peacefrog

Hi Pepi It's ricegirl from RC. Really sorry to hear Pepi didn't make it, I was following your updates over there and was really happy to hear he had pulled through. It seems unfair he was taken like this after all of that and you must be completely devastated. You did absolutely everything in your power that you could do for your boy and he knew that. I lost my beloved girl in February, I have never felt pain like it. I was a mess the first few nights, I didn't know when I would be able to stop the tears and start coping. What really helped me in the end was getting out of the house and going away for a few days - if you can do this you won't regret it as it helps so much, think of it as a time of healing. On this trip I came to a simple realisation - She had a great life. We cannot control disease, illness or age but we can ensure that each day that they are beside us are the absolute best. What more can you ask of yourself than to give them this? Thankfully, I think we are designed to hurt less as time passes. You never ever forget the special souls who pass through your life but you learn to accept that some are here only for a short time, it doesn't mean you love them any less if/when you find another to take their physical place. The heaven I believe in has all of my special pets waiting for me there

Loraine, is it just blackening of the skin or is it raised? It would make me wonder if my girl has the same thing. It doesn't seem to be bothering her in the slightest but I am a cautious mumma atm. Blacklabrador- It is mostly just to the sides of her belly where her coat ends and the smooth skin begins, if that makes sense. Her belly is still normal colour. She has always had grey colouring in this area and it has only increased in darkness. I gave her a wash yesterday and thought she was darker then usual across her back as well - I could just be paranoid as I really don't wash her enough myself to really know for sure, or it could be from the sun as you say as she was clipped very short a few weeks ago.

Hi everyone, I have recently changed my 5 yo Shih Tzu girl over to a raw diet and have noticed in the last few weeks that her skin has noticeably changed from normal pink with grey pigment to darker, almost black in parts. It is not smelly and doesn't appear to be itchy or irritated. I have read that it can be normal for their skin colour to change colour but I think it's a little strange that this has happened in in the 6 weeks or so that I have changed her diet and I'm worried that it may be presenting as an allergy. I feed her a variety of RMB, chicken wings and frames, fresh and tinned fish, offal and raw meats, with the staple of her diet being chunks of beef cheek about 4-5 nights per week. Could she perhaps be getting too much red meat? She is absolutely loving raw, besides becoming a little bit too tubby -which I need to address, but otherwise I would hate to take her back to a commercial or kibble only diet. She is due for her vacc's this month and I'm going to get her titer tested, so I'm wondering if there is any kind of blood work I can get done at the same time to see how everything is going on the inside??

I've recently started my shih tzu on a new diet full of bones, fresh meats, fish etc- not so much the full raw principals, but the main objective was to move away from the commercial tinned foods and feed her human grade meats. I introduced the raw meats into her tinned food for the first couple of days but she was having a great deal of tummy upset. She is prone to mild attacks of pancreatitis so I thought this was what was happening,so I took her to the vet and explained what I was doing and why I wanted to continue. She didn't have the pancreatitis but just an upset tummy so he put her on a dose of ant-acids which really helped and mentioned to poach her meat a little until she gets used to it. I have done this for the last 3 weeks and the problem has gone away, so now I'll slowly be introducing her back to raw. Now she is accepting everything, her tummy has settled, the next step is to ensure she is getting everything she needs in her new diet. I am at a loss as to whether to go full BARF, add in a supplement to what I'm currently doing- like Vet's All Natural or a premium dry food instead. This is an example of what she has been getting, (all meats have been poached so far). Morning: 1 x chicken wing or RMB tin of tuna/sardines in springwater or tin of pink salmon with dollop of cottage cheese or tablespoons of scrambled eggs 1-2 days a week I give her nothing Evening: Diced veal or round steak - or Chicken, rice and vegetable puree mix 1-2x weekly Poached liver or kidney or heart 2x weekly + add in raw egg and/or ground egg shells, cottage cheese etc Would a) appreciate other things I can introduce to her diet - I guess if I want to go raw I need to introduce alot more bones. & b) How I am going for balance - obviously when all of the above is fed raw. I've read so much on chicken frames? How are these fed? ARe they suitable for small dogs??

Hi Sarahs Mum, thank-you for sharing your story. It is so nice to hear the positive stories for a change! I hope Sarah continues to improve for you. :D

Sounds like what my maltese x shih tzu used to do when she was asleep, especially if she slept on her back! It was called elongated soft palate which I think typically effects short nosed breeds. She eventually stopped doing it but I think if it becomes chronic they can do a surgery.

Sending healing vibes for Olympus and plenty of hugs for you. Hope he comes home soon.

Definitely agree there groupfive, it's constantly on your mind, but when you go about your business and momentarily forget it's the little things that get you. Esmay came this afternoon, she is in a gorgeous little tabletop cabinet and I can put in a photo, collar and toy, it's something I will keep forever of my little girl. I was looking forward to having her home aswell. It's the last phase of the grief I suppose, now it's just time that is needed to heal. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles with the cremation company, that is very bad form in a time of grief! I can't believe it has taken them that long :rolleyes: Esmay passed on Tuesday and was picked up and cremated on the Wed and then it was just a matter of waiting for the plaques to be done. I hope you get some answers soon!

Our trip away was amazing Dyzney, we went to the country and camped beside a waterfall for 3 nights...was just the best! I am coping pretty well, a few tears here and there but each day becomes a little easier. Esmay comes home this afternoon, I am really looking forward to that! I am thinking about taking in some giveaway Maltese & Shih Tzu's, one dog at a time, and rehoming them. I would love to do something like that for awhile.

I love border collies, our first dog was a border collie. They are my favourite "big" dog I can't remember feeling like this when we lost him, but he was the family dog and not really mine. I do think you are right in that the first dog you lose is the hardest and then it just becomes different. I think you also start to realise that they are here for only a short time and that's just the way it is. I got Esmay just after we lost a close family member, so I think we all latched onto her in our time of grief and she quickly pulled us out of it with her antics! She was one hilarious dog. I think part of our grief is in losing her so young in the way that we did but the majority would be her just not being here. The amount of times I have turned around expecting her to be behind me before remembering - I think that's going to take the longest to come to terms with. Anyway, I'm going to go watch a movie and relax a bit. Today was the first day I have managed to accomplish anything from "normal" life so I feel some unwinding is in order...and it had to be my favourite activity of washing and the 5 loads that came home from our camping trip!

Thanks Tassie, I agree I've said it over and over - the support here is just amazing!! It was such a comfort to visit each day and see the well wishes and prayers for Esmay, asking how she was going etc, and I even spoke to Dyzney on the phone and email many times over the course of her illness whose tireless support and guidance just floored me! It truly felt as though I wasn't going through it alone, which is not a nice feeling. In time I hope I can assist others in the same way. I'm so sorry you lost Sam What sort of dog was he?

Thanks groupfive ;) At first I had felt cheated in a way because on the Saturday when she suddenly declined I was ready to do it and be there for her but those extra few days after just really wore me down and I must have started to feel that she wouldn't be coming home so it gave me the opportunity to shut it all out. I hope your holding up okay. It was after your boy passed that it really hit me how serious this was and that I could lose Esmay too. Not that I would wish this on any one in a million years, but I'm glad that we went through it together at the same time. Along with the support of other's like Dyzney, Bokezu and others who lost their dogs to this damn disease, it was a comfort to have that

Thanks again everyone, thanks layka that is so nice of you Esmay was needing sometimes 2 transfusions to get her through each day, so in the end the dropping red cell count became the bigger problem. The vet suggests it was "Evan's Syndrome" which is where ITP and AIHA occur simultaneously. Saturday was a very bad night, they rang at 6pm to tell us she was bleeding heavily and they were having trouble getting her stable. After processing this, we called back and asked them if we should start thinking about letting her go - that night was long and horrible - however she came good again and then had a really good day on Sunday. Such is the nature of this disease, the highs and lows are incredible. On Tuesday we received back the results of the bone marrow biopsy and it showed she wasn't producing any red cells at all, there was also other things in the biopsy that they couldn't really identify, so there was probably something else going on as well. The day before we were told they were going to start her on a new drug, so when they phoned on Tuesday to tell us the results of the biopsy we decided that we would give her 2 more days to see if this new drug worked, however when my partner and my dad went to see the vet to tell him this Esmay was in a bad way, bleeding from the nose, bloody diarrhea and they didn't have any spots left to draw blood etc so they made the choice to let her go. The last time I saw her she was comfortable and relaxed, so even though I will probably feel guilty in time that I wasn't strong enough to be there to say goodbye, I am glad that my last memory of her is a nice one. From diagnosis to letting her go it was 8 days! She had 9 blood transfusions, an array of drugs and treatments and she fought every bit of the way but her body just wasn't responding. When the vet put her down he said she was one hard little dog to read, as even on her darkest days her little eyes were alert and following everything that went on. I miss her so much, and even though this pain has been absolutely horrendous, the happiness she brought into our lives over 4.5 short years just cannot be measured. We had a great few days away, that allowed us to heal a little bit and realise a few things - illness and disease is a fact of life, the important thing is while they are here they had a fantastic life. Right now I am taking great comfort in the thought of fostering and want to start asap!

Thank you to all who replied and passed on advice, well wishes and prayers. We really appreciate it alot

My baby is gone! I can't believe it !!!! :laugh: We are heartbroken

Thank you so much Dyzney for keeping the topic updated. I have been coping okay but am feeling completely drained!!! This disease is a marathon, there is so much going on , the progress is so up and down eacy and every day and there is so much information to get my head around. I feel I'm not doing so great understanding the complete in's and out's but people like Dyzney and other sources online are breaking it down for me. The vet suspects Esmay has Evan's Syndrome, which is where ITP & AIHA both occur. Where we are at today is Esmay has had her 7th blood transfusion; She still has very little platelets and her red cells aren't holding between transfusions. They are going to do a bone marrow biopsy today to see if the cells are being produced and are still just being killed off, or if nothing is happening at all. (In which case, I don't know what happens then - is that it? does that mean red cells will never be produced?.) The vet isn't very happy with her decline across the weekend and thinks she should have progressed more by now. She is being started on a new drug this afternoon - which I will supply the name of when I find out. I have forwarded my vet an email I received from Dr Jean Dodd's who suggested they start her on a thyroid hormone treatment as well as an indepth article she wrote on this disease. I'm not sure if this will provide any new information but I figure nothing ventured nothing gained. I am also thinking of suggesting they put her on a Milk Thistle supplement to aid in protecting her liver from all the treatments she is receiving, alot of owner's start their pets on it after the intial treatment but I'm wondering if it can be started whilst she is in the midst of this serious treatment?? I am really willing to try anything, no matter how silly it may seem at this point in time.

Thanks Bokezu, Dyzney gave me the link to Jordy's story and it was so heartbreaking to realise in the end that he didn't make it. Well 4th blood transfusion needed today, still no change. She was vomiting abit overnight, maybe from the treatment? Feeling so freaking frustrated!!!! I I don't really ahve the words right now, I am at work and trying to keep it together!

Thanks Vari :p dyzney, they said it is very dangerous to come in contact with any remanence of faeces due to the chemo treatment she has had. It was a little confronting actually but all apart of the process I guess. Hopefully an update this morning - and for some good news.

Well, the vet phoned this afternoon and said they gave her her third transfusion. I have second hand information so I'm not quite sure of the finer details but I think she is off the cortisone treatment now and onto chemo tablets instead. The vet said she is looking the best she has seen her which is so good to hear! We went to visit her earlier tonight and we had to wear gloves to handle her from the treatment. She was so tired and sleepy but the blood in her eyes is starting to fade and she is getting some colour back into her gums. I was so happy earlier to hear this news after such a long, emotional day at work but I'm on a bit of a downer again now as I really just want to see the numbers start creeping up now. So I yet again begin hoping for the positive news to come tomorrow, Day 6!!! I would love to thank everyone again for the support, especially Dyzney, you are amazing and tireless in your continuous support of your fellow dol'ers through your own experiences of this disease, even though on each occasion it must dredge up some of those awful memories of your lost girl. Anyway, here are some pics of Esmay at the hospital, these were taken on Tuesday night. She looks a bit groggy but was still quite aware of everything and was happy to walk over to each of us through the duration of our first visit, but has become more subdued each one since starting the treatment. And my 2 girls, Pixie & Esmay in happier times

Moosepup & dogbestotted - that is so reassuring to hear about your babies. Do you know what levels their platelets were at? Were they experiencing the same sort of dramas, nil platlets and decreasing red cell count? I cannot find any similiar cases online where the dogs had absolutely 0 platelets and went on to make it. dogbestotted, I am sorry to hear your baby passed after all you went through, I have read about that link and I know that and possible organ degeneration due to the drugs will be the next worries. But I just want the chance to have her home for now and I will be monitoring her closely for the rest of her life and we will fight the new battles as they come. I may not have the chance to reply again until tonight but please keep the stories coming, it is so nice to hear from others who have been through this.

I am back at work today, so didn't really want to know anything until I got home but just couldn't help myself!! Her red cells have dropped a little bit again so she will probably have her third transfusion today. Her platelets are still 0 I think but they are going to try her on a different course of drugs very soon and that should help. She is able to walk around, is reasonably perky when we first go to see her but gets tired very quickly. She isn't bleeding in her wees or poos, not vomiting blood etc. Just has the bruising over her body (Am I right in my information that this is caused by internal bleeding and isn't abnormal?) and bloody eyes which I think they said was bruising. Each time she has received a blood transfusion because her red cells have dropped I have thought it's the worst thing in the world......but I am so relieved to hear that others have had numerous transfusions until being stablised. This is day 5, WHEN will there be some positive news? groupfive, I am in QLD. Esmay is in 24 hour care at an animal hospital. Some of these specialists sound pretty amazing so I think she is receiving the very best of care there is, now it's just up to here. Thank-you so much for your well wishes in your own time of grief and my sincerest apologies to you again for the loss of your boy yesterday. I am hating on these diseases with a passion!!!

Thanks Dyzney, I just sent you a pm, can you let me know if you don't receive it as the page did something funny as it sent! She is at a vet hospital receiving 24-hour care, they seem to be extremely good and thorough. I know they did mention that if she didn't pick up soon that they will try some stronger drugs. I will find out what these are tonight. She has had a few shots of cortizone in the last 2 or so years for back issues and has always responded quickly to them but may need something a bit stronger now. Thanks for the link to that thread, I tried to search on dol for people who have gone through the same thing but nothing came up in my search! One thing I find that does help is immersing myself in as much information as possible.

Thanks vari, di and teg. Has been ages Tegz! I am trying to remain positive but it's becoming so hard when she isn't progressing as hoped.

groupfive, I am so sorry to hear your special boy hasn't made it.

Thanks so much Moose, do you remember how long it took for her to start responding to the treatment? Esmay's red cells dropped off again overnight after her transfusion on Tuesday night so she has had another one. And now we just wait again for her body to start responding. It's agonising