My Doggy is Sick Part 2

You can read part 1 of this saga here. 

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.  They kept her there all day and I picked her up around 5:00. She was still lethargic and didn't have much of an appetite.  I guess it will take a while for her to get her strength and appetite back.

Tuesday morning (April 21, 2009) I took her back to the vet so they could recheck her red blood cell count and administer some more fluids.  When I picked her up they said her blood cell count was great, it was 33!  She even ate a small breakfast and a snack of chicken breast and some canned prescription food for upset stomachs.  However yesterday afternoon and dinnertime was a different story.  She would only eat a few bites of food, plus she did not move her bowels all day long.  I called the vet back to see if this was a problem.  Dr. Bridges was concerned that her appetite seemed to decrease and asked if I could bring her back in Wed. morning to have her blood count checked again.

Today is Wed.  Annabelle actually got up with me this morning and followed me around a little bit!  I could not believe my eyes!  She wasn't all that interested in her breakfast and would only eat the chicken breast and not the canned food.  Right now she's at the vet where they are checking her blood count again.  Dr. Bridges thinks that as long as her red blood cell count is the same or higher then Annabelle should recover from this episode.  However, if this anemic disease was caused by Annabelle's cushings disease (which most likely it was), then it will probably re-occur.  She said some dogs will be good for a couple months, some may even been good for a year.  Only time will tell I guess.

***  Edited to add that Annabelle just got home from the vet (Wednesday).  Her red blood cell count went down a little bit- to 28 or 29.  Her white blood cell count is still elevated.  They sent her home with 3 more medicines, 2 to help calm her belly and 1 antibiotic.  This sucks.