Basenji without spunk - very sick, pls read

[Bandit]

Awww (((((hugs))))) that is just the best pic…..

[nala121498]

I'm sending healthy vibes your way, Beta. The picture is just so sweet. I have a tear just seeing it! Please keep us posted on how all is going.
Lots of (((healing hugs))) coming your way too.

[Mantis]

well, Beta has been with me at work all morning. It seems that the pain med that should have lasted 12 hrs seems to have lingered in her system this morning. she isnt displaying the shakes or the gassy sounds like before.

she has aquired two ulcer spots on her gums about her canine teeth.

she is walking around a bit and has slept most of the day. i am still giving her the antibiotics.

she still is a no personality basenji except for the doe eyes. she is having trouble keeping her eyes open and appears to be calmer. here is a picture of her 3 days ago, and today at my desk. you can see the strange change in her face. last night it was swollen a bit.

all she is doing is sleeping. she did have the coughing this morning that i havent heard all day.

the doctor suggests we do the ultrasound (which i am all about ) since beta is still not perky. we want to avoid another episode of this that could be worse next time.

i wonder what it is?

betsey

[jys1011]

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.

[spitfirekrl1]

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.

[Mantis]

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......

[Mantis]

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.

[Mantis]

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

[nala121498]

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.

[jenwilson]

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.

[Lenora]

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

[red and white furever]

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.

[JoeyQ]

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!

[Mantis]

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.

[JoeyQ]

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!

[seko]

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!

[Lenora]

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

[Duke]

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.

[jys1011]

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.

[Mantis]

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.