It's just so nice knowing that there are other understanding pet people out there who really do just *GET* it and understand why I'm so upset. My Dad and I come to blows on sooooo many things (politics, religion, how he thinks I'm effing up my life), that I hate to say it, but I'm just sort of used to this behavior from him. It really does make me sad though that his dogs are the ones who suffer most.

Oh, I also included about a week's worth of good high quality food and a coupon to make it more affordable in the care package, with the rationale that better food = stronger immune system, which would mean fewer meds they'd have to use to treat the infestation. I think I just have to pick my battles and do what I can to make the most impact where I can. In the past, that's meant kidnapping my sisters and the husky to go hiking, inviting them all over for dinner and a doggle play date, getting them out of the house and to events where they can see happy, healthy huskies and realize that they might be doing something wrong, etc... I refuse to believe it's all been an exercise in futility.

cmanding wrote:

I'm so mad, I'm almost in tears....literally.

I've been trying to turn that anger into action, by volunteering with the rescue, and soon with DDFL. It makes me feel better to know that at the end of the day, I was able to do at least *one* thing to make things a little better for the animals in my world.

Thanks for all the support ladies. You guys have no idea how much it means! Kate, I am so sorry you have to deal with a family member like that. Sounds even worse than my in-laws.

CoffeeK8 wrote:

I've been trying to turn that anger into action, by volunteering with the rescue, and soon with DDFL. It makes me feel better to know that at the end of the day, I was able to do at least *one* thing to make things a little better for the animals in my world.

That is so awesome, Kate! Good for you going out there and trying make a difference. Btw, what's "DDFL"?

I too would like to start volunteering at my local shelter but for the time being hubby wants me to stay at home. With that in mind I really want to get into fostering. It would be so great to improve one life at a time and be able to counter all the negative that surrounds us.

So sorry guys. i guess we all really do know people like, but it must be hard when it's family. I hope things get better for the doggies sake.

DDFL = Denver Dumb Friends League, our local animal shelter.

I say you both steal the dogs and keep them!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL Melissa! You're too funny.

Definitely cannot take on 3 more dogs!

My MIL actually called me to update after leaving the vets office this afternoon. She stopped by to pick up the bloodwork results and got some "medication" for her liver.

Turns out there was a lack of communication. Her affected chi has a cyst on the abdomen AND a tumor in her mouth near her teeth that needs to be surgically removed. My MIL indicated that she will have the tumor in the dogs mouth surgically removed when the vet feels that it would be safe to do so. Thank goodness! *sigh of relief*

She is going to scan and email me the bloodwork results so that I can see them myself. But the major thing that was pointed out was that the dogs liver enzymes were high and the vet sent her home with Rx Vitamins Liquid Hepato for her liver. The vet wants her on that for a while and then wants to test her again in several weeks I believe to see if the Hepato is having an effect.

Now I'm just waiting for the email with information from her. She said she's going to send it to me tonight.

Okay I received a copy of the bloodwork results. Sometimes I wish they would put these things in laymans terms. Can anyone help us figure out what these results mean or could indicate?

Results:





I've also posted the results on another forum for more exposure. Hopefully someone can help us decipher this stuff. Otherwise I'll have my work cut out for me. I know there's a site that I used last time but I don't have time to go through it at the moment.

She also wanted me to ask if her giving Advantage flea treatment to her dog on Friday, April 1st, could have any effect on the results or her liver enzymes. I wouldn't think so but just wanted to verify.

Advantage wouldn't effect the liver enzymes unless there was an allergic reaction, and generally if a dog has an allergic reaction to a product like advantage it results in anaphylactic shock. If there was a lesser allergic reaction the eosinophils would be very high at the time, and probably still elevated or at least present. Sometimes the liver enzymes can be elevated if the dog has eaten within 8 hours of the blood test (at least for the ALT, not 100% sure on the GGTP). The monocytes and platelets imply there is an infection of some sort. I'd ask the vet if they think it's possible something she was chewing on may have gotten embedded in her gums, if that's the case it would easily explain the immune system response. The poor pup has probably been eating less because of the pain caused by the tumor near her teeth, and drinking more for the same reason. Not to mention a blood clot at the tumor site could most likely make it's way to the neck or brain and cause a stroke or stroke like episode....

Hope this helps, and hope this all gets sorted out quickly

Thanks for weighing in on this Rob.

Just a quick update, my mother in law's dog is going back to the vet today for another blood panel to evaluate whether the milk thistle that the vet put her on has helped bring the liver enzymes down. If not, then then we'll see what the vet advises. She should have the results from today's test tomorrow. I will update with results when I hear anything from her. Here's hoping for good news.

Another quick update, the vet cancelled my MIL's appt yesterday due to a family emergency. Their appt has been rescheduled for Friday.

*UGH*!!
Well, I guess we'll just have to wait....

wow i cant beleive her vet couldnt see her. Never has any vet Ive been to not seen my dog day of when asked! My Hobie got bloat at 12pm on xmas eve (they closed at 12 that day) but stayed open to see him and saved his life all on Christmas! and he had only been there 2 times. Hope all turns out good the best thing so far for me was taking Hobie to a Holistic vet! If he had not been full of dry kibble food I bet he wouldnt have gotten bloat that time. yay for raw!

Yeah her old vet has always been awful but that was just the icing on the cake that pushed her away. She STILL wants to go back there after this ordeal is over with because he's cheap...I guess this is one circumstance where you get what you pay for. I've tried convincing her to switch vets but she doesn't listen...the almighty $$$ is what she sees unfortunately. I don't understand her thinking on that but whatever, she's an adult and she can make her own choices whether I like them or not.

I agree with you though, holistic vets blow most conventional vets out of the water and are usually worth paying more for. Heck, I intend to take my dogs back to their old holistic vet in FL (that's a 6.5 hours drive away) for their annuals next year. Only thing that would make me use a conventional vet locally would be a medical emergency.

I'm so happy I was told about holistic vets from the forum!

and im happy Claudia checked the vet out first and gave her rave reviews so we started going! that and she is a husky lover

Okay, I don't have the bloodwork paperwork yet but my MIL at least got a call from the vet telling her the results.

I have particularly been interested in the bloodwork results this time around because I came up with a homecooked meal plan for my MIL to make and follow for her dogs. So with that said these results will tell us if the meal plan I worked up for her is working well or not.

So the short information is that all her levels look normal and her liver enzymes have dropped to within the normal range. Once I get a copy of her bloodpanel paperwork I will have a nurse look over them for me for her advice and interpretation.

Forgot to update this after having a nurse friend of mine look at the bloodwork results. She tells me that all the levels look fine and explained the couple things that came out a little high. Overall she says she would not worry about it and that she considers the results to be good news. Yay for that!

Now my MIL is waiting to hear back from the vet on pricing for the surgery to remove her chihuahua's mammary tumor so that they can be prepared financially and figure out a date to schedule surgery.

Yay for good results on the bloodwork!

Val I was thinking about this last night and was gonna ask this morning on a update! Glad to hear the food change helped, good job