Jake's Medical Saga

I wanted to blog about Jake over the last few days but I couldn't not cry while I wrote, so I didn't. Now that things have calmed down, I'll give it a go.

Jake has been slowing down for a few months now. We stopped doing agility in April. His last trial was just a struggle as I had to coax him over every jump and obstacle. At class the next week, he went into the tunnel and wouldn't come out. He just wanted to stop, so we did.

Shane has tormented Jake since he arrived. Shane wanted to play and Jake would have none of it. I never could tell if Jake was truly bothered or just giving Shane his opinion. I noticed on our walks that Jake would lag behind to stay as far from Shane as possible. He just got slower and slower. When Frank would walk Jake and Woody behind me and Shane, Jake would walk ahead of Frank, so I just figured it was Shane that he was trying to get away from. Later on, he just seemed slow even if Shane wasn't with us.

About two weeks ago, Jake wouldn't eat his food. I had some old canned food, which he ate readily. So I thought, maybe the raw wasn't appealing to him any more. We stayed on canned for about a week. Ran out, so I made some chicken and rice, which he liked. Bought more canned and that went OK for about two days. He stopped eating that. Bought some loaf at PetCo, not my preferred brand, but that's where I was. He ate that for a few days and stopped. Back to chicken and rice, and he stopped eating that after a few days.

Friday of last week, I decided to take him to the vet to see why he wasn't eating. I thought maybe he was in pain because his back legs didn't seem to be working properly. His behavior had changed. He seemed very needy. Sleeping with me instead of in the bathroom in his usual place. Laying by the sofa where I sat instead of in the dining room. He stopped taking treats. All not good.

The vet did his blood work and his BUN and CREAT were elevated. The vet gave him an appetite stimulant and sent him home. Man, if I knew then what I know now. Jake hadn't been taking his thyroid pills, so I didn't think I had a chance with this appetite stimulant. We went out to the backyard and I did my best to get him to take it. He sort of freaked out and walked away from me, seeming to have a seizure as he was walking sideways. I finally forced him to take the pill. Later on, he ate a few pieces of leftover steak.

Saturday, he again wouldn't eat in the morning. I bought some Merrick sausages, and he ate one of those in little tiny pieces. He eats each piece like he is looking for a pill in each one. Not sure he trusts me anymore. Rests comfortably all day. Play a little bit. Gave him chicken and rice for dinner and he throws it all up. Shane ate it right up. Gross. Very worried though.

Sunday morning, he just seemed worse. I decided to take him to the emergency clinic. His bun was 75 and creat 3.1. Panic. They kept him. The vet asked me about ticks. He had one about 5 years ago. Our regular vet had mentioned leptospirosis as well, which had me freaked all weekend. Not sure how Jake would have caught that. Worried about the other two now. Shane is vaccinated for Lepto, but Woody is not. Called to check on Jake. He's resting comfortably. Researched kidney issues all weekend. I'm a wreck.

Monday morning, go get Jake at 6:30 am to transfer him to the vet. After a night on fluids, he pees all over himself. Poor thing. He peed outside the EC and then again at the vet's office. Doc still thinks it's lepto. We can all get this. Told him I was worried about the other dogs, so I take them in at 10 for blood tests. Both Shane and Woody are normal. Jake ate a little chicken and threw it up. Go back at 5:30 to pick up Jake and take him to the EC. His BUN is down to 31 and creat down to 1.9, which is still a bit elevated, but not dangerous. Sent out blood and urine for lepto testing. Doc wants to do ultrasound tomorrow. This is all getting very expensive.

Tuesday morning, picked up Jake at the EC and took him back to the vet who admits, he doesn't know what is going on. Go over to see Jake at noon with food. Get him to eat a little chicken. He does not look happy and is getting more and more frisky. Kept the chicken down all afternoon. YAY! Went to pick him up. Blood work has not changed. BUN is 31 and creat is 1.9. Platelet count is good. Ultra sound is good. His gall bladder is full of sludge. Actual entry in his record. Vet wants to do a bleeding test on his gums to check his platelet function. He's making them, but are they working. Go ahead. Whatever. Passes with flying colors. Doc is stumped. Wants to consult a specialist. I ask if it wasn't just age. Jake is 10. His kidneys are old. Doc says no. His other factors do not follow. Wants to call people at Texas A&M tonight.

Hear screeches from the back. Jake is tearing out his catheter. Go for it Jake. He's coming back! Vet tech comes out with Jake in a cone collar. Poor baby. That's what you get for being bad. Take Jake to the EC. Doc there says it may just be that his levels will be elevated from now on and we will have to watch him for crisis situations. Chronic Renal Failure due to age. At least someone is telling us something.

Wednesday morning, pick Jake up. Hasn't eaten all night but I told them he wouldn't with that collar on. He pees in the lobby. Great. Pees outside as well. Get to the vet's office early. Pees everywhere. Get him to eat some chicken. He is very frisky. Our regular vet is off today and a new one takes over. She wants us to take Jake home tonight and see how he does. Makes us an appointment to see the specialist tomorrow. I'm guessing we'll just have to change his diet and keep an eye on him.

Frank says he now understands why parents look much older than they are. We haven't been sleeping or eating well. Lots of junk food. We are a mess. Can't wait to see Jake tonight here at home. He's down to 26 pounds, which is where he probably should have been all along. Competition weight. After my surgery in 1999, I was nauseous for a week and food was of no interest to me, so I completely understand how he feels. I gained my weight back, unfortunately, and I'm sure Jake will as well.

That brings things up to current. I think Jake will live for a while longer. Was worried that this was it for him. Not ready for him to go quite yet.