Lilly made great gains in her recovery through about Wednesday. She hasn’t been as great since then. She seems weak, tired, wobbly, and droopy. I worry about her gums and tongue being pale. We’re not getting much sleep at night. BUT, Lilly can walk again — not well, but she can walk.
We’re so sorry about not posting Monday. Now that Lilly is home the demands on my time and energy have increased 10 fold, at least. So, that’s the headline … Lilly is home. She is still a neurological wreck, but she is improving.
More good news today! Mentally, Lilly is so much brighter, alert, aware, and responsive. Physically, her motor skills still suck, but she can push herself up into a SIT. She needs help keeping her balance, but she can use her front legs to push up. There is a good chance she can come HOME tomorrow, so I have a boatload of housework and preemptive cooking to do. Just a few pix from today’s visit (Sunday, Aug 12, 2012).
If Lilly was 5% of herself Friday (Aug 10), we’d say she is 20% of herself today (Saturday, Aug 11). Just talked to our neurologist, though, and he said I’m a “brutal Olympic judge” because he would have given her a much higher score. Some photos from today.
Again, I’m mostly too tired to be coherent, but here is the top news about Lilly’s massive adverse rabies vaccine reaction relapse.
I am exhausted at the cellular and spiritual levels, so just quick notes and one picture. The headline is this: Lilly is about the same, with 2 exceptions. Her fever is down, but so is her heart rate.
Via a daily news brief of veterinary-related news, I learned of 12 dogs in Mooresville, North Carolina, who were put down after one of them — a puppy — contracted rabies. Many people were also exposed at a recent fish fry and are receiving treatment. The case raised a critical question: Is a current rabies vaccination enough to protect dogs exposed to rabies?
I’d always thought the answer was YES. Apparently, the reality is more complicated.
Starting on Monday, August 6, 2012, Lilly began declining. Monday was bad. Tuesday was MUCH worse. Wednesday (today) was beyond terrible. I called our veterinary neurologist’s cell number early, and Lilly and I made a mad dash for the hospital this morning. She is now hospitalized. Details below.
Not only do Lilly’s elimination issues persist (nearly 6 weeks now), but we’re two days into another significant setback of some sort. It’s hard to tell what’s what since the symptoms of her vaccine-induced brain inflammation and treatment side-effects are so similar.
Lilly’s elimination issues continue. Things have improved, in part, because we’re not pushing fluids nearly as much. However, her elimination schedule and control are still off.
