Update on Nibbles

[nibblesmama]

Nibbles. She was doing so good. Friday there was no head tilt. I picked her up and out GUSHED green gooey nastiness. :cry3: I called the vet, she said to flush her, so we have been. Today, she's so tilted she's spinning. She can't walk very well. So off we go to the vet. I was in total panic mode. We sent off a sample of the goo to see what kind of infection and she showed me how to do the deep internal flush. She sucked out so much goo there's no way all that could have been in her little skull. She gave her SubQ fluids and sent me home with all that stuff to do once a day to keep her hydrated since she's too tilted to drink.
We're maintaining they eye meds, ear meds and flushing until the goo study comes back. SIGH.
I'm just so upset after all the stuff we're doing, she's not getting better. I just don't understand and I just feel so helpless.

 

[saphire]

I don't know how long you have been doing all the stuff, but give it a chance. I know it can be difficulte but keep your hope up. It takes time to heal.

 

[nibblesmama]

This is the beginning of week 5.

 

[saphire]

5 weeks, hum.... Has your vet asked you to go back for a follow up on her situation? If not maybe it should be done, cause after five weeks I believe some improvement should be showing..
Personally that's what I would do.

Courrage sweety

 

[nibblesmama]

Yeah, we are in constant contact with the vet. She's consulting with Dr. Fitzgerald (from Alameda East here in Denver) and we're going to figure out what to do.
Nibbles was so sweet this morning, she cuddled up to me this morning and took her meds with no problems and held onto my thumb with her bad ear in my palm. I almost brought her to work with me so she could cuddle with me all day. I gave her a head rub and rubbed her eyes (which she loves) real good.
Dale gave her a willow stick last night, he pushed it through the bars to her. How sweet is that? Every day I'm amazed at how intelligent they really are.

 

[lauralynne]

Poor Nibbles! Get well soon, honey!

 

[mishellyshel]

Poor Nibbles!! I have taken my sick chin to work with me a couple times. He loves sitting on my desk and keeping his eye on me all day!!

 

[Jenn]

I am so sorry this has been such a huge battle for poor Nibbles, and so hard on you. Don't give up, though. Nibbles sounds like a fighter and you have to be there for her, equally strong, to get her through this. Hopefully this will be a distant memory soon.

 

[Tanya]

Poor Nibbles! I remember that she had ear infection and was getting baytril drops and bactrim.
Just wanted to say that chronic ear infections are very difficult to treat, they go away but then come back
If you try other meds and they fail too, then I strongly recommend to try homeopathy. Oregano (natural antibiotic, more powerful than many prescription antibiotics) .Life line has some oregano, but I would give little extra. And some ear drops. Propolis drops work great to treat acute and chronic inner ear infection.
A little off topic but when I had UTI my doctor was prescribing antibiotics, it was going away and then coming back ( it was like that 3 times!). Only when I took some natural antibiotic and uva ursi herb I finally got rid of it.
Maybe you can talk to some homeopathic veterinarians, Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy lists some vets here http://www.theavh.org/referral/certifieds.php.
Fingers and paws are crossed here for Nibbles speedy and complete recovery!

 

[nibblesmama]

Vet and are going to touch base Friday.

Oregano eh. Does whole foods or someplace like that have it? Is it drops or do I need to hit up the produce department and make her eat it? I'll try anything now to help her.

 

[Tanya]

I think you can find Oregano oil (oreganol) at Whole foods. You just need to put 1 drop in small amount of CC (it's very strong if placed undiluted directly in the mouth) and make her eat it. After that you can give some more CC ( without oregano) to make sure she gets more water. It should be given for a week or so.
In addition getting some ear drops would be great too. Propolis works great. I think there are some oregano ear drops as well ( it's not straight oregano, it's diluted)

 

[nibblesmama]

Culture back

Nibbles has the pseudomonas bacteria. It's contagious, so I'm glad shes in her own cage. We have to do a very invasive flush of her inner ear 2x a day (poor thing!!) and tonight we start her on injectable gentamiacin and the same directly in her ear. It's the only one that will kill this bacteria off.
So we have a plan and now we're getting rolling with getting my little girl better!! This explains why the other antibiotics aren't helping, this bacteria is resistant to them.
I asked the vet what causes this and she said again that she could have picked it up a while ago and it just grew and grew. So who knows. Kimaya and Dale don't have it and are acting fine - I've been obsessively checking them too. So far she's a fighter - bloating was the first sign that something was wrong as it get in the intestines too. She said most times with this bacteria they can die very quickly, usually from the stasis or dehydration. We've been super aggressive with her treatment, so I think we are on the right track. She was following me around this morning as I was getting ready for work, she gets a little burst of energy after we get the nasties out of her ear. The culture was worth every penny!

 

[Kalandra]

This is great news. Not that she has a resistant bacteria, but at least now you know what she has and how to kill it. Culture & Sensitivity tests are an absolute wonderful test to have done when something doesn't clear up after the first round of antibiotics. Saves so much time and suffering on the part of our beloved furred friends.

 

[saphire]

:dance3: great news:thumbsup: she's quite a chin.:dance3:

 

[Heku]

:hug2: So glad you are on the road to recovery *cheers* CONGRATS! Keep us updated! :dance3:

 

[Newt]

Glad to hear that you've got a handle on the type of bug and how to get rid of it. Here's wishing Nibbles a quick recovery xxxxx
And well done you for being such a good mommy and chin nurse!

 

[nibblesmama]

Update (

Nibbles passed at 2:20pm today. :cry3: She started having seizures over night and this morning was in and out of shock. I went to check on her at 2pm (was checking on her every 15 minutes) and she was seized tight and panting so I scooped her up and took her in. The exam showed that she had gone blind overnight, most likely from the infection getting in her brain. She couldn't stand and was struggling to breathe. I couldn't let that little angel chin suffer anymore. She was dying in my hands and we let her go with dignity.
This little baby has been through so much and was such a fighter. I called the vet and said "she's seizing and I can't let her suffer." She said "honey, you've done everything possible, I think we were just one step behind this nasty infection." God love her, she did everything as well. Now we are both more educated in Chin health and she's more prepared if someone in the future comes in with an ear infection with bloat (the two main symptoms of this bacteria present together.)
They are fragile little creatures and we did what we could, spared no expense and gave her the best life we could in the short 8 months we've had her.
Thank you all for your support and cheerleading. I miss my angel.

 

[AZChins]

I'm so sorry. That's just not fair.

 

[Tanya]

I am so very sorry to hear you lost Nibbles.
Rest in peace sweet baby, you pain free now.:angel6:
She knows how much you loved her and how hard you tried.

 

[Rickman]

Sorry you're 'little fighter' didn't make it - you're right, fragile, as sometimes something small can be fatal!
Thank you for posting this problem, as it gives us all another symptom to watch for, and possibly catch in time!