Walker Update, #3

As soon as Walker arrived at the SEGA vet's office Thursday, the vet put him on a different anti-nausea medicine, Reglan.  As a result, the vomiting and diarrhea stopped.  Walker was given barium so the vet could see if there is something in Walker's stomach or intestines that shouldn't be there.  About half of the barium moved through his stomach during the night.  It took until today (Sunday) for the other half to move into his intestines.  This is the x-ray.  

Walker was able to eat and keep down a little food Friday, Saturday and today.  He was taken off IV fluids and meds Saturday.  He's able to take meds and fluid orally now.  Yesterday, he still had a slightly elevated temperature - 103.

In our internet research, we've read about things like "stasis" and "gastroparesis."   We've looked up every plant in our backyard to see if anything is toxic.  Nothing is.

Tomorrow will be the eighth day Walker has been in the hospital.  I wish I had thought to take him to the SEGA vet in the first place.  Thank goodness for our SEGA friend who helped to get Walker in right away.

Truly and Maggie looking for Walker.

We kept ourselves busy this weekend.  We washed all the dog beds.  (We had a bunch more than I thought we did.)  We cleaned the rugs and mopped the floors.  Walker will have a clean and fresh house to come home to.

We took walks with Truly and Maggie.  Here they are looking for Walker.  They're ready for him to come home.  They miss their little brother -

Walker Update, #2

When we went to see Walker yesterday, the vet told us today would be the day she would use endoscopy to try to diagnose the source of the vomiting and especially the blood in the vomit.

When Tim called to check on him this morning, a different vet told Tim that if Walker was his dog, he would take him to the UGA Vet School for diagnosis and treatment.  !!!!!!!!!

With the help of our SEGA friends, we were able to have Walker transported from Macon to the SEGA vet.  The SEGA vet has tons of experience with greyhounds.  He explained several tests he plans to run straight away.  Unfortunately, or fortunately, Walker vomited as soon as he entered the vet's office.  Therefore, those tests began immediately.

Thank you for your comments, phone calls and e-mail messages.  It's easy to feel that you're alone in a situation like this one.  Knowing that people care about our sweet boy helps a lot.

Update on Walker

So many of you have kindly asked to be kept updated about Walker's illness.

Here's what the vet told me this morning:

They have done x-rays and can find no foreign object in his intestinal tract or any sign of a blockage.  So an obstruction has been ruled out.

Walker's enzymes are normal and there seems to be no tenderness in his tummy.  Pancreatitis is also ruled out.

By process of elimination, and because there was blood in Walker's vomit this morning, the vet thinks Walker may have hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE).  (There was no blood in his vomit before today.) He says this may be caused by an E. coli bacterial infection.  He's keeping him on fluids and changed the antibiotic to something more powerful to kill any E. coli infection.  He wants to avoid septicemia.  We should know if the new antibiotic is working within 24 hours.

As I read about it on the internet (I was told not to do this), I saw that HGE can sometimes be caused by stress.  Walker, by his nature, lives with a lot of stress.  He's young and strong. Please keep sending him good wishes so we can bring him home very soon.

This tree is in my office parking lot.
Dogwood blooms are supposed to be symbolic of strength and endurance -
both of which Walker needs tonight.  

Walker's Under the Weather

Saturday was just like any other day for Walker except that he didn't want to eat his breakfast.  He did eat it but it took him longer than usual.  Eat five pieces.  Walk away.  Come back and eat three pieces, etc., etc.

Saturday night he didn't want to eat his dinner.  Otherwise, he seemed fit as a fiddle.

Truly and Walker Saturday afternoon.

Walker outside Saturday.

Walker was slow to eat his breakfast Sunday morning.  When we came home after Easter lunch, he had gotten sick several times times.  While we were cleaning up, he continued to vomit. Because he wanted to drink water we thought he would be fine.  With some input from my SEGA friends, we decided not to give him dinner Sunday night.  Maybe the new Kirkland food was starting not to agree with him?  By Monday morning, he had vomited more than two dozen times. He couldn't even keep water down.

This morning at 8:00 we were at the vet's office.

Walker's capable of standing up.  He just got very tired and decided to lay down. 

The vet saw Walker right away.  He was unable to make any diagnosis because Walker was so dehydrated.  The doctor said he needed to spend the night in the hospital tonight and maybe tomorrow night so he can get IV fluid and antibiotics.  He mentioned the possibility of pancreatitis or an obstruction.

Fortunately, Truly and Maggie don't seem to be having any problems.  They keep looking for him, though.

We all miss our Walker Boy.  We want him to get better and come back home.