?

The molasses will be easy and has tons of other benefits to it. I even read it can help get rid of gray hair! lol

 

[Lucy-licious]

I was giving it to her to boost her iron level. As soon as the molasses comes in I'm going to switch her to that. I was also told that I could give her pieces of liver to boost it but that scares me. No one says what kind of liver (beef? chicken?) and I can't find a feeding guideline. How much to I give her? How often?

The molasses will be easy and has tons of other benefits to it. I even read it can help get rid of gray hair! lol

Hmmm maybe you can test that statement and let us know...could save a fortune in hair dye

 

[RiiSi]

I was giving it to her to boost her iron level. As soon as the molasses comes in I'm going to switch her to that. I was also told that I could give her pieces of liver to boost it but that scares me. No one says what kind of liver (beef? chicken?) and I can't find a feeding guideline. How much to I give her? How often?

The molasses will be easy and has tons of other benefits to it. I even read it can help get rid of gray hair! lol

Parsley has about twice the amount of iron and it has no oxalates, if you can make her eat it. I think liver is liver and in raw feeding organs are given about once/twice a week and in the beginning very small amounts.

 

[Twice]

Parsley has about twice the amount of iron and it has no oxalates, if you can make her eat it. I think liver is liver and in raw feeding organs are given about once/twice a week and in the beginning very small amounts.

she gets a little parsley mixed into her mash. The problem is she can't have to much. Parsley is also a diuretic, that's the last thing you want to give an animal in kidney failure. It's a shame to, she loves it.

How small is a small amount? Like half an ounce?

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