Lucie Update

We took Lucie to see Dr. Johnson yesterday. He said the bumps on her ears are improving! Right now the skin is falling off of the bumps. He is just not sure why she is having issues getting up from a down position or why she is just not feeling well. He took blood again for some additional testing. Her ear problem and the issue with her back legs may not be related at all. To be honest I would be a lot less freaked out if she only had the bumps on her ears. Thursday night it seemed like she was glued to my side. I gave her lots of pets and belly rubs. Then she nearly broke my heart. I asked her to go outside and it was a horrible struggle for her to get up which left me scared that she is getting worse. Her energy level is just not the same either. Little Hailey is missing playing with her buddy but has been keeping her company snuggling with her during all the sleeping that she has been doing.

Because she is still feeling bad and struggling to getting up, Dr. Johnson wanted to start her on some meds to help in the mean time until he determines the cause. She is on:

Doxycycline which is a bacteriostatic antibiotic used for the treatment of infections such as Lyme disease, chlamydia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and bacterial infections caused by susceptible organisms. By placing her on this he is not meaning that she has these but this is a place for us to start to try to get her feeling better.

Niacinamide which is used in combination with other medications to treat a host of diseases that afflict dogs. This is like a B12 vitamin.

Time to feed the pups and give Lucie her meds. I'll keep you posted on her progress.

Thank you very much for all of your kind words and support!

Ears

Vasculitis – inflammation of blood vessels

Vasculitis is inflammation of the vascular wall and can occur as a primary disease, but is more commonly secondary to another concurrent disease (infections, neoplasia, connective tissue diseases, drug reactions). Vasculitis may involve only one organ system, such as the skin or may involve multiple organ systems. Cutaneous vasculitis typically results from small vessel vasculitis. Vasculitis is more often seen in dogs than in cats.

I noticed this morning that another lump on Lucie's right ear is now hard and crusty. She really does not like to have these looked at or touched. They must be uncomfortable.

I woke up early this morning at about 4:30 a.m. I took the dogs out and Lucie fell into the large hole that she dug with her sisters. I was surprised at this. She just looked up at me from in the hole, which is only about half the size of her and shallow, with the expression of "what just happened?" She then pulled herself up and went back to the house. Getting up from a down position still takes effort. But she had fun playing with the girls today and enjoyed a little white meat chicken breast mixed with her regular food.

Here are all of the girls napping this evening. Typically Hailey sleeps on a pillow on the floor but tonight she wanted to be with her big sister. I covered Lucie's love seat with a fitted bed sheet to try to keep the dirt off of it. I know it doesn't look good but oh well. The girls looked too sweet together not to take their picture.

 

I love Lucie's pink and spotted paws! 

 

Below are some pictures that I took Monday morning. I was getting ready for work and saw Hailey sleeping with Addie. Hailey spends most of her time with Lucie so this was a real treat for me. As usual, by the time I got the camera they were up but they still looked adorable together.

 

Update

Lucie sleeps on the bed with us. For four days now my husband has needed to help her get down off of the bed. She jumps up on it fine but after she has been sleeping it is difficult for her to get up from the rear and to jump down.

Lucie

I talked to Dr. Johnson today and he said that all of her blood work looks good! Everything is at normal levels. Big relief! He basically said to keep an eye on her and check in with him on Thursday or Friday.

Lucie had training tonight with Matt. She is the smartest and sweetest dog EVER! Seriously though, she is a natural. They worked on heeling, sit and started down for the first time. She catches on real quick and was rewarded with belly rubs for a good down. She LOVED that! Dr. Johnson had asked me at the end of the lesson to ask Matt if he noticed anything different in how she was acting. Matt said he noticed that she was lagging behind a bit during heels and that when she would go into a down that she would favor one side. I noticed near the end of the lesson that it took more effort for her to get up from a down. Then while I was petting her ears I noticed the lump on her right ear that was losing some skin seemed much harder than it had previously been. When we got home I took a look at it as best I could, she doesn't like me messing with the lumps. It looked a little discolored. I'll keep an eye on it.

Right now all three girls are enjoying their own Nylabone. Switching every so often and enjoying themselves.

Tails and Trails Dog Park

On Sunday morning we went to a dog park located in South Arlington called Tails and Trails.

At first it looked real small, but the neat thing about this dog park is all of the trees!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This may not be the biggest park but it sure was fun to explore. They have a small dog park as well that is wooded too. We will have to go back with Hailey. Both girls also enjoyed their ride in the FJ.

A little drool and fur never hurts anything. :)

 

 

Addie really likes her new SUV.

 

Nom, nom, nom...