Saturday, September 22, 2007
Grace has a home
Grace has a home. She will be staying with Dawn and Chloe for her forever home. Dr. Pam will continue to be her personal physician (ok. Veterinarian). We are extremely happy at the outcome for this very special girl; she still has a ways to go and we know that she will thrive in their care.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Why did this happen?
This is where they tell me the almighty dollar comes into the picture. You see the BAD MAN that made me, did it for the money that he got for selling me. I came from a PUPPY MILL in Missouri. If you look on the front of the web blog and see the little photos of the dogs in cages, click on them and get some tissues out. They are YOU TUBE videos of places where my mom and dad might have been kept. You can also click on the left of the page that says PUPPY MILLS read the page and watch those videos too. Thats what a puppy mill is. Pretty disgusting huh? The BAD MAN that made me told the uneducated buyers that I was a MINIATURE bulldog. They believed him and bought me for a lot of money. Again people PLEASE listen up!!! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MINIATURE BULLDOG!!!!! The BAD PEOPLE will only tell you that so you will give them money and then they will ship us in a plane and when we get there we will be sick!!! Just like me!!! I have been sick since the day I came to Washington state from Missouri.
My Diagnosis....
My diagnosis is not a good one. They thought at first I had congestive heart failure because I had so much edema around my heart on the xray. Dr Kramer sent a report to Dr Pam and this is what it said.
STUDY: Thorax
Current radiographs are dated 5/29 and are compared with four prior studies, most recently dated 5/24. The trachea is severely hypoplastic. There are dense ventrally distributed alveolar infiltrates. Limited improvement in the magnitude of these infiltrates is noted in the post-diuretic radiograph. Air bronchogram formation is noted in the cranial and middle lung fields. Bronchial wall thickening is noted caudodorsally. Cardiac volume probably is normal Liver volume is age-appropriate. Mildly prominent and possibly thickened rugae are noted in the gastric body region. The T7 vertebra is mildly anomalous.
ASSESSMENT:
1. Moderately consolidated ventrally distributed pneumonia infiltrates
2. Limited improvement after initiation of diuretic therapy
3. Chronic bronchitis
4. Severely hypoplastic trachea
COMMENTS:
Recurrent pneumonia is assumed although a component of acute respiratory distress syndrome also is possible. Ventilatory efforts are undoubtedly increased by the narrowed tracheal lumen. Any seasonal temperature elevations and resultant increased respiratory effort to dissipate heat will further worsen respiratory distress. Aggressive antimicrobial therapy is indicated and more specific evaluation such as bronchoscopy and endobronchial lavage should be considered, if the patient will tolerate invasive testing. Repeated episodes of respiratory diestess should be anticipated, given the very small tracheal cross-sectional area and the pulmonary injury that likely has accrued to date. Long-term antibiotic therapy will probably be required, and ancillary use of physiotherapy such as nebulization and coupage is probably also prudent. Internal medicine consultation is encouraged. The attendant expense and effort that likely will accompany repeated episodes of respiratory disease in this patient should be discussed carefully with the guradians of this patient.
So basically what this all means is if I am not monitored properly and not cared for properly I will die, pure and simple.
STUDY: Thorax
Current radiographs are dated 5/29 and are compared with four prior studies, most recently dated 5/24. The trachea is severely hypoplastic. There are dense ventrally distributed alveolar infiltrates. Limited improvement in the magnitude of these infiltrates is noted in the post-diuretic radiograph. Air bronchogram formation is noted in the cranial and middle lung fields. Bronchial wall thickening is noted caudodorsally. Cardiac volume probably is normal Liver volume is age-appropriate. Mildly prominent and possibly thickened rugae are noted in the gastric body region. The T7 vertebra is mildly anomalous.
ASSESSMENT:
1. Moderately consolidated ventrally distributed pneumonia infiltrates
2. Limited improvement after initiation of diuretic therapy
3. Chronic bronchitis
4. Severely hypoplastic trachea
COMMENTS:
Recurrent pneumonia is assumed although a component of acute respiratory distress syndrome also is possible. Ventilatory efforts are undoubtedly increased by the narrowed tracheal lumen. Any seasonal temperature elevations and resultant increased respiratory effort to dissipate heat will further worsen respiratory distress. Aggressive antimicrobial therapy is indicated and more specific evaluation such as bronchoscopy and endobronchial lavage should be considered, if the patient will tolerate invasive testing. Repeated episodes of respiratory diestess should be anticipated, given the very small tracheal cross-sectional area and the pulmonary injury that likely has accrued to date. Long-term antibiotic therapy will probably be required, and ancillary use of physiotherapy such as nebulization and coupage is probably also prudent. Internal medicine consultation is encouraged. The attendant expense and effort that likely will accompany repeated episodes of respiratory disease in this patient should be discussed carefully with the guradians of this patient.
So basically what this all means is if I am not monitored properly and not cared for properly I will die, pure and simple.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The Little Princess
So many things have happened since the last update. My foster mom, dad and daughter, have taken such incredible care of me. I have gone from 10 pounds to 21 pounds, May 18 I was 4 months old. I will always be a small dog, the puppy mill I came from sold me as a miniature bulldog. Pay attention people, THERE IS NO SUCH THING!!!!! I am just little and have MAJOR health issues.
Some days are diamonds and some days are stones.
I am still on antibiotics and continue to have smuck in my chest, I still rattle most of the time when I breath too, especially when I am resting. My chest xrays appeared to be improving, so much so that Dawn and Rob took me to the ocean this past weekend. I had so much fun, running and playing on the beach. Chasing the sand I kicked in front of me. I even have a video to share .
This was me Monday, May 28.
Tuesday May 29 I was exhibiting signs of respiratory distress!!!
Dawn took me to see Dr Pam and they put me on Lasix, my temp went up and down from 101 to 104 all day long. It was the hottest day of the year so far, 87. They did more xrays and said I had pulmonary edema around my heart, they thought I might be having congestive heart failure, CRAP I am only 4 months old, this cant be happening to me.....
Dr Pam sent my xrays to Dr Robert Kramer in Mt Lake Terrace, WA and he read them and sent his findings back to Dr Pam.
More tomorrow, I am tired and need to get my rest........
Some days are diamonds and some days are stones.
I am still on antibiotics and continue to have smuck in my chest, I still rattle most of the time when I breath too, especially when I am resting. My chest xrays appeared to be improving, so much so that Dawn and Rob took me to the ocean this past weekend. I had so much fun, running and playing on the beach. Chasing the sand I kicked in front of me. I even have a video to share .
This was me Monday, May 28.
Tuesday May 29 I was exhibiting signs of respiratory distress!!!
Dawn took me to see Dr Pam and they put me on Lasix, my temp went up and down from 101 to 104 all day long. It was the hottest day of the year so far, 87. They did more xrays and said I had pulmonary edema around my heart, they thought I might be having congestive heart failure, CRAP I am only 4 months old, this cant be happening to me.....
Dr Pam sent my xrays to Dr Robert Kramer in Mt Lake Terrace, WA and he read them and sent his findings back to Dr Pam.
More tomorrow, I am tired and need to get my rest........
Friday, May 18, 2007
First Sponsor
We want to thank Ms. Lorraine Lee of Graham, WA for sponsoring Grace during her recovery. Thank you for your help and Grace says "Grrffffnk grfffyou".
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
May 9, 2007
Just talked to Grace's foster mom, Dawn. Seems Grace just cant shake the congestion in her chest & lungs, otherwise she is just running around like a maniac. Dawn's 4 yr old daughter is the chief administer of her meds as well. We have many photos of the two of them together. If anyone out there would like to contribute to Graces' care please dont hesitate to hit the "Donate" button.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Safe and sound
Well I am here to tell you we were thrilled when the vets said she doesn’t need the surgery!!! They knocked her down with Propofal and really examined her closer and decided that her palette didn’t need to be trimmed after all!!! YIPEE.
Once she was knocked out they could really look more closely at her throat and they did see the end of the palette. The reason she had “died” was because of her pneumonia and the stuff breaking up in her chest and lungs.
