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Really worried about Jax...again

Penelope's Mom

Well-Known Member
Wow, it sounds like you and Jax had an awesome experience and I can't imagine how relieved you are to know there's an end in sight.

Good luck and hugs to you both from me and a not-so-sick-anymore Franklin. ;)
 

jersey girl

Well-Known Member
Of course your doing a good job....you are so devoted to him, how could you not? :) I'm so glad it was a good experience and he handled it so well, even being under stress. Keep us updated!
 

Amanda F.

Well-Known Member
Thanks CeeCee! I'll check into it but I think we will probably do the prednisone. The doctors had a sense of urgency about getting treatment started ASAP. The longer we wait the more chance there is of permanent damage.
 

Amanda F.

Well-Known Member
Of course your doing a good job....you are so devoted to him, how could you not? :) I'm so glad it was a good experience and he handled it so well, even being under stress. Keep us updated!
Thanks and yes I am! I feel like I'm the only one who will fight for him and he is a fighter so I have to do all I can! I'm glad it went well too. Much better than I expected actually. He did great as always. He amazes me. If I had his issues I would be cranky and bitchy! He is such a sweetie even when he's sick.
 

NYDDB

Well-Known Member
Such good news; happy to hear. :) And I am sure Jax knows you are his advocate, and will fight for (and with) him.

And, yeah, I don't handle pain nearly as well as Mateo does-- these guys are tough, aren't they?
 

Amanda F.

Well-Known Member
Such good news; happy to hear. :) And I am sure Jax knows you are his advocate, and will fight for (and with) him.

And, yeah, I don't handle pain nearly as well as Mateo does-- these guys are tough, aren't they?
I think he knows too :) And they are too tough sometimes! I think in another breed I would have noticed his symptoms sooner.
 

Amanda F.

Well-Known Member
UPDATE: Last night Jax was not good. I fell asleep on the couch with him and woke up at 3am. I went up to bed and called for him and he wouldn't come. He was sitting at the bottom of the stairs looking up at me with his pitiful face. I don't think he had the energy to climb up. So I got my pillow off the bed and returned to the couch. He climbed up and cuddled with me. His face was so warm I was really freaking out. I took his temp and it was normal. I didn't get back to sleep until 5am but he sure didn't have any trouble sleeping! This morning I was counting the minutes until the vet opened. I called Purdue first thing and left a message for his doctor. I was curious if the test results usually came in at a certain time or not. I was getting worried that we may go all day without hearing something and nervous being the weekend. The vet called me back and said all the results were in except for the main titers that we really needed! She had already called the lab and they told her to call back at 5pm but they may not have results until Monday. She told me that the tests for infectious diseases was negative so stop the clindamycin. His potassium bromide level was in the therapeutic range but his phenobarb level was high. We are going to slowly lower his dose and hope he doesn't have any breakthrough seizures! She also told me if the results for the titers weren't back by 5 she was going to put him on prednisone anyway because she couldn't see him going all weekend without treatment. That made me feel much better. He was so so all day, pretty restless and followed me everywhere. I had a lot to do but found myself sitting around with him just so he wasn't up and down all day. She called me back a little after 5. He tested a strong positive for 2M antibodies. I was relieved to finally have an answer and know that treatment can begin! She said there is no scientific evidence for this, but in cases she has seen or read about, most dogs with muscle deterioration test negative or low. Based on her experience she thinks Jax has a good chance for an almost full (if not full) recovery!! I literally got goose bumps when she said that. I finally felt like I could breathe, like I had been holding my breath for days. I don't think I realized how stressed I had been until then. We are starting him off on 50mg of prednisone 2xday for at least a few weeks and then go from there. She said we wouldn't notice immediate changes but he would feel much better after the first dose. I gave it to him around 7 and he does seem to be a little more himself. I was telling Parker "bad dog" and Jax wiggled like he hasn't wiggled in weeks. He also started barking at me because I was standing with my arms crossed...he is very particular about the way I am supposed to stand. :) We have a long road ahead of us but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I am so relieved and wanted to share with you all :) I snapped a few pictures the other day at Purdue. You can see how swollen the bridge of his nose is. I also took a few today. In the picture of him outside you can see how swollen the left side of his face is. The picture with the coffee cup...well it was just funny. I was in the bathroom getting ready this morning and had the faucet on. He loves to drink out of the faucet. He jumped up but his back legs were not cooperating. The only think I had on the counter was a coffee cup so I filled it with water. I was letting him have a drink, he sit down and then laid down. It was too cute, he laid there and drank the entire cup! 20130806_085804.jpg20130806_085737.jpg20130809_102031.jpg20130809_094025.jpg
 

Sadies Mom

Well-Known Member
I am so glad to hear about the possitive prognosis. Prednisone can shure be a life saver, and the almoset immediate results in the way they feel is liberating. I had a lab with Addisons. She was sick for well over 6 months before they could figure out what was wrong with her. Jax is such a handsome boy, and he knows he has a great mommy!!! Keep us posted on his progress.
 

jersey girl

Well-Known Member
GREAT news Amanda!! So happy that you have an answer and that Jax will be on the mend. You can really see how swollen he is in those pictures...try an relax this weekend, it's exhausting being a good momma!
 

Amanda F.

Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone :) He is feeling so much better already. I bought him a new stuffed toy yesterday and he was trying to play with it this morning! He has been so mopey and lethargic, it is such a relief to see him have some energy back.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
Dear Amanda and Jax, so glad to read that you finally have answers and a treatment plan. Much affection to you both and kudos to the team at Perdue.
 

Amanda F.

Well-Known Member
Dear Amanda and Jax, so glad to read that you finally have answers and a treatment plan. Much affection to you both and kudos to the team at Perdue.
Thanks so much! The team at Purdue were amazing and I can't say enough good things about them! I think I will take him back there in 2 weeks to have his phenobarb levels retested. I imagine they will be very excited to see him and his progress at that time :)
 

Amanda F.

Well-Known Member
Well I just wrote a long post and then tried to attach photos...it didn't work and my post is gone! I will try again in a bit. My daughter is being needy at the moment!
 

Amanda F.

Well-Known Member
Update: Jax is doing great! He has gained his weight back (plus a few pounds!) and is feeling much better. He can open his mouth all the way or pretty close to it. He does have muscle atrophy in his head. He looks pretty ridiculous. His head is skeletal and his body is so big! We have been tapering his prednisone and he is now taking 1/2 tablet a day. He started out on 2 (50mg) twice a day. I haven't seen any sign of relapse so all is good! The doc said if he was going to relapse it would be within the first few days of tapering so I think we are safe there. He isn't the same though. He is not crazy hyper like he was before and he and Parker don't play anymore. It may be the meds but he still has awhile before he is completely off them. Tapering is a long process. I'll attach some pictures of his poor sunken head. The vet said he should regain his muscle once he's off the pred. jaxhead1.jpgjaxhead2.jpgjaxhead4.jpg