12.11.07
TYSON IS STILL CRITICAL!
I just spent almost an hour on the phone with the vet at the clinic where Tyson is in ICU. His condition is very, very confusing since they are treating him with all of the biggest guns (antibiotics) they can and his progress is very slow. In fact they are treating him with four different classes of antibiotics to get the widest coverage possible. He is making progress, according to the vet that is handling him. His respirations are much lower, which means he’s breathing much easier.
One of the three tests we did last night came back tonight. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that they didn’t see any cancer cells (always a risk when something doesn’t heal). The other good news is that they did not see any evidence of fungal infection. Not that it is NOT fungal pneumonia, but it was not in the bronchial wash that they did.
Another test is due back in 3-5 days – the bacterial culture, which will identify, hopefully, the specific strain of bacteria eating away at his immune system. That MIGHT give us an extremely definite course of action – a specific antibiotic for a specific bacteria.
Finally, a fungal culture should be back in two weeks to tell us definitively if he is fighting a fungal pneumonia.
Ok, the really bad news – pneumonia, regardless of cause, is often treated only by supportive care. That means oxygen, IV flulids and many, many drugs. Right now, the oxygen chamber is all that is keeping him breathing.
We cannot promise that he will make it, but we think he deserves a shot. In the past, the pneumonia dogs we’ve treated have only needed to stay on oxygen and IVs for three days and then they are well enough to go home for a few weeks.
Tyson’s immune system STINKS thanks to the lack of care for the first few years of his life. We’re hoping and praying that he just needs a few extra days to start the upward trend. We have the funding through tomorrow at noon (thank you all you great, great compassionate people), but now we’re looking at another 3-5 days minimum at $683 per day. Can you help! You know we are only the voice for those who cannot ask themselves. Tyson probably wouldn’t ask himself, if he could talk, but we will ask for him! We want him to live.
Plesae use THIS LINK for paypal, or THIS LINK to send a check. Download the credit card form HERE and fax it to 281-754-4851, but be sure to email me at teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com to let me know to look for it.
