Charlie - Health Update
As some of you may know I took my 10 year old tri Charlie to the vets recently as he has been vomiting, lethargic and not eating. The vet said it may be cancer but gave him antibiotics and said to see how he go on. Charlie did improve a bit and would eat a little chicken and pasta and seemed to be getting better but on Thursday last week he took a turn for the worse. We took him to the vets fearing the worst and that his kidney's were failing and saw a different vet who finally did a blood test and they found his white cell count was 47 (16 is the highest normal count).
What concerned us was when we were shown the results the paperwork had our name and address on but the dog was a Labrador called Bess. We queried this and were told it was a typo but the result were definately Charlie's.
The vet diagnosed a severe gastric infection and gave him a 2 week lasting antibiotic shot, an anti-inflammatory shot, antepsin, liquivite and Royal Canin prescription sensitive. We were told to give him 2.5ml of Antepsin 15 minutes before a meal and to syringe feed him the liquivite starting with 1/4 of a tin and working up in quantity. This started well but then his vomiting increased and he could hold no food down. We took him back to the vets on Saturday night and were told that it should be 2 hours before a meal (even the receptionist who gave me the prescription queried the 15 minutes), twice a day and to give him little and often. He also said the antibiotic Charlie was given was very weak and not very good. He refused to charge us for his consultation as he said his colleague had made an error.
This again seemed to work and we started to introduce a little of the Royal Canin mixed with the Liquivite. However, one again he was unable to hold his food down so I called the vets last night and he was admitted this morning for an ultrasound. When we got Charlie in May he weighed 11.5kg, when we took him to the vets the first time (5/8/10) he was 9.5kg, the third time (12/8/10) 9.75kg which we were pleased with but today (17/8/10) he is 9.25kg. The poor little chap has lost 500g in 4 days which is very, very worrying.
So far we have had the initial blood test back (I demanded another as I explained the confusion with the other dog and that I wanted to be sure what the actual results were) and his white cell count is off the chart and he has a very severe infection. The vet checked his abdomen and Charlie snapped at him so the vet has begun the tests for Pancreatitis. He has had the blood test and as I write he is having his ultrasound. Fingers crossed he will be ok and whatever he has is treatable.
I must admit I'm a bit annoyed with my vets and am considering changing the practice I use. So far I have seen 3 vets, 1 who treated the symptoms but did not do tests for the cause, 1 who made him worse by telling us to do the wrong thing and finally 1 who seems very clued up and does seem to know what he's doing and obviously wants to get to the bottom of Charlie's problem. Vet number 3 is the same one who looked after our Dotty when she had Pyometra so I know he is in good hands.Now is not the time to whinge about my vets as Charlie is still very poorly and his diagnosis and treatment is the most important thing but I can't help wondering what would have happened if I saw vet number 3 first almost 2 weeks ago.
I will keep you all updated.
The Magnificent Seven
Toby & Herbie - Black & Tan Boys
Buffy, Dotty, Becky - Ruby Girls
Freddy - Ruby Boy, Basil - Blenheim Boy
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–it is very hard to get that kind of news from the vet and can only imagine how difficult it must be for you. It won't have helped that getting a proper diagnosis took extra time and involved so many frustrations. Please let us know how your consultation goes. I am sure you will make the best decision you can under the circumstances, and with the knowledge you have. I hope that you will be able to give him some more time comfortably. 
Leo 
, and understand how much you love him. Thinking of you and Charlie 
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