Quick Update on Lilly

 

Not nearly enough chocolate or ice cream in the house for a week like this, but here is a short recap of this week’s (mostly good) news … after Lilly became increasingly wobbly and weak, starting last Sunday.

More Inflammation

When last we posted, the cause of Lilly’s setback remained unknown. Because Lilly has responded to a significant increase in steroid dose (from 0.75 mg dexamethasone once a day to 2.0 mg once a day), we now know that it was indeed a jump in inflammation — NOT an antibiotic / chloramphenicol side-effect.

Lilly regained the ability to walk mostly on her own Wednesday afternoon. She continues to get steadily stronger as time goes on and as we get more doses on board.

We likely won’t see her completely back to “normal” until sometime next week when her cytarabine injections of the last 2 days kick in fully.

best dog blog, champion of my heart, border collie in knit sweater

Other Lilly News

  • The chloramphenicol is working because Lilly’s urine culture from Monday came back clear. We’ll go ahead and finish 3 total weeks of twice daily dosing, then check her urine again April 29.
  • Lilly has NOT had a pee accident / wet diaper in a week now.
  • However, she also is NOT peeing on her own. I have to express her bladder / help her pee.
  • The increased steroids have caused some diarrhea, so we added a tummy med Wednesday night. Things should improve soon on that front. Hope so at least. Some messy diapers in recent days.

Hanging With Team Lilly

Last night, rather than run Lilly to the back of the veterinary hospital for her forth / final cytarabine injection of this cycle, the technician put us in an exam room so that I could stay with Lilly.

Our favorite ER vet popped in, plopped down, and chatted with us for a while. We go WAY back — through Lilly’s many emergency adventures over the years. It was beyond GREAT to see her and give her the chance to see Lilly.

She was the first to examine Lilly when this awful adventure began in January 2012. I keep her updated via email here and there. She has access to Lilly’s chart and hears news at the hospital, but she hadn’t seen Lilly in person since the ER run when Lilly’s nose would not stop bleeding in February 2012.

As we chatted about Lilly’s setback, current status, and my sense of prognosis, Lilly’s veterinary neurologist also peeked into the exam room and joined our confab to give me the good urine culture news.

The 3 of us got to have some quiet time to chat about Lilly. It was nice.

I cannot tell you how much it means to me to have such a strong collaborative relationship with Lilly’s large team of veterinarians and veterinary specialists.

I flat-out asked if my nixing of Lilly’s cytarabine injections for 7 weeks earlier this year led to Lilly’s setback this week. He said he didn’t think so. He said these inflammatory diseases just wax and wane.

***

I really should have taken photos of Lilly with her favorite docs, but I didn’t want to intrude. Maybe some other time.

***

Much-Needed Weekend

After another cold / somewhat snowy week, this weekend’s weather might not be hideous. Alas, we might get 3 days of on / off snow early next week. I swear — this “winter” will never end.

We’re tired. I mean really, really tired, so the weekend is most welcome.

We will spend it in gratitude that this week went as well as possible … especially since so many of our friends have lost their dogs in recent days. All our love to:

  • Allie and Joe over the loss of Gobo
  • Peggy and family over the loss of Brooks
  • Jana and family over the loss (just this morning) of Jasmine

Thanks, as always, for your interest and support. Have a great weekend!