Red is not well

[HAH]

@MellowYellow - no she didn’t but funnily enough I saw you say giardia on Poppy’s thread so I’ve just being reading about it. I will ring the vets tomorrow

Symptoms do sound a lot like Kipper’s chronic giardia he had as a pup - it took the vets a long time to diagnose it, although I discovered since that it’s apparently very common.

 

[Selina27]

Poor Red still being under the weather, a vet check does sound like a good idea.
Did they give you any advice regarding what sort of recovery you could expect?
I guess no 2 cases are the same, but some guidelines might be helpful.

 

[Atemas]

Did they give you any advice regarding what sort of recovery you could expect?

She said about a week but this is now

Maybe take a poo sample in case the vet can check that too?

Good idea - I will do that

 

[Atemas]

Red is to have an ultrasound tomorrow. She’ll also have bloods done again. I have to collect samples like @MellowYellow - 3 days - the results will take a week. Dependent on results will decide further tests.

So tomorrow she has no breakfast - she is really not going to like that. She will also have a big area of fur shaved

 

[MellowYellow]

I really hope this will give you some answers Alison, and a way forward. Poor Red. But this is definitely for the best.

 

[Loraseal]

We will be thinking of you tomorrow. I hope you get answers so you can plan a path forward x

 

[Atemas]

I am in a dilemma - have just read the pre-anaesthetic instructions. There are additional optional extras which I turned down two years ago when Red had her teeth cleaned. She was 6 then and is 8 now. The routine pre-anaesthetic blood test which they strongly advise in dogs over 7 is £89.50. I will have to do another claim (I am getting some of the money from her treatment 3 weeks ago but not all) so I may not get that when I have to do the next claim which I am hoping won’t be a problem.

Anyone with an older dog who has declined these optional extras - any advice please?

 

[Jacqui-S]

Gosh Alison, that is hard.
Why is it optional? Do they need it to make the procedure safer? Or is it a "whilst we are there" approach.

I remember my elderly grandfather-in-law being offered an "optional" ECG prior to his first hip replacement op in the private sector.
I was quite shocked, the NHS would do it on everyone as a routine pre op.

 

[Atemas]

It says ‘the test gives information on your pet’s internal organs, in particular the liver and kidneys. In the early stages of reduced organ function, your pet may not be showing any signs of illness, which is why this blood test is so import to pick up these problems, particularly in older animals. Identifying these problems enables us to greatly reduce the anaesthetic risk by giving supportive therapy before, during and after the anaesthetic. We strongly advise all animals coming in for anaesthesia be blood tested, but particularly those pets over the age of 7 years’.

i don’t understand what the supportive therapy is. I will ask

 

[Stacia]

It says ‘the test gives information on your pet’s internal organs, in particular the liver and kidneys. In the early stages of reduced organ function, your pet may not be showing any signs of illness, which is why this blood test is so import to pick up these problems, particularly in older animals. Identifying these problems enables us to greatly reduce the anaesthetic risk by giving supportive therapy before, during and after the anaesthetic. We strongly advise all animals coming in for anaesthesia be blood tested, but particularly those pets over the age of 7 years’.

i don’t understand what the supportive therapy is. I will ask

I declined with Rourke. Supportive therapy may be giving a drip? Maybe I would agree with Red as you don't really know what is going on.

 

[MellowYellow]

Oh, so the ultrasound is under anaesthetic? Any ultrasound my dogs have had has been done either just with a light sedative, or without anything, depending on what was being checked. But I guess maybe they think she would not hold still for long enough; perhaps they need to position her on her back. It does sound a bit much to charge extra for pre-anaesthesia blood work, when they are going to be doing a blood test anyway - maybe they only need to do one test, in which case I think it would be worth it.

 

[Selina27]

I can understand your dilemma Alison, I hope today goes as smoothly as possible .

 

[Joy]

I hope everything goes smoothly today and it produces some answers. With Molly in the past I have declined blood tests but ticked the 'extra fluids' options (while feeling a bit cross because surely if a dog needs a drip for medical reasons it should just be given.)

 

[Selina27]

(while feeling a bit cross because surely if a dog needs a drip for medical reasons it should just be given.)

Quite.

 

[Atemas]

Bless her she is so good waiting at the vets and always pleased to see ‘her’ vet. After all that I wasn’t asked about the extras and I didn’t raise it. I have to trust they will do the right thing for my girl

 

[Candy]

I really hope all goes well today Alison, that you get some answers and that Red is soon on the mend.
She's such a sweet, lovely girl and Joy very much enjoyed meeting her last year.
Between us we are sending lots of love, some gentle wags and licks and of course some .

 

[Jacqui-S]

 

[Cath]

 

[Atemas]

She’s home. Ultrasound was fine - she has a slightly enlarged spleen but vet said that’s nothing to worry about. Blood tests are ok. Will take fecal samples in tomorrow and results in a week. If the loose poo/diarrhoea persists after that we’ll be looking at her diet

She’s had a large area shaved and I have ordered a donut collar just in case!

 

[Emily]

I hope things go well and she's feeling better soon.

We opted for the extra bloods last time but that's because Ella is so bad at the vet so rarely checked over at all.