You know, that one guy from that one show... - 1 year ago today..
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01:02 pm
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1 year ago today..
I thought I was going to lose Fez. He hadn't eaten in 2 days and was not wanting to get out of his chair. He had been (I didn't know any better at this point) apparently misdiagnosed with kidney failure 3 years earlier, but was on a special diet and I was afraid that they had completely shut down and that this was the end. He had turned 9 a couple of months earlier. For a Boxer, that's about average, so I was kind of expected something, especially since the vets told me that this is what would happen.
Unfortunatley College Station shuts down when students aren't there, plus being a Sunday everything was closed except for the TAMU Small Animal/Emergency Clinic. I had no choice, but to rush him in and pay the extra fees associated with an ER. Initially there were some other indications, other than his kidneys, mostly that his bladder was full and he couldn't empty it on his own. His prostate was enlarged, so they thought that was the cause and that they would have to remove it and that it was going to be cancer.
As it turns out, he had, for probably at least three years, been producing and growing bladder stones, and one was stuck in his urethra.
They did emergency surgery to get them out, and Dr. Peycke (Who happened to be on the very first year of Animal Planet's Emergency Vets) said that it was one of the worst cases she had ever seen. His bladder wall was as thick as your little finger. 2 days later, they had to go back in because they were not able to get all of them. He was in the hospital for almost 8 full days. The bill in full, was almost $10,000. So much for my savings plan! (He is worth every penny, and I would do the same exact thing today if I had to.)
It was a rough recovery over the next 6-8 weeks. He had to wear a diaper for almost 2 months, and his bladder is still not as strong as it used to be. (being cut open twice will do that to ya..)
He was switched immediately from his kidney diet (His kidneys work 100% after all, even after all of this.) to a Struvite/Oxalate diet to prevent any more stone growth. It changes the PH of the urine and creates more urine output so that it flushes through (no pun intended) more frequently so that anything forming gets sent out quickly instead of hanging around growing.
There have been adjustments to our lifestyle.. Mostly I have to wash my bedding more frequently and the couch cushions weekly because of dribbles, but the vet today said that she thinks this is the best course if I am willing to do it, rather than put him on something to prevent leakage.
The amazing (and one of the things that makes me feel guilty) is that he took Xanax for over 3 years for anxiety. Mostly so that he would eat. I think it's possible now that HE KNEW that it was his food that was causing him the problems - that I was not even aware of yet. Once he was completely recovered and on the current food, he has not needed a single Xanax. 10 months without needing anything.. That's pretty awesome. Of course I feel bad remembering all the pills he took, the occasional blood spots on the bed (I checked all 3 dogs ears, feet, tongues, etc. and never found anything.. This is why!) and other small clues. He never indicated that he was in any pain or had any discomfort. It still amazes me how stoic dogs in general, but especially Boxers are.
Today we went to visit our new vet, him for the first time. He got a urinalisys and an X-Ray. We had been getting Ultrasounds at $500 a pop, but it has been long enough since his last one that if he had stones growing, they could see them on an X-ray. (I'm all about saving $350!)
As of today - No stones, Normal UA (no blood, no indication of anything odd). He will need to go back every 3 months for a UA ($40) which I can collect and drop off at the office. He just turned 10, and acts like he's 2 or 3.
It's a huge relief to know that both of my kids are 100% healthy!
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Wow. You are an AWESOME parent. Yay for Fez! |
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