Axel is sick

He has biliary.
He had terrible diarrhea thursday but I got that sorted and vet gave him some anti-biotics and gastropect to stop his tummy. He was totally fine in himself.
Yesterday night he was very lethargic and not himself. Ate his supper, no issues, but just quiet. He looked like he had a tummy ache so I dosed him again and gave him some meds for gastric spasms.
This morning there was no improvement and he was walking hunched up. I still thought it was gastric.
Decided to take him back to my vet but she's sick in bed so had to chase down the highway to get to another practice I like. My vet there also thought it was gastric till he came to Axel's spleen which is very enlarged.
Did a blood smear and bang! biliary parasites. Did a blood count and the red blood cell count is quite low.
Vet could almost not believe it as Axel is not showing typical symptoms.

I'm very stressed as dogs easily die from this. One moment I feel he's fine, he's eating, going toilet, picking up sticks outside and bringing them to me... next he's sleeping and he looks so weak, panting and breathing very rapidly due to the loss of red blood cells...

We need a few prayers tonight please. He's one sick puppy.

Oh, no!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for his speedy recovery and will keep you both in my prayers.   

Has the vet given him any treatment or is it a case of just waiting?

Oh no, how horrible for Axel and for you.

Get well soon baby boy - big get well vibes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ are coming your way.

And big hugs for you both                              

Good wishes being sent your way. Fingers and paws crossed.

Oh no! Do you know if they are in his ducts, liver or gallbladder as well?
What has your vet suggested as treatment for Axel?

I am going to pray for him now.    My thoughts are with you both. XXX

My love and my prayers are winging their way to you every second of every day.

Axel, you must fight this nasty illness cause your mummy loves you so much!

How is he this morning?

Thank you so much everyone x!
He seems better today. Barked at the cows and gave a little shambling trot after the others.
His pee has also cleared up and isn't a thick red anymore so his body is not destroying as many red blood cells... a big relief!!!
He's still short of breath and breathing very rapidly though.
Still eating and drinking, no vomiting... another big relief!

Eleanor: he was given a huge dose of cortisone to stop/prevent his immune system destoying his red blood cells and a jab of anti-protozoal that I can't remember the name of. He has a tonic to boost his iron levels, give energy and help his appetite.

Tracy: We diagnosed it early enough and started treatment soon enough. He's not yellow at all.

I just say thank God I didn't stick with the stomach bug diagnoses and took him to the vet again. It might have been a severe crisis now.

I'm so glad things are looking better this morning! Well done to you, for acting so quickly.

Hope you're okay, as well. That must have shaken you up quite a bit! xx

Our hugs & kisses to you both.   
I know you will be watching him in the following days. Awkward question but,  how are his stools? Have they firmed up, no trace of blood?
It seems to be a very prevalent cause of death there. Do you have a high tick count where you are? Is he on cortisone for the next couple of weeks?

Last night I said this prayer for him.

Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take.
God bless and keep Axel safe. His mum loves him with all her heart. Please keep them both safe & together. Amen.  

Please let us know how he is doing each day.

Hugs & kisses to Axel.  from Jessup, Tyson, Chilli, Con & I. XXX.

That's a lovely prayer!

poor Axel, he won't understand why he's feeling poorly.

It is lovely, the 1st 2 lines are always the same, then its all about who I want to have protection,  love, care, good health, fun etc or wishes for.

My mother taught me this prayer as a small child and though I'm not very religious I have never forgotten it & use it to this day to help man or beast come through hard times.

I'm giving him meds to firm up his stools. They're almost back to normal now in shape and colour (tmi!).
I don't really have ticks here, the odd old big blue gross thing plus I have a good regime of treatment.
He got a huge dose of cortesone but we'll only give more if needed. I hate cortisone, it's such a helpful drug but tge side effects are terrible and long lasting.

I'm feeling better today. I was very close to a full blown panic attack yesterday.
Thank you for your lovely prayer Tracy. I appreciate everyones thoughts.

Biliary, Parvo, Distemper are all killers over here. Problem is that our Coloured/township/squatter/location communities have a different outlook on their dogs than we do. They don't innoculate, deworm, treat fleas or ticks and can hardly be bothered to sterilize even though they get it for free or next to nothing. A dog is outside to protect the yard and has to survive. Most dogs are fed poor diets and have hardly any shelter. It's a hard life.

Here where I live we have big problems with Distemper. We've been trying for 3 years to educate the community and it's like banging your head against a rock. If the dog dies another pup is found and put on the property, it also gets sick as the distemper can survive outside for months.

I don't actually want to speak about it because it drives me insane that people can so totally not give a shite. It's why I'm not involved this year. I need a break before I go insane.

I know stools are a delicate topic but,  never TMI when your bubs are sick for me.
Theresa,  I get the issues there. You stress out as much as you like babe.

I'm so glad to hear that Axel is feeling better, and that you are too Shisa      

I do understand your feelings re cortisone Shisa but something really nasty like this needs big guns, and the anti-protozoal has hopefully killed the nasty nasty nasties.

Axel - I am sending you more good vibes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

tracyp wrote:[size=13]I know stools are a delicate topic

To be honest, if you're going to discuss a dog's health, poo will come into it at some point!  

Yes, it always does as it gives so much important information. 

How's he doing today Theresa?

I can understand why that would frustrate you.

I hope he's feeling better today! Hope you're okay, as well xx

He's getting better and better. He's feeling full of beans today, wants to wrestle and play but I'm keeping him quiet.
His meds were given in big doses subcutaneously so absorbtion is over time.
His breathing is also looking more normal if still a little fast.
Happy days!!

Thank God you spotted it early!

Thats good to hear.
Keep us up to date with him. 

I'm so glad!

Thank you again for all the healing vibes.


and, yeah, our pooches excretions are the subject of many a conversation hahaha...

Oh that's such goods news   

Thanks heavens you went with your hunches and knowledge of your dog and went elsewhere when your regular vet was sick.

When do you go back for a check-up?

I'll go next week if he continues to get better, I'll go immediately if he shows the slightest setback.
He's at work with me today and lying here very bored. I don't want to give him any chews as he has such a sensitive tummy. He'll just have to suffer in silence.

He's still a bit pale and breathing a tiny bit too rapidly. My mum thought I was overreacting bringing him with till she saw his ears and gums. He's weaker than he looks, acts and feels.