Last week I noticed Kaiser was a bit wobbly on his back end, watched him for 24 hours then took him to the vet. Kaiser isn't one for being pulled about, and it was a bit of a fraught appointment, but the vet prescribed a non steroidal anti-inflammatory and said see how the next few days went.

Yesterday morning his back left hock was swollen and he had been scratching his ears so much in the night that they were bleeding, I bathed them through the day and kept him quiet - he was still eating, drinking, pooling and peeing, but very lame.

This morning I took him for an emergency appointment because he has lesions in his ears and mouth, and under a general anaesthetic, they found the blisters are into his ear canal and down his throat, when they took his temp there was blood on the thermometer, and the tube down his throat had blood on it when they removed it; there has been no blood in his poo or pee.

I had already stopped the non steroidals, and questioned if he was reacting to them, they said possibly, though unlikely; they called the drug company who agreed with the vet, but offered to pay for a full blood panel....

The vet just called to say the in-house bloods show he has no platelets, and that his bone marrow count is negligible. We went through the possible causes, and I have been warned that he is a very sick boy, and that any bleeding from the nose/ears/rectum and to call them out, but to prepare for him having to be put to sleep, as the only other option is blood transfusions/steroid treatment, and having had cancer and being pulled about for 2 years, I would never put an animal through that.

I am in a bit of a state of shock at the moment, this has come on in a matter of days, and I didn't suspect a bloody thing.

I just really needed to tell people that would understand why I can't get a grip on myself at the moment, I can't stop bloody crying, I know what I have to do for him, but it's killing me.

Oh, no, Tracey, I am so sorry to hear such sad news. Forgive me, but I'm bad with keeping track of names with the folks who have multiple dogs. I know one of your pointers is named Bon, but is Kaiser your male Boerboel?

That is such a shock to have something like that come on suddenly, with no warning that he may have been ill. You are right that you are among people here who understand what you are going through. You and Kaiser are in my thoughts, and I'm wishing you the best.

So sorry to hear this. So hard for us...they just don't get to stay around any where near what we want them to.

My heart is sad & heavy for you.

Words are never much comfort at a time like this -- Please just know that we've all been there & we all care about Kaiser and YOU ... FWIW, you two are both in my prayers, Tracey.

You and Kaiser are both in my thoughts and prayers, Tracey. What a tough thing for you both to go through, so unexpected.

Yes Cheri, Kaiser is my big baby Boerboel, my darling boy, my heart dog.

The rest of the pack are being very respectful and gentle around him, they know something is wrong.

Thank you Anne, Greg Cheri and Candy, you have no idea how comforting it is to have the friends I have here -thank you

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Edited by tracey holden (06/29/2015 03:38 PM)
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 Quote: tracey holden

Yes Cheri, Kaiser is my big baby Boerboel, my darling boy, my heart dog.

The rest of the pack are being very respectful and gentle around him, they know something is wrong.

Thank you Anne, Greg Cheri and Candy, you have no idea how comforting it is to have the friends I have here -thank you

BIG hugs to you & the whole pack, Tracey, especially KAISER.

OH no, so sad.

Does the vet think it is ITP (idiopathic thrombocytic purpura) - body attacking the platelets, who knows why--

If that's the case, not bone marrow failure, as from cancer, I've seen them suddenly get better, just as suddenly as they became ill. Only one do I remember having a complete remission, but it can happen.
So think of that tonite. And I'll be thinking of you.

Hugs and good thoughts!