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  1. #1
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    Update on Sophie

    It's been a rough couple days for Miss Sophie. As many of you may remember I posted about her elevated liver counts about two months ago. She's been on Denamarin for about 3 weeks, and I've done what I can to reduce the amount of copper in her diet, as it's possible she's dealing with copper toxicosis. I had declined to have a biopsy done after the ultrasound proved inconclusive.

    Over the past two weeks she's lost her appetite, and has been vomiting about once a day. The fact that she's not eating had me pretty concerned so I made an appointment with my vet yesterday. He did blood tests, and we talked about the possibility of doing the liver biopsy. Since this isn't something my vet can do he recommend a clinic up in PA that had an internal medicine doctor. I called them and they said the first available appointment was in February, but they said if I brought her to their ER they could admit her and have her looked at today. So I took her up and they admitted her. They ran blood tests and based on the results the vet Sid Sophie was definitely in liver failure. She then told me she was going to run a test on clotting factors, and the results basically showed Sophie's blood has no clotting ability, which would preclude them from doing the biopsy. She said they could do a blood or plasma tranfusion, which may help, but wasn't overly optimistic. IN addition to all the other problems, Sophie's stools have been black, which could indicate possible upper GI bleeding. I told her to not do any further treatment and that I would pick Sophie up this morning, and I'd take her to my vet and I'd send her over the bridge as I didn't want her suffering.

    I had an appointment with my vet for 3pm today to euthanize her. We went in and of course Sophie is all happy and bouncy and eating biscuits like she's starving to death. My vet and I discussed all of this at length, and he was pretty much in complete agreement with the e vets assessment of Sophie's condition, and he fully agreed that any kind of surgery or biopsy would not be advised. I told him my main worry was the fact that she's not eating, and what she does eat tends to come back up. He had his assistant grab a can of prescription Purina EN food and after a little prodding Sophie did eat a good bit of it. He gave her some pretty strong anti nausea meds to see it would help her keep the food down.

    After our discussion and the fact my vet said that Sophie is in no pain, I decided to bring her home and see what happens. I'll keep her on the Denamarin, and will start her on zinc, vitamin E and Vitamin C which should also help support the liver. He told me the liver is a very resilient organ, and it could possibly improve. I figured I didn't really have anything to lose, and even if we only get a few days, or a few weeks, it's worth a shot.

    So I'll ask once again for good thoughts and prayers, and thank you all in advance.

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    windycanyon (01-06-2021)

  3. #2
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    All good thoughts from me, Barry....this sure isn't the update we wanted to see.

    It's heartening to hear that the vet mentioned the possibility of improvement with the protocol you have in mind....add Good Luck and 🤞 to those good thoughts. The anti-nausea drugs can work miracles for keeping a pet interested in food and the fact of no pain seals the deal for what you have in mind.

    I hope you'll have many more good days with Sophie. She knows you're there for her...I firmly believe that well-loved dogs get great comfort from that knowledge.


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    barry581 (01-06-2021)

  5. #3
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    Fingers crossed that Miss Sophie improves. Hugs from Fitzi, Lucy, Andrew and I.



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    barry581 (01-06-2021)

  7. #4
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Hugs from all of us as well. It's so hard when they've been acting miserable and all of a sudden they appear more like their happy selves. We'll be holding you in our hearts.
    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
    Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
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    Joey 5/14/2022

    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

    Mary Oliver, Hidden Content

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    barry581 (01-06-2021)

  9. #5
    Senior Dog Sue-Ram's Avatar
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    All good thoughts from me as well. I hope you start to see improvement in Sophie's condition.

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    barry581 (01-06-2021)

  11. #6
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    Oh, Barry, what a terrible roller coaster. Sending all good thoughts that Sophie rallies.
    Stormageddon, Princess of Darkness, aka "Stormy"
    Birthday 9-13-18, Gotcha Day 11-11-18
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    Miss Kimber, CGC, 6/15/2005-1/27/2018 forever in our hearts



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    barry581 (01-06-2021)

  13. #7
    Best Friend Retriever outrag's Avatar
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    This was tough to read. Hang in there Barry and continue doing what you know is best for Sophie. Thoughts are with you.

    Bob
    Griffin growing up!

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    Griffin Male Black Lab 03/14/16 -

    Yukon My Wonderful Yellow Lab 11/20/06 - 03/12/19 Will cherish the memories!!!!
    My Precious Tanner Boy 11/25/02 - 6/25/15 Will miss you always!!!!

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    barry581 (01-06-2021)

  15. #8
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    Good thoughts to you and Sophie. Hopeful she sees improvement with the protocol you will be following.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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    barry581 (01-06-2021)

  17. #9
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    Oh my goodness. I am so sorry, Barry. I really hoped for better news. Fingers and paws crossed that she improves.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

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    barry581 (01-06-2021)

  19. #10
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    You know, there is a movement in Canada to change our Assisted Death rules to allow people to say in advance that they wish their life to be helped to a close some time in the future when they may not be able to say so. Right now this is not allowed, people must be deemed capable of making that decision at the time. But some people know right now that in the future, years for some, they will not wish to live with conditions they have now that are known to worsen and will worsen. I fully support this. Several times I heard my Mum cry out, "Why can't I just die?"

    We can do this for our pets, we can say the good is over, it's time to go, I love you, I will help you, I will not let you suffer. But it's so, so hard. Maybe not as hard for me after Whisper died all alone at the Vet's and when I picked her up they had put her little body in a garbage bag.

    So tons of good thoughts for you and Sophie, Barry. You may not know for sure and Sophie may not tell you. I hope it's not soon, I hope your new protocol works. I wish Sophie to flumox you all and bounce a lot more. I send you strength to help her, if she needs help.
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