Thanks for posting this update @Derek-Groves , our Chance is 16 and he has had seizures most of his life. It just started out of nowhere when he was a few years old and for a number of years, we tried all kinds of natural and non-natural medications. We tried Chinese herbs, CBD, diet changes then the typical meds like phenobarbitol, all somewhat helped, but he would still have recurring seizures several times a month, or sometimes a week. All in all, he probably had 100 seizures in his lifetime, but luckily no major damage other than he is a bit wobbly and has head tremors once in a while. It does not seem to bother him though and he is otherwise healthy and active for a 16 yr old. Once I found Keppra through trial and error we stuck with it and that seemed to have been the best way to curb the seizures. We went from monthly to maybe once in a few years, during major events like a house move. Today he is on 250mg of Keppra + Zonisomide every 12 hours and that does the trick, if he does have a sezure (we also have concentrated CBD tincture, which we keep bedside, injecting it into his mouth gets him out of it pretty quickly and speeds up recover. We ended up sticking a particular manufacturer for Keppra (Lupin labs), just to make sure no formula variation is introduced.
Basenji without spunk - very sick, pls read
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Oh my gosh Betsey I'm in tears over your sick Beta…lots & lots of hugs & prayers for you both. This must be so incredibly difficult & frustrating to NOT Know what the heck it is!
Please hang in there & know that we're all pulling for you both.
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Ugh, that is so sad. On top of the fact that it's hard to see your babies sick it's even worse when you don't know what's wrong and how to fix it. I hope all is well for you both.
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Weird is right. She is better now that she is off of the IV fluids and antibiotics. She is moving about freely at the house now and she even ran a few times with Caesar in the yard. She had just eaten and received her antibiotic. After running she sat down next to me as if in pain. All of her white areas were bright pink.
I am wondering if the antibiotic that i have been giver her twice a day is causing the reaction…i will watch her tomorrow when she gets her next dose to see if that is what is causing the redness....it's gone now and she seems okay......
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Day 8, Friday morning. Beta woke this morning by coughing pretty hard. Whatever is in there now sounds thicker. She is trying to cough it out. Her xray 2 days ago showed nothing in her lungs. I will have them check again today.
this morning is the best time to check her because she has the least amount of meds in her system. she is shaking again and the gassy sounds are back.she is bright pink also, so i am ruling out the atibiotic that she gets twice a day. the second antibiotic she gets once a day didnt appear to make her pink either. it could just be her running a bit in the yard.
her eyes seem a bit swollen again.
the plan is to take her to an internist on tues for an ultrasound. since the vet is closed on sun and half day on sat, i am taking her back for observation today.
lets hope she does okay over the weekend. this is so frustrating. hopefully all of this text will help someone else out down the road.
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bad news. Beta was wheezing the whole ride to the vet. When we got to the vet she couldnt sit down and was hover sitting. She was shaking and her stomach was lurching. The vet found that she was tender around her neck and shoulder area. She said that Beta's intestines were moving so much it felt similar to dogs with puppies. Then, Beta started crying…..oh, there is nothing compared to a basenji crying....a sitting position seems to be the only way she can get comfortable...
the shaking, gassy sounds, stomach lurching episode didnt seem to stop this morning. before it was about 10-15 minutes and happeded maybe 3-4 x in a day. now it is about 4x while i was with her in the vet room with her. She is at the vet and that is the best I can do.
here is a pic of beta this morning before the attack or episode started, so cute
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OMG! I feel so bad - please keep us posted on her…she is so adorable. I will keep as many positive, healthy vibes, prayers and thoughts for her as possible.
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I am SO sorry to hear about your sick Basenji. It's hard to read all the posts for the tears in my eyes. How frightening it must be for both of you. Please keep us posted. I will pray for your basenji that they will find the source of her discomfort and fix things. God Bless you and your B.
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Any chance she is allergic to the antibiotic? At least some of her symptoms sound like an allergic reaction to me, because it's an ongoing thing while she's still on the antibiotic: the puffy eyes, pinkness, fluid in the lungs, wheezing. Just a thought, as I'm a people nurse and not a dog nurse. Lenora
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Big hugs to your "pack" - I really wish I had some advice, but sadly I don't have any. You'll all be in my "pack's" thoughts and prayers.
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I'm just sick about Beta! Our prayers are with you all! Thank you so very much for sharing your hardship! As you mentioned, it may help one of us down the road! You are very brave and Beta has the best in you!
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I was too upset yesterday to post this. She has been at the vet specialist since Friday. She had surgery Sat morning for the diagnosis that her intestine had folded in on itself. Well, when the doctor got in there, the intestine was fine. He said the stomach appeared red and the lymph nodes were enlarged. He said the liver, pancreas, intestines, and gall bladder looked fine. He took biopsies of the intestine in 3 places, and biopsys of the stomach and lymph nodes. I will find out the results on Wed.
This is extremely frustrating because I still get to pay the price of the surgery without any resolve and now have a basenji that barely can walk. I have been visiting her and she was so doped up yesterday she barely recognized me.
The nurse said she recovered from the surgery well and isnt on pain meds right now?! Dogs are amazing animals and heal fast, but I am worried about her comfort level.
I just want my Beta back and I cant take care of her. She is having too much pain for me to fix it. I am so frustrated.
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Checking in on Beta and you….I am sorry that you are going through this! When they can't tell you what's wrong (both doc and dog), it is excrutiatingly (sp?) painful! You are doing all you can to help Beta! Don't forget to take care of yourself too. Our prayers continue for both of you. Stay positive! That will help you both!
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From where did they got the idea the intestine folded in on itself?
I hope for her and you they'll find what's wrong with her from the biopsy.
Keep us posted! -
If it had been intussusception the surgery could have corrected it. Now you still don't know what's wrong with your baby. I will keep you and Beta in my prayers for a full recovery. Lenora
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Healing vibes for your sweet Beta and vibes of strength for you. It is so stressful when our babies are sick. Wishing Beta and yourself well.
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Hang in there Mantis looks like our prayers are working since Beta is still holding on & recovering. We'll keep thinking positive thoughts & sending lots of prayers to you both.
You are an amazing dog parent & I really respect all that you're doing for Beta.
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thanks guys….she should be released from the specialist today....then i will take her back to the vet she has been visiting last week for a check up and discussion.
then home for rest....
the specialist did an ultrasound on friday that did look like what they described as the intestine folding in on itself....but that was wrong.
i will keep you posted. should hear something on wed.
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Still keeping the healing vibes coming to Beta…please let us know how she is doing. I can only imagine how you feel. Take care.
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I picked up Beta yesterday at the Specialist. She willingly got into her hated kennel for the ride home. She was very happy to be home. She was a puppymill rescue and had lived in a small kennel for over a year and a half before i adopted her. i am sure she had some trauma being at the hospital the entire weekend.
as of today she weighs 18lbs. she has only lost 2lbs so far and i am working with her all day on rice and soft special food.
last night was pretty hairy. she woke me around 2 am with coughing and severe wheezing. i was staring at her with her e collar on and laying there. what could i give her? nothing. so i just listened for a while. i have chronic asthma and know what her breathing sounded like. she was also her lips a lot so i gave her a half of a pepsid ac to settle her stomach.
she woke me up again around 5am throwing up. just liquid. this was a pretty bad night over all and her first throwing up incident.
she woke again at 6am as we were all waking up and pooped and peed normally. she did her first crazy dance and then ran to her new spot on the couch and just sat. she is very aggressive with caesar and he has to be kept separate for now until she feels better.
it looks like she has about 30 staples from her ribs all the way down. tomorrow we should have the news from the biopsys….keep your fingers crossed.
i am hoping to go back to work tomorrow with her in tote. i think the pain meds will keep her calm enough to not chew at her staples while she is with me.
that is all the news for now. betsey
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Oh the poor baby, you are such a great Mommy! Please keep us posted on how she does and I will still keep lots and lots of love and healthful vibes going for Beta!
