Basenji without spunk - very sick, pls read

[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.

[nala121498]

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.

[Mantis]

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

[nala121498]

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!

[Mantis]

as the day passed Beta seems to be getting worse. she is refusing to eat and has started throwing up with a bit of blood. poop is now completely liquid. she is drinking water.

the stomach like attacks are lasting longer. today she had one that was 30 minutes! i am wondering if it is cancer in her stomach or something…..

i have talked with the vet and have adjusted meds to make her more comfortable.

test results should be in tomorrow.........

[Lenora]

Beta is in all our prayers I'm sure. Keep us updated. Lenora

[red and white furever]

More hugs and positive thoughts your way Betsey and Mantis. I can only imagine how helpless and scared you both must feeling. (((hugs)))