Murdock Update

After this post [thank you all, for your thoughts] I thought I should give you the latest update with Murdock.

Friday Adam took Murdock to the vet [I was at my emotional end with spending 1/2 days at the vet, waiting & not getting any answers]. 

He is still on three of these medications, but one of them is specifically hard on large breed dogs.  Other than increased appetite & urination, it causes diabetes, & is thinning his skin.  So, we are trying to wean him off that medication again [we tired once & his nodules came right back].  If that is successful, we'll take him off a second medication.  If not, our only other option is to try a [human] cancer drug.  The negative thing about that option...we would need to take him back to Ames for check ups [blood/urine draw] every 2 weeks [read::extremely time sucking & ridiculously expensive considering each time we go-currently every 3 weeks-it's $150-200]

On a positive note, he gained 5 pounds [even though he's lost most all of his muscle & it's all fat weight] 

So...we wait & see how he reacts to the decreased dosage of prednisone.

Are You Listening God [Murdock & LIFE Update]

Wow...this week has just sucked!  Just when I don't think it can get worse...it does!  I'm trying really hard to stay positive and be thankful for everything I have...a happy, healthy baby... an awesome relationship with my husband... a warm home ...awesome family... But I'm not going to lie...it's been tough!

Again, thank you everyone for your [unanswered...sorry!] calls, texts, FB messages, emails, etc.  We really do appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers!

Here's an update since Murdock became sick and went to the vet...

Monday night Dr. Foster called to check on Murdock.  He wasn't getting worse, but he definitely wasn't getting any better.  He had eaten about 5 jars of baby food all day.  She suggested we start the medication tomorrow [Wednesday].  I was to call her after Adam's surgery.

Tuesday Ashley took vacation to come over and dogsit Murdock for us.  [I should also mention that while she was here she cleaned my house!!  Thank you sis!]  I took Adam and Jordyn to the clinic where Adam was having his Upper GI.  Long story short, the doctor ended up giving Adam 3 times the normal about of sedation medication but he never really was 'out' enough for her to be able to complete the procedure.  So...she said he would have to see his family physician to get approval for anesthesia and reschedule at the main hospital where he could be put under by an anesthesiologist.  Awesome...did I mention that we're trying to get it done by the end of the year for insurance purposes?!  Adam came home and slept for hours as the doctor said he would because of all of the medication he received.
Dr. Foster [the vet] called me back around 6pm and went over the 4 prescriptions she was calling in for Murdock.  She wanted them started that night.  After a whole ordeal at the pharmacy [& $275 later] I was home and wondering what in the world I was going to do with a dog that was physically unable to go up and down the stairs from our house to the back yard to go to the bathroom with a medication that makes him urinate way more [speaking from his last experience on this steroid] and a husband that was unable to walk without getting dizzy let alone carry a 88lb. dog up 20 stairs!  So...Adam and I decided it would be best if I took Jordyn and Murdock down to the lake house [with no stairs and hardwood floors in case he had any accidents].  We made it to the lakehouse I was was able to give Murdock his first dose of medicine around 9:30pm.    Adam's parents stayed over with me to help with the baby and pup.

Wednesday was not fun giving Murdock his medications [see below] but with the help of my father-in-law, we survived.  We spent the day hanging out at the lake house.  At 5pm [when Murdock hadn't started urinating all over the place like anticipated and seemed to have a bit more strength] we decided to head home.  I felt pretty stupid going to the lake house since he doesn't seem to have the uncontrollable urination problem like we anticipated, but I know that it wasn't fair to make Murdock walk up and down the stairs at our condo any more that he had to, especially since Adam was going to be home from 8:30a to 8:30p.  We got home last night around 8:30 and called it a night shortly after.

Today he seems to be doing about the same.  He fell coming up the stairs for me again around noon, but luckily we were only 3 stairs from the top and I was able to [slowly] carry him up one stair at a time.  I won't be taking him out anymore before Adam gets home.  Watching your dog fall up the stairs is the hardest thing ever!  :(  So far today he has eaten 1 jar of baby food, 1 cup of rice, a scrambled egg, and some bites of chicken.  Getting him to eat has been increasing difficult since we've started his medications.  The problem is, we can't open his mouth enough to toss the pills in and have him swallow them so we have to crush up the pills and 1) mix with water and syringe into his mouth or 2) sneak into his food.  The medications he is taking are extremely bitter once you break the capsule, so every time we stick something in his mouth he thinks we're giving him the 'yucky stuff.'

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Here is our medication process...twice a day :(

All the meds... [Pain, Infection, Blood Cell Count, Infection, Steroid]

Doxycycline | Pentoxifylline | Prednisone | Clindamycin

Open the capsules

Dump the capsules into a bowl 

Crush the tablets 

Not Cocaine...I swear!

Mix together & Add water

Load the Syringe and quirt into his mouth [3-4 times]

Here are his current eating habits...

'Meat' Baby Food & Canned Wet Dog Food

Rice to mix with the baby food & wet dog food

Is the week over yet? [Murdock is SICK]

That moment this morning when my daughter [5 weeks & 5 days old] when tumbling off our ottoman hitting the chair and crashing to the ground [when I was supposed to be watching her]...that is when I knew I was officially over this week!

You see...it's just sucked!

Their is something big going on that I haven't blogged about.  Part because I've been busy, partly because I'm scared, but mostly because I've just been hoping that if I ignore it long enough it will go away.

It's Murdock.

He's sick.  Not just sick...he's been sick before.  But like sick, sick!

Before Jordyn was born we noticed a large bump under his right eye.  We let it go for a while, thinking it would heal on it's own.  Since then, we have been to Dr. Dotz three times.  Although unsure what it was, he was pretty convinced it would open, drain, and heal on it's own.  Now, almost two months later Murdock has probably a hundred bumps all over his body.  They are under the skin, but eventually break open.  He has lots of other symptoms too.  Increased temp, heart rate, sleep, urination, and thick drooling.  Decreased appetite [like none at all] and activity.  He's sleeping approximately 23 1/2 hours a day and struggles to get onto our bed or into the back of the SUV.  He's just plain sick and not himself.  This week he stopped opening his mouth altogether.  In the past two months, he's lost about 18 pounds; this morning he weighed 88lbs.  :(

So...our vet recommended we bring him to the Iowa State University where they specialize in Vet Med to have the specialists look at him.  Yesterday we spend 7 hours in the Dermatology Department where they tested blood and urine samples and took x-rays.  His x-rays looked great.  They heard a slight heart murmur and the blood work had some areas they wanted to pursue, but nothing that said what the specific problem is.

So...they had us come back to the hospital today.  I had to have Murdock in here at 7:30 am for an echogram to check out his heart and the valves around it.  The echo looked great, allowing them to put him under anesthesia for a few biopsies.  They placed his IV Catheter and Tracheal Tube, but they weren't able to open his mouth far enough for a biopsy.  We're all unsure why his mouth is unable to open and how it is related to the nodules at this point.  They did however get a biopsy from other areas.  The bacterial portion of the biopsy should be in Monday.  The fungal portion will take about two weeks.  Until then we're headed home with pain medication to hopefully take the edge off enough so he can eat.  If he hasn't eaten by tomorrow, Dr. Foster will call in a script for depression [to increase appetite...hopefully!].

At this point we have no answers.  We've set a financial limit and already went well over just to start finding the problem.  We haven't even discussed treatment options at this point.  Dr. Dotz wasn't kidding when he told us to plan for thousands.  We're really at a loss over what to do. He is practically our first child and we've had him for 3 years.  He is honestly the best dog I know; he's kind, loving, and gentle.  It makes me sad to think Jordyn may never know him.  One the other hand we've already spent more in testing than we did for all of our medical bills having Jordyn [and I thought that was a lot...ha!]  We're just not sure where to draw the line.  It's easy to say you would do anything for your pet, but when it comes down to it, how far can you really go?  This month is hitting us pretty hard with Murdocks many vet bills, Jordyn's hospital bills, Christmas, and me on maternity leave.   Let's just hope this isn't a glimpse of how 2012 is going to go...

We love you Murdock...feel better soon...we miss you!  Mama, Dad, & Little Sis

The Tests Are In..

If you saw my last post you read that Murdocks Test results are in.  We aren't thrilled with the results, but we were reminded how thankful we are for our vet and also know that it could be worse.

That being said... 

He is allergic to all the good stuff [IMO]

no more beef

no more chicken

no more milk

no more cheese

no more rice

no more duck

no more lamb

...the list goes on but basically no more table food

The thing he is most allergic to though...DUST MITES.  This makes me sad because the vet said he lost all of the hair on is paws and belly because he was laying in it [I know...gross right?!].  To make me feel better she said it would be impossible to get all of the dust mites out of the hosue...no matter how much I cleaned.  Either way...I feel dirty! :(

I'm sad..for him, for us, for the whole situation.  All of his favorite 'treats' are out.  :(  All those treats we got him for Christmas...gone.  I guess they're free to a good home now!

Tonight he started his first round of shots.  I'll give him a shot [& 4 Benadryl] every three days for the next 73, then we're readjust his dosage to see where he is most comfortable.  

Testing Cost - $392

Medicine Cost for 2 months - $177

Relief for Murdock - Priceless

I'll update you all with his progress as we see changes.

Perfect Day [weekend & Murdock update too]

Yesterday was just what Adam & I needed.  Life has been so hectic lately and this week will be no different.  We spent the day lounging around...never getting out of our pjs or brushing our teeth [just what you wanted to know, right?!]  It was snowing big, huge flakes most of the day.  We ordered pizza in for lunch & watched 31875 episodes of Law and order.  I finished 'Fourplay' by Jane Moore [4 stars!] and Adam perfected his golf skills on his xBox360!  So relaxing...perfect!  I love spending time with my two favorite boys!

Saturday we attending my sister in laws grad school graduation and party.  Her husband wowed us all with an incredibly heart-filled speech and gift [a past, present, & future ring].  But before we went to that we took Murdock to a vet [2 hours from home] for Allergy testing.  We left knowing his Thyroid looks good and he has a double ear infection.  The specific allergy testing will not come back for 3-4 weeks.  So it's a waiting game now.  We're so ready to figure this all out and get it overwith.  We received a very MerryChristmasToUs bill!  Holy Buckets...Allergy testing is not cheap!  No worries though...we'll probably have it paid off by next Christmas...I kid...but seriously...big bucks!  He's so worth every penny though!  I love this pup to pieces! :)

Excited for tonight.  We're going out to dinner and to the Mannheim Steamroller concert!  My in laws are coming too.  Should be a great night!  

PS...can you believe it's only 5 days until Christmas?!  I better get to wrapping!