Update on my boy

Bulldogs World Forum Archives

These archives contain a copy of the contents of the old Bulldogs World Forum for reference purposes.Posting is disabled in the archives.
Click here to visit the active Bulldog Forum

Update on my boy

Submitted by Bernata and Ang... on April 21, 2010 - 12:41am

Archived General Bulldog Chat

I promised to keep you updated on Chester and it took me a while as I am going through some dramatic family health issues and my attention is divided and I have very little time to put together few words. I make my bullies priority, so an update had to wait.
So Chester was having his anemia issues for very long time and we were treating it as autoimmune. Early March he had cluster seizures, four in one day, he spent a day and night in the hospital again and that was the time we decided he needs to be seen by the best. We took him to UC Davis, he was seen by internist and neurologist. He had an MRI done, spinal tap, all tests, you name it. His anemia was ruled out tentatively as autoimmune and he was weaned slowly from strongest drugs, he is still on low dose of prednisone though. They think the anti inflammatories really did a number on him and now he needs time to rebuild his GI system slowly. I am cooking for him, no dog food, he is doing great and currently is in low normal range in his CBC. Yay!
As for his neurological evaluationthey were afraid when the seizures came that he might have brain tumor, hence MRI. Fortunately it came clean, he is hydrocephalous, a bit more water than brain, which makes him mentally quiet, but hey, we cant all be very smart. Frankly speaking, I believe many people and dogs have 100% brains and do not use all of it. Chester compensates greatly by using 100% of what he has, he is a great little hustler, he focuses on what matters to him (like making sure he secures every bit of tasty food in site, enough hugs and attention and kisses to feel very loved, and lets small things not bother himwish I was like that).
Just an update, he is doing well and we love our boy
Hugs and kisses to your easterbullies

wow..finally some good news on Chester

Submitted by gusweppler (not verified) on April 2, 2010 - 9:00am.

that is great to hear
that he is doing much better
really had everyone scared..
big time
way to go Chester
hope he continues to improve

Thanks for the update!

Submitted by DSimas on April 2, 2010 - 8:58am.

I've been thinking of you and hoping that "no news is good news". Betty's recheck on RBC was normal a few weeks after her anemia scare, so we suspected a bleed, but I am still at a complete loss as to where. The only thing we didn't do was the MRI, so may have been a brain bleed. But I find it odd to think she bled out that much in her skull to be anemic for weeks.

So, having so much on my plate like you, I took it as good news and left it at that, a bit of a mystery.

However, your comment that they think Chester's was due to NSAIDS. Betty has been on Rimadyl off and on for her mobility issues. She really does need something as she struggles to shuffle along. So, I've put her on Rimadyl daily as an experiment (rather than as needed) to see if there was great improvement after 10 days. Not great, but definitely noticeable, more bouncing and just generally happier girl. So my vet said to keep her on it daily for two more weeks and we test her liver values, since that is what really takes a whack on it. It is much more affordable than Metacam, since she'd be on it for life management...

Now, I'm wondering if her anemia was related to it. Did they confirm he had ulcers? I'll ask the vet to run a RBC count again when we look at the liver enzymes in a few weeks.

How is Lily?

Dawn

"Little Miss Betty Cuteface"
Toofie on the left, eyeball on the right.
[linked image]

Raven (prior to tripawd surgery) and Betty

Yippee for Chester!

Submitted by Monica-Maude-Gus on April 2, 2010 - 6:45am.

I am so glad he is improving - your love and dedication has really paid off for him.

My brother was hydrocephalic - I agree wholeheartedly with your comments.

So happy to hear this and still praying

Submitted by luvwinnie on April 2, 2010 - 6:01am.

for your family.

Way to go, Chester, that is wonderful news

Submitted by Clovis Boo Flyn... on April 2, 2010 - 5:47am.

-- Gary

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME ARE MY PROPERTY, ARE COPYRIGHTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW, AND CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT MY WRITTEN PERMISSION. ANY INCOME MADE OFF OF MY PHOTOS AT ANY TIME MUST BE IMMEDIATELY REMITTED TO ME.

And click here for puppy photos of Boo & Clovis:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/glandry113