Please put Gretchen on your prayer or good thoughts list.

[DOTLDaddy]

Gretchen has not been feeling very well the last several days. Hardly eating, lethargic, and just not being herself. We took her in this morning to see her vet. Found out right away she had a fever of 104, and somewhat raspy sounding lungs. The vet recommended chest x-rays, which we did. There is a slightly suspicious looking area on one of her lungs, which our vet is 90% sure is nothing, but she wants an expert radiologist to look at the digital "films". There is a small possibility of the big "C", but our vet does not want to make that call yet. Like I said, she is pretty sure it is nothing . . . . The radiologist will look at them in the near future, but it might not be for a week or two. The radiologist travels around to a lot of different vet offices, looking at cases that require an experts knowledge. Our vet said the time lapse will have no bearing on the prognosis or treatment options, if it comes to that.

For the fever and whatever is causing it, we came home with Amoxicillin and Metronidazole. They also took blood for a CBC, and will let us know about that tomorrow.

[DOTLDaddy]

RBak wrote:
....As for the prednisone, my hubby has to take a maintenance dose every day....

I suspect that may very well be Gretchen's future.

[RBak]

I hope things settle down for Gretchen and you, and that she begins to feel better. As for the prednisone, my hubby has to take a maintenance dose every day for his gout, and has been doing this for a few months now. If he doesn't, he gets painful flareups in his ankles and wrists. He hates to take it but it does the job. Hopefully the eye drops and pills will stabilize her and prevent her from getting worse. Of course prayers and good thoughts are coming her way, and good wishes from Andy and Nicky.

Rita

[CatandJim]

Quality of life, even if it means the "big gun" medications, is your primary focus and Gretchen is going to benefit from all of your efforts. She and I may have that autoimmune thing in common but I have faith you, Garland, and your team of vets will keep working to get her back on track.

Hang in there!

[Go_Dogs]

Sending wishes and prayers for a happy solution.

[DOTLDaddy]

Sigh. 😞

We have been struggling with this for over a month now, and a final answer or solution has not been arrived at.

At this point, after seeing our regular vet and three different specialist vets, we have found that, in a nutshell, Gretchen requires a minimum of 20mg. of prednisone daily to keep things under control.

I took Gretchen in for another appointment yesterday with an associate ophthalmologist to the one we saw on March 11th. Now, in addition to the 20mg. of predisone, we are going to be giving Gretchen eyedrops twice daily from two solutions.

1. prednisolone acetate 1.0%
2. tacrolimus .03%

The only thing we know "for sure" is that all four vets feel it is some sort of autoimmune thing going on, but we don't know why or what triggered it. Pannus has been ruled out.

Anyway, we go back to the ophthalmologist in two weeks, unless things get worse . . . 😛

On edit: I HATE typos!

[DOTLDaddy]

Wish us luck.

Gretchen is still doing well, but starting today we are going off of two prednisone tabs daily, down to one prednisone tab daily for the next week as we start to wean her off of it. 😛 We are continuing the doxy for another 2 1/2 weeks.

[sher9570]

I'll bet your right, I am so glad she is back to playing and eating.

Sher

[DOTLDaddy]

RBak wrote:
Gretchen update?

Rita & the gang

Miss gretchen continues to do well, but there is still a little redness to her eyelids. Not swollen, however. 🙂 Bumps/lesions/red spots on her body have resolved themselves almost 100%:C

At this point, and with all the testing performed, I have to believe that she has had a tick borne illness such as Ehrlichia, as Rockhillmanor mentioned a few days ago. Hopefully the doxycycline will wipe the little buggers out of her system!:M

Otherwise, Gretchen is eating, drinking and playing just like there's nothing wrong. Oh, to be like a dog . . . . :W

[RBak]

Gretchen update?

Rita & the gang

[AZPops]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Glad she's looking/feeling better!!!

+1 Walter!

Lance n' Calvin

[computerbug]

You are required to give us a medical report or we will notify the moderator. I hope Gretchen I s doing much better today. We care

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Glad she's looking/feeling better!!!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Walter I hope today brings relief for your fur baby.

[DOTLDaddy]

Yikes!:p I never really thought this would turn into a daily medical report, but I must say Gretchen's eyes are looking much better this morning!:)

The swelling is essentially gone, although the tissue surrounding the eyes is still red. Never the less, a BIG improvement over yesterday morning!:C

[AZPops]

Awh man Walter, hope Gretchen starts to getting better (much sooner then later that is)!

Lance