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My Doggy is Sick

By
Real Estate Agent with Cutler Real Estate

We have been very busy at our house lately trying to get everything ready for the baby to arrive.  We decided that since we needed new carpet (didn't think pink carpet was appropriate for a baby boy), that it was the perfect time to have new interior doors and trim-work installed.  Apparently the previous owners of our house were very rough on things, doors were scratched up from their dogs, some of it had been painted sloppily etc.  And so the preparation began... moving all the furniture around, packing up some items to store temporarily in the basement.  Pretty much everything has been shifted around.

The construction work officially began Friday (April 17, 2009) morning.  About a month ago Annabelle was diagnosed with Cushings disease and the medicine to control that can cause loss of appetite.  I had noticed the day before that Annabelle seemed to be acting a little strange.  She didn't really want to eat unless I coaxed her.  I gave her a piece of my apple and she barely ate it (usually she scarfs down fruits and veggies).  The next morning, Friday, she didn't even come out of the bedroom.  Normally both dogs get up as soon as I do and follow me into the bathroom to get petted.  Eventually she came out and slowly wandered into the living room.  I invited her to sit on the green chair- the only chair they are allowed on- and she just looked at me.  Eventually she hopped up there but then she wouldn't move for a while.  I noticed she was very lethargic and just looked kind of yucky, but wasn't sure if she was sick or if she was scared because of the construction.  She would not eat anything.  I called the vet on Friday and explained everything to them.  They agreed that she was probably just scared because of the construction and the furniture being moved around.  She only ate a few carrots and some popcorn on Friday.  

On Saturday morning she looked about the same and still wouldn't eat all day, barely even eating carrots, which are one of her favorites.  Her eyes just looked so sad.  Sunday morning she still looked really bad so we decided to call the emergency vet.  They said to bring her in right away.

Jay got ready and took her in while I stayed home and prepared for an open house and then our baby shower which was that afternoon.  The only thing I knew before the shower was that Annabelle had an enlarged spleen and really low red blood cell count, it was 20.  After the baby shower Jay told me what they found.  Apparently she has some immune anemic disease, called Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia.  This is a very serious disease and she only had a 70% chance of surviving. 

I was devastated.  Annabelle is my baby (well both dogs are my babies).  She is only 10, how could she be so sick and possibly leaving me already?  We've only owned the dogs fo 3 years, we got them when they were 7.  She is such a good dog.

Annabelle stayed at the hospital overnight Sunday where they administered fluids, steroids, and an immune suppressant medicine to keep her immune system from destroying the red blood cells.  Monday morning I picked her up and transported her to her regular vet.  Overnight her red blood cell count had slightly improved, going from 20 to 23.

Part 2

Annabelle is the tan colored dog.

 

 

 

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