Just thought i would update on Kintras progress and apologise for the fact that my original post about food and the BARF diet is now all about her being unwell  

I called vet this morning realising that he had tried to call my mobile the previous afternoon, he advised that because her breathing is affected and no diagnosis as yet, we should perhaps give her Advocate (strong parasitic med) in case she has lungworm (only 1 case in this area so far).  so she was given a dose this morning.  so far today she has been very lethargic - even ignoring the guys who visited our garden to lay some turf  - and didnt eat anything until mid afternoon when i tempted her with some more green tripe.  i think her appetite is waning again, although the vet reckoned the cortisone should have increased her appetite for longer.  At the moment she is lying half on/half off her bed (these wee monsters sleep in some strange positions) - i'm sure all her blood must be rushing to her head - but still breathing pretty quickly.

The vet said he would phone around tea time to let us know the blood results should hopefully hear over the next couple of hours.  Hope to update with good news soon - love the seniors post by the way, they have sssoooooo much character when they start to go grey around the muzzle

Just had some good news.  The blood tests have come back and everything looks ok apart from a raised white blood cell count indicating infection/inflammation. Other half is away picking up antibiotics so hopefully we can sort this out once and for all

 I hope she gets back to normal soon. Sounds like she is getting a little better everyday. 

Seem to be back to square one  she didnt settle all night, we kept waking to find her just standing in the middle of the room.  She eventually came on to the bed on top of the cover but she was still quivering and breathing heavily, i think she's in a lot of pain still.  Anyway, we got up this morning to find that she had peed on the bed.  she actually peed on the sofa yesterday morning too but she is drinking and peeing more just now (because of the cortisone i think). she has completely lost her appetite now and has been sick after drinking water and regurgitated her anti biotic pills taken this morning.  i'm rather concerned that she is going to become as disgusted about drinking water as she appears to be when faced with food  she's just getting so weak but she keeps appearing to make improvements but then gets worse than before.

I was going to say the same thing (not a vet either). We had a cat whose white cell counts went bonkers and that's exactly what they did for her.

Hoping Kintra is feeling better soon!

Another update.  Here bloods had shown elevated white blood cells yesterday so it looks as if she if fighting off some sort of infection.  I became a little impatient about waiting 3 days on antibiotics to see if she improved and suggested my other half phoned the vet to push him along as he's more laid back and probably doesnt come across as pushy as me in this situation. i think my vet doesnt take kindly to me doing my own research on Kintras behalf but she's my responsibility and i'm not watching her suffer for 3 days on a "wait and see" basis.  He's now referred her to the Glasgow uni vet school so she's booked in tmrw afternoon to be left overnight ( our first night apart) for them to do their checks on her.  quite relieved that something more proactive is being done because i feel that she is deteriorating so roll on tomorrow. 

Just to add, typical dog: she had a little diarrhea this morning and was standing still looking depressed in the garden when a man came into the garden to check the lawn work done yesterday.  I would normally have to hold her (as she's so exuberant) but decided that she wasnt really interested or capable of even walking far. guess what, she took off running  to greet him but reverted back to uninterested once she got there.  I think the head's willing but the body's unable - at least i know she hasnt given up.  sorry for the rambling posts, i'm just trying to keep busy.

Thanks again.  We've just returned from the vet. He decided to do an ultrasound when we went in to collect her xrays for the vet school after noticing her swollen belly. he's discovered she has fluid in her abdomen around her liver and said he's concerned . what a week, my mums going into hospital tomorrow for a bladder operation too - i'm going to be a nervous wreck tomorrow (not unusual for me).

Will keep you updated. i'm planning to leave my cardigan with her for comfort tomorrow - the one i usually wear when we're snuggled up on the sofa  (and maybe a pair of the other halfs boxers, she loves to steal them out of the laundry basket )ok i admit i've caught her running around the garden with my underwear too  

I know i keep rambling on but please keep thinking good thoughts for her, she's so special to us xx