Darbie's Update

[DarbiesMom]

Hey Everyone!

Tough day at the vet, but summed up October as a weird month re: IV intake & diet. As Dr. Vet advised these numbers vary, I will go back in December and keep Darbie safe.

Today, Darbie's CREA = 5.2 ; Her BUN=57.

Darbie's 24 hr. IV's sometimes stretched to 36-48 hrs....NEVER AGAIN!

If her #'s don't improve, I will reevaluate and make minimal changes monthly to know what is/what's not working for her.

My very best wishes to ALL!

Lynne & Darbie:)






CREA=3.9 (10/9/14)          
BUN  =53  (10/9/14)

Remember when her CREA =7.6 and her BUN=103 in July?!

[DogBlog]

Hi Lynne....so glad to hear from you.  I 'm glad to hear Darbie's numbers didn't change but sad to hear about her being lame.  It's such a tough time of year.  I know you are making her as comfortable as you can.

You'll have to post pictures of your figurines.  I have no artistic talent and am amazed by people who do.

Stay well and give Darbie hugs from all of us.

Regards,
Charlene

[DarbiesMom]

Hey Sweet Charlene...Hello to Everyone!

Very hectic month(s). All is well. Darbie's blood results were exactly the same as November. Vet stays hopeful, I get discouraged. Darbie is limping, almost frail. The past snowstorm did not help and I wish God would make this a kinder winter:(

I do a lot of art work ( figurines) and this time of year gets crazy. Darlene has Sister & Mom ( 87) come over and the house is sweltering:( What would take me 2 days is taking me a week as temps made everything not cure.

I think of you always, everyone, especially our new friends who need great advice. I know they are blessed with this wonderful forum:)

I just got 2 orders in so I may have to hibernate for awhile. Please know I think of you ALWAYS:)

Love,
Lynne & Darbie:)

[DogBlog]

Hi Lynne:

Hope all is well.

Regards,
Charlene

[DarbiesMom]

Hey Charlene!

So good to hear from you! I need to get up to speed with the forum! Darbie is doing wonderful! She's been getting her nightly fluids and is being the best girl. While I lay with her, I think of everyone on the forum and hoping all is well.

I love that Natasha is going to school! That is the most fun way to bond with your pet. She sounds like she really has found a home in your hearts:)

A wonderful holiday to you and yours! Thank you for thinking of us here:)

Fondly,
Lynne & Darbie:)

[DogBlog]

Hi Lynn:

Thinking of you and Darbie....hope she's doing well (and you too).  Think of you often.  Al  is well here.  Natasha is excelling in school.  So much energy.  She keeps us hopping and laughing.

I hope you, Darlene and Darbie have a wonderful Thanksgiving....cherish every moment.  

Regards,
Charlene

[DarbiesMom]

Charlene!

There's so much love to share:) So happy Natasha found you! She's not too spoiled is she? Sounds like she's got control of the situation! HAHA!

Your "stray" pup found an angel in You!! Within 1 month of adopting  Darbie we had a cold snap in the Northeast ( wind chills -5o ). At 6am, Darbie dragged me, barking, to our front porch and there was a small, white poodle-maltese mix curled up in a ball. Thank God he was alive.I warmed him up, fed him and we went "trolling" the surrounding neighborhoods to see if anyone recognized him. He was the sweetest little guy...Sprite,older pup. I warned Darlene we may be adopting him if unclaimed. The next day, I dropped him off at a local vet who agreed to care for him as I continued to post notices. Sure enough, the owner, an elderly man, gratefully reclaimed his pup at the vet in the following days:) I was so excited and so very proud of Darbie!!

Darlene works from home a few days a week which bottlenecks the computer:) I love to stay in touch with the board as regularly as possible. Too much can happen in a matter of days...I don't see how Tony does it!

It's always so good to hear from you and know you are well!

Fondly,
Lynne & Darbie:)

[DarbiesMom]

Thanks Tony!

I will give the Salmon Oil another try in the days ahead and hope Darbie has worked past "bad food association"...If I were to hand her a piece of salmon she would gobble right up! I will explore the fish oil options as it never occurred to me what the actual fish source was!

Interesting, she has no issues with chicken broth. I would love to try this again as I know she loves it, but her stool was very loose. Maybe I can combine bits of chuck steak & chicken in small portions?

Thanks to you, Tony...THANKS TO YOU!

Fondly,

Lynne & Darbie:)

[tonyb286]

Hi Lynne. I checked out the Sundown fish oil supplement. It seems okay to me, except it doesn't mention what 'fish oil' is sourced from - the type of fish, that is. Some are not advised for CKF dogs. If you can get Darbie onto the pure salmon oil, it would probably be safer. With regard to chicken, although you say you're not feeding it, you did mention chicken broth, which actually will contain chicken elements in it (even if not the meat). Depends how much you give her, but I would say just keep an eye on the amount to keep potentially low grade protein in check.

Everything else seems good, so keep up the brilliant work you are doing. Darbie's a lucky dog to have you caring for her so diligently.

Tony x

[DogBlog]

Hi Lynne:

I feel like I haven't talked to you as much....miss you guys!!  I've been reading your posts with Tony......you are such an awesome Mom!!  Darbie couldn't be in any better hands.....and so well loved.  I think because I don't have Sammie to worry about anymore, I've started to worry about Darbie daily!!  When you don't post for over a day, I feel my stomach turn!!!  My thoughts are always with you.

But....she's doing really is doing well....thanks to her Mommie!!

Natasha is doing amazing.  Poor Bonnie is exhausted from playing.  It's been so long time since we have had a youngster in the house.  She has made us smile again.  She has already learned that under the covers is the best place to sleep, laps are the best place to sit and Bonnie is her best friend.  But oh do I miss Sammie.

I think I told you about the stray that was running down the street a few weeks ago.  I was able to get him and he stayed with us for 2-1/2 hrs. before the dog warden came.  I got the nicest card in the mail this week from the owner thanking me for finding their lost dog and how happy they were to have him back.   I was so excited knowing he found his home!!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for Darbie's next blood test.  

Best wishes,
Charlene

[DarbiesMom]

OMG, I miss you!!

[DarbiesMom]

Hi Tony

Darbie gets "Sundown", 1000mg 2x a day. She has been taking this since for several years as my mom gave it to her pups. It does wonders for her beautiful coat. I have the salmon oil, which I would like to introduce soon again.She had a "food association" which is difficult to penetrate from her mind!

I have not fed her chicken...She presents a slight intolerance with digestion & bowels. The small chuck steaks I refer to are packed as 3 small ( 4 oz, 1/4" ea ) that I buy at the market. When they are not available, I have to resort to any variety of chuck steak and use discretion...Possibly, this may be an issue as I watch Darbie's diet.

I actually can't wait for Dec. appt....You have given us the information needed, I will fight to make it work:)

Thanks again, Friend!

Fondly,
Lynne & Darbie:)

[tonyb286]

Hi Lynne. I can't see anything there that should be altered. It seems to me to be a fabulous best-possible regime. The only thing I would ask about is the fish-oil ... what kind of fish oil are you using?

It might be worth looking at the amount of chicken you are using (only because it's a high protein element), but if it's human grade chicken, then there's no issue with it. The same with the chuck-steak cubes, which I am assuming is human grade.

Of course, the illness will progress, no matter what is done, but what you are doing should be keeping it at bay and will certainly be keeping the levels down as much as is possible. You are doing a fantastic job and I am really pleased Darbie is so happy, contented and energetic.

Tony Xxx

[DarbiesMom]

Hey Elsa,

Hope Oliver had a great visit! Look forward to hearing your results!
Thanks for your encouraging words:)

Fondly,
Lynne & Darbie:)

[DarbiesMom]

Thanks Tony!

Darbie eats the same meal @ 6am & 4pm. This includes 1/2 c KD kibble ( soaked in 1/2 c unsalted chicken broth and water mix ); 1/2 can(2.25 oz) Hills Beef Stew, 1 generous tsp plain lowfat yogurt; 6 (1/4") chuck steak cubes. She gets one Tramadol with 1 ea. supplements of Fish Oil, CoQ10,Cranberry, Glucosamine, Azodyl and Tums. As much as we try to encourage water intake, I give her a bowl of 1/4c+ water with 1/4c of unsalted chicken broth with a tsp of yogurt stirred in. She drinks that right up. She gets 1 unsalted cracker right after. Any snacks between meals is usually slices of cucumbers and carrots which she loves. After her subQ therapy, she gets rewarded with 2 cubes of chuck steak ( and of course, a toy:)....)

I know we pushed our subQ time limits past 24hrs on several occasions which will never happen again. I'm also watching the Azodyl which I have been purchasing online. If Darbie's numbers improve greatly, strictly abiding by the 24 hr subQ fluids, then I'll know that was the "blip"....

Please advise if you would like to add or take away from what you see:) As of now, Darbie's very content, strong, playful, sleeps deeply thru the night, good appetite and has a nice solid poop! She is my Darling Girl!!

Thanks again!

Fondly,
Lynne & Darbie:)

[Fitmaltesemom]

You are still doing a great job ! Well, I am headed to the vet with Oliver in about twenty minutes.  I will post his results once I know :)

[tonyb286]

Hi Lynne. Well, slight increase, but truthfully, it isn't that bad and your interventions are maintaining the levels - which is just as important, because otherwise they would continually go up much much more and more quickly. So don't be too hard on yourself.

I agree with you, the 24hr sub Qs are important. If you can,. stick to the regime (I know sometimes it seems almost impossible).

It might be worth undertaking a full review of Darbie's diet, meds and supplements - just to see if anything needs tweaking. Post details if you have the time and I'll take a look at it - remember to include regular treats as well.

In the meantime, you've done really well, despite the blip - it's just a small blip, so not even a hiccup. :) Xxx

Tony

[DarbiesMom]

Thanks Charlene!

Although the numbers were disappointing, I am confident I can get Darbie into healthier numbers. Her overall well being is great and I will perceive this as Tony would say a "hiccup". Next month will be very important to us. We must be true to the nightly (24 hr.) sub Q fluids. Time will tell:).

Thank you for checking in with Darbie:) We wish you, Bonnie and Natasha  lots of love & TLC! I hope Natasha has warmed up to her new family routine and getting spoiled everyday!

Fondly,
Lynne & Darbie:)

[DogBlog]

Hi Lynne and Doll:

So sorry you had a bad day at the vet.  I have been thinking of you all day.  Although Darbie's numbers have increased a little, I believe with all you are doing she is still doing well.  Did the vet recommend any change of diet?

Please know we are always here for you.  I feel like I know Darbie personally.  Keep doing what you are doing.  You are wonderful parents.

My best,
Charlene