It's been a HARD week.
For the past two weeks we have noticed Daisy shivering, not eating much, and hiding in my closet. She also would panic any time I left her. She would follow me to the door and cry at the door the entire time I was gone. Almost unconsolable. I wondered if she got in to something. She threw up last Thursday. Then her personality changed. Sad and seemed depressed. Tuesday March 10th, she slept all day but had horrible blood shot eyes. I finally called the vet and explained her symptoms. They had me bring her in immediately.
After seeing her and taking blood, they assumed she had gotten into something - medication or something toxic. He labs came back, Kidney failure/low platelets. Fusions through out stomach & GI. Bleeding Ulcers... they said we basically need a miracle. I waited too long to take her to the vet. They sent us to the Advanced Veterinary Care/Hospital. She was admitted Wednesday March 11th at 10 pm.
Dr. Janell Sharber and Dr. Bachmann updated us Thursday morning. The critical care doctor said she did the ultrasound on the abdomen and there are several fusions throughout her stomach and G.I. tract. Basically those are blockages were Edema (fluid build up) and swelling is taking place. Not sure what’s causing that could be from the kidney failure but there is swelling and fluid buildup throughout her abdomen. There are several gastric ulceration‘s which are holes throughout the stomach and G.I. tract… also Obviously a platelet dysfunction which is preventing any clotting so she’s bleeding throughout her abdomen as well. Kidney function got worse overnight so they quit pushing the fluids because all of the fluids are backing up into her as well. They are going to try mannitol which is a medication /diuretic to hopefully flush the kidneys and try to remove some of the edema and see how she responds to that.
I know my Daisy. She HATES other dogs and loves to be with family. I felt if we visited her, it may pep her up and give her energy/will to live. We visited her at the hospital at 11 am. She wagged her tail and cuddled with us but then moved away from us to try to feel better. They say dogs hide when they don't feel well or are dying. I guess they don't want their family to see them weak or sick.
After leaving Daisy at the hospital, I knew in my heart/gut that she wasn't going to survive. I told Aaron we needed to go get her. We picked her up Thursday March 12 at 9:45 pm. We stopped to get her meds and soft food and she barfed in car. That night Aaron slept in the basement and I tried to get Daisy to sleep with me. If she wasn't sick, she would have LOVED that. But she was up ALL night going in and out of the house. I thought she was going potty or getting fresh air, but she was throwing up each time and then trying to bury it so we didn't see. It was AWFUL.
Friday March 13 (fitting date) was more of the same. She would only drink, refused ALL food and treats, even people food. I would find her in the back of my closet. We had to FORCE her meds down her throat with a syringe. We even tried to feed her food that way just to try to get her any nutrients in her. She started to roam around the yard eating grass and digging. I hoped she was Rallying but that wasn't the case. At 5pm I found her in Kenzie’s closet. I tried to pick her up to move her and bring her upstairs but she was so Mean, wouldn’t budge. She would never bite me so I knew she was sick. That night she was extremely restless - going outside a lot.
Saturday morning March 14th, I told Aaron I felt we needed to go back to the vet, retest her labs, and if she was worse, I would be brave and let her go. If she was the same or better we would continue this awful cycle.
We got to the vet and did labs. She was much worse. The only good thing we learned was this wasn't caused from a toxin - it was something she had had for a while and we didn't know. She is only 5 years old. Nothing made sense. We took her home and cried, snuggled her, and cried A LOT more.
Aaron called Errand of Mercy - Scott Echols. He arrived at 5 pm. Daisy had been getting up and down to go outside. It was a cold and windy day, but she insisted on siting up at the top of the yard and just sit and stare out. When this vet/doctor arrived she ran from him. She is such a smart dog. She knew she didn't want anything to do with him. I hated cornering her knowing what was going to happen. He gave her a sedative and then another shot and she was gone.
Never again will I choose a dog's death date. It has destroyed me. I feel horrible guilt and so much sadness. Daisy was MY little buddy. I adored that dog. I would change my days schedule to hang out with her. I worried about her. I LOVED my Daisy!!
