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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Patt & all,

Just wanted to fill you in about Holly. Vet did extensive blood tests today and sending out overnight and should have back by tomorrow. He also did 2 x-rays, one of heart area and abdomen. The heart is enlarged into the 4th rib cage, normal is within the 3rd rib cage, plus she has alot of fluid around the lungs. The x-ray on the abdomen showed so much fluid that he could barely see her internal organs. He is so concerned at this point because of the both of them and heart disease should make her so weak and no appetite, she is lethargic, but her appetite has never left her, still always starving and because of her young age.

He said if blood work comes back good, then he will consult with specialist to see what he is missing. So I will post again tomorrow of when we have the news of the blood work.

Keep your fingers crossed for us, that it is maybe the Hypothyroidism and can be treated.

Thanks,
Linda

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Linda,

Thanks for the update. I am so sorry it wasn’t better results. I suppose you can have heart trouble at any age but she does seem young for that. Possibly it’s a birth defect. Does she have any of the following; coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing? Be sure to watch her gums, they should be pink, if they start turning a lighter color or white, you need to call your vet immediately.

Thyroid & heart conditions are treatable. It’s also a good idea to get a second opinion from a specialist. Here’s a couple of links I found that may or may not be helpful.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1597&articleid=449

http://www.vetinfo.com/dogheart.html

Fingers and paws crossed and I will be sending positive thoughts and prayers for Holly. Big (((hugs))) for you.

Patt

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Patt,

No she is not coughing, shortness of breath of problems breathing, which is what stumped the vet, but she is pretty much lethargic these last two weeks. He said if blood tests all came back good, he would call his cardiologist and specialists to help him figure out something. We are in a small town in Western NC(Brevard), so he is limited, but deals with Raleigh, NC for all the specialists. Plus the owners in Atlanta have special big vet hospitals.

Thanks for the links I will check them out, and let you know as soon as we hear something.

Thanks also for the prayers and paw crossing!
Linda

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Your welcome!

Sounds like your vet is on the ball. I'll be waiting for the update.

Patt

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Patt and all,
Just wanted to update you on Holly. The blood tests are still not back in, I talked to the vet this morning. We had a snowstorm here this morning and got 6 inches of snow. He said he had gone over to Raleigh yesterday to take a sick cat and checked in with them and they said they were so swamped but would try and hurry them along.

Good news is Holly has lost all of her abdomen fluid! She is back to normal size for now, but we are out of the lasix and think that is what did it, but not sure. On Tuesday after the vet on Monday, she slept all day, barely moved except to eat and pee, and then yesterday we noticed the fluid coming off and more pep and today she was out playing in the snow and having a blast. Mon & Tues she was doing this thing after she ate, where she would throw her head up in the air and back like something stuck in throat, and vet said that is a small trach thing, but then yesterday and today she has not done it. Also biting crazy at her back side near backend, so now thinking maybe something is trying to pass, just don't know at this point. Even vet agreed could be possible.

We are heading down that way tomorrow and will stop at the vet and talk with him and probably get more lasix in case she starts blowing up again and if blood work is back. But I think I read somewhere that bloodwork will not show heart problems if that is what truely was causing it.

At this point just so happy that she is back to normal, even was playing with toys today and we have a nickname for her "Holly Honker" because she makes this little honking noise when you play with her and so funny and she was doing that today.

So, again will keep you posted as we find out.

Thanks,
Linda

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Linda,

Thanks for the update on Holly Honker. LOL I was really starting to get worried but then no news is good news as they use to say.

I’m happy to hear the fluid has gone down in her belly. It’s great the Lasix finally kicked in. As for biting her hind quarters sounds like she might have a flea. Please do not take offense, she has been out and about and may have picked up a stray one. Fleas love to go to the rear b/c most times the dog can’t reach ‘em. Do you have Advantage? You might apply that and see if it helps. Even if you don’t see the flea I would still apply it, unless your vet says no.

To diagnose heart problems you need an ultrasound. Dogs with mild to moderate heart problems typically experience coughing, lethargy, not interested in eating and difficulty breathing. When my Bichon started having heart problems the first sign I noticed was coughing in the morning when she got up. She didn’t have any of the other signs until later. I think you mentioned before that the vet didn’t think it was her heart. She is young but I guess it could happen at any age.

For the honking noise it sounds like “reverse sneezing” and nothing to worry about!!! Here’s a couple of links to check it out. Doxie’s are prone to this.

http://www.thedachshundnetwork.com/revsneez.htm

http://www.beaglebuddies.com/misc/reverse.html

Anyways I’m pleased to hear Holly is back to normal and enjoying her life with you. She really is a cutie.

Take care!
Patt

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Patt,

Talked again with the vet in person today, and he still is really bewildered by this all. He did not hear anything abnormal in her heart and her symptoms were not that of a dog with heart problems. She never coughed, panted nor did she ever loose her appetite, but she was very, very letharic during it all.

She doesn't honk all the time, it is more when we play with her, kind of like a moan but really funny. Anyway, today, her abdomen is back to the size when we got her, so the vet said we will just leave it alone, he didn't get the blood work back yet, and he said at the first sign if she starts to blow up again, he wants her down at his office.

As far as the biting, we have combed her and combed her and nothing on her. We have our house sprayed every three months and it has been freezing cold up here, so not sure, but it is only once in a while that she does this.

I'll let you know as soon as we hear anything else.

Thanks and take care,
Linda

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Linda,

Thanks for the update. It’s too bad that your vet can’t figure out what’s wrong with Holly. I think if it were me I would get a second opinion. Or maybe all this will be “just a one time thing” and you’ll never know why. It’s good to hear she doesn’t have a heart problem. I’m happy Holly’s little body is staying normal. As for the blood tests, you’ve got to wonder where he sent them since they’re not all back. LOL

Yeah, when I first heard my dogs honk, it was weird, but it’s quite common in Doxies. Trixie doesn’t honk but she has an unusual cough every once in a while.

The flea bit was just a thought. Another idea is she has a little sharp shooting pain that hits her every once in a while. Too bad they can't talk to explain what the problem is.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Patt

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Patt & All,

Well, good news, Holly's blood tests finally came back and all is good, no problems what so ever. Our vet took Blood work and x-rays to a specialist in Raleigh to discuss everything, and the specialist said that she had two other cases almost just like Holly's and same thing happened, bloating went down and back to normal, and they never did figure out what happened, nor did it ever happen again.

They both suggested at this time, because she is fine to leave it alone. If at some point this should happen again, then would have to go into extensive testing into the liver, heart and abdomen & stomach, which would cost alot of money.

So as long as Holly is good, which she is, we are going to let it alone.

Thanks and sorry for taking so long to come back on and let you know, I have a mound of paperwork on my desk.

Thanks,
Linda

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi Linda,

That is super news about Holly. I'm happy to hear she is doing well. It‘s sad but sometimes you never do know what causes an illness. This can happen to people too.

ITA with the vets... and I love the saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. With any luck this will just be a one time thing. Cross fingers.

I wish your family the best. I’m so glad ya’ll found each other.

Take care,
Patt

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New adopted dachshund

Hi everyone,

Well, I am sorry to say, I am back and tonight for the first time Holly had a seizure. It was not a bad one, but definetly a seizure. I had just taken both dogs out and Holly did both of her things outside, came in, and went to get their treats for the night, and looked over and Holly was in the hallway, laying down on her side with legs stretched out and shaking and I went over to her, called my husband, and she was pooping at the same time. I am calling the vet first thing in the morning.

She has really not been herself the last few weeks, very lazy, doesn't really want to walk, tires very easily, and really not playful at all. I am thinking it is Hypothyroidism, which the vet had mentioned when her stomach blew up, but thought he had tested her for that. But obviously something is wrong now.

I will keep yo posted.

Thanks,
Linda