Paris

Apparently this page has a character limit and I am long-winded.
Two big things hanging out there today.
1. Paris is at the vet's getting her blood test to see if her bone marrow is producing cells again.
2. I received a preliminary report from the Animal Poison Control center regarding her case, which is going to be used by the center for dogs who have hemolytic anemia due to overdose of this antibiotic. There are a few errors on the report, so I'm working with them to correct those before it is finalized.
The final tally for her care will be about $2367 (after today). Our average cost to vet a healthy dog (vax, spay/neuter, heartworm test, worming) is a little more than $100. So, that's 23 dogs' vetting costs that we've put into Paris. Once we have a dog, we take care of it, and I know we will raise this money to replenish that cost. But it still smarts, because it was all so unnecessary.
Thanks to you all for listening.

Don't know what happened, the entry I wrote yesterday was cut off! Here is is, in its entirety (I hope).

Last night Mademoiselle Paris was in rare form. For some reason, she takes grave offense at the proximity of our dog, Tonka, and gives him "the business" whenever she sees him. Luckily Tonka is very patient with female dogs. With a male dog he would not be so tolerant. As annoying as this habit of hers is, I was very happy to see it, because it meant she felt well enough to be back to her usual diva personality.

The final tally for Paris' misadventure is $2167.42. A few followup blood tests to go, but those won't be more than $200 or so.

In the final analysis, here's what happened. Paris was prescribed too high a dose of an antibiotic for a bladder infection. I had taken her to a different vet than we usually use (long story) and she was prescribed the antibiotic there. It was about 5 days before she started showing strange symptoms -- very bloody urine, bloodshot eyes, and a seizure. Because the original problem was a bladder infection, I didn't take the bloody urine as seriously as I otherwise would. But then the seizure and bloodshot eyes happened. I took her back to my regular vet, who told me the situation was very grave. They started her on all kinds of meds -- anticoagulants because her blood had lost the ability to clot, and she was bleeding into all her body cavities and organs. Animal Poison Control was called. I had to tell them everything Paris could have eaten or drunk in the past week. They suspected rat poison, or maybe a rabies vaccination reaction. Then I told them about the antibiotic. BINGO. This fit everything.
She was out of it for a good 3 days at the vet. They kept telling me it was "touch and go", "she's not out of the woods yet." I was horrified, imagining all the times I'd given her that drug, not knowing that I was poisoning her. I was just following the instructions I was given.
Our wonderful vet at the Village Vets of Decatur pulled her through. I'm very grateful to Drs. Addante and Villines for all they did to figure out Paris' problem. She would surely have died without their insights and quick reactions.
I am planning to send a letter with the Animal Poison Control report to the vet that did the pre

Last night Mademoiselle Paris was in rare form. For some reason, she takes grave offense at the proximity of our dog, Tonka, and gives him "the business" whenever she sees him. Luckily Tonka is very patient with female dogs. With a male dog he would not be so tolerant. As annoying as this habit of hers is, I was very happy to see it, because it meant she felt well enough to be back to her usual diva personality.

The final tally for Paris' misadventure is $2167.42. A few followup blood tests to go, but those won't be more than $200 or so.

In the final analysis, here's what happened. Paris was prescribed too high a dose of an antibiotic for a bladder infection. I had taken her to a different vet than we usually use (long story) and she got the pre

So she didn't get to come home yesterday. Nothing was wrong, but the last bloodwork didn't come in and the vet wanted to make absolutely sure she was OK to leave. So we had to wait for the last test results. They are now in and I can go get her this afternoon. One vet tech told me today Paris has started to get "feisty" -- so that sounds like my girl again! The best news is that the latest bloodwork indicates her marrow is functioning again, generating red blood cells. SUPER WOO! Whew this girl has been through the wringer. I can't wait to get her bossy little self back at home. And whoever adopts this girl will be very lucky indeed -- she is quite the little character and has great charisma / presence in the house. There is no mistaking when Miss Paris is around.

I get to pick up Paris today and bring her home. She has been in the vet hospital for a week! Poor girl! She is on 7 oral medications -- the vet said that was the most she'd ever seen in her career -- and I have to do 2 injections. (New skill to learn -- yay!) She's been poked, prodded, tested, fasted, fed, drained, expressed, drugged, injected, you name it. But she fought her way through it and now we get to bring her home. I don't know what the recovery period is supposedly like, and I'm still worried about the neurological deficit in her front paw, but we will deal with that. Little girl is gonna get her chance!
Thanks to all of you who have sent healing vibes, prayers, and donations. You have no idea how much they mean to us. It makes me feel not alone in this. So thank you. I'll keep this blog updated until she is fully recovered.

Doc called this morning -- I LOVE having a vet that is open 7 days a week! Paris' blood work is now all within normal range. She needs to stay at the vet until Monday to continue the IV therapy with the leucovorin. Then I can bring her home and give her the last 2 doses myself (they will teach me how to give the injection). She needs 7 full days of the medicine. She is eating well, drinking well, urine is no longer bloody. I can't believe it! To be honest, when all this started I did not think she was going to pull through. There was so much blood coming out of her. I cannot even think about it. Even one of her eyes was bleeding. It was just horrific. Then when she pulled through the first night, I started to have just a flicker of hope. And here she is. I should rename her Sugar Ray.
Thank you to everyone who has helped us. It means the world.

The vet called this morning. She updates me twice a day -- AM and PM -- on Paris. She is still trending in the right way, and I no longer have that moment of breathlessness where, at the beginning of each phone call, I think they are going to say, "I'm sorry, Paris died. We did everything we could." (One of the vets has a naturally "down" voice and I always think she's about to say that.)
Her bloodwork is now ALL going in the right direction, and she's still eating. The only bad sign is that she's showing signs of neurological damage in one of her front legs. She can't support weight on it. Ordinarily this would not be THAT big a deal, but she already is recovering from paralysis in the back legs. (As I write this, I think, am I wrong to keep trying? Is it time to let go? But if I have to make that decision, I will, once we see what is possible for her.)
The goal is for her to come home on Monday, after she has had the full series of Luecovorin. It will be good to have that bossy little thing snuggling in the bed again, telling all the other dogs to stay out of her space.

The antidote came a day early, so Paris got started on it last night. It was called Leucovorin, and it was difficult to find. Hoping it makes a difference. That alone cost $110. Our bill to date is $1500 and she has at least 4 more days in the hospital, getting it via IV. Since the reaction she's having includes blood clotting problems, they don't like to give her any muscular injections if they can avoid it. (That's why originally they thought it might be rat poison, but we don't have anything like that in the house.).
She's hanging in there, stubborn little thing she is! Vet says she is "eating like a champ"! That sounds like a dachshund, doesn't it?
Last night the people who turned her in called me to ask how she was. Actually, what they said was, "Is she alive?" I told them she's a fighter and if anyone has the temperament to get through this, it is her. Dachshunds are tough anyway, and this girl is a real fighter.

Not much has changed today, for better or worse, so I guess that's all for the better, actually.
Dr. Addante searched high and low for some kind of antidote to the toxicity from the antibiotic. There is a shortage, apparently, and people hoard it. She finally found some and it is being shipped. It should get here tomorrow (Thursday). Paris is still showing appetite and "resting quietly" (a term I would find funny in less frightening circumstances, as she is not a "rest quietly" sort of dachshund). She has repeated blood tests daily, and so far everything is trending the right way. This is my first experience with this disease, and I hope I never repeat it. I thought HGE was bad, this is even scarier. The blood was coming from EVERYWHERE. It was like a horror movie.
Thank you to everyone who has shown us such love. And thank you to those who have donated. It means so much to us. DREAM is very careful with our donations, and we manage our money well (if I do say so myself). We plan each year for the number of dogs we will help, the number of back surgeries we will take on, and we set our budget for that amount, and fundraise to get to it. But this came out of nowhere.

This site lists good info on Paris' condition -- http://bitly.com/i6DwAh It is amazing how much there is to learn from the dogs in our care -- medically, behaviorally, and about love.
When Paris came to DREAM a couple of months ago, she was nippy and bossy, but she was also in a lot of pain from her back injury (which had been untreated for more than a week). With patience, love, and pain management, she became a funny, loving, playful girl who loved to snuggle under the covers in the big bed. Two weeks ago we began laser therapy on her back, hoping to get some function back. (It was too late for surgery.) The people at the vet always described her as sweet and cute (which always made me laugh -- she was NOT sweet when she came to me!). She had even started playing with the other dogs (although she would not share certain very favored toys). I thought we were to the point where we could start working on her walking. Then this happened. Now I just want to make sure she has her chance at life. This girl is overdue for a break!