Patty:
I was just reading about Miya again and had a thought.
My girl suffers from a condition called glomerulonephritis ( kidney lesions with protein loss). Her albumin is always on the lower end and if I stop her high blood pressure meds ( Benazapril) her albumin drops even lower, and she gets edema. Have they done a protein/ creatinine ratio on Miya? Have they actually done her blood pressure? From my reference book UC Davis, " Any infectious, inflammatory, cancerous, or degenerative process capable of sustainted stimulation of the immune system can produce immune-mediated glomerular damage".
In most clinical situations, however, the underlying cause remains unknown.
In my girl's case we believe it was a nasty case of Lymes while she underwent spleenectomy surgery, that caused the damage to her kidneys.
I am just wondering if Miya had gall bladder issues for a while, if it affected her renal glomeruli.
Just a thought... I know before my lady I had never heard of this condition before. But each time I read your posts and see the terms albumin, and edema I can't help but think of it....
I am sure they have already done these tests, but wanted to make sure.
SUre hope she is feeling better when you get your update tonight!

Dev'sun,

thank you so much for your input.

Miya is in an emergency referal center where they are monitoring her blood work constantly.

All her other levels/organs are normal.

Her main culprit is the peritonitis and the reason they can't give her albumin replacement is that it can cause pancreatitis which could kill her because of the condition she is in now.

I dropped off her blanket but did not see her because they said she was finally sleeping and I didn't want to disturb her. Rest is all important here too.

However, I have spoken to her surgeon. THe edema is down for now. I am also dropping off a product called Seacure which is bioavailable protein from white fish, tomorrow for them to start giving her in pill or powder form.

The main thing now is that she gets enough protein to bring her albumin levels back up and counter act the edema.

I know she is in good hands. But understand that her entire situation: Gallbladder rupture and the subsequent problems, are very rare in dogs, espcially in a dog so young. The seacure may very possibly give her the protein she needs (as its concentrated) and lift her levels. Worse case scenario is that it won't help, but it can't hurt her.

I did tell the surgeon that I respect his belief in clinical medicine but that sometimes that combined with holistic can help and he has no objection to trying it.

Even if he did I would demand it anyway.

So......... I just have to pick up the Seacure tomorrow and deliver it and will see Miya tomorrow at that time.

This is a rollercoaster...... but she is young, strong, and a "Labrador". She has her new blanket with My and Jazz's scent so that should help too. She is giving lots of kisses and head butts to the staff and in good spirits.

Your input and your prayers are so welcome and appreciated.

Thank you so much.
Patty

Oh Patty:
That is good news. I am glad she doesn't have this particular issue to deal with as she has so much already.
I am in full agreement with the holistic approach combined with traditional medicine. It can work miracles. I also think your presence is all important.
When my girl was in the teaching hospital we were there each and every day. 10 yrs ago we had a GSD bloat and was at the same hospital for 3 emergency surgeries in 2 weeks. He was in ICU a good deal of the time. We insisted on seeing him in the ICU til he could go into an operatory for the visits. Some days we waited for hours because of one emergency or another, but we always saw both of them every day. And we brought new blankets, toys, etc every day since the hospital was horrible about keeping their things with them. And I do understand it's hard with laundering them and all..... But to me having your scent on things when you can't be there, and having you there as much as possible, gives them the will and strength to fight.
I am so happy to read that she is strong, and has a wonderful will to beat this thing. God Bless her and bring her home safely with you very soon. And God Bless you for loving her so very much. What a dedicated, loving human being you are.
Hugs and prayers still coming from Mass to you and Miya. Please kiss her again and again from me, and tell her she is a wonderfully strong, brave girl. So are you!

Dev'Sun,

Your are A God Send.

God Bless you.

I sure will give Miya kisses from you tomorrow

Patty

Patty:
I am counting on it and will check frequently for updates tomorrow.BTW I am Cindy and can be reached at AbsPaw95@Hughes.net if you need me!
Try to have sweet dreams tonight of great albumin results tomorrow!!!!!

HUGS!

thank you once again!

I couldn't get thru this without you.

You know I will be calling late tonight to check on her. But I will wait until tomorrow to see the surgeon and hand over the protein supp. and see how she does to repost.

God bless you Dev'Sun and everyone else praying for my Miya.

Patty

Patty, I didn't want to call and disturb you but have been watching your posts. Miya is still in my prayers daily, I hope her albumin comes up by tomorrow .. once it does I think you will have a huge sense of relief.

Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of her and you. I'm here if you need me, a mile or a phone call away

xoxo for Miya when you see her

Patty,

Our thoughts for you and Miya are still coming from
Laurel, MD. Cindy is a good friend of mine for several years now. She's a treasure....and knows
many, many things about her labbies.....I know she's
pulling for you, too...

Stay strong for Miya and yourself and baby Jazz.

Jane, Shilo, Noah, Jonas and Emma(SPIT)....we're praying that Miya can pull through and can come home
with you soon...that is totally important.

Hi Patty! Can you please summarize again Miya's case. Low albumin can be the result of a lot of conditions being critically sick is one of them. Giving albumin intravenously is one way to temporarily alleviate the condition but is not a permanent solution. It is expensive and is gone in 8 hours!

Patty, I am so happy to hear that Miya is doing better. and my prayers are with you both and am thankful Miya has an owner like you who loves her so much. she is a very lucky girl for that.
Be blessed today and peace be with you and healing and complete recovery for Miya in Jesus name I pray this for you both.

thank you all again or your prayers.

Noel, Miya can't have alb. replacement for fear of pancreatitis which could kill lher in her condition.

SHe has septisemia, peritonitis, is on fluids, antib. has a drain, etc.

I'll know more later. I'm off to the clinic and will give an update when I get back

Patty

Miya's Surgeon feels she is doing "quite well" today.

There is no more edema "thank God". However, her albumin has dropped to 1.1 Her other levels are all good and she has less and less drainage which is a plus.

I was able to see her and gave her one of her concentrated fish protein pills and she gobbled it down. If it stays down she will get one every hour for a few hours and then be increased accordingly. I only stayed with her for 5 min. as she was panting and seemed stressed to me (probably thinking I was taking her home as she kept standing at the door to the examination room). I wanted her back in her kennel and hooked back up to all her meds and fluids.

I gave her hugs and kisses from all of you and got plenty in return.

I will call in a few hours to see if the prot. pills are staying down.

I just pray that this will help bring her levels up. Protein should do that.


Patty

More encouraging news Patty, keep it coming!
Now if the darn albumin levels would just cooperate!
I'll keep checking in!
HUGS!

Sending extra-strength thoughts & prayers!

Called the clinic at 3 to be told she kept down the protein pill and they just gave her another. I gave the first one at 11:45 and this is the first they have given her.

Obviously they are not giving them to her every hour as I instructed. I will have to call every hour to be sure its done. I could care less if I bug them. So far all my calls (about every 3-5 hours till bed time) have been accepted with grace and understanding for my concern. We'll see if the attitudes change with my more frequent calls.

Waiting to hear from my holistic friend as to how many to give every 2-3 hours if thats all the staff can "manage to do"

I was told she was getting 1 tbspn of ID canned every hour so how difficult could it be to give the pill at the same time.

God if I could stay with her I would be sure this was done right. It could very do its job and save her.

You can be sure i will keep up on this and let you know how she is doing later.

Thanks again to all of you.

Oy Vey, thanks for your post. I'll try to give you a call later.

Patty

Hi Patty! Her albumin is low because of her sepsis. Giving her albumin will just be a waste of money. Bottom line is sepsis needs to be cured and then slowly she can be rehabilitated nutritionally. The edema is part and parcel of the septic picture and the hypoalbuminemia.

Good luck with her!

Noel,

You sound very knowledgeable about all of this. Septis I assume is the septisemia and what you say all makes sense.

Any more info?

Could you post back on my newest Miya update post. It gets confusing going back and forth and others tend to get lost. I know I probably haven't done this right and should have just kept the original post going but frowns and smiles in new posts tell folks a lot. :-) I hate to post good news in the original frown post. Oh God, am I making any sense? I think I need some sleep...........

Thanks so much.

Patty

Hi Patty! I didn't read the very beginning of your thread so I can't really comment on your Miya's case. But if she has sepsis that means she has a bacteria in her blood that might have come from her inflammed peritoneum ( Hence peritonitis). Left untreated this will lead to full blown septic shock..which is multi-organ failure (kidneys, liver, heart and brain will fail)..which, as you can probably guess, has a very very bad outcome. If you may kindly summarize her case for me and I might be able to help.

Hi Noel,

She went in for emergency ultrasound on Monday and was found to have fluid/blood (drawn) from her abdomin and we proceeded to the emergency center.

They suspected an intestinal puncture but when they opened her up found her gallbladder green/black with a hole that had been poisoning her for days, = rupture, the removed it.

Result: septisemic, peritonitis, low albumin, etc.

Put on IV, antibiotics, stomach drain. etc.

Since then her albumin levles have dropped from 1.9 to 1.1

She is eating now and not vomiting and on the protein supp. I have taken to her but she is still not out of the woods.

Edema did set in but a diuretic was given and corrected that as of 12:00 this afternoon.

I will kmow more tomorrow.

Thanks for your thoughts and input.

Patty

Hi Patty! Thanks for the complete picture. She probably has acute necrotizing cholecystitis that ruptured and led to an acute abdomen that led to her septic picture. Since the source of the infection was removed and given the correct antibiotic as well as adequate supportive care then she has a fairly good chance of making it. Just be on top of the hospital to make sure they give her proper supportive care. Nutrition certainly is important and also be cautious of other drugs like the diuretic that might further dehydrate her and hurt her kidneys. Remember she developed edema because her serum albumin is low not because she has too much excess fluid.

Thanks Noel.

Dehydration and lowered blood pressure were a concern of mine with the diuretic. But they only gave her one and it did the job.

Anxiously awaiting an update this morning and will post when I have it.

Patty

The blood tests for my 13 years old Yorkie named Bebe revealed very low level of albumin (9) and low calcium of .76. An appointment at the hospital has been made for Thursday for a scope biopsy. Bebe is weak and her leggs shake and sometimes she falls. All of this started with diarrhea which she still has. My vet performed two other blood tests which revealed the the liver and kidney function correctly and there is no sign of Addison. The estimate for the hospital procedure is approx. $1,200.00. My vet did not provide any medication but I would like to make her stronger for Thursday and improve her walk. Any suggestions.

Patty I must have miss the post on Miya and just trying to catch up now. You and she are in our thoughts. Wish I had some advice but sorry just good thoughts coming your way.
Hang in there and I will follow the progress from this point on.
*Hugs*

Tari & Wayne

Tarri and any others reading this thread,

The person posting now is asking questions regarding Albumin from Miya's old thread,

Please know that Miya is just FINE and wonderfully recovered. She goes for more blood work next week to continue to confirm that.

Sorry this upset some. I had a phone call tonight from a friend who saw this as well and was worried and I truly love you all for your concerns.

this is an old thread that was dug up from the archives and I hope the person with the Yorkie will start a new thread to try and get some help.

If I can help that person in any way regarding albumin I will. SEACURE! Saved Miya's life and I can't say enough about it. Email me if you want more info on it and where to get it.

Thank you for your concerns. Bebe's albumin was 9, her globulin 10 and her white count was 35,000 on 18 April and when checked at the hospital on 27 April the albumin 22, the golbulin 33 and white count 21,000. This is an unbelievable improvement.The other scheduled procedures have been cancelled and she is only on metronidazole. My specialist, my vet and myself suspect that there was a mitake made at the testing lab. The tests, procedures, consultations cost me approx. $1,000.00.I am a retired individual with 4 Yorkies and a limited income and would do everything possible for my Yorlies. I think that a blood test mistake is very difficult to prove. Any of you ever faced such a situation. Let's keep in mind that if I got the blood test results of another dog this one could be very sick but his blood works might show goog results