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

Hi-

Some hopeful news, at last! Our vet consulted with the ER vet. They concur that they think Palmer has pancreatitis. The think Palmer got into something which has caused this damage. If that is the case, I think the felon is the grass treatment. Palmer either ate some of the treated grass, before I got it washed in, or by walking on it, he then licked his paws and ingested that way.

Thanks to all of your for saying I did the right thing. I had a bit of a struggle with my husband, but I could not have sat here all weekend knowing it was possible for Palmer to die.....as they told me. We have had 2 calls from the ER updating us. I called them first, at 5AM, and the DR came to the phone to tell me how Palmer was doing. She called back around 9 and gave us the AM report. She summed up what she was saying with "He looks very happy and he is very comfortable." I told her THAT was what I wanted to hear!!!

Later the vet called, while I was out, and spoke to Bob. That was when we got the pancreatitis news. Our vet had gone by her office to get the results of the B12 test. After telling Bob that she had talked with the ER doc and what they thought, at this point, she said to email her if we had any questions............she would check her email throughout the weekend. My only question now is how do you treat this? The vet also reinforced that Palmer was exactly where he should be and getting just the treatment he needed. She was glad he was where he would have 24hr supervision. Palmer has even eaten a little bit, they say.

So-so far no BAD news. He will still have the sonogram on Monday and I am hoping we will be able to pick him up in the afternoon. Our vet said she felt, if follow up treatment was needed, that they could accommodate that at their office.....thus making it less stressful on Palmer-he would be near home and I guess go back and forth as needed....and way less stressful on me!!!!!!!!!

We will get another ER doc report later today. The doc I spoke with @5AM will be on again tonight. I'll call her before I go to bed, probably, and get her "read" on the situation.

Two summers ago, Ryan got pancreatitis. It took FOREVER to get a diagnosis. The first we were told was that a mass the size of a deck of cards had been found. The surgeon wanted to run a gazillion tests in order to avoid opening "my beautiful boy" up. I kept wondering why they could not just take a biopsy. It felt like we were losing a lot of time and not treating this thing, the way we were going. In my mind, the deck of cards had gone from one deck to 15 decks! :eek::eek: Well, his pancreatitis shrank pn its own and, over 4 months or so, all returned to normal. Yesterday he said he thought it would be funny if Palmer had pancreatitis, since that is what he had back then. (They're soooo competitive! Each so wanting attention!!)
When we got the news today I told him I could just have asked him for a diagnosis and saved myself a LOT of money! (just a joke.) :o

So-that's where we are now. I miss my little guy but am very hopeful he will be back home soon. :)

-Susan

I would ask them to run a specPL test to confirm the pancreatitis. The specPL will test for the lipase that is specific for the pancreas only.

Harley has pancreatitis also, his last specPL test results were 900! :eek: I think the lysodren had something to do with those high results because his results a couple months before that were 303 (0-200). Altho he is showing no symptoms I keep an eagle eye on him. Much is to do with diet, feeding a very low-fat diet is important and feeding several small meals through-out the day helps alot too.

We are here for you and Palmer and we all will help you.

Love and hugs,
Lori

Hi Susan,

A positive update, even if it is pancreatitis! That can be dealt with! ;)

Squirt has had one bout of acute pancreatitis brought on by the spleen surgery and it scared the crap out of me! On top of just being out of major surgery for 4 days, she starts showing odd signs and I go into full panic mode! Thank all the stars, she hasn't had any more problems with it!

That was when I learned that fat is the enemy when the pancreas is inflamed. Actually, any food or water by mouth is not recommended for 24-48 hours so the organ has time to calm down. So Palmer is exactly where he needs to be! :)

Several things can cause the pancreas to act up - handling in surgery as in Squirt's case, diet, age, other illnesses (Cushing's to name one - :rolleyes:, and the all time favorite - idiopathic, ie. no known reason. It is a highly sensitive and reactive organ and it doesn't take much to get it upset. The grass treatment may have been the cause but who knows? The key now is to prevent further flareups. I hope Palmer has the same experience Squirt has had and there are no further episodes!

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Lori-our vet ran the specPL test before Palmer went over to the hospital.

I just spoke with the night doc (same one as last night.)-they ran the blood test and find his Kidney #s are coming down. Bun is down 22 points to 41, Creatine is down from 4.4 to 3, Phos was at 6.9 and is now normal at 5. They are going to cut back on the fluids some, since the numbers are coming down and because of their concern about his heart murmur. He is still not eating :eek: and he is now sleeping. He will need a bland diet-more carbs, not too much protein or fat.

This has all made me respect our vet even more. She has been "spot on" about him since we started down the path with Cushings'. I really like the hospital he is in. They are very attentive to both the patients and the parents.

I didn't sleep much last night..so I'm off to bed. I really miss my little guy.

Thanks to all.

-Susan

Mornin' Susan,

Hope you got some rest last nite. I know how taxing all this can be.

Looking forward to another positive report this morning. Hope Palmer has eaten a bit; now that his numbers are coming back to normal, maybe he will start feeling better and get an appetite back.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Hi-
The morning report offered no changes. He is getting a bit less in fluids. He still had not eaten.
The evening report, which I just got, has little change. He has eaten a bite or two. The day nurse will be the one to look to if Palmer is not there when we go to get him. She thinks he is so sweet and so cute. (Which OF COURSE he is:D:D:D)
We will get an early am report. He records will be transferred over to the Internist side. We should receive a consult around noon. He will probably have another blood test in the AM and then the ultrasound.
Sure is a big, quiet house without him..:(:(:(
-Susan

Susan, Thanks for keeping us updated. We have our fingers and toes crossed here for Palmer. He is in the best of hands right now. Take care of yourself as well! I know it is so hard. Hugs, Kim

Hi Susan,

Thanks for letting us know how Palmer is doing today. I hope tomorrow will be even better!

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Well, it's Monday. Palmer is still in the ER hospital. Basically there is no change in his situation. He did take "a couple of bites" last night. They were transferring his records to the Internist side of the place but neither of the two docs we wanted worked today. We opted to have him stay where he is today and then he will be seen by the doc we want tomorrow. I'm REALLY missing him now. It was okay-not preferable-but tolerable the first few days. I knew that was where he was getting the best treatment. They've asked us if we want to come see him, but I think that would just confuse him and its a 4 hour round trip. He is still on IV fluids. They've added back his Denamarin.
We should get an update later this afternoon. I don't expect to hear much different.

I tried to talk Bob into getting a puppy last year, so they would have each other to play with and so their lifetimes would overlap. He wouldn't have anything to do with it. That little puppy would be good company now.:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:mad:

-Susan

Susan I am holding on to good wishes and positive thoughts for you and Palmer right now.

Love and hugs,