Poorly Jack-Liver Disease

Padstow

pulliptears wrote: »

The vet called me this afternoon, she'd been reading the paperwork I dropped in on heptocuteaneous syndrome and she did tell me she'd considered it. She went on to explain that before working at the PDSA she spent several years in a referral clinic so saw all manner of weird and wonderful cases, including 2 cases of hepto, which is 2 more than your average vet.

She said she did agree that a great deal of Jacks symptoms fit, but she also went on to say that a good deal of his blood results dont and that she would still consider other things before this. The upshot was we decided to go ahead with the bile stim next week and get him into surgery.

He seems livelier this afternoon, he's still eating well and his paws seem a lot less swollen and sore today. He's fighting so we'll fight all we can and enjoy whatever time we have now.

Xx, big kiss from me and little kiss from grots here!.
You know the best is hugs from mum.Poor little baby.
I bet you are sleeping with him. Most of us here have been through it.

Please don't put Jack through an operation. We all have to come to an end in our lives. If you are correct, you may have another year yet with Jack. Hopefuly you are wrong and Jack lives for many years yet.

Thinking of you all tonight.Xx

pulliptears

Padstow wrote: »

Xx, big kiss from me and little kiss from grots here!.
You know the best is hugs from mum.Poor little baby.
I bet you are sleeping with him. Most of us here have been through it.

Please don't put Jack through an operation. We all have to come to an end in our lives. If you are correct, you may have another year yet with Jack. Hopefuly you are wrong and Jack lives for many years yet.

Thinking of you all tonight.Xx

thank you x

The stage we are at now is we have to go through the operation. The Vet seems to think it could still be something simple like a blocked gall bladder or liver disease which could be controlled. Unless we let them look we wont know if we can treat him and get him back to normal and I think we'll always have the "What if" at the back of our minds.

The thing I keep clinging too is not just the fact his weight is the same as always and he's eating, but that he has never shown any signs of jaundice which is puzzling for both us and the vet. Whilst he keeps having these bursts of energy and is still eating I feel we owe it to him to keep fighting.

(and yes, he slept at the end of the bed last night lol)

rising_from_the_ashes

I'm just catching up on this thread .... not any useful advice to offer but just wishing Jack all the best and I really do hope it's something treatable.

(((hugs))) for you, you must be an emotional wreak - keep strong and cherish every extra day that you have (I have an elderly lab on "borrowed time").

Padstow

pulliptears wrote: »

thank you x

The stage we are at now is we have to go through the operation. The Vet seems to think it could still be something simple like a blocked gall bladder or liver disease which could be controlled. Unless we let them look we wont know if we can treat him and get him back to normal and I think we'll always have the "What if" at the back of our minds.

The thing I keep clinging too is not just the fact his weight is the same as always and he's eating, but that he has never shown any signs of jaundice which is puzzling for both us and the vet. Whilst he keeps having these bursts of energy and is still eating I feel we owe it to him to keep fighting.

(and yes, he slept at the end of the bed last night lol)

Yes, keep going. I only gave up when mine had'nt eaten for a week or more. As long as he's eating, he's happy.

zaksmum

How's Jack today, pulliptears?

pulliptears

zaksmum wrote: »

How's Jack today, pulliptears?

His paws are a lot better, so much so we have been able to leave the collar off for most of today. I've been treating his runny eyes with chamomile tea as well and the improvement there is amazing. I am slightly more hopeful that his skin issues are more to do with a liver problem zinc deficiency than to Heptacutanous syndrome.

He's been asleep most of the day, though had a short walk this morning and was waggy as he went. He's wolfed down his tea too so I'm reasonably pleased with him today.

He's currently sat here next to me on the sofa, stretched out and snoring

Our beach plans were put to one side owing to getting up late and it being showery, but we plan on going on Monday instead now.

Thanks for keeping us going all I'm welcoming your support.

zaksmum

If he's eating that's surely a good sign. God, I'm worried about the little fella myself!

I do hope he will be ok.

pulliptears

zaksmum wrote: »

If he's eating that's surely a good sign. God, I'm worried about the little fella myself!

I do hope he will be ok.

I've thought that all the way through this. Jack has always been a food orientated dog and OH and I have both said when he stops eating then we'll really know something is very wrong, but so far he's not losing any weight and still eats fairly normally.

He managed a massive jumbone yesterday and a bonio today on top of his usual tea.

I also think he may be a touch depressed as well, he is lying around all day but when he sees his lead he's up and wagging so I think some of his problem is he is fed up. The dilemma is as I said, how much do we get him out given his low immune system.

zaksmum

How's he doing this morning?

pulliptears

zaksmum wrote: »

How's he doing this morning?

Made me laugh this morning, OH is already convinced Jack no longer likes him as he's not been as snuggly with him as usual.

Anyway, OH had Jack in the bath before I got up (he needs twice weekly baths to try and control the skin flakiness), as I got up they were sat on the landing, OH drying Jack. I asked how he was, OH replied he was very down and seemed quite rough.

As soon as the words left his mouth Jack darted out from under the towel, tail wagging and diving around the landing. It was wonderful and made my morning!

He's just eaten a crackerjack and is now lazing in bed. Energy permitting I'll take him for a little stroll to the end of the street later.