Mighty Bruce's Battles: 2nd phase of Confinement

Saturday afternoon until Sunday noon he was with us. Most of the time he was resting, lying down and would easily fall into sleep. Occasionally he would stand up, play with Harvey and walk with us, but he was still struggling. He still had problems standing up. He seemed to be in pain from the IV insertion or his kidneys. But he was still responsive whenever we’d cheer him on. For sure he isn’t clearly 100% well yet, but he was so much better than the previous days. But just like any other recovering patient, he was still weak.

Thus it was decided Sunday lunch that we had to bring him back to the vet much to my dismay and initial reluctance. As a family, we decided to continue his treatment until his CREA levels go down to an acceptable 1.5 and his BUN would significantly decline at least to 30 from 50. The veterinarian gave us a choice to wait it out and monitor him for a week or bring him in immediately. We cannot allow that one week to chance. Sense pushed me that as much as it pained me, he will have to continue his therapy and get confined again. I’m just hoping that his quick overnight sojourn in our home livened up his spirits somehow and infused renewed strength and hope in him.

During the night he spent with us, we concentrated so much to make him feel comfortable. All our attention was with him. We prepared his sleeping area, brought him some comfortable blanket and I would always accompany him while he sleeps. I thought that not for one second will he feel he was alone battling this. We cooked him a special low protein meal, which he savored in less than 2 minutes. I was still hopeful because at least his appetite was still strong. He continued to drink his kidney recovery supplements and he still responded to our cheers despite the obvious pain and weakness he was still feeling. Taking in consideration his improved blood results and his positive response to medication, we as family, collectively felt to return him to the vet to receive further care and fluid therapy in the hopes that his blood level would at least normalize. He was better than last week, but it was still far from over. 

As much as it hurt to think that he would be spending days in the hospital, I knew this was something he needed to do in order to fully recover. To prepare, my sister, cousin and I bathed him while he was lying down. He stood up, limping, dried himself and circled around the garden one last time. My sister prepared the car as I guided him to the back seat, hugging him as a support while he walked. Just like a gentle, obedient dog, with his remaining energy, he marched to the car with full surrender.

What really made me and my sister cry was when we arrived at the vet. As soon as he got off the car, he took it all in. He walked defeated and willingly entered his cage that he spent a couple of nights in. It hit me hard because he is such an obedient and sweet dog. He never gave us problems. And even though he knew in his heart that we would leave him, he was the one who led us to his cage to settle in there with no fuss, no inhibitions. It was his full surrender to the sickness that emotionally killed me. Bruce seemed stronger than his owner. 

On the ride home I cried so hard that I felt my heart was being squeezed by a strong hand of a wrestler. I felt being killed repeatedly.  I was mad at myself. I asked God questions that I shouldn’t have. I was mad at nature. I would willingly trade my kidney for his. I was willing to do a bargain with someone. Remembering his face, his charm, sweetness and the joy he gave me and my family, made me want to jump on a cliff for him. I never realized I could love a dog so much, all of my dogs for that matter that I’m willing to sacrifice everything that I have just to see them well. I know it’s a bit dramatic and exaggerated, but that’s exactly what I felt and that’s exactly what I’d do.

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Bruce’s 2^nd phase of hospitalization started last Sunday. It was a collective decision when we saw how Bruce was still struggling and weak. With the renewed hope from his 2^nd blood work results that his toxin levels went down by almost half, the whole family decided to subject him to another therapy session to further bring down his CREATININE and BUN levels to normal. It was a painful decision, but it was also the right one.

It's Tuesday now and hopefully the drugs are kicking in. I visited him last Sunday night and yesterday after work to spend time with him and bring him his home cooked meal of value protein and carbohydrates. I go to work at 6:30 am now just to be home at 3:30 pm so I could spend my afternoons with him. I seem to wake up at 5 am so easily. Sleep won’t come to me peacefully. Even in dreams I think of him.

Including last week’s first therapy session, Bruce had been hospitalized for a total of 7 days now. In those 7 days, he was able to spend one night with us. In those 7 days, he received IV fluids and had his CREATININE decreased almost by half, from 7 to 4. We are aiming at 2 or 1.5. His BUN decreased by 15 points. In short he is responding to treatment.

To supplement this renewed hope, I am busy reading so many articles about acute renal failure and its therapies. With so many articles, opinions, feedbacks from friends whose pets suffered the same and didn’t survive, and the rich and sometimes unfavorable medical insights on the web, I am realistic enough to consider of the fatality this disease impose. I am fully aware of the survival rate and the challenges to overcome this. I admit that in the first few days, I would cry and bawl my eyes out on the countless negative information. Nobody said this was an easy disease to conquer.  But rather than mope around, get fully depressed, cry and not do something about it. I intend not to give up as long as there’s progress, hope and I feel Bruce’s willingness to fight.  I would do whatever it takes to make Bruce a miracle case as long as there’s hope and strength in him. I’ve also never prayed so hard for help and mercy.

I decided from now on, he will be in a homemade diet. It would be more effort for us, but anything to keep his kidneys functioning. I did my research on recipes that I intend to post soon. I also did my research on important supplements and the post-disease management he'd adhere to. Every 3 months I would have to bring him to vet for blood work. Everyday, he would have to have low protein, low phosphorous and sodium meals. Everyday, he has to be observed. It would be a challenge for all us. But we welcome that challenge out of our genuine love for him. More work equals more love that we pour out for him and the rest of our dogs.

He is scheduled to take his 3^rd blood test tomorrow. The result will mark the supposed progress of his 2^nd phase of hospitalization. I’m anxious to know the results. I don’t think I can efficiently concentrate at work.   But I am really hoping for the best. I hope he had reacted well so that I could take him home. And by taking him home, he can fully recover with his family and continue his road to wellness.

Updates will be posted soon.

Date	Hospitalization	POSITIVE SIGNS	NEGATIVE SIGNS
July 1, Monday AM	No	Normal Energy	None
July 1, Monday PM	No	Appetite is present; responsive to calls	Drinking too much, limping and painful gait, nauseous, lethargic
July 2, Tuesday	No	Appetite is present; responsive to calls	Drinking too much, limping  and painful gait, nauseous, lethargic
July 3, Wednesday	Yes. Initial Blood work was done. CREATININE 7; BUN 65. Diagnosed with Acute Renal Failure. 1st day of IV fluid therapy and confinement	Appetite is present, responsive to calls	Drinking too much, limping  and painful gait, nauseous, lethargic
July 4, Thursday	2nd day of IV fluid therapy and confinement	Appetite is present, responsive to calls	Drinking too much, limping  and painful gait, nauseous, lethargic
July 5, Friday	3rd day of IV Fluid therapy and confinement	Appetite is present, responsive to calls	Drinking too much, limping  and painful gait, nauseous, lethargic
July 6, Saturday	4th day of IV Fluid therapy and confinement; 2nd set of Blood work. Results have decreased, CREATININE at 4, BUN at 50, which means Bruce responded well to medication. Veterinarian gave go signal to bring him home.	Appetite is present, responsive to calls; energy is better compared to last few days, urinating and stool is normal	Limping and painful gait lethargic
July 7, Sunday	5th day of IV fluid therapy and confinement to further lower CREA levels and BUN.	Appetite is present, responsive to calls, energy is better compared to last few days.	Limping and painful gait lethargic
July 8 Monday	6th Day of IV Fluid therapy and confinement to further lower CREA levels and BUN	Appetite is present, responsive to calls, energy is better compared to last few days.	Limping and painful gait lethargic
July 9, Tuesday	7th day of IV Fluid therapy and confinement to further lower CREA levels and BUN	Appetite is present, responsive to calls, energy is better compared to last few days.	Limping and painful gait lethargic
July 10, Wed	Scheduled 3rd Blood work, results TBD	TBD	TBD
July 11, Thursday	TBD	TBD	TBD
July 12, Friday	**Release date	Release date	Release date