Power of the Paw

The momma here. Normally, Lilo and I are asking everyone to pull together for a member of our blogger family in need. Today, however, I am asking for your prayers for Lilo.


Over the last two months, she has been battling allergies and what eventually became a respiratory infection. She has been on a few different antibiotics that have not cleared the infection. After her dental in May, her vet suggested we schedule soft palette surgery as well as nasal surgery. Her surgery was scheduled for July 1st. The morning of the 1st, I received a call from her vet stating that her white cell count was quite elevated indicating that the Baytril she had been on had not cleared the infection. She changed her antibiotic and released her to me Friday evening. On our way out of the store, Lilo started having a sneezing fit and stopped breathing, dropping to the floor. We rushed her back into the clinic thinking she'd had a seizure. A few moments later Dr. K came and got me and informed me that what happened was not considered a seizure. She had gotten worked up during the sneezing fit and couldn't get any oxygen. They gave her oxygen for about 20 minutes and released her to me on the instruction to keep her calm. The rest of Friday was uneventful. She ate dinner and slept through the night.


She was sluggish on Saturday which I attributed to the infection. Saturday afternoon I picked up some saline drops as suggested by the vet to put in her nose and help break up the congestion. Just after putting the drops in her nose, she again stopped breathing. The episode only lasted about 30 seconds to a minute before she came around and was acting like nothing had happened. For the rest of Saturday and Sunday, we took every precaution to keep her calm. I picked her up and carried her outside to potty and then carried her back in. Sat with while she ate so the cats would get her excited. My dad even set up a fan for her to sleep in front of to make sure there was plenty of air circulating for her and she wouldn't have to strain so much.

Late Monday morning while I was in the kitchen getting stuff ready for lunch, mom called my name from the living room. Lilo was lying on her side on the couch with her legs running in the air, mouth open gasping for air and glazed eyes. We tried everything to get her to come out of it. Rubbing on her to try and stimulate her systems, giving her a squeeze in case she was choking on something, even blowing in her face to try and get her attention. Mom held her while I scrambled to find a vet that was open on the 4th of July. By the time I reached Purdue on the phone Lilo was coming out of her "respiratory distress." (They can tell me it wasn't a seizure all they want!! I just hope I never have to see her or any other dog go through it again!!!!) Mom got dressed, we loaded Lilo into the car and headed the 30 minutes to Purdue. I'm pretty sure those were the longest 30 minutes of my life.

Purdue got us into an exam room right away and got us a vet student to take her history. While we waiting for them to get back with us on a course of treatment, she once again quit breathing while lying in my arms. The doctors came in and snatched from my arms and took her to ICU. They came back a few minutes later to tell me again that it wasn't a seizure. They told us that the combination of her nasal passages being packed with mucus combined with her elongated soft palette were causing her to quit breathing.

She has been in an oxygen crate in the ICU since about noon yesterday. There has been no improvement, but there has also been no decline. Purdue will be discharging her to my mom any minute now and she will be bringing her down here. We will check in with her regular vet to get a nasal culture and attempt to isolate whatever the hell this infection is and get it treated and then she will be heading to the VCA in Anderson where she will go back into an oxygen cage until we can clear her for surgery.

This will be the longest I have been away from her since she ate the rock!!! Those of you that know Lilo know she is a fighter, but her little body is so worn out from struggling with this infection and to breath for the last two months. PLEASE take a minute to say a prayer for her and help give her the strength to fight this and come back home.

When you go home tonight, make sure you give your fur babies an extra squeeze from us!!!!!!!


Until I know more. . . . .

Pugs, Hugs & Kisses
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO