Basenji without spunk - very sick, pls read

[Mantis]

I was too upset yesterday to post this. She has been at the vet specialist since Friday. She had surgery Sat morning for the diagnosis that her intestine had folded in on itself. Well, when the doctor got in there, the intestine was fine. He said the stomach appeared red and the lymph nodes were enlarged. He said the liver, pancreas, intestines, and gall bladder looked fine. He took biopsies of the intestine in 3 places, and biopsys of the stomach and lymph nodes. I will find out the results on Wed.

This is extremely frustrating because I still get to pay the price of the surgery without any resolve and now have a basenji that barely can walk. I have been visiting her and she was so doped up yesterday she barely recognized me.

The nurse said she recovered from the surgery well and isnt on pain meds right now?! Dogs are amazing animals and heal fast, but I am worried about her comfort level.

I just want my Beta back and I cant take care of her. She is having too much pain for me to fix it. I am so frustrated.

[JoeyQ]

Checking in on Beta and you….I am sorry that you are going through this! When they can't tell you what's wrong (both doc and dog), it is excrutiatingly (sp?) painful! You are doing all you can to help Beta! Don't forget to take care of yourself too. Our prayers continue for both of you. Stay positive! That will help you both!

[seko]

From where did they got the idea the intestine folded in on itself?
I hope for her and you they'll find what's wrong with her from the biopsy.
Keep us posted!

[Lenora]

If it had been intussusception the surgery could have corrected it. Now you still don't know what's wrong with your baby. I will keep you and Beta in my prayers for a full recovery. Lenora

[Duke]

Healing vibes for your sweet Beta and vibes of strength for you. It is so stressful when our babies are sick. Wishing Beta and yourself well.

[jys1011]

Hang in there Mantis looks like our prayers are working since Beta is still holding on & recovering. We'll keep thinking positive thoughts & sending lots of prayers to you both.

You are an amazing dog parent & I really respect all that you're doing for Beta.

[Mantis]

thanks guys….she should be released from the specialist today....then i will take her back to the vet she has been visiting last week for a check up and discussion.

then home for rest....

the specialist did an ultrasound on friday that did look like what they described as the intestine folding in on itself....but that was wrong.

i will keep you posted. should hear something on wed.

[nala121498]

Still keeping the healing vibes coming to Beta…please let us know how she is doing. I can only imagine how you feel. Take care.

[Mantis]

I picked up Beta yesterday at the Specialist. She willingly got into her hated kennel for the ride home. She was very happy to be home. She was a puppymill rescue and had lived in a small kennel for over a year and a half before i adopted her. i am sure she had some trauma being at the hospital the entire weekend.

as of today she weighs 18lbs. she has only lost 2lbs so far and i am working with her all day on rice and soft special food.

last night was pretty hairy. she woke me around 2 am with coughing and severe wheezing. i was staring at her with her e collar on and laying there. what could i give her? nothing. so i just listened for a while. i have chronic asthma and know what her breathing sounded like. she was also her lips a lot so i gave her a half of a pepsid ac to settle her stomach.

she woke me up again around 5am throwing up. just liquid. this was a pretty bad night over all and her first throwing up incident.

she woke again at 6am as we were all waking up and pooped and peed normally. she did her first crazy dance and then ran to her new spot on the couch and just sat. she is very aggressive with caesar and he has to be kept separate for now until she feels better.

it looks like she has about 30 staples from her ribs all the way down. tomorrow we should have the news from the biopsys….keep your fingers crossed.

i am hoping to go back to work tomorrow with her in tote. i think the pain meds will keep her calm enough to not chew at her staples while she is with me.

that is all the news for now. betsey

[nala121498]

Oh the poor baby, you are such a great Mommy! Please keep us posted on how she does and I will still keep lots and lots of love and healthful vibes going for Beta!

[Mantis]

as the day passed Beta seems to be getting worse. she is refusing to eat and has started throwing up with a bit of blood. poop is now completely liquid. she is drinking water.

the stomach like attacks are lasting longer. today she had one that was 30 minutes! i am wondering if it is cancer in her stomach or something…..

i have talked with the vet and have adjusted meds to make her more comfortable.

test results should be in tomorrow.........

[Lenora]

Beta is in all our prayers I'm sure. Keep us updated. Lenora

[red and white furever]

More hugs and positive thoughts your way Betsey and Mantis. I can only imagine how helpless and scared you both must feeling. (((hugs)))

[ChaseandZahrasmom]

Betsey,

My heart goes out to you, I hope that they are able find something to help Beta. Our fingers (and paws) are crossed and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Jenn

[youngandtired]

You and your baby are in my prayers as well, I am feeling so sorry for your B, she is so sweet looking. I would be beside myself worrying if my Sahara was that sick. Please keep us posted, I hope it is nothing real serious!!!!

[JoeyQ]

I am so sorry you both have to go through this! I just can't believe no one can figure out what is wrong. Beta sounds like a fighter! (You too!)
Prayers and positive thoughts go out to you today!

[Mantis]

Beta seems to be better today.

Yesterday she was throwing up with blood, having trouble breathing, having the stomach attacks, and not eating.

I stopped by the vet and picked up prednisone which is a steroid commonly used to reduce inflammation in muscles and used in asthma to aid in her breathing.

I finally figured out why she isn’t eating. I think she has severe acid reflux or some inflammation in her esophagus. I mashed rice and put chicken broth on it and she still wouldn’t touch it. She is nauseous, but the pepcid ac and pepto bismol help mask that. I think made chicken broth and chilled it until it was room temp or cold. She sucked it all down with a voracious appetite. She hasn’t eaten in 3 days and has to be hungry. So, she is on chicken broth today and is loving it.

This morning Beta was alert for the first time in 14 days. Here eyes were clear and she was walking around the kitchen this morning. I really think the prednisone helped a lot over night.

She is with me at work and has taken her other meds including her pain med for the surgery. She is sleeping comfortably and is breathing easy which is a major improvement over yesterday.

The specialist says the test info should be in on Friday, Monday or Tuesday so it was really critical to get Beta to a place of comfort while we wait. I am hoping this is just some type of ulcer and not cancer or something else.

Here are a few pics of Beta this week.

[jys1011]

Betsey no news is good news…so wait patiently for something positive to come out of this. We'll be thinking of you all weekend. It's good to hear little Beta was up & alert.

Still in our prayers.

[JoeyQ]

Beta does look a bit weak as compared to an earlier photo. After all she has been through tho, she looks like a fighter! The last photo is so sweet I just want to give her a big hug, but not too hard !

[Basenji_Boy]

Thanks for keeping us updated…......Get well soon Beta.