Lucie's Visit to Texas A and M

On Wednesday, January 13 I took Lucie to Texas A and M to be evaluated. I have always heard that for major issues that Texas A and M is the best place to get answers. We had a great experience there and met lots of very nice people. We spent the day there during which they completed a ton of tests. She started with internal medicine, then was reviewed by a neurologist and then an orthopedic surgeon. She also went through a bunch of other tests. They completed the ultrasound again and we now have a clear understanding of the suspected vena caval aneurism.

This is a normal dog heart. In my basic terms, blood flows through the heart up into the aorta, through the back end organs of the dog, then it comes back to the heart through the vena cava.

This is a rough look at Lucie. Her vena cava ends. Some blood has been pooling there which has created a large blood clot. Small hepatic veins are bringing the blood back to the heart instead of it going through the vena cava.

This is a congenital defect. Surgery is not an option. Since the vena cava is a vein it has very thin skin which leaves her at a high risk for the aneurism to burst which would be fatal. There is also the possibility that the blood clot could break up sending smaller clots through her body or new smaller clots could form. If this occurs it would most likely be fatal. These things have been extremely difficult for me to hear and accept. Basically, she could go at any time. For me this is something that I wish I didn't know about. Each time I leave her to go anywhere I say goodbye as if it were the last time because you just never know. She is taking a ultra low dose aspirin and Plavix in an effort to reduce the chances of clots.

As for the issue with her getting up with her back legs, they completed new X-rays and her hips are perfect. The orthopedic surgeon was not able to pop out either of her hips but one of them moved slightly. Their diagnosis is hip dysplasia but I'm just not buying it and neither is my vet since she does not display the symptoms that a dog with hip dysplasia does. So we really don't know any more about her back legs now than we did then. We are continuing to give her Rimadyl for pain.

One of the blood tests did show protein in her urine which could mean issues with her kidneys so we have started her on an ACE-inhibitor to help control her protein loss. They also gave me worm medicine for her because there is a type of worm that can effect the kidneys and cause this protein loss. Being a spoiled house dog I can't imagine that she has any type of worms.

Texas A and M is located about 3 hours from us. We drove down early in the morning to make our appointment at 10 a.m. then returned that evening. I can't remember the last time I was that tired. It was a very stressful day but I am glad that we made the trip.

I have to say that I was impressed the most by what happened on my way home. I was about 1 hour into my trip home and I received a call from Dr. Johnson our primary Vet. Our Vet at Texas A and M had called him right after we left and let him know everything that they had done and what they wanted to do for her. My head was pretty much spinning after I had left the clinic so it was great to talk to Dr. Johnson. He helped me sort through all of the information which put me more at ease.

We are going to complete blood tests again in two weeks to see if there are any changes. They have several additional tests that they would like to complete but at this point we have done everything that we can to improve her life. The additional tests which may be good academically for them to complete, will not change how she is treated so we will not put her through them.

Lucie's quality of life is all that is important to us now. That phrase "quality of life" has always scared me. I knew when Dr. Johnson told me that when K-8 got sick it was not good and then with Zoe. But with Lucie it is a little bit different. Lucie could live for 15 years. She has been thriving since she was a puppy with these major issues and outside of seeing that it takes her a little bit longer than a normal dog to get up you would think she was fine. Just today she had a good game of bitey face with Addie during her visit to see Dr. Johnson. We are going to let her enjoy her life and have fun. She has made it this far, we just know she has a long life ahead of her.

Thank you very much to all of our friends out there! You have no idea how much your support is appreciated. Special thanks to Mary for offering to have lunch with me while we were in College Station. That was so very sweet of you! It made us feel like we were not alone there. Next time we are in town, if you are not busy we will take you up on that. I have included her complete results below if anyone is interested in viewing them.

Texas a and M Results