This picture of Jake “smiling” always makes me smile. He was getting a belly rub when I took this pic. Jake is currently at the vet’s. Last week, he started not eating. He’d nibble not not really eat. He would eat his treats though. On Friday, he and I made our usual Wallyworld run. Every time I stopped the cart for any length of time, he’d lay down. Normally, he’d only go down with the down command at the checkout.
Over the weekend, he stopped eating completely but drank copious amounts of water. Sunday night, he threw up a couple of times. There was blood in one of them.
The vet opens at 8:30. I called at 8:32 and our wonderful vet’s assistant said the 9 o’clock slot was open. I said we’d be there. Toby wouldn’t get in the car so we left him behind. Jake went down getting in the car and we had to lift him in. At the vet’s, he had trouble walking, went down in the lobby and we had to use a towel to lift and support his back legs. The doc did an exam and took blood. He was running a fever and his blood work came back with mixed results. She wanted to keep him for IVs, X-rays, and possible sonogram, plus more blood work. She was really worried about his kidneys and spleen. We left him there.
Our vet is wonderful. She called to give us an update. X-rays showed all of his lymph glands were swollen and we immediately thought the cancer had spread. She went on to explain that she’d done futher testing based on that, including for various tick-borne diseases. That test came back positive for Ehrlichiosis. It is treatable with medication, though it may not be curable based on his age, compromised immunity from the previous cancer, and how long he’s had it. All in all, very hopeful news. She called back a bit later to say that he was drinking, managed to stand on his own and went outside to do his business. He’s still not eating but she’s hoping the anti-nausea medication will bring back his appetite. She’s still keeping him overnight and we’ll hear something more this morning.
Still asking for prayers and healing thoughts. I’ll update as I know new info.
Silver James 
Oh, no. Poor Jake. :HUGS: You have every positive thought I can send. I’ve never even heard of Ehrlichiosis (thank goodness for copy/paste or I wouldn’t have been able to spell it either). It sounds nasty. Where the hell did he get a damn tick? I hate those things with a fiery passion. This makes me want to drive over there and carpet bomb your yard with permethrin. Damn ticks. Let me know if you need anything, even if it’s just an ear to bend. :hugs:
We have ticks, despite all the possums. He’s been on Nexgard or SimpaticoTrio but there was a brief period when we were switching the meds. I check for ticks but obviously missed one. And it could still be the cancer. Doc is running that test today with a samble from one of the lymph glands and will send it off for testing. We’ll know yay or nay in 3-5 days.
I’m not surprised. Ticks are evil and they’re everywhere. It was more a reaction than a real question. Actually, if it’s super curable, I’d rather have it be the tick-borne thing than cancer. :hugs:
Praying for him! Sweet boy!
He is the very sweetest. Thank you.
I have never heard of Ehrlichiosis (couldn’t spell it either). The ticks are so bad this year. I can’t stand the ugly parasites.
I’m still sending up prayers like crazy. Big hugs to Jake and his humans too💗.
It was “discovered” in the mid-70s and mostly affected military K9s that served in Viet Nam. The brown dog tick is the carrier and it can transmit to humans though an infected tick bite. GSDs and Dobermans are especially susceptible. It also seems to be most prevelant in the SW so y’all up your way are probably clear but who knows. We hear about Lymes but there are 3 other tick-borne diseasses too. Ugh!
Good morning Silver. It’s great to read this and know that you still have hope. I can’t begin to imagine the pain you are feeling at the thought of losing him. Prayers! 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, Vero. Update this morning wasn’t that great but it wasn’t awful. We’re still praying and hoping.
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