Pet Problem

For a month now I am busy with my Pet Blackie's treatment. He is 12 yrs old Pom, and in these 12 yrs I never had to visit Vet except for his Vaccination and occasional check ups. Two yrs ago he developed a Cystic Lump below Anus. It was not troubling him and Vet was not sure about the origin of the lump- it was not Malignant tumor. Last May the cyst burst but healed on its own. Last month the Cyst burst and there was lot of bleeding. Vet advised that the cyst be removed. So Blackie was admitted in Parel Vet.Hospital. At his age there were risks and we were worried. His Blood reports were normal but Heart was enlarged. His operation went off without any problem and next day he was moving about, eating milk and bis.,passing Urine and stools. But his stools were Black and Sticky. His recovery was fast and on 4th day Vet at Parel gave permission to bring him home. We found him little weak, wouldnt go for his daily rounds in Soct. and stools were still Black. we suspected that this is altered Blood and he may be Bleeding in Intestines due to Operation stress Ulcers. Now he had developed cough and would sit down after walking a short distance and had stopped taking feeds. We took him to Vet in Juhu(near Pratiksha) and he felt that it was 'Kennel Cough'. Blackie was treated with usual mix of dext-Saline,Antibiotics,etc. He was going down. We could see that he was getting weaker by the day but his Vet or Vets. at Parel Hospital couldnt diagnose the cause . They continued to treat it as Chest infection-Bronchitis- and we gave Nebulisation,Asthalin,Higher Antibiotics and IV fluid.Our repeted suggestion that this cough can be due to LVF ( Left Ventricular Failure) were ignored. By this time he had stopped eating completely so we started force feeding him with milk. Then we realized that his Tongue had become very pale. He was loosing Blood somewhere( Most likely from Ulcers in Stomach or Intestines). We were desperate. My baby was very very sick and these Vets cant even diagnose the cause. We decided to go for Blood Tests and new Vet. Blackie was taken to Vet. Swali and he felt that Blacki is in Renal Failure.Urgent Blood Tests confirmed this. His Haemoglobin was just 4 Gms(30%) S. Creatinine was 9 mgs and BUN 63mgs.
He was still passing Black stools. he was put on Sucralfate (which covers the ulcers and stops bleeding), Inj. Rantac,Lasix and Iv fluids. He had Post Op. Acute Tubular Necrosis or Low GFR due to Anaemia and LVF. At last we knew what was wrong with him and can now focus on treating the cause rather than just shooting in the dark.Now we are giving him IV fluids and Lasix and hope to get his Creatinine down,stimulate the Renal function. Luckily he doesnt have Pain. He is not breathless. His stools have become normal.He still not taking feeds and we are force feeding him. But prognosis is not very good.We are late by some 10 days. Had his Vet. diagnosed the problem earlier,Vets at Parel Hospital( who are teachers/Proffessors at Vet College) listened to us and been more proactive than he would have had better chance of recovery.We can only pray for his recovery and treat him and give support so that he can give his best shot at recovery.
I feel sorry, when I Google Searched his problem I find that we are so much behind the West in treating our Pets.We dont have decent hospital or equipments.Our knowledge is inadequate and most important there is feeling of Deja Vu.Its just a Dog! When humans are not getting proper treatment who can advocate better treatments for Pets? Even commercial interest is not stimulating better facilities for Pets. Huge stray population has increased the negligent attitude of Vets and ordinary people. ---PK