~Jazzy is so sick~

 

 

 

 

 

This is long, I'm upset....

 

There have been very few times where I have been as upset as I am today. I am beyond distraught and my stomach is in a twist.

 

  Last night Jasmine, my Maltese, got very sick again vomiting, over and over again.  By this morning her breathing was labored, trembling & still vomiting.

 

So I call the Vet at the TLC Animal clinic.  I was able to get a ride and we were there before 8: 30 am.

 

Now, going back a yr or 2 to  Jazz's first  appt at this place I remember the vet tech recorded her wt as 13.8.  When the Doggie Dr came into the room I told him that the wt was incorrect, Jazzy has weighed between 14.5 and 15.8 for yrs. 

 

The next visit when we went in for her yearly shots her was wt 15.6.  He told me she gained 2 lbs and that wasn't good for her.  Again I told him that her wt was recorded incorrectly at the previous visit.

 

This past May  Jazz had bloody mucous stool and was going every 30-45 minutes.  *Yuck, I guess this is why I didn't write it in the journal.  I gave her chicken and rice for a few days and it didn't get any better. 

 

Like I said I didn't record it in my journal, but now I wish I had now.  When Vet checked her at that time I asked him if it could be from the pork that the neighbor guy gave her or maybe cat crap she ate off the ground.  He didn't anything. He took a stool sample, and told me it was most likely something she picked up being around other dogs or water with contaminated stool.  He told me it was most likely Coronovirus, although it's very rare.  He gave her something to calm her intestines and Metronidazole capsules (Flagyl).  After about a week everything was back to normal.

 

  NOW~Back to the present..Neighbor Man, yes the Pork Man gave Jazz some pork and a bone.  I should have said no because last night Jazzy vomited in the bathroom 5-6 times, then few times in the living room.  Water wasn't staying down,  her breathing was wheezy, labored and her stomach rigid.  All I could think about was the pork with the bone in it and how I should have told him not to give it to her.  This all started around 3 am, so I called the vet about 8am.  All I could think about was that she may have a perforated intestine form the bone.

 

The vet examined her, although I was ashamed to admit it, I told him about the pork.  He said that she needed to stay at the animal hospital&  have blood work because he was worried about her Pancreas. Or I could treat her at home and see how she does.  Of course, now I am thinking about how am I going to ay for htis.  This guy is very expensive.  Last May I spent $247.00.

 

He was looking at her chart and I asked him if it was related to the Coronavirus she had in May.  He looked at me and asked me what I was talking about.  So I told him that he had told me that is what she had in May. 

 

No, I didn't he said, What gave you that idea?

 

Now I am beginning that I am really crazy....out of my mind....premature Alzheimer's ?!

 

So I told him that in May HE told me that she must have gotten Coronavirus from other dogs stool that get into the rain water that floods the area.  Dogs eat things off the ground they get sick.

 

He then told me that he told me no such thing, he had proof, it wasn't in her chart.  And Coronavirus is very rare.  I said, "Well that is what you told me".

 

Next he told me that I must have talked with someone else because he did't recall mentioning anything about Coronovirus.

 

To which I replied that I had only talked with him...and I didn't just pull "Coronavirus" out of the air.

 

Well,  he said, every time you come in here you tell me I am wrong.

 

I just looked at him and thinking, "What an asshole!" 

Feeling he is belittling me in a moment of weakness, growing more frustrated, worried about Jazz and the money I am in tears again.

 

So I told him again that it was just the initial weight on that very first visit & that didn't really matter right now.

 

"Oh yes it does!", he said, "because she is overweight, YOU KNOW this can affect the pancreas.  Then he went on again to say that he has everything recorded in her chart and don't I do that as a nurse?  He said that every time I come in I argue with him about her weight.  He waved the chart at me & told me he had proof!

 

So then I told him I only had $25.00 and that I would have to treat her at home.  I told him that I haven't been able to work for several years and just can't afford it.  I was honest and feeling terribly guilty that I couldn't care for Jazzy the way she should be.  She is a really good dog.

 

He seemed even more riled at this point & told me that there were other vets that could treat her for little or nothing.  ::Yeah, WHO?!::

 

I then told him that before we came to this area of Palm Harbor, the Vet we had always got paid.  If not that month, the next.  The Vet was always paid.  Dr Lynch then went on to say he had "over head", electric bills, equipment, a lab, couldn't treat her for free, and yada, yada, yada.  I've heard this from a few doctors I worked for...."THE OVER HEAD".

 

I could feel my blood pressure going thru the roof....

I calmly told him I understood and that I was going to take her home.  Then proceded to scoop her up in my arms.

 

"Well", he said, "I'm going to give her something for the cramps, the pain, and some Flagyl.  Then he said, "I did give her Flagyl, right??" 

 

"Oh Yeah???", I'm thinking, "You've GOT the chart in your hand for God's sake!"  I really bite my tongue today so Jazzy could get some help.

 

So he gave her the injection and pills to take home.  And told me just to let her drink small amounts of water and braise some white chicken meat for her to eat.

 

Then out to the receptionist.  The bill....$149.00  I gave her the $25.00 I had in my pocket and told her that I would try to get the rest by the end of the day. The only thing I could think of was to call my mother to beg on Jazzy's behalf.  The girl behind the desk gave me a dirty look me and went back to talk to the Dr Lynch. 

 

Jazzy then pooped a huge amount of blood onto the floor.  And, of course, now I am just his side of hysterical &  gushing tears again. 

 

I gathered poor Jazzy up and the 2 of us came home. The more I think of the way this Vet spoke to me, and how he has  in the past, the more angry I get.

 

When I got home I looked up Flagyl online.  It is given for bacterial, certain viral infections and gastritis. 

 

AND I looked up Canine Coronavirus-Which I didn't do last May.....

 

CANINE CORONAVIRUS

Canine Coronavirus is a virus that affects the intestinal tract of dogs.  It causes a gastroenteritis similar to parvo.  Canine Coronavirus is a highly contagious virus affecting not only puppies, but older dogs as well. 

The clinical signs of Canine Coronavirus vary from mild and undetectable to severe and fatal.  Most common signs include:  depression, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea.  The diarrhea can be watery, yellowish-orange in color, bloody, mucoid, and usually has an offensive odor.  Sudden death and abortions sometimes occur.  The duration of illness can be anywhere from 2-10 days.

The most common route of infection is contact with fecal material containing the virus.  Signs begin to show 1-5 days after exposure.  The dog becomes a “carrier” for several weeks after recovery.  The virus can live in the environment for several months.  Clorox mixed at a rate of 4 ounces in a gallon of water will destroy the virus.

Because it is a virus, there is NO CURE for coronavirus at this time.  Treatment varies according to the severity of the disease and the age and condition of your pet.  Inravenous fluid therapy and hospitalization are often required, since dehydration readily occurs with this illness.  Additional therapy can consist of dietary restriction, anti-emetics (anti-vomiting), anti-diarrheals, and broad spectrum antibiotics to prevent secondary infections.

It is estimated that at least 50% of allvirus-type diarrheais infected with both Parvovirus and Coronavirus.  It is estimated that over 90% of all dogs have had exposure to Coronavirus at one time or another.   Dogs that have recovered from Coronavirus develop some immunity, but the duration of immunity is unknown.

PREVENTION

Strict sanitation is required, especially if your household contains more than one dog.  All animal waste should be disposed of daily, and feeding and watering utensils should be properly sanitized.  A VACCINE for Canine Coronavirus is available.  We highly recommend vaccination of all dogs against coronavirus, as well as parvovirus.

 

So now I am thinking that if the Vet had not told me about this "Coronavirus" how did I know that it is from fecal matter. And according to this web site it doesn't sound as rare as I was told by him.  And I think he may have been tellint me that to make me feel guilty that I was 3 months late getting her her yearly immunizations.

 

OK, do I call my mother, who I do not have a good relationship with?  Ask her to cover me with a her credit card?  She and I kinda of had it out last winter when I told her that I knew that she had given my brother the down payment on his house, the life insurance policies are in his name only and the 2 cars.  She only has 2 children.  It's like I don't exist to her. 

Oh there is more to it, too much to talk about now. 

 

The thought of calling my mother really puts my innards in a twist.

 

Or shall I write a letter to the Vet and tell him I will have the remainder of  money on the 1st of the month?

 

Tags: TLC Animal clinic, Robert LynchDVM, Coronavirus, Lynch Robert H DVM, TLC Animal and Bird Clinic