Aw shoot. He's not vomitting, but has he been able to keep down food since yesterday?
If you were to presume the best case scenario of 'just stomach ulcers' and age-related chronic kidney failure, would you be able to afford the treatment for the stomach ulcers?
Firstly, I want to thank everyone for their well-wishes. It really means a lot to us right now.
@WrylyBrindle@ShibaMistress@ayk I'm not so worried about if his kidneys are going. I know that's manageable. I'm going to get blood drawn and his urine checked tomorrow morning to see if we need to put him on medication. I can afford constant management/meds. I'm not too worried about that. I was immediately worried about doing what was right by London and getting the bloodwork done ASAP, but I just asked for my commission today instead of the end of the month. My boss understood.
I know, now that he's on his ulcer meds, those will heal and that's okay.
I'm very worried, still, about the unknown element - the cancer. We won't know if he actually has cancer in his stomach unless I get the endoscopy and biopsy (which is the expensive part I can't/don't know if I want to get)... but most stomach cancers are aggressive so even if it's affirmative, I don't want to put him through chemo, so I feel like it would... in one sense... be a waste of money. It's just going to tell me how much time I have left if he comes back with cancer... but then again, it would be the best way to tell me, absolutely, if he DID instead of spending time wondering.
So right now, as long as he stays stable, I'm going to worry about first things first and what I CAN do... which is treat him for the ulcers and make sure his kidney function is where it's supposed to be and go through what management steps it takes to get that back to normal.
I can't do anything about the possible-elephant-in-the-room yet, so I'm going to do my best not to worry about it for right now.
He was SUPER happy to come to work today. He spent all his energy greeting everyone. It was almost like he was back to normal. Now, though, he's passed out at my feet.
That's what we did with the cancer with my GSD, except it was better, because in xrays you can see the effect of the bone cancer, so we had a decent diagnosis without a biopsy.
But yeah, there wasn't really a whole lot of point in doing more. I wouldn't do chemo, either, and I didn't want to amputate his leg, so we just assumed the worse and went on. He was diagnosed in Jan. and made it to his 11th birthday in May, and about a week after that. I thought it was....about the best we could hope for.
I am so sorry. I knew London was sick, but not the full extent. I don't have any experience to offer, but I can offer you my best wishes that he is strong and keeps strong to get through this.
Thank you, everyone. London seems to be feeling better now that we're reaching the end of the day. I'm optimistic for tomorrow and I'm looking forward to getting his bloodwork done so we can get that concern out of the way.
We're getting London's bloodwork results back today and my boyfriend has agreed with chip in with dog stuff (our arrangement is that he pays rent and bills, I pay dog stuff and make sure we have food - it's worked so far until the London-pocalypse). We're discussing if we want to have the scope+biopsy done with his stomach... but I think we're just going to treat the things we can until he's healed and then see if it's something we want to pursue.
I feel better knowing this is almost overrr.
Edit: I spoke too soon at "almost over". His bloodwork came back "inconclusive" (whatever that means). The regular vet said that his urine had a lot of protein in it, but that could be due to him being ill. The vet suggested getting him tested again in a week to see if anything changes.
I think I'm going to ask for his results tomorrow (printed) so I can bring them to the specialist that's been seeing him at the ER vet and see what she thinks of the results.
The regular vet said that if it's not his kidneys, we need to really prepare for cancer being a very real issue if this doesn't resolve when his ulcers heal and suggested to get the endoscopy done.
London is also feeling a lot better, it seems. He hasn't passed anything yet, which is my only worry at this point, but he is eating and taking his meds well. He's in the office with my boyfriend so the other dogs can't mess with him, though. He's a bit cranky with them today.
You poor things. That sound very worrisome. I will be very curious to know more. Please let us know. Do you think that something might have happened during GDV surgery? If it is kidneys, if you caught it in time, there are effective diets. A friend has an old Akita who was thought to die soon, but has been doing very well on the diet.
London went to the ER vet again yesterday. He'd vomited a concerning amount on Saturday into Sunday. They put him on new meds. He hasn't vomited yet today and he's even pooped! I've never been so happy to see poop.
I snapped two pictures today and realized how very sad he looks... but the vet was hopeful on Sunday and said to give him another week (as long as he stayed stable) to show improvement.
We went around the corner to Dunkin today so he could get pet by everyone. It's basically the only time I see him close to happy now - when he's getting attention from strangers, of course.
@ayk - Yeah. He's really lot a lot of weight. He was never a very bulky dog in the first place, but he looks really deflated now.
Also, one of the anti-nausea drugs they have him on is EXPENSIVE. The name brand was over a thousand dollars and the generic was $153. Zofran. It's serious business, I guess.
London is feeling better today, it seems! He's been perky and hungry all day. We're taking it slow, but it's really like a spell has broken. He just woke up with me and was himself again, it's crazy!
Food face.
In other news, I just realized that TK matches the carpet and I've been making fun of it ever since. This is literally the most amusing thing in my life right now.
The Shikoku Ken has natural camouflage to blend in with its surroundings while hunting (for naps).
@Crispy - I am sorry that I am so late to this... But I am glad to hear that London is feeling better. I know what you are going through and I know how badly it sucks. Just know that you guys are in my thoughts!
I love that TK matches the carpet. I had a carpet that Nola blended into magnificently! But after she got sick, I had to get rid of it due to all the bladder leakage that went on before we figured out the puppy diapers. Now she sort of blends into the wood floors after she blows her coat. Haha.
London has made a HUGE turn-around in the last two days. He's keeping about a half of a cup of food down at a time and he's almost finished with his medication. It was really touch-and-go for a while and he gave me a huge scare on Thursday. I'm glad to see a bit of the old London pulling through. He went out with us today when my brother and I went to dinner.
Here he is, running down the dead-end near the old power plant. He had fun exploring (and even squeezed through the fence where we couldn't go - stinker!).
TK treed two squirrels today, but couldn't figure out what to do after that. He checked the tree, looked up at the branches, and then gave up. He decided maybe whining and puffing up was his only option.
He then saw a squirrel zoom up a telephone pole and wanted round two.
Comments
Aw shoot. He's not vomitting, but has he been able to keep down food since yesterday?
If you were to presume the best case scenario of 'just stomach ulcers' and age-related chronic kidney failure, would you be able to afford the treatment for the stomach ulcers?
@WrylyBrindle @ShibaMistress @ayk
I'm not so worried about if his kidneys are going. I know that's manageable. I'm going to get blood drawn and his urine checked tomorrow morning to see if we need to put him on medication. I can afford constant management/meds. I'm not too worried about that. I was immediately worried about doing what was right by London and getting the bloodwork done ASAP, but I just asked for my commission today instead of the end of the month. My boss understood.
I know, now that he's on his ulcer meds, those will heal and that's okay.
I'm very worried, still, about the unknown element - the cancer. We won't know if he actually has cancer in his stomach unless I get the endoscopy and biopsy (which is the expensive part I can't/don't know if I want to get)... but most stomach cancers are aggressive so even if it's affirmative, I don't want to put him through chemo, so I feel like it would... in one sense... be a waste of money. It's just going to tell me how much time I have left if he comes back with cancer... but then again, it would be the best way to tell me, absolutely, if he DID instead of spending time wondering.
So right now, as long as he stays stable, I'm going to worry about first things first and what I CAN do... which is treat him for the ulcers and make sure his kidney function is where it's supposed to be and go through what management steps it takes to get that back to normal.
I can't do anything about the possible-elephant-in-the-room yet, so I'm going to do my best not to worry about it for right now.
He was SUPER happy to come to work today. He spent all his energy greeting everyone. It was almost like he was back to normal. Now, though, he's passed out at my feet.
But yeah, there wasn't really a whole lot of point in doing more. I wouldn't do chemo, either, and I didn't want to amputate his leg, so we just assumed the worse and went on. He was diagnosed in Jan. and made it to his 11th birthday in May, and about a week after that. I thought it was....about the best we could hope for.
Anyway, I'm thinking about you and London.
He's a little upset I won't play with him anymore.
I feel better knowing this is almost overrr.
Edit: I spoke too soon at "almost over". His bloodwork came back "inconclusive" (whatever that means). The regular vet said that his urine had a lot of protein in it, but that could be due to him being ill. The vet suggested getting him tested again in a week to see if anything changes.
I think I'm going to ask for his results tomorrow (printed) so I can bring them to the specialist that's been seeing him at the ER vet and see what she thinks of the results.
The regular vet said that if it's not his kidneys, we need to really prepare for cancer being a very real issue if this doesn't resolve when his ulcers heal and suggested to get the endoscopy done.
London is also feeling a lot better, it seems.
Please let us know. Do you think that something might have happened during GDV surgery? If it is kidneys, if you caught it in time, there are effective diets. A friend has an old Akita who was thought to die soon, but has been doing very well on the diet.
Keep the faith.
I snapped two pictures today and realized how very sad he looks... but the vet was hopeful on Sunday and said to give him another week (as long as he stayed stable) to show improvement.
We went around the corner to Dunkin today so he could get pet by everyone. It's basically the only time I see him close to happy now - when he's getting attention from strangers, of course.
@ayk - Yeah.
Also, one of the anti-nausea drugs they have him on is EXPENSIVE. The name brand was over a thousand dollars and the generic was $153. Zofran. It's serious business, I guess.
Food face.
In other news, I just realized that TK matches the carpet and I've been making fun of it ever since. This is literally the most amusing thing in my life right now.
The Shikoku Ken has natural camouflage to blend in with its surroundings while hunting (for naps).
I love that TK matches the carpet. I had a carpet that Nola blended into magnificently! But after she got sick, I had to get rid of it due to all the bladder leakage that went on before we figured out the puppy diapers. Now she sort of blends into the wood floors after she blows her coat. Haha.
Takoda is cute blending in.
Here he is, running down the dead-end near the old power plant.
He checked the tree, looked up at the branches, and then gave up.
He decided maybe whining and puffing up was his only option.
He then saw a squirrel zoom up a telephone pole and wanted round two.
i'm glad London is doing better he looks better in the pictures.
The ones here bark at you and throw things at you if you stand too long under the tree. lol