A Very Down Dog

[chickentikka]

Clare You know Murf best. I put my old boy Barney through tests and treatment at 13 and he bounced back and lived out his life happily until his legs let him down at 16. He had a zest for life and an inner strength which is why I was convinced that I was doing the right thing by him and I know that I did.

[Fee]

Really sorry to hear this, you must be worried sick. Loads of good thoughts for Murf, I hope the specialist is able to help him.

 

My vet routinely deals directly with PetPlan, I just pay the excess and they sort the rest, they don't seem to have any problems with it. You may find that the specialist is completely separate from your normal vet, though, so you'd need to check with them as well.

[owl]

for you and Murf.

[merledogs]

My vet has just called and Murf's bloods were no better and actually slightly worse. He is not producing red blood cells and his white blood cells are damaged, or something like that I really didn't take it all in He is fighting something that is not normal.

 

He is going to be immediately reffered to a specialist vet where they will do more tests, including a bone marrow biopsie.

 

He is 13 should I be putting him through all this, before this he was so happy and healthy so I feel he should be given every chance but is that for me or him He may go through all this and it won't be treatable.

 

I am going to have to hope the vet will deal with Petplan direct, my vet says they do in acceptional circumstances, does anyone have any experience of this?

 

Sorry for ramble, I think I am in shock, I knew he was poorly but this is so scarey now

That sounds similar to what happened to Max - his bone marrow stopped working so wasn't producing red blood cells. When they did the bone marrow biopsy, his bone marrow was fibrous and not working at all. We never did find out what caused it (could have been poison or a virus).

 

Would be worth speaking to your vet about the possibility of a blood transfusion - Max had several of them and after each one, he was back to his normal self for 10 days or so, then went back for another one. It's not a long term solution for many reasons, but in the short term it bought Max time, which he wouldn't have had otherwise. Having said that, they kept him in the vets for a week and did all the tests on him they needed before they did the transfusion.

 

I was told by my vets it was untreatable and was convinced I was going to lose him, but Max's bone marrow started working again on its own after a while and 18 months later he's still going strong

 

Might also be worth asking for a referral to a specialist - we got referred to Liverpool Uni Small Animal hospital and they were brilliant - they have all their facilities on site so they can do lots of tests that the vets can't and a lot quicker. Would be worth insisting on an immediate referral as well, cos the vets will do tests which the specialist would repeat, so you would minimise the impact on Murf by just putting him through one set of tests.

 

Sending lots of positive thoughts for a positive outcome for Murf as well .

 

Re the insurance, Max is with M&S and both the vets and Liverpool Uni dealt direct with them with no problems.

[Clare]

Thank you for the support

 

It is reasuring to hear of another young 13 yr old that overcame illness at that age and went on to continue a full life.

 

Alex, I remember Max having the blood transfusions, how amazing that the bone marrow repaired itself, I will be going armed with some further questions now thank you.

 

We have been referred to a specialist vet who will be able to do all the tests straight away, my vet did say they could do the tests but by referring us it would speed everything up, and the vet we are seeing is apparantly one of the best in this field.

 

My vet has sent everything over to them today and I am going to collect the xrays so I can take them with us. We have an hour appointment tomorrow at 9.30am and then I will be leaving him there for further tests.

 

I will speak to the referral vet about claiming direct, Petplan cover 80% of everything so hopefully they will accept me paying 20% at the time, it would be handy if I get a cheque for the claim we have already made, at least it would should they have agreed to pay on this illness.

[merledogs]

I will speak to the referral vet about claiming direct, Petplan cover 80% of everything so hopefully they will accept me paying 20% at the time, it would be handy if I get a cheque for the claim we have already made, at least it would should they have agreed to pay on this illness.

If your insurance is up to date and it's not a pre-existing condition, then don't see why they wouldn't pay? PetPlan are one of the better ones but you could always ring them to get some advice.

 

Good luck for the appointment tomorrow, I hope you get some answers soon and that Murf is back to himself before long

[celeste]

Good luck for tomorrow must be awful not knowing what's wrong and not being able to make an informed decision

[chickentikka]

Masses of good luck thoughts for you and Murf for tomorrow

[Millimoo]

I know I dont post very often on here. But I am going through a similar problem with my lurcher Cleo.

 

She has primary auto immune thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Which basically meant her body was destroying its own blood system. She has been very poorly.

 

I went to the University of Liverpool (and still going) and cant recommend them enough.

 

I am also insured with Petplan and not had a single problem with them paying direct to my own vet and the University. Both vets have been brilliant and even the University just ask me for a claim form, and then let me know about the excess that needs paying.

 

I was even mid claim when my policy was due up for renewal and considering I had already claimed £2500 and was only just beginning the treatment the policy only went up by £2 per month. I will always be insured with Petplan for all my animals and would recommend them to anyone!

 

Cleo is only 4 (nearly 5) and its been so tough to go through. The steroids really affected her, and changed her personality. Sometimes I didnt know if I was doing the right thing, as she seemed so miserable at times. The bad days were so hard and seeing her the way she was has been so difficult.

 

But she is getting weaned off the steroids very slowly and the old Cleo is coming back. She is happier in herself if not very fat now (but she is starting fat camp soon, and I do know its the steroids, but a fat lurcher isnt a good look )

 

If you asked me on a bad day was I doing the right thing? I wouldnt have known how to answer. But with her lying behind me on the couch legs in the air and the greeting I got when I came home from yes... the answer.... Hell Yes!!

 

Hope this helps somewhat!

 

Sharron

[Clare]

Thank you Sharron So pleased to hear Cleo is winning her battle

 

I took Murf this morning and have left him there for his tests, normally I get very wibbly at leaving him but as I walked out it felt a huge relief, things can't go on as they are and keeping everything crossed this is the start of his recovery.

 

The specialist had a very strong french accent and to be honest I didn't understand much he said, but I think the gist is that Murf's a bit of a mystery as a lot of the illnesses that cause anemia shouldn't show a rise in white blood cells, and his bloods "aren't that remarkable" so it doesn't explain his behaviour, so they going to do a broad spectrum of tests and then see if anything stands out.

 

Thankfully they will claim direct the estimate is huge and my face was a bit and I am used to equine bills

 

So the waiting game begins, they will call me at 3pm and hopefully he should be able to come home tonight.

[rmb3971]

Everything crossed for you and Murf today.

 

:GroupHug:

[merledogs]

Fingers crossed that the vets get to the bottom of it very soon

 

Max sends speshul good wishes to Murf

[Karen]

Hope that you and Murf get some answers today

[Clare]

Murf says thanks for the good wishes, he is keeping a low profile at the moment as he a bit embarrassed as is sporting some interesting and rather large bald bits all over his body

 

Unfortuantly we are still no nearer knowing what is going on from the tests that came back today nothing definate stands out, so now we are waiting on the bone marrow sample results which will be either Friday or next week The specialist is on holiday next week so we will be seeing another vet.

 

Feel a bit deflated I so thought I would have answers today.

[houndzrus]

Continued good thoughts, it is frustrating when you can't get to the bottom of things.