pansmom Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Day 11 post Immiticide shot, 5 months after adopting Vala, heartworm positive BC from the pound. Lots of doxycycline, ivermectin cycling for those five months. Now, normal symptoms of adult heartworm death - she started the unproductive coughing last night that sounds like phlegm, restlessness, drinking lots of water, some whimpering. She clearly didn't feel well. Called the vet this morning. They made an emergency appointment. I took her in. The doc took her temp first thing, she was 1.5 degrees high. He said that's a sign that the lungs are inflamed, the dead/dying worms are in there (if I understood him right)... He listened to her heart/chest with a stethoscope but was not alarmed. The good news is she's not losing weight... actually she seems to have miraculously gained .7 pounds since her last vet visit 11 days ago... 30.5# now... I weighed her twice! Weird since she's been hard to get to eat this last week. I think she's had that fever for several days. She's been drinking much more water than usual. She's been getting really picky with her eating. But for the first few days she was so perky I couldn't tell if she was sick or just waiting to see if I'd put something better in the bowl. She's still happy but more cuddly now... And the whimpering, that was when I knew something was wrong. She never cries for no reason. Anyway Doc Carson gave her a cortizone shot, Rx for prednisone to start tomorrow, and 14 more days of doxycycline to keep her on after her current Rx runs out. She hasn't coughed since she got the cortizone shot. I made her some chicken and rice (per the vet's instructions). She primly and properly ate that (she is such a lady)... Mojo please. I have to start work on Monday. At least the husband will be home all day except for two hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclare Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Sending Mojo and good thoughts your way. Vala is so lucky to have you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pansmom Posted January 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 Sending Mojo and good thoughts your way. Vala is so lucky to have you. Thank you. She is such a gentle spirit, I feel more like I'm the one who's lucky to have her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted January 8, 2010 Report Share Posted January 8, 2010 You've really had some hard times with your dogs but I know you will do everything to get Vala through this and back to bouncingly good health. Very best wishes, prayers, and mojo to you guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Meier Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Sending Mojo your way. Quite a few years back I adopted a springer/lab mix that had severe heartworm. He had two really bad days and then he turned the corner and never looked back. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Boots Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Mojo coming from the northwest! Man I'm happy heartworms aren't an issue up here. Vala is so lucky to have found you, we wish you the best of luck and that 2010 brings many happy times and healthy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shetlander Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Quinny and I are sending Michigan Mojo to you! Sorry to hear this but at least it sounds like she is feeling better since the vet visit. Let us know how she is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedismom Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Poor little girlie...Good thoughts coming your way. She's in good hands with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 I don't like it when puppies are sick. I've been throujgh that with Jin so we send youi as much Mojo as possible from us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aljones Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Mojo coming from us for Vala...especially from Johnson and Spirit, heartworm survivors, both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie Oop Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Wishing you and Vala the best. I hope all goes well. Hang in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.DaisyDuke Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 TONS of mojo to you and Vala. All fingers and paws crossed here for a speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieDog Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Mojo from the gang here in SC - heartworm is a scary thing to treat. Vala has our best wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisyandme Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Thoughts are with you for a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Big Mojo from Northern California! Hope Vala feels much better soon. Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShoresDog Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Big Mojo from southern California, too. Here's hoping Vala progresses like Deb described for her adoptee: a couple bad days, then never looking back. Heartworm sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2napp Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Poor little Vala. Get better soon!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 I'll add my Mojo from Ohio! Feel better soon Vala! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_ceana Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Mojo from AZ as well. You'll feel better soon Vala! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisK Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Lots of good mojo for Vala from up North.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinKate Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Sending love and smooches! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pansmom Posted January 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Good news... She still hasn't coughed since the vet visit (where she got that miraculous shot-o-cortizone) and is eating her chicken and rice like a champ. She still isn't taking her meds with the peanut butter like she's supposed to (and always has, until now--this girl LOVES peanut butter) but she needs that prednisone (which we started today, vets orders) and doxycycline obviously so I've been having to put it on her tongue and close her mouth (hate that!!). Thanks for all the mojo! Here are some very current pics of Miss Vala, the now-30.5# girl, resting and recovering... For reference, guys, this is what she looked like after I cut off all the doggy dreadlocks the day we adopted her from animal control back in August (at 27.1#--and don't blame animal control either, because according to their records she was 25.1# when they picked her up as a stray in late July--poor thing, she must've been starving!!!!): Isn't it amazing what 4.5 months of TLC and good vetting can do? Thankfully, with her perky behavior today and lack of coughing, I'm starting to think (knock on wood) she'll make it through this shot just fine. But I'm so dreading the double shot next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyer Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Holding good thoughts for Pan and kudos to you pansmom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligande Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 She looks great, and best of luck with the next round of shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pansmom Posted January 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Hey, Vala just had an accident in the house (first in months and months--since the first or second week we got her when we were housetraining). Exactly how many times a day would you say I should take her out on days she takes prednisone? Treat it like housetraining again? Now I have to crate her while I go to the gym to work out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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