My mother's little dog.

[AZChins]

Yesterday my mother called me because she found a towel completely soaked with blood in the laundry room where her dogs sleep. They rushed Princess to the vet (she's a chihuahua mix.) Princess had a lot of bleeding under her skin, she was bleeding out in her kidneys and has purple marks all over indicating her condition.

My mom was told that this is actually something that happens with dogs out of the blue and isn't all that uncommon. This morning Princess needed a blood transfusion, she is on prednisone and other things. I can't remember the condition's name (I am bad at remembering those long names) but apparently Princess can't clot properly and her blood count is very, very off.

I'm so worried...I am just sick to my stomach. This is a little dog that everyone loves to death. She's definitely a huge part of our family and losing her is going to hurt everyone so much. She's not a dog, she's a fuzzy little person, who likes to lick everyone.

The next two days are critical for Princess. They should be able to stabilize her and get her through this. I've never heard of such a thing happening with a dog. It isn't genetic, it isn't from her being poisoned...it just happened.

I had to type something about it just because I had to.

Thanks for listening.

 

[Dustbunnies]

Goodness, Susan, I've never heard of such a thing coming on so suddenly! I am pulling for her. My dog is my life....I completely understand. Keep us in the loop...you never know when your experience can help someone else or visa versa.

 

[starleomach]

Susan I will keep her in my thoughts I really really hope she pulls through

 

[eroomlorac]

Sounds terrible. I hope the little dog pulls through okay.

 

[AZChins]

She ate some soft canned chicken at the vet's. She's still in very critical condition. Poor little thing. If they can get her through another couple days, she will probably be able to recover. She's perked up since she got the transfusion and ate a little.

My mother said that her little tummy is purple from the problem. Poor baby. They live a couple hours away from me, or I'd be up in Phoenix with Princess.

I think that the saddest thing is that Princess has a brother. His name is Butchie. They've spent every single day together their entire lives. He's so out of sorts right now, he really misses his sister. I am so scared that if she passes away he will pass away, too. He loves her so much...

I just can't believe this is happening. It's a bad dream, but I can't wake up...

I think I get way too attached to dogs. Nothing had better happen to anyone else for years and years.

 

[CTChin]

Susan, I'm praying for the little girl. Don't feel bad. I'm attached to all my relative's animals. How can you not? they are famiy too.

 

[eroomlorac]

How old is this little dog and can you get the name of what she has so I can research it? I have a couple little dogs, too.

 

[AZChins]

Princess is only six. The name of the condition was long and I am so bad at remembering veterinary jargon. It was something thrombosis...I can't remember. Something that impacted the production of platelets and clotting is inhibited allowing for the animal to bleeding abnormally into the intestines, kidneys and under the skin. I should have listened more closely, but I still would get it wrong. I'll ask tomorrow when I speak to my mom...she can rattle it off like it's nothing because she's a nurse and those words come easy to her.

I hope that she gets better and this was something that was just a one time thing. My mother's husband is "daddy" to Princess...he's been beside himself the last couple of days. I just want to fast forward through this week so I don't have to worry about it.

 

[warmice]

Oh no! that's a terrible news! Hope everything will be okay for the little girl. I'll keep her in my prayers. Keep us updated yeah?

 

[eroomlorac]

Could it have been Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation? The vet might have called it Disseminated Intravascular Thrombosis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disseminated_intravascular_coagulation

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec14/ch173/ch173h.html

I hope the little dog pulls through this. I wonder what triggered it. I work in a hospital and this usually only happens to people post surgery or childbirth but even then it's not too common. Something must have started the clotting cascade to start which then wouldn't stop and depleted all the dog's clotting factors.

 

[tunes]

Keeping our fingers crossed here for her Susan. Poor little thing.

 

[Tanya]

I hope Princess pulls through. Fingers and paws are crossed here.

 

[CTChin]

oh yuck It sounds like immune-mediated hemolytic anemia or thrombosis. I've seen dogs survive this Susan. Fingers crossed!!

 

[Jadebf700]

Poor little girl. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[PetProductsByNature]

I'm so sorry to hear this Susan. Princess is in our thoughts & prayers and all chinnie paws crossed here for a easy recovery and a gentle couple of days. Glad to hear that she perked up after the transfusion...

 

[AZChins]

It's definitely an immune response. I'll pay attention and write down the name next time I talk to my mother!

I haven't heard anything yet today, but I am sure that I will. Right now I just can't think of this dog just not being around anymore! It's not possible for her to go away. Every time I go to Phoenix I have to stop by and see everyone...that means mostly that I spend an hour holding onto Princess (so that she will be quiet and calm down.) She goes crazy when she sees me...her little back end can't keep up with her tail wagging at a thousand beats per second.

Thanks everyone.

 

[AZChins]

thrombocytopenia That's what it is called. Poor little doggie.

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/thrombocytopenia-in-dogs/page1.aspx

 

[eroomlorac]

I hope she is doing better. Keep us updated.

 

[Newt]

oh no that poor wee girl
Here's wishing her a speedy recovery xxxxx

 

[AZChins]

Last night she was alright. Her "cell count" hadn't gone down dramatically since she received the transfusion so the vet was feeling more optimistic. Princess also ate an entire can of chicken!

She did pass some clots in her stools, but it wasn't horrible according to the vet. We do need for her to start making platelets again.

It's very strange but her littermate, who lives here, has been acting very weird the last few days. He's on high alert. I have been checking him over and over to see if there's something wrong with him. There's nothing physically wrong with him! My husband thinks he knows about his sister being sick. The other brother, who lives with my mother (ok, I planned that) shakes constantly because his sister is just gone.

I'm hoping that Princess can come home tomorrow. She will get better faster at home because that's where all her favorite people happen to be!