Sid, my 1 1/2 year old has been very sick for the last 8 days.  On Monday
when I got him in to a vet he had a fever of 104.  She did test which
showed very elevated white blood cells but NOTHING else.  She gave him
an antibiotic injection and sent me home with oral med of the same and
instructions to syringe feed.  The next morning he was up to 106.  She
gave him a shot of something I don't remember, but it is a non-steroidal
(like ibuprofen), which brought his fever down but roughly for the day
and he was right back up there by morning.  Did the same thing the next
day.  No better and I was really getting concerned about his hydration,
though the vet thought he was still ok.  On Thursday I took him elsewhere
for a second opinion and as a result, I found a vet I fell in love with.
She spent 45 minutes with me going over test results and all possible
scenarios like viral infection to cancer to a possible reaction to the
rabies vac he had at the beginning of June (although it had been about 2
weeks from then until the fever started, she thinks it may have lowered
his immune system and the different treatment and diagnostics.  She
definitely wanted him on IV fluids and a different kind of antibiotic.
She is so committed to his care that she even took him home with Thursday
and Friday nights.  At one point during the first night the fever got
down as low as 103 then up to 104.5 the next morning and since then it
has been cyclical between 104 and 105.7.  The IV fluids were overdue in
my opinion, and made a huge difference.  He had pretty healthy poops
almost within hours.  He is not a happy or healthy guy and euthanasia was
put on the table as a consideration.  An option I don't want to consider
since I have never had to make a decision like that before, and I love
this little guy so much, but if he is suffering at all...
 
So, last night she took a chance and gave him a shot of prednisone and
while it didn't really take the fever down much he perked up and actually
showed some interest on his own in the food bowl and water, though it
didn't amount to much intake.  So, as of today, she gave him another
injection and again he seemed much more alert and active, so we are
giving him a few more days, hoping that the prednisone she sent me home
with will make a difference.  This is his first trip home in a couple of
days, and unfortunately the clinic is closed Sunday and Monday so he is
under my care unless an emergency hits, He has been holding at about 104
all day which is a subtle improvement but an improvement none the less.
Please send your thoughts our way and if you have any insights please
email me personally.  I am hoping that he can make it a few more days
without the fever, seizures (which he hasn't had, knock on wood) or
reactions to all of the drugs he has been exposed to, getting to him
first.  Our first priority is stabilizing his temperature because he is
too ill to withstand anything more intrusive like exploratory surgery.
It is tough doing the feedings as he is uncooperative when he isn't
catatonic and it is a very slow process and I can't help but feel that he
hates me for it!  It's so hard to know when the suffering is just too
much.  This is day 8 with the high fever.
 
I hesitate to send this in case anyone flames me - please don't.  Keep it
to yourself this time - this is too difficult as it is and we are doing
everything that we know how to.  As far as support goes, bring it on!
 
Thanks everyone.
Joan & Sid (and his brother and sister thank you too - they've been
missing him!)
[Posted in FML issue 4563]