Have I finally found my friends? (Palmer has crossed over the Bridge)

Thanks Lori. That's a big help and I'm glad you explained about those results only coming from UTK.

Marianne - thanks for the link and for your thoughts. Palmer is feeling better today-except for this sudden burst of hot weather.

Guys-keep an eye on the photo page. I now have pictures of Palmer with his new toy.....plus there is one from the snow you might get a kick out of.

-Susan

Hi! :D

I just wanted everyone/anyone to know Palmer has been doing well. He goes in next week for testing. Apart from the 90+ degree heat, he is doing very well. The belly has trimmed down.....he's not eating as much. His thirst seems to be moderate. The distended tummy is a good bit smaller. His energy level is pretty good for such an old dude! All in all he is managing the summer pretty well. We go in for a test next week...just the regular 4 or 5 month test. The walks are not as long....but then it has been in the 90s for quite a while. He is still very playful and seems to be "truckin' along" just fine for now.

I am happy to be able to post such a positive report! :):):)

-Susan

I am happy to hear Palmer is doing better!

I merged this thread with your other one so others can see how far you and Palmer have come. :)

Terry

Hi Susan!

It is always great to hear from you and Palmer. So very happy to read that Palmer is doing so well. The heat and humidity is just awful! :eek: Wishing you and Palmer the best of luck with your stim results. Please keep us updated.

Love and hugs,
Lori

Hi Susan!

Good to hear from you again and especially to hear that Palmer is still doing so well!

Keep in touch and let us know how the test turns out.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - alawys

Hi guys-

Palmer's test results were outstanding. I've not had time to input all the detail, but I will get around to it.

I'm here to let you know Palmer has been very sick. He has eaten maybe a total of 1/2 cup of food in the past week. His medicine is administered via his food, so he has not been getting his meds. He has had diarrhea since Wednesday. He was mostly not drinking water. He does not appear to be out of sorts otherwise.

We went to the vet yesterday and she gave us diarrhea medicine. She also gave Palmer fluids, saying he was dehydrated. Lots of fluids. He looked like he had football pads on! He has started drinking more water, but the diarrhea remains unchanged. She called this afternoon to see how it was going and I told her "no change." She has now given us appetite inducer, something to settle his stomach and a tube by which we will hopefully be able to give him his meds without getting bitten. :mad:

The next step, if we need one, would be fecal testing. That's close to $300. The next step after that, if that doesn't provide us with the answer, is a sonogram. That's over $500.

His tail is down. He likes being by me but not too close.

I knew you guys would understand how hard this hits. We are coming to a crossroad and, if he does not get better, and does not start eating, we're going to have some hard choices to make. We had to go through this process with our first dog and taking that action was the hardest thing I've ever had to do......and I've had some bumps in my life.

We're giving it a day or two and then we'll revisit how he's doing.....if he's eating and not having diarrhea and is keeping his fluid level up.

The ACTH stim test was just about perfect. This is quite a shock.

-Susan :(:(:(

Susan, $300 for fecal testing, that is OUTRAGEOUS! I just had fecals done on both of my boys, & the total for both of them was $110. All they do is screen the sample for the possible presence of parasites. IMO, I would be asking just exactly what kind of testing is being done on the sample, & why so unbelievably expensive.

I'm so sorry to hear that Palmer is not doing well. Hopefully, the medicine & fluids will help. Have you been given medicine called flagyl or metronidazole for him?

Debbie

I wonder if the part of the fecal testing cost is the giardia blood test. I was considering doing that on our new pup Cooky but everything I read says it's very expensive. Unfortunately, the usual fecal test does not pick up many cases of giardia, and that might well be a possibility for Palmer. I also found that there's a medicine (dewormer, basically) called panacur that is supposed to be effective in cases of giardia and that it may be cheaper to just give that drug than to run the test for giardia. At least, that's what I was reading. Sue

Oh Susan,

I am so sorry Palmer is feeling so ill and I do hope and pray that he feels better soon.

When was he last dose of Trilostane? His vet did tell you to stop giving him Cushing's meds, right?

Will he eat baby food or chicken broth without onions? Plain, unspiced canned pumpkin can be given to our pups for diarrhea.

Keeping you and Palmer in my thoughts and prayers.

FWIW, I just had both of my boys done...fecal tests and giardia tests, the giardia test is a seperate test. The total for both of my boys was $200.00. My vet charged me $80.00 each for the giardia test.

Love and hugs,
Lori

Hey Susan,

Oh, I don't like reading this post, honey. :( You sound so defeated. :( Don't let it get to you just yet, ok?

Since the ACTH was good, then we can assume he isn't overdosed...unless there was a major error on the bloodwork. So that would lead the thoughts to parasites or an inflammation/condition in the digestive system as the next thing to look at. Squirt has had several bouts of spirochetes but meds took care of them with no problem. She also had a round with giardia several years ago and that was much tougher to get rid of...but the testing wasn't near that expensive! I wouldn't have been able to afford it at that rate. geez.... I wonder if this is a special fecal test of some sort? I can't remember the drugs she was given for the giardia but it seems like there were 3 different ones at the same time, and she was one sick little girl.

Is there any way the vet could keep him on fluids and IV meds for a day or two? That would give his system a chance to settle down and not have to digest meds, food, etc. If not, you might ask if there is a liquid alternative for the drugs he needs now. And that does not include the Trilo, melatonin or lignans. I would withhold all of those for now...give only what he has to have to help his system right now. I wouldn't try feeding him right now, either. Let him have 24 hrs or so without anything solid and see if that helps at all. You might also add some Pedialyte to his drinking water. The plain, unflavored kind.

Don't give up hope. OK? We will help you and Palmer fight this. He is a tough little fellow, and so are you. So just keep your chin up, sweetie.

Hugs and prayers for you both,
Leslie and the girls - always