Quote: jessica pedicord

My husband is diabetic and I know in humans, ketones in the urine means high blood sugars. Which makes sense that the vet asked you about carbs. The last time my husband was hospitalized with high blood sugar with ketones present (DKA), he was extremely dehydrated and his urine turned brown as well. They aren't considering diabetes are they?? I'm so worried for little Oscar!

The way I understand it, the presence of ketones and the myoglobin indicate that his body was basically burning muscle through prolonged fever - perhaps if I had caught it 24 or 36 hours earlier, he'd still have shown a fever but his urine would be normal... I'm guessing. As far as I know diabetes is not something they're concerned about.

Thanks for the well wishes - and you are now only the second person in Oscar's life to refer to him as "little", the other is his dad.

~Natalya

Glad he's in good hands and that his fever is reduced. Get some rest, Natalya...

So glad that the fluids helped and he's more comfortable for the night.

And on a side note - I just can't take it any more, I must tell you! Your latest sig pic of him, always sends me off into this weird little fantasy...

Oscar, after a hard day of fighting crime (or masterminding criminal capers), whips of his mask, changes into something a little more beatnik, and head out on the town for a night with the bitches (yeah, that's right!). After the fun is done, he slides into his red velvet smoking jacket (lined with striped silk), and hunkers down onto his favourite old leather chair by the fire... getting ready to do it all over again tomorrow!

I don't know why this overcomes me! It's not like me... I think your photography in combination with your wonderful dog have somehow touched my subconscious, and I'm becoming conscious of it!

Oh Phaedra, the girl I share my office with thinks I might have lost my mind!

I hope Oscar is feeling better soon!

 Quote: phaedra rieff

And on a side note - I just can't take it any more, I must tell you! Your latest sig pic of him, always sends me off into this weird little fantasy...

Oh boy, you sure know how to cheer a girl up! That's hilarious, Phaedra - just the vision I needed to keep myself from crawling back in to bed and spending the rest of they day paralyzed with worry...

Just got off the phone with the vet. Unfortunately, while his temp went down a bit last night, it went right back up again early this morning. They've currently got it back down to 103, but it's being stubborn - more stubborn than fevers commonly caused by tooth issues. The good news is that he ate a small breakfast "like a champ", and on repeated exam no one can find any obvious joint paint, nor real face/gum/tooth pain. If the infection is deep in a tooth root, it could be well hidden from a physical exam, but they're not seeing any of the signs they normally do with really infected, abscessed teeth... so now it's a hunt for another fever cause. *It also occurred to me that ketones (which he had a lot of in his urine) can cause bad breath - perhaps that's why his mouth doesn't smell right...

The plan today is to do an ultrasound, and a chest x-ray if they can without sedation - the former to check his organs, kidney specifically, and the later to check his lungs (among other things). He's currently on an antibiotic that's in the amoxicillin family, starts with a T, but I couldn't for the life of me hear the word completely because the vet talks a bit fast, and the line wasn't crystal clear. They'll keep him on that unless findings dictate switching to something else. Based on the u/s and x-ray they'll decide what diseases they want to test for - he did have complete yearly bloodwork done not even a month ago and was cleared for all tick diseases, so that's at least good to know as recent history. Betty suggested Lepto, which I choose not to vax for, and while the vet said it might be on the list, she normally sees liver and kidney values way off, and Oscar's were just fine as of last night.

Looks like he won't come home today, but I'm glad he's got all the best people, with all the best tools, looking after him.

~Natalya

Try to keep your mind busy with other stuff... I know, I know, much easier said than done. You DO have the comfort of knowing he is literally in the best of hands, and that is huge. Keeping you in our thoughts!

My heart goes out to you. I can only imagine the kind of worry you must be experiencing right now. I will continue to send out good vibes and prayers for you and handsome Oscar. At least he's in good hands, so there's some comfort.

I'm sending you vicarious internet hugs with a knitted afghan, a cup of hot chocolate and a good book (or movie) to help take your mind off things for a bit.

 Quote: Kristel Smart

My heart goes out to you. I can only imagine the kind of worry you must be experiencing right now. I will continue to send out good vibes and prayers for you and handsome Oscar. At least he's in good hands, so there's some comfort.

Me, too...

Thanks for the update!!!!
Been worrying and praying for you and Oscar.
(((((((((hugs)))))))))))
Willie

 Quote:

And on a side note - I just can't take it any more, I must tell you! Your latest sig pic of him, always sends me off into this weird little fantasy...

Oscar, after a hard day of fighting crime (or masterminding criminal capers), whips of his mask, changes into something a little more beatnik, and head out on the town for a night with the bitches (yeah, that's right!). After the fun is done, he slides into his red velvet smoking jacket (lined with striped silk), and hunkers down onto his favourite old leather chair by the fire... getting ready to do it all over again tomorrow!

I don't know why this overcomes me! It's not like me... I think your photography in combination with your wonderful dog have somehow touched my subconscious, and I'm becoming conscious of it!

Oh my....love it!!!!!