Last Saturday morning Jake began throwing up. Shortly there after he developed loose watery stools and became very lethargic. Hoping it was just a bad reaction to something he ate, we attended to his needs and waited for improvement. By Sunday night things had gotten worse instead of better. We whisked him away to the vet for a check up. They weren't entirely sure what could be causing the illness, so they gave Jake two injections (one anti-biotic and one anti-nausea) and then some oral medication for us to take home with us.
We watched him carefully overnight while he slept. By Monday afternoon he barely had energy to walk outside, and he started having blood in his stool and urine and was continuing to vomit. We raced back to the vets and they hospitalized him and began running a battery of tests. They started him on IV fluids and nutrients along with antibiotics. They took regular x-rays to check for any foreign objects that could be blocking his digestive track. His temperature and blood work came back normal, but the x-rays couldn't show a clear picture because he was too gassy.
The next morning they ran a barium test, in which they make Jake swallow a milky chalk liquid and track it with a series of x-rays as it makes its way through his system. This normally takes 4 hours for it to reach his hind end, but after 4 hours the barium still hadn't left his stomach lining. It was clear at this point that there was some sort of blockage between his stomach and his intestine. They rushed Jake into surgery within the hour.
A few hours later I get a phone call that the surgery went well, but unfortunately there were no foreign objects found. The problem was that Jake had a severe viral infection that had attacked his intestines and it was so inflamed and that it had basically swollen shut. This virus attacks the lining of the intestines and makes it slough off, which is why he was passing blood in his stool. With the intestine lining missing, any other bacteria that is in his stomach is then allowed to enter the blood stream and attack the rest of his body/organs. Its a serious condition.
They sent a biopsy of the intestine to the lab, which wouldn't have results for 4 days and by then we would know if Jake has a significant chance of survival. They adjusted some of his medication and we were told that all they can do now is keep him alive long enough for his body to fight the virus. There was no cure. They can treat symptoms (diarrhea/vomiting/dehydration)but he just had to make though long enough to begin recovery. The intestine lining should grow back within 3 to 4 days and then he should be on the road to recovery. Our fingers were crossed.
They continued doing blood work every 12 hours to track his progress and make sure he wasn't going downhill. They also tracked his temperature and physical characteristics. By the next morning he was recovering beautifully from his surgery but his white blood cell count had gone from normal, to extremely low, which meant the virus had begun attacking his bone marrow. He had also developed a slight fever. They keep pumping him with fluids and we all hoped for the best.
It was a surprise to all of us when the next mornings blood work revealed that his white blood cell count had begun to rise again. His fever had diminished and he looked a little brighter. He still was still throwing up and having diarrhea but for the first time we were able to be a little hopeful that he was getting better.
Rob and I went to visit him that afternoon and I couldn't help but cry when I saw him. He was lying down in his kennel and barely had the energy to wag his tail when we got there. We recognized us, but had a hard time lifting his head. I just felt so helpless. We stayed with him for about 45 mins, telling him how much we love him and can't wait for him to come home. We talked to him about Ali and his toys and how he needs to keep fighting because we need him and miss him terribly. I had a difficult time sleeping that night and getting the images of him so helpless and weak out of my head. I was very concerned. The vet continued to encourage me not to give up because if he thought for one second that fighting wasn't going to be worth it, he would tell us. He couldn't guarantee anything, but he was remaining very positive that Jake would have a good outcome.
The next morning I got a call that Jake was looking and feeling better, but unfortunately had developed jaundice. This symptom was not consistent with the bacterial enteritis that he was fighting so the vet was confused. They took a blood sample and sent it out for testing because they suspected he may have developed Addison's disease. (a disease of the adrenal glands that affects the cortisol hormone. Which meant he wouldn't be able to naturally produce the stress hormone and antibodies required to fight illness. Its highly treatable with steroids, and if he did have it, it meant he was pre-disposed to getting it and the surgery/virus had brought out the early on-set of it)The results would take 24 hours.
Friday afternoon arrives and we head out to see Jake again and meet with the vet. What a difference two days can make. Jake was able to stand right up when we got there. Tail wagging and there was some light in his eyes. He was still obviously weak but thrilled to see us. I sat on the floor beside his kennel and he basically crawled into my lap. His scar from surgery was healing nicely and he hadn't had diarrhea is almost 24 hours. It was a good sign. After talking with the vet we were even more excited to find out that the tests for Addison's came back normal, which means he did not have the disease! Yay!
The only remaining concern was the jaundice. This meant that his protein levels were very low in his red blood cells and the walls had broken so the colour was leaking, causing the yellowing of the skin/eyes. In order to fix that, he would require a blood plasma transfusion to up his protein levels. The transfusion would take place that night.
Which brings us to today... When I called this morning Jake was more alert, he had finally begun drinking on his own and he did eat a tbsp of food for the first time. He did throw up twice, but given that he hasn't had anything in his stomach for over a week now, and that his intestine is not fully healed, that's to be expected. He seems to be getting better day by day so we are hopeful that in a few more days, after he starts fully eating and drinking on his own, and is no longer throwing up or having bloody stools, that he will be able to come home in better health.
Its been a terrifying ordeal and one full of ups and downs, but it also has made Rob and I even closer and stronger as a couple. We thank all our friends and family who have sent well wishes over the past week and we continue to remain positive that he will continue improving. Can't wait to have my baby boy back home.
