Well, funny how Maggie’s blog was supposed to be about her cancer journey and now
it’s turned into a kidney disease journey….
On Saturday, she spiked a fever of 104.3. She was shivering and remained like that
for 5 hours or so but it lessened that night and by morning, her temperature was
back to normal of 101.6 and then later in the day, 101.3. This was with the help, of
yet again, my dear sister, Gina, who is also a Vet Tech(for a holistic practice now).
We dosed her with Belladonna 200C 4 times on Saturday night. Her gums were
also very red and tacky. I have been giving her daily subQ fluids and when I realized
she was shivering, I did her fluids early that day thinking it was her kidneys causing it.
Her urine that I collected seemed to be OK via a picture I sent to Gina in color.
Her appetite has been extremely picky but I have been able to get into her on most
days her total amount she normally would eat but it is a HUGE array of variety.
From chicken, to kibble, to freeze dried Primal or Stella and Chewy’s, to canned
foods like Science Diet A/D(high calorie critical care food) and Royal Canin Kidney diet
to Wellness Fish. Chicken has been her mainstay but not since her fever Saturday
night. Since the fever, it’s been a real struggle to get a good amount of food into her
during the course of a day.
So, I took her to the vet today – she’s still there as I write this – and here’s what I have
for news & rehash of her kidney values:
1st check – March 15th – BUN: 63 CREA: 2.3
2nd check – April 2nd – BUN: 77 CREA: 2.8
3rd check – April 23rd – BUN: 90 CREA: 4.8
Her BUN and CREA numbers mean she is quite uremic which is why she “feels like
crud”, my vet’s words… Her bad breath is the kidney toxins(that has been going on
for a while now since the get go).
Did another urinalysis on her that shows also worsening protein and kidney/bladder
values poor.
I had them do a chest film to check for lung mets or any other type of growth and
that is clear(to the naked eye). She doesn’t react on physical exam to any pain in
her abdomen etc.
Her fever is a mystery – caused by what? Inflammation from the disease or something
else? Could be from the cancer but we’re doubting that at this point. Gina has been
wondering about Addison’s disease and I mentioned that to my vet. She said that
her bloodwork isn’t typical of Addison’s but that Addison’s can also be very vague.
They would have to special order the test but in her words “if she were my dog, it might
not be a bad idea to try prednisone tablets”. And if she responds, then we can just keep her
on those and still not do the test(it is an expensive test, I think Gina said $200).
But basically, at this point, at best we hope the prednisone will improve her eating and make
her feel better for a while.
They are giving her IV fluids right now as I requested it(per my dear sister Gina) as
that will give her a ‘boost’ of fluids and maybe make her feel better and feel like
eating more.
She still was very interested at the vet to bark at people driving into the driveway and
sniffing the office desk where I’m sure a male dog peed…so she is still acting “like
Maggie”. She had “happy feet” for Norm last night when he drove in after work.
She was perky this morning. It’s just eating that is a huge struggle right now.
Amazingly, I’ve kept weight on her through this. Her weight on April 2nd was 64#
and now she is 63.8#. She has lost some muscling with the lack of exercise in the
past couple weeks. But last night, she wanted to go with Haley & I downtown for
a walk, so I took her for a short jaunt around the field and she seemed totally fine.
Soooo….Haley & I are headed downstate this weekend to a trial where I’m judging
and competing. Part of me wants to stay home but the other part of me says “you
need a break”. Norm will take good care of her while I’m gone and I will tell my vet
tonight when I pick Maggie up that he is “in charge” of her this weekend. Part of
me will feel guilty and HUGELY sad as I drive out but….such is life I guess….
I did also just start an appetite stimulant remedy from Dr. Loops yesterday and I
did manage to get some food into her last night as well as this morning. So maybe
that will give her a boost too…and the more fluids to drain out that toxic CRAP in
her 🙁
Well, I guess that’s all the update I can give right now…not a pretty picture but
this one below sure as hell is! Love you Maggie!
‘Til next, time…Maggie says I keep on hoppin’!
Tracy & Maggie
