Lisa - Chanel looks so sad tonight. It breaks my heart to see her hurting. She hugs on her bunny to sleep just like a child. Thanks for the kind words.

Debbie - I sure hope we get some good news tomorrow. I've not seen her like this since when I got her. She almost died from some food that the breeder had given her. That's when she stole my heart and I had to do anything tho keep her alive. It is frightening to go through it again.

Vicki - Thanks for keeping her in your thoughts. She's a sweet little thing. I hate anything to hurt her.

Lisa - How could anyone leave a pet behind? Your kitty found a good home when he found you! I hope all the prayers help Chanel tonight. She just turned 3 last month.

Everyone - I haven't answered all day because Chanel is back at the hospital in critical condition. the tests came back as possible renal(Kidney) failure. I came home today to check on her and she didn't look like herself. I rushed her back to the hospital and the Dr. gave me the test results. She later was put on an IV, catheter and had an ultrasound. She needs your prayers. Please, please send a little prayer her way. I love her so.

Thanks Carolyn - Even sweet little dogs need prayers sometimes. This is the first time in 3 years she had been away from me. I'm pretty upset. Chanel is my heart.  

Susie Blackmon called and I truly appreciate the love from my friends.Please keep praying that she can pull through this. I have no idea how it happened.

Condition UPDATE:

Chanel made it through the night but still has a shaky road to follow to get out of the woods. Dr. Taylor thinks the ultrasound of her kidneys turned out normal (no tumor)and the IV fluids are flushing her system. The question will be if the antibiotics actually make this disappear and later will her kidneys operate normally on their own. Once the IV is taken off in a few days(if she makes it through this)the kidneys will be retested many times. We still don't know why this suddenly happened. I can't come up with a thing!

I am going to ask about Susan Peters idea of the digestive enzymes when I go over to the hospital today.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate all of you caring about her. She's a sweet little girl not ready to be an angel.

Love,

Lizette & Chanel

Condition update Sept. 10 2008:

Dear Friends of Chanel,
 
Chanel desperately needs your prayers. Chanel is at the animal hospital battling kidney failure. She may not survive. The situation is a dire one and I'm hoping with enough heartfelt prayers from the people that know and love her will save her life. She will have a blood test in the morning to see if their has been improvement. Please pray that she is completely healed and well from the antibiotics and care. She has touched the hearts of everyone she has met and needs us now.
 
Thank you for doing this for her. Love will keep her alive.
 
Love, Lizette

CONDITION UPDATE: Sept. 12, 2008

Thanks everyone for your prayers. I appreciate all the phone calls and emails that you care. She still needs your prayers.

I visited with Chanel today at the hospital. She is still on IV to keep liquids flushed through. She has had a series of x-rays today with barium dye to see if there is an obstruction in the intestines. I thought about this all last night and I honestly feel like there is a rawhide piece expanded and stuck somehow. I was surprised that they were checking for this before I got there today. She had had some tenderness in her abdomen when examined today. If something is found she will have surgery today to remove it. If this isn't what is wrong I just don't know what it could be. Please pray for her today.

Condition Update: Sept. 13, 2008

I can honestly say that the power of prayer has keep Chanel in this world. She still has no diagnosis as to what has happened or may be still happening.

She will stay on IV till later this morning. They might let me keep her tonight and tomorrow and take her back in on Monday to go back on IV. Sooner, if I see she is crashing. I'm a bit scared to take her but a weekend at the vet with limited staff, I feel I can keep a very close eye on her.

They had been force feeding her 3x a day, so I might have to do that along w/ antibiotics and take her temp. Poor thing has been through the ringer.

Every test, xray, ultrasound, barium, Addisons test, pills, shots, IV and living in a cage(first time in her life!). Still, with the test results that are slightly improving she is still willing herself to stay here.

I am going to write further about this today to see if AR members might have a clue or can ask a kidney specialist why. I will need a good diet for her too. One that will help her stay healthy. She's not really safe yet. It still troubles me. We need to know the cause.

Keep her in your prayers that we get through this weekend OK. Dr. Taylor says we are in a gray zone prognosis.

I know she is going to be so thrilled to snuggle at home ene if it's just for a little while. Maybe my constant love and your prayer can do miracles.

XOXO,

Lizette & Chanel  

Condition Update: Sept. 14, 2008

Chanel made it though last night at home. I don't think I had any sleep. Still dealing with some throwing up once last night and once today. I give her antibiotics and Pepsid. Also I have started giving her some local honey to coat her tummy and throat. An old friend called to give me that idea. Honey also has lots of vitamins and nutrients she needs. The only food she has eaten has been small amounts force fed.

I'm watching her fluid intake today to see she stays hydrated. She's mostly staying under the bed and sleeping. She doesn't seem herself at all. Please keep sending your prayers for her. I'm quite concerned and trying not to be alarmed. She may have to be back in the hospital on IV tomorrow. Another blood test will be done to see if levels elevated.

Please pray that they start going down to a normal level.

Thanks everyone...you have been my lifeline.

Condition Update Sept.15, 2008:

I was absolutely terrified for Chanel all night.  I kept waking up and looked for her(she moved around in the house a lot) to see if she was still breathing. She had a bout with nausea and throwing up last night that left her shaking. I honestly felt like the antibiotics were hindering her progress. She only threw up after getting her pills. Usually an hour or so later. I gave her a bit of the honey and she had water then fell asleep.

This morning I took her right to the hospital to test her blood and see if being off the IV all weekend had hurt her. She was weak as a kitten. I also suggested to them that I didn't want them to give her the antibiotics while there. Her tests had not shown bacterial infection. I went home to wait and worry.

Out of the blue came a call from a homeopathic doctor in Lexington. She had been told about Chanel from a friend and had read about her in my newsletter. She wanted to help.  I truly believe she was sent like an angel to save her.

Dr. Taylor called and told me that Chanel was improved on one part of her blood work. That meant she was not getting worse as he had feared all weekend. I went to get her and go home. My plan is to get started with the natural healing today and no chemical medicine in her system. I truly hope we are turning corner here. Angels are being sent to help. All of your prayers are working. Our prayer chain is going to save her. I just feel it.

Condition Update Sept.16,2008:

We made it through another night! I found a way to keep her hydrated all night so she wouldn't be weak in the morning. I loaded 3 syringes of water then I would put one in her mouth when I got up to check on her.

Since 3:30P yesterday she has has some of the holistic supplements to assist her in healing. She trembles a bit an hour or so after I feed her(by syringe). I need to ask about that. The website for this doctor is www.rallieonhealth.com . I'm hoping this might build up her devestated digestive system to fight this better. We went off the antibiotics yesterday. I felt she couldn't tolerate them well and would throw up after taking them. I'm finding better ways to keep her from throwing up. One is by putting a little natural, raw, local honey in her mouth. This coats her throat and tummy plus has lots of good stuff in it. 

I'm hoping with your prayers that today could be her best day. She actually nibbled a dog cookie on her own yesterday! (although it came up later :~(  )

She likes a few ice cubes too. Today she has had a few visitors that she loves. It seems to have boosted her energy. I'm all for that!

Keep those prayers coming.

Condition Update Sept. 17, 2008

Your prayers are helping Chanel!

I see little improvements each day. Small things that make me think she is coming back bit by bit. She gets a little life in her eyes when girlfriends and Mom come to see her. Yesterday, she walked over to her bed to get her bunny so she could give it to my friend. I was so surprised!
 
Later, she actually ate a tiny dog treat I had baked and it stayed down. No throwing up at all yesterday or today. That is BIG NEWS!

Today she is sleeping quite a bit. Maybe it was too much excitement for her seeing all the visitors.

The turn around may be the supplements from the holistic doctor and keeping her hydrated. Food 3x a day w/syringe. Not on her own yet. She will be tested again on Friday to see how her blood work looks. I pray it is getting into a more normal range.
 
I've turned into a 24/7 nurse but she's worth it. She's like a child to me. Lots of people prayed for her and maybe that is what has kept her here too. So far on my blog that story of her has been seen 700 times and people keep coming back for the daily updates. It's amazing all the help that has been offered. Like that holistic MD calling me to help. Amazing! 
 
Maybe she was put here for a higher purpose? She's been through a nightmare and the Dr. didn't think she would live. I can't imagine what she went through at the hospital, hooked up to an IV and living in a cage too. Poor thing. It warms my heart just to see her tiny improvements.
 
Pray that her test Friday is normal.

Condition Update Sept.18, 2008:

Today was a really good day for Chanel. I watched her do a few things that I used to see her do. A bit of her sparkle is coming back. I think the supplements are doing a great job! The real test will be tomorrow morning at Dr. Taylor's hospital. She will have a blood profile to see if there has been a change from last Monday. I have to think it is better because she looked like death warmed over last time and she still had improved numbers. Cross your fingers and believe that miracles like all the heartfelt prayers from Activerain members and friends really do work, Dr. Taylor and a holistic MD can make the difference in this little dogs life.

I'll let you know tomorrow what happens...

Condition Update Sept. 19, 2008:

Chanel made it through her vet checkup and blood test amazingly this morning. Her BUN level had dropped to 35 and creatinine 2.0. (our highest has been BUN 89 and creatinine 4.3!) I know that this has all come about because of all the caring people that prayed and offered help. Dr.Taylor was so pleased to see she was actually going into a more normal range. I think normal might be 20-30 BUN and 1.6 creatinine. I was so relieved today.

Chanel was so shaky when I got her home. She's lost another 5 ozs. Maybe weighs 13.6 now.  I think she had been afraid I was going to leave her there. Later she started eating on her own.

I'm so happy to see her improvements and now can see that we have a 3rd chance. The second one happened when she was a tiny baby and she almost died from eating Diamond dog food at the breeders before I picked her up. She didn't get sick until a few days after at my house. By then I loved her and spent the time trying to heal her. I also bought pet insurance. That sure has come in handy now!

I had almost thought that this episode might be something lingering from that earlier time. Right now ,I think that this happened from eating rawhide dog bones. They must have has arscenic, bleach or something on them that concentrated in her system then almost damaged her kidneys. When you buy these bones for dogs you don't really know what's in them or they might be from China. I feel we have dodged a bullet. I have learned a lot from this and met so many new friends that helped us cope and pray for us. Thank you everyone who stayed with us and commented or called each day. Many times it was what got me through my day. Just knowing I was not alone. 

If you have a pet and would like to post a pic and profile on Chanel's webpage we would love to have you join us. The website is www.iluvchanel.ning.com.

XOXO

Lizette & Chanel

In case you missed earlier posts w/ Chanel:

Chanel's first video taken a few months ago.

Chanel's funny stories:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/134745/Chanel-is-not-just
 
http://activerain.com/blogsview/139235/Why-Feed-Your-Client
 
http://activerain.com/blogsview/170318/Chanel-Turns-Two-HAPPY
 
http://activerain.com/blogsview/282563/I-m-NOT-Invited
 
http://activerain.com/blogsview/313448/Chanel-says-All-I

Condition Update Sept. 20, 2008:

Chanel had another good day today. Improving all the time and being a little bossy too! She was barking for dog cookies today. You should have seen me outside in the front yard this morning trying to get a urine sample! Pretty hysterical...it didn't work out. Maybe Monday I will have better luck.

Dr. Taylor called to see how she was and tell me her white blood cell count was up and he thought she should be back on one of the antibiotics. I was hating to do that. She threw them up last time. Anyway...I talked w/ the holistic MD and she said the elevated white blood cell count might be normal since her body was healing. Also, to trust how she looks and not just the lab test. I do have to say that she is starting to look pretty normal. I still keep all the supplements(4) going in her system.

Thanks for all the comments and emails. This has been quite an ordeal and now is turning out well for Chanel. Hopefully, no future problems.

Condition Update Sept. 22, 2008:

I finally was able to get a urine sample for Dr. Taylor today. I have a new respect for those guys. I ended up using a sterilized lid to do it. Chanel wondered what I was up to. He wants to see if her urine is concentrating or not. She wasn't really into breakfast this morning which set off my alarm bell in my head. She seems ok other than that. I am still giving her the supplements by syringe to make sure she gets them.

The dry food I had given her before she got sick was a new bag of Royal Canin #26. For some reason when I was offering her different things to see if she would eat while sick she would never touch that one. Last night she did eat about 5 pieces of RC. I wondered if that had any connection to her not wanting food today. I am going to take it back to Petsmart today just in case that was the reason she almost died. Supposedly there is not a recall on their food. I'm putting her back on completely organic to be safe. 

She is doing well but I watch her like a hawk in case there is some relapse. It sort of worries me. I can't believe how closes we came to disaster! Whew!

Condition Update Sept. 29, 2008:

We are so blessed to have so many people follow our post and check on Chanel. She had another blood test to see where her levels are today.

Her BUN - 20 and creatinine 1.9. (Normal dog range might be BUN 20 - 30 and creatinine 1.6) This is fantastic news!

Dr. Taylor was very please with her recovery. He thought that the kidneys might return to normal with 3 months at this rate of progress. Whew! What a nightmare this has been! I think the suppliments have made quite a difference in her health. I didn't ever put her back on the antibiotics.

In short, all the tests could not conclude what made her ill. After constantly thinking of what was different in her diet or what she could have been exposed to I can only think it was something in the rawhide chew bones. Maybe they were made in China or had arsenic, bleach or worse in them. I also know now that the pieces can expand and become lodged in the intestines! If you have any in your house throw them OUT! I will never give her anything like that again. Greenies are also dangerous because they don't break down in their system and can get stuck. 

Thank you for all your constant prayers and kindness. We are blessed to have you as a friends!

XOXO

Lizette & Chanel

Tony - Please don't give Bella any more Greenies! Those things will cause you more problems than you need and could kill her.

Condition Update Oct.13,2008:

I thought I'd add this update because there are some of you that might be following along because you have a dog that has this condition too. Chanel had anoth blood test today. BUN 28 Creatinine 1.7. I'm not sure why her BUN is 8 points higher than the last time. Normal range is 20-30. I do like that the creatinine level has dropped a bit more. Dr. Taylor wants to test again in a month.

For awhile there she did drink a lot of water each day. Now not more than a bowl a day. In other ways she seems normal. More energy and doesn't sleep as much. One thing I did notice looking back on the days before she almost died was that her eyes watered a lot. Also, she slept endlessly and didn't seem interested in food. So if you start to see these signs in your pet you might want to have a blood test done to be sure. Especially in older dogs.

It's good to see the old Chanel again!