Donation protected
As most of you know, Burton has been my baby, my shadow, my #1 man, my night time snuggler, my co-captain, my polo mascot and my life. Starting at 7 weeks of age when he first became mine, he was instantly my partner in crime. From growing up in a college world, to moving home with his "grandparents," to moving to NYC, out to a farm in Mason, to an apartment in Oakley, to getting an annoying little sister...he has been by my side as my support through every change, challenge and excitement! I promised him as a puppy that one day we would live on a huge horse farm and he would have acres upon acres to run wild on, chase the birds, play with the chickens, swim in the lake and live the dream life of the spoiled puppy he is. I finally fulfilled my promise and in February gave him the dream life of a farm dog! He is in heaven. There is a smile on his face everyday and he is always in the sweet spirits that are Burton.
A couple of months ago he stopped eating. I thought he had simply gotten into something on the farm that was making him ill and not wanting to eat, so I cooked him the traditional chicken and boiled rice recipe to try to reset his system. That worked for a couple of days but quickly came to and end. He then began not only not eating, but having blood in his urine. I immediately made an emergency phone call to my best friend, who just happens to be my vet. She had been monitoring his eating (or lack of) so I took him in to see her immediately. After blood work, urine cultures, exams and x-rays, she didn't have good news. Inconclusive news. There seemed to be a mass somewhere. An emergency run to Med-Vet for an ultrasound the next day was scheduled and, as you can imagine, my heart stopped. Those were the longest 24 hours I had ever gone through. He has been my world for the past 10 years and I couldn't imagine him being detrimentally ill. Med-Vet took a culture, an ultrasound and more bloodwork and still had inconclusive results. He has liver disease, but they couldn't pinpoint the exact problem. Along with a UTI, they prescribed multiple antibiotics to jumpstart trying to heal his illness. He continued to decline. His appetite was totally lost for days. He wouldn't even eat peanut butter! Forcefully shoving medications down his throat, I was always worried. I became a chef and he became the most well fed dog on the planet after that. But he still wouldnt eat his fresh human meals of beef, fresh farm eggs, chicken, fish, potatoes, yogurt etc. He's continued to lose weight. His backbone and hips are now protruding and he sleeps much more than he did prior. Every 2 weeks he has gotten blood work. The first result was exciting. His liver values had gone down and the jaundice in his eyes had subsided. His appetite had incread a bit, but still had lost weight. So the vets decided to change to a more intense medication on top of his others he was already taking. A few days of improvement, and again, fast decline. Another blood test was taken with negative results. His liver counts had substantially increased, almost to the extraordinarily high values he had in the beginning.
I, again, was heartbroken. What options do we have now? We've been through every scan, every test, all bloodwork, medications for multiple illnesses and infections...and he has gotten worse. So the doom news arrives. I have 2 options. Being as he is 10, almost 11, and lived a wonderful life, we can continue pumping him with medications and try to let him live out his life in as much comfort as possible, without really knowing what the true problem is. He will continue to decline in eating and lose more weight and I will just have to watch until his final day arrives. Or, we can get a liver biopsy. The biopsy will specifically tell us what disease he has, but does not men that what they find will be curable. So he may not have any different results, but the answer will be known. Having Burton as my heart and soul for my adult life, not knowing or not trying my hardest to help and potentially heal him was not an option. I will fight and provide anything I can for him to get better! So biopsy it is.
And here is where we get to needing some help. His previous procedures have not been cheap of course, but his liver biopsy, post treatment, medications, and support for him to live the rest of his life, are more than I can provide immediately. Burton and I appreciate everyone just reading his story, and those of you who know him know how absolutely amazing he is. We both give an immense amount of gratitude, never-ending love and are forever indebted to those who can help us. He will go in for his procedure next week with results to follow. Our fingers are crossed that this sweet boy will be given a "cure" and we can relay all positive news to everyone. Burton being the saint he is, has remained in wonderful spirits. He still is the snuggle bug he has always been...wanting to sit in your lap and sleep on top of you. When he is feeling a little better throughout the day, he will run around on the farm with his tongue hanging to the side and a smile from ear to ear. He is our polo mascot and there is not one game or practice that he does not come to! I am soaking up every minute and second I can have with this boy because he has brought so much unconditional love, happiness and therapy to me for all of his life!
A couple of months ago he stopped eating. I thought he had simply gotten into something on the farm that was making him ill and not wanting to eat, so I cooked him the traditional chicken and boiled rice recipe to try to reset his system. That worked for a couple of days but quickly came to and end. He then began not only not eating, but having blood in his urine. I immediately made an emergency phone call to my best friend, who just happens to be my vet. She had been monitoring his eating (or lack of) so I took him in to see her immediately. After blood work, urine cultures, exams and x-rays, she didn't have good news. Inconclusive news. There seemed to be a mass somewhere. An emergency run to Med-Vet for an ultrasound the next day was scheduled and, as you can imagine, my heart stopped. Those were the longest 24 hours I had ever gone through. He has been my world for the past 10 years and I couldn't imagine him being detrimentally ill. Med-Vet took a culture, an ultrasound and more bloodwork and still had inconclusive results. He has liver disease, but they couldn't pinpoint the exact problem. Along with a UTI, they prescribed multiple antibiotics to jumpstart trying to heal his illness. He continued to decline. His appetite was totally lost for days. He wouldn't even eat peanut butter! Forcefully shoving medications down his throat, I was always worried. I became a chef and he became the most well fed dog on the planet after that. But he still wouldnt eat his fresh human meals of beef, fresh farm eggs, chicken, fish, potatoes, yogurt etc. He's continued to lose weight. His backbone and hips are now protruding and he sleeps much more than he did prior. Every 2 weeks he has gotten blood work. The first result was exciting. His liver values had gone down and the jaundice in his eyes had subsided. His appetite had incread a bit, but still had lost weight. So the vets decided to change to a more intense medication on top of his others he was already taking. A few days of improvement, and again, fast decline. Another blood test was taken with negative results. His liver counts had substantially increased, almost to the extraordinarily high values he had in the beginning.
I, again, was heartbroken. What options do we have now? We've been through every scan, every test, all bloodwork, medications for multiple illnesses and infections...and he has gotten worse. So the doom news arrives. I have 2 options. Being as he is 10, almost 11, and lived a wonderful life, we can continue pumping him with medications and try to let him live out his life in as much comfort as possible, without really knowing what the true problem is. He will continue to decline in eating and lose more weight and I will just have to watch until his final day arrives. Or, we can get a liver biopsy. The biopsy will specifically tell us what disease he has, but does not men that what they find will be curable. So he may not have any different results, but the answer will be known. Having Burton as my heart and soul for my adult life, not knowing or not trying my hardest to help and potentially heal him was not an option. I will fight and provide anything I can for him to get better! So biopsy it is.
And here is where we get to needing some help. His previous procedures have not been cheap of course, but his liver biopsy, post treatment, medications, and support for him to live the rest of his life, are more than I can provide immediately. Burton and I appreciate everyone just reading his story, and those of you who know him know how absolutely amazing he is. We both give an immense amount of gratitude, never-ending love and are forever indebted to those who can help us. He will go in for his procedure next week with results to follow. Our fingers are crossed that this sweet boy will be given a "cure" and we can relay all positive news to everyone. Burton being the saint he is, has remained in wonderful spirits. He still is the snuggle bug he has always been...wanting to sit in your lap and sleep on top of you. When he is feeling a little better throughout the day, he will run around on the farm with his tongue hanging to the side and a smile from ear to ear. He is our polo mascot and there is not one game or practice that he does not come to! I am soaking up every minute and second I can have with this boy because he has brought so much unconditional love, happiness and therapy to me for all of his life!
Organiser
Katy Keffer
Organiser
Milford, OH