I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but Abbye suffers from chronic canine Ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne disease similar to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. We suspect that she contracted it as a pup, before she came to us, as we believe she was out on her own for a while before the Humane Society found her.
She gets an annual blood test for the condition, and she continues to test positive. The treatment is a round of antibiotics that are effective in suppressing the symptoms for about a year, at which time another test may indicate that the organism that causes the disease has been snuffed. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case with Abbye, and may never be.
Anyway, we’re approaching the one year anniversary of the last round of antibiotics and she’s starting to show symptoms again. The blood test confirmed that she’s still got the Ehrlichiosis, but she’s also got some significantly elevated liver enzymes which has the vet a bit concerned.
Obviously, we’re concerned too. She threw up about eight times over the weekend (that’s always been the first obvious symptom), shows little interest in food but is drinking water to excess (diabetes has been ruled out, btw). Her coat is also thinning out. But the most telling sign that she doesn’t feel good is that she wants to sit in my lap while I’m working, and if there’s one thing Abbye is not, it’s a lap dog.
The vet has a plan laid out, but it’s not something that will show results or even a diagnosis in just a few hours. When your dog doesn’t feel good, nothing feels good, especially when you’re not sure about the problem or the cure.
While we’re not yet at the point of worry, let’s say we’ve slipped over the edge of anxiousness. Knowing how some of you feel about Abbye, I’ll be sure to keep you posted on her progress.
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My thoughts are with you and Abbye! Being as I love my little dog, I can understand how hard it is when they are not well.
Thanks Rachel…I do appreciate it. And I’m happy to report that she’s at least feeling better this evening, even if we’re still unsure of the diagnosis. She’s not too happy about not getting anything to eat, and that’s a good sign!
poor pup….
When they are sick, they don’t care much for fetching and when a dog won’t fetch then you call it a cat.
She’s always been a very feline-like canine. Very independent, and couldn’t care less about fetching.
“When your dog doesn’t feel good, nothing feels good, especially when you’re not sure about the problem or the cure.”
That’s true of anyone you love, Eric. You can’t help but worry and worry more about the future. It’s something that gnaws at you all the time, even when you think you’re pre-occupied with something else. It’s like a torn muscle inside of who you are. You always feel it.
Having been where you are, I can only hope and pray for Abbye’s recovery. Here’s hoping it’s a “bug” that goes (and stays) away. Quickly.