I have been searching the internet for answers on this, but it is so complicated.
I would like to know if anyone has ever experienced their pet having jaundice (eyes/gums yellow) and black feces (signifying upper GI bleed?) and what was your pet's diagnosis and did they recover?
I am really choked up right now, I need to hear some stories, good or bad.
Thank you.
Full Version: Please Read - Need Advice - Re: Dog W/liver Issues
Tell us more. Has the dog been to the vet? Does the dog go around the neighborhood unsupervised? Any rat poison (Warfarin) in use in the area?
Is the dog known to eat "Mushrooms" on the lawn or woods?
Is the dog known to eat "Mushrooms" on the lawn or woods?
I called my vet and asked him about canine liver disease. he said the treatment depends on the cause ( there is a wide variety...complicated, as you said), but he also said that w/ proper and early diagnosis, there is a good chance of recovery since the liver can regenerate itself. I hope maybe some other member can tell you more.
Meanwhile your pup is in my prayers!
DAyna
Meanwhile your pup is in my prayers!
DAyna
Yes, we took her to the vet, twice. They ran blood tests and told me that it was a liver infection, and gave me some antibiotics and told me to give them 4 days to work. I don't think that was the best treatment for her, and somehow the vet did not think the black feces was a problem. I called her back on that issue and she said she does not recall discussing that, even though we told her THREE times.
I just wonder if it was possible for her to get better, or if when they are this far gone, there is no hope?
She did not wander the neighborhood, there are no mushrooms here, we live in a regular suburban house, not out in the country or anything like that. We have two children, a two year old and four year old, and we never have or use anything toxic around our home, we do not use any fertilizers or weed/pest killers at our home, period.
I just wonder if it was possible for her to get better, or if when they are this far gone, there is no hope?
She did not wander the neighborhood, there are no mushrooms here, we live in a regular suburban house, not out in the country or anything like that. We have two children, a two year old and four year old, and we never have or use anything toxic around our home, we do not use any fertilizers or weed/pest killers at our home, period.
I gather that she's showing jaundice and blood in her stool despite having finished the course of antibiotics? It sounds like your vet doesn't listen to you I think I would find another one.
As to whether she can recover. My vet said they can lose up to 2/3 of their liver function and still recover, but it sounds to me that a thing like regenerating the liver could take some time.
As to whether she can recover. My vet said they can lose up to 2/3 of their liver function and still recover, but it sounds to me that a thing like regenerating the liver could take some time.
well I am having a really hard time, even to type this, but my dog just passed away. On the fourth day of the antibiotics too. We thought she might be getting better because she stopped trembling as much, and even ate that morning, which she had not been doing much of. Then her abdomen started to look bloated (she had been emaciated) and she grew weaker, we rushed her to the emergency hospital, and she died within minutes.
I am angry and guilty feeling, I felt the vet should have done more for her. But am telling myself she was probably too far gone anyway to save her... My heart is broken, it feels like a permanent lump in my throat, everything reminds me of her, I even cry over sappy love songs.
I have spoke to both vets that treated her, at length. Neither can give me a clear answer, but the emergency vet, said maybe she had cancer, maybe a hemangiosarcoma that ruptured. Maybe an immune mediated reaction. My sweet dog, she was almost 10, much too young for her to leave me, I thought she would be here at least another 4 years or longer.
The emergency vet said if it was the sarcoma, and they had caught it in time, she could have had surgery, but even then, it could have metastasized, and Sadie (my dog) would have to go thru chemo, which does not always make sense. (and we don't even know if that was it)
I am searching for stories of other dogs that had the same symptoms, wondering what was affecting them, and whether they were able to recover, and/or what type of treatment or medication the vets gave them. If anyone has any to share, or any knowledge or advice about this, I would love to hear some stories.
I am angry and guilty feeling, I felt the vet should have done more for her. But am telling myself she was probably too far gone anyway to save her... My heart is broken, it feels like a permanent lump in my throat, everything reminds me of her, I even cry over sappy love songs.
I have spoke to both vets that treated her, at length. Neither can give me a clear answer, but the emergency vet, said maybe she had cancer, maybe a hemangiosarcoma that ruptured. Maybe an immune mediated reaction. My sweet dog, she was almost 10, much too young for her to leave me, I thought she would be here at least another 4 years or longer.
The emergency vet said if it was the sarcoma, and they had caught it in time, she could have had surgery, but even then, it could have metastasized, and Sadie (my dog) would have to go thru chemo, which does not always make sense. (and we don't even know if that was it)
I am searching for stories of other dogs that had the same symptoms, wondering what was affecting them, and whether they were able to recover, and/or what type of treatment or medication the vets gave them. If anyone has any to share, or any knowledge or advice about this, I would love to hear some stories.
Just wanted to add some more info - she had her blood tests done, which IMO showed very elevated liver enzymes, like alarming to me, so why not the vet? Also her WBC was high.
(if anyone knows how to read the tests I can post more detailed #'s)
We thought she had been poisoned due to the sudden onset, but now I really doubt that & think cancer of some sort, or her spleen. I wish I had known more about pet health care and what else could have been done that day, like an x-ray or ultrasound. darnit.
(if anyone knows how to read the tests I can post more detailed #'s)
We thought she had been poisoned due to the sudden onset, but now I really doubt that & think cancer of some sort, or her spleen. I wish I had known more about pet health care and what else could have been done that day, like an x-ray or ultrasound. darnit.
I'm so terribly sorry! That does sound very much like a possible hemangiosarcoma. A terrible cancer that I'm all too familiar with. I lost my wonderful Mack to HS, 2 years ago in Sept. He was 8 years old.
Even when diagnosed early, the prognosis for HS is very poor. Many dogs die suddenly of it, without ever having presented any symptoms, due to ruptured spleen,or heart. Mack's first tumor showed up on his tongue, and the vets were still telling me his ultrasound was clean and his spleen was clear a week before he died. I rushed him to a specialty hospital for surgery 2 days after his ultrasound, thinking the surgeons were going to remove the tumor on his tongue, only to be told that in 2 days time the cancer had spread both to the spleen and to the lungs. Surgery was impossible at that point.I felt guilty that I didn't see that thing in his mouth until it started to bleed, even though it was way back on his tongue.
That was a long-winded way of saying; I don't think you have anything to feel guilty about. Hemangiosarcoma is a terrible killer. The only effective treatment is surgery...the chemo doesn't work.
I'm so sorry about Sadie. ( btw the little sheltie in my avatar ( the one in the cart) was a Sadie too )
Dayna
Even when diagnosed early, the prognosis for HS is very poor. Many dogs die suddenly of it, without ever having presented any symptoms, due to ruptured spleen,or heart. Mack's first tumor showed up on his tongue, and the vets were still telling me his ultrasound was clean and his spleen was clear a week before he died. I rushed him to a specialty hospital for surgery 2 days after his ultrasound, thinking the surgeons were going to remove the tumor on his tongue, only to be told that in 2 days time the cancer had spread both to the spleen and to the lungs. Surgery was impossible at that point.I felt guilty that I didn't see that thing in his mouth until it started to bleed, even though it was way back on his tongue.
That was a long-winded way of saying; I don't think you have anything to feel guilty about. Hemangiosarcoma is a terrible killer. The only effective treatment is surgery...the chemo doesn't work.
I'm so sorry about Sadie. ( btw the little sheltie in my avatar ( the one in the cart) was a Sadie too )
Dayna
QUOTE (myhrtisbrkn @ Jun 10 2008, 06:22 PM) 
I'm so terribly sorry! That does sound very much like a possible hemangiosarcoma. A terrible cancer that I'm all too familiar with. I lost my wonderful Mack to HS, 2 years ago in Sept. He was 8 years old.
Even when diagnosed early, the prognosis for HS is very poor. Many dogs die suddenly of it, without ever having presented any symptoms, due to ruptured spleen,or heart. Mack's first tumor showed up on his tongue, and the vets were still telling me his ultrasound was clean and his spleen was clear a week before he died. I rushed him to a specialty hospital for surgery 2 days after his ultrasound, thinking the surgeons were going to remove the tumor on his tongue, only to be told that in 2 days time the cancer had spread both to the spleen and to the lungs. Surgery was impossible at that point.I felt guilty that I didn't see that thing in his mouth until it started to bleed, even though it was way back on his tongue.
That was a long-winded way of saying; I don't think you have anything to feel guilty about. Hemangiosarcoma is a terrible killer. The only effective treatment is surgery...the chemo doesn't work.
I'm so sorry about Sadie. ( btw the little sheltie in my avatar ( the one in the cart) was a Sadie too )
Dayna
Even when diagnosed early, the prognosis for HS is very poor. Many dogs die suddenly of it, without ever having presented any symptoms, due to ruptured spleen,or heart. Mack's first tumor showed up on his tongue, and the vets were still telling me his ultrasound was clean and his spleen was clear a week before he died. I rushed him to a specialty hospital for surgery 2 days after his ultrasound, thinking the surgeons were going to remove the tumor on his tongue, only to be told that in 2 days time the cancer had spread both to the spleen and to the lungs. Surgery was impossible at that point.I felt guilty that I didn't see that thing in his mouth until it started to bleed, even though it was way back on his tongue.
That was a long-winded way of saying; I don't think you have anything to feel guilty about. Hemangiosarcoma is a terrible killer. The only effective treatment is surgery...the chemo doesn't work.
I'm so sorry about Sadie. ( btw the little sheltie in my avatar ( the one in the cart) was a Sadie too )
Dayna
thank you Dayna, I can't tell you how much that helped me, reading that.
My Sadie was a "mutt" we think she was lab/australian shepherd/border collie mix (she was black/grey/white) I would post a pic once I can figure it out! But as you can imagine she was the sweetest dog with very expressive brown eyes.
I look forward to seeing that baby's picture...soon as you are ready. I dearly love labs and, borders, and Aussies...and mutts. Mack was half lab and half pitbull, and 100 % marshmallow. Unfortunately labs are no.1 on the list of the highest incidence of hemangiosarcoma, and various shepherds especially GSDs are right behind them on the list... Glad I could be some help. 
Dayna
Dayna
QUOTE (sadieavc @ Jun 10 2008, 08:34 PM)
Just wanted to add some more info - she had her blood tests done, which IMO showed very elevated liver enzymes, like alarming to me, so why not the vet? Also her WBC was high.
(if anyone knows how to read the tests I can post more detailed #'s)
We thought she had been poisoned due to the sudden onset, but now I really doubt that & think cancer of some sort, or her spleen. I wish I had known more about pet health care and what else could have been done that day, like an x-ray or ultrasound.
(if anyone knows how to read the tests I can post more detailed #'s)
We thought she had been poisoned due to the sudden onset, but now I really doubt that & think cancer of some sort, or her spleen. I wish I had known more about pet health care and what else could have been done that day, like an x-ray or ultrasound.
I am so saddened to hear that Sadie has passed away. The shock is horrible especailly when it comes so suddenly.
If you chose to post some of the findings of the vet's exam results I might be able to answer some of your questions. Was a complete autopsy done? Or a partial? I will answer whatever I can.
Take care and I will look again for further details. Hugs of comfort and peace to you my friend.
We did not do an autopsy, I could not bear for her body to go thru more than it already had, I just have the results of the chemistry and hematology tests they did.
OK - here are some pics of my sweet, sweet girl. She was the kind of dog that would roll onto her back IMMEDIATELY if anyone came to pet her, but yet protect our children and our house better than anyone or anything. She loved the water, and loved playing in the sprinklers with my boys, really any water. She really was a friend to me. And she loved having her picture taken!
OK - here are some pics of my sweet, sweet girl. She was the kind of dog that would roll onto her back IMMEDIATELY if anyone came to pet her, but yet protect our children and our house better than anyone or anything. She loved the water, and loved playing in the sprinklers with my boys, really any water. She really was a friend to me. And she loved having her picture taken!
She was beautiful. Such sweet eyes. She was very Aussie-looking.
She sounds like Mack...he loved water. Preferably nasty, stinky, pond water with lots of frogs to chase. He never actually caught one, but that never stopped him from trying. He loved everyone and every day was his birthday. the veterinary-criticalist who saw him at the specialty hospital was crying harder than I was when she had to tell me the cancer was in his lungs.
Here's to our furkids...beautiful in life...beautiful in our hearts forevermore.
Hugs,
Dayna
She sounds like Mack...he loved water. Preferably nasty, stinky, pond water with lots of frogs to chase. He never actually caught one, but that never stopped him from trying. He loved everyone and every day was his birthday. the veterinary-criticalist who saw him at the specialty hospital was crying harder than I was when she had to tell me the cancer was in his lungs.
Here's to our furkids...beautiful in life...beautiful in our hearts forevermore.
Hugs,
Dayna
QUOTE (sadieavc @ Jun 10 2008, 10:31 PM)
We did not do an autopsy, I could not bear for her body to go thru more than it already had, I just have the results of the chemistry and hematology tests they did.
OK - here are some pics of my sweet, sweet girl. She was the kind of dog that would roll onto her back IMMEDIATELY if anyone came to pet her, but yet protect our children and our house better than anyone or anything. She loved the water, and loved playing in the sprinklers with my boys, really any water. She really was a friend to me. And she loved having her picture taken!
OK - here are some pics of my sweet, sweet girl. She was the kind of dog that would roll onto her back IMMEDIATELY if anyone came to pet her, but yet protect our children and our house better than anyone or anything. She loved the water, and loved playing in the sprinklers with my boys, really any water. She really was a friend to me. And she loved having her picture taken!
sadieavc, so sorry you have lost your beautiful baby so suddenly, those pics are so beautiful too, she had the sweetes face ever and she knew it. I know that just saying am sorry it will not be enough to make you feel better but my heart goes to you and all the people around you that feels the same way you do about your baby in this hard times you are facing now, so sorry again, Buster and Jorge
.
Your pics of Sadie are priceless. It's wonderful to capture a place in time where we can look back, visit, and remember our loved ones with such fondness. I especially got a great big smile out of the pic of Sadie in her pumpkin costume. She truly is a beauty in every way.
Take care and God bless as you begin your journey of healing.
Much love and many hugs from my heart to yours.
Take care and God bless as you begin your journey of healing.
Much love and many hugs from my heart to yours.
I am so sorry to hear about Sadie. Her pictures are really beautiful . After reading the replies earlier, I was going to agree about seeking a second opinion. But then I read your last post. It just hurts so bad when such a wonderful friend leaves. Your last post did put me in tears to type this but I just wanted you to know there are many of us here who truly understand your loss and collectively we would surround you with a big hug if it was possible.
I wish you peace and healing and again, I am just so very sorry for your loss. Remember to feel free to post your thoughts and feelings as you grieve for you will find many here who are always listening and ready to help as best we can.
Big hug
I wish you peace and healing and again, I am just so very sorry for your loss. Remember to feel free to post your thoughts and feelings as you grieve for you will find many here who are always listening and ready to help as best we can.
Big hug
Thank you, I am so thankful for all the pictures we have, we are having one blown up large and framed in our front room so I can always see her sweet smile looking at me - BIG!
Since she passed (wonder if my thread should move?) I get chills sometimes, goosebumps, even though it has been 80-90 degrees here. I really wonder/feel it is her spirit around me. I have experienced this tingling/chills when I have lost loved ones too. I don't know. I can't even bear to look at the spot where she collapsed, it is the last place in the house her body was, and where she spent a lot of time those last couple days. The flashbacks are so hard. My son and I brushed her and loved her the night before she passed. Today, one of my son's was walking around with that brush, it was hard to look at it.
Children are so profound sometimes. I had explained to my 4 year old that Sadie was gone to heaven, she was very sick and her heart stopped beating. Later, he said to me out of the blue "mom, I found Sadie's heart!" and I said "where?" he held out his hand to me and said "right here" so sweet he is.
Since she passed (wonder if my thread should move?) I get chills sometimes, goosebumps, even though it has been 80-90 degrees here. I really wonder/feel it is her spirit around me. I have experienced this tingling/chills when I have lost loved ones too. I don't know. I can't even bear to look at the spot where she collapsed, it is the last place in the house her body was, and where she spent a lot of time those last couple days. The flashbacks are so hard. My son and I brushed her and loved her the night before she passed. Today, one of my son's was walking around with that brush, it was hard to look at it.
Children are so profound sometimes. I had explained to my 4 year old that Sadie was gone to heaven, she was very sick and her heart stopped beating. Later, he said to me out of the blue "mom, I found Sadie's heart!" and I said "where?" he held out his hand to me and said "right here" so sweet he is.
I know what you mean about where she last was lying down. My spot is in the living room where we are every day and my boy Little Guy who (I found out later) could barely breathe dragged himself to that spot so we could see him and help him to the ER. He had peed a little on the carpet..which he never did in over 16 years but I think he was trying to hard to breathe and get to us, it just happened. Strange even though my husband washed the spot with soap and water...there are days I see it as it is on the walk way into the living room and I remember him going in and out of consciousness..which I thought was him dead at first. I know what you mean. It is such a horrible pain.
You mentioned about moving your thread..you might want to just start a new one in Death and Dying Pet Section because there seems to be so many more visitors there and you can refer to this topic being here at the start of your first post. I just think you will find your topic read more often and replied to more often because that section sadly is the "most popular" for such sad reasons.
I too don't understand what your vets were doing and I would find new ones in the future. But no matter what happens I still look at things with the idea that when it is these sweet ones time to leave us....that cannot be stopped by us or by any vet. If they are given a second chance...we would find a new vet with an answer that would help but if it is not meant to be...that will not happen either.
In other words, we do the best we can at the time and hope everything comes out okay but if it doesn't.....it just was not meant to be..for them to stay with us any longer. That is the cruel part of loving these precious ones but we never regret their being a part of our lives even knowing there will come a time of overwhelming grief so all we can do is treasure the days we have them with us and when they are physically gone...treasure the love and the good memories they have left with us.
You mentioned putting a big picture in the room to greet you...I put my Little Guy's picture in every room I go into so I can say hello to him everywhere and look into his eyes which are glued to the camera lens...trying to see me behind it. I look quickly at his picture and smile at the thought of the picture and once in a while I touch his face and tell him I miss him but then I deliberately push away the sadness that I can't change..and the moment passes.
It takes a gigantic effort but you must push those flashbacks out of your mind the moment they are coming...deliberately think of a good moment with her and if you need to look at a picture of her being happy and healthy...do that also. In time, the flashbacks will be rare because you will subconsciously block them out. "collapse" is also what my boy did and he got up and walked a few feet and collapsed again. It is a terrible memory and I get tears even talking about it but it is because I want you to know I understand what you are saying there and wanted to tell you what has helped me.
I wish you peace and healing and know it all takes time for the pain not to be so overwhelming and we help the healing by talking about good memories and looking at beautiful pictures of these oh so special sweethearts.
A Big Hug to you here
You mentioned about moving your thread..you might want to just start a new one in Death and Dying Pet Section because there seems to be so many more visitors there and you can refer to this topic being here at the start of your first post. I just think you will find your topic read more often and replied to more often because that section sadly is the "most popular" for such sad reasons.
I too don't understand what your vets were doing and I would find new ones in the future. But no matter what happens I still look at things with the idea that when it is these sweet ones time to leave us....that cannot be stopped by us or by any vet. If they are given a second chance...we would find a new vet with an answer that would help but if it is not meant to be...that will not happen either.
In other words, we do the best we can at the time and hope everything comes out okay but if it doesn't.....it just was not meant to be..for them to stay with us any longer. That is the cruel part of loving these precious ones but we never regret their being a part of our lives even knowing there will come a time of overwhelming grief so all we can do is treasure the days we have them with us and when they are physically gone...treasure the love and the good memories they have left with us.
You mentioned putting a big picture in the room to greet you...I put my Little Guy's picture in every room I go into so I can say hello to him everywhere and look into his eyes which are glued to the camera lens...trying to see me behind it. I look quickly at his picture and smile at the thought of the picture and once in a while I touch his face and tell him I miss him but then I deliberately push away the sadness that I can't change..and the moment passes.
It takes a gigantic effort but you must push those flashbacks out of your mind the moment they are coming...deliberately think of a good moment with her and if you need to look at a picture of her being happy and healthy...do that also. In time, the flashbacks will be rare because you will subconsciously block them out. "collapse" is also what my boy did and he got up and walked a few feet and collapsed again. It is a terrible memory and I get tears even talking about it but it is because I want you to know I understand what you are saying there and wanted to tell you what has helped me.
I wish you peace and healing and know it all takes time for the pain not to be so overwhelming and we help the healing by talking about good memories and looking at beautiful pictures of these oh so special sweethearts.
A Big Hug to you here
Children are so wise about these things...I think its because they came from heaven more recently than we.
Hugs to you and your little guys,
Dayna
Hugs to you and your little guys,
Dayna
My Omar dog had liver issues for almost 3 years. His ALT levels were like 1000, which was alarming. Thing is, I was not pushed to do more tests. It was never made an issue to me back then. Later, when it was an issue, he was too old for the treatments, and his heart had developed heart disease. In February of this year...when he was almost 14, I had an ultrasound done...and it was found he had liver cancer. His enzymes were like 1600. They didn't think he would make it that long. He never got jaundice...or black stools, but the vet told me to look for those things. His weight deteriorated...bad. Even though he would eat. At the end, almost 3 weeks ago, his stomach was bloated...even though you could almost see his spine. He was vomiting. Then he wouldn't eat much anymore. The day before I put him down, we had xray's done, and it was found his liver was so large it was pushing his stomach up...his heart was so large it was pushing on his trachia...and now his lungs showed signs of masses. Even though his tail still wagged...he still got excited to see you, I felt I had to do it...even though my heart said NO!!! I'm sorry for your loss. She was a beautil. My Omar was a mutt too. Shephard, husky/chow mix.
Take care.
Marcie
Take care.
Marcie
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