Help Lando beat liver dysfunction!
Donation protected
Extra-short synopsis for those with ADD:
For the past three months, my dog Lando has struggled with a myriad of mysterious health issues. We have finally learned that it is likely all due to a type of liver dysfunction. The vet refers to it vaguely as “liver dysfunction” because we need to do a biopsy to figure out exactly what kind of liver problem it is. Luckily, it is more likely treatable than not. Help Lando raise money to pay for his tests, surgery, and treatment!
If you want to read the furry details, medical explanations, and cost breakdown (includes cute photos and witty memes):
If you don’t know Lando, he’s a 1 ½-year-old Pit/Chihuahua mix. Yes, Pitbull/Chihuahua mix (12% Chihuahua). He is the first and only dog I have ever had - obviously my soul mate. Derpy, uncoordinated, hungry for squirrels, scared of turtles, loves to sniff butts, and hates to get out of bed in the morning. I knew it was love at first sight when he looked up at me with his little puppy face and I said…
His problems began when I noticed his belly swelling up like a balloon. He gained 10lbs due to fluid filling his abdomen. Strangers would frequently ask, “is she pregnant?” (In their defense, his Chihuahua-sized weenie is nearly impossible to spot.) On August 8th we went to the vet, thus beginning this saga.
8/8/18
Tests: X-rays, blood tests, heartworm test
Results: All normal except low albumin (a protein made by the liver that carries important substances through the bloodstream). Albumin helps keep fluids in the bloodstream. Lando’s lack of albumin caused fluid to leak into his body. The vet did not know what was causing this. He was put on a high-protein prescription diet, probiotics, and a dewormer (a shot in the dark just in case).
Running total = $707.15
8/14/18 - Still swollen, no signs of improvement
Tests: Fecal exam
Results: Normal
Running total = $830.73
8/17/18 - Still swollen, no signs of improvement
Tests: Full GI panel
Results: Normal
Running total = $1,058.73
8/21/18 - Switched to a much better vet
Tests: AFAST abdominal scan
Results: The vet suspected Protein-Losing Enteropathy (PLE), which can have many causes. Lando was put on Prednisone, a high-protein/low-fat prescription diet, probiotics, and vitamin B12. We tried 3 different prescription foods before finding one that he would tolerate.
Running total = $1,253.01
8/29/18 - The steroids seemed to be helping. Lando had reabsorbed the fluid in his belly and lost 15lbs. Thanks to all the diarrhea from medications and diet changes, he got an infected anal gland. God bless the vet who stuck her hands in there and cleaned it out.
Running total = $1,524.92
8/2918 - 10/24/18 - Lando visited the vet every 1-2 weeks to check his albumin level and decrease or increase his Prednisone dosage accordingly. The hope was that we could wean him off steroids and manage the PLE with diet alone. At this point, the side effects from the steroids had caused him to lose a lot of weight, most of his muscle, and control of his bladder. He started using a nighttime diaper (which I regret not taking more pictures of).
Running total = $1,844.38
10/24/18 - Lando had begun throwing up frequently...fully undigested food hours after eating. He lost even more weight.
Tests: Blood tests, X-rays, pancreatitis snap test, AFAST abdominal scan
Results: Lando had a severe case of pancreatitis and stayed overnight at the vet for treatment.
Running total = $2,374.55
On October 28th, Lando was in such bad shape I started preparing to say goodbye to him. By prepare, I mean weeping uncontrollably in front of complete strangers. He had hardly eaten in days, was shaking uncontrollably (a common sign of pain), and couldn’t stand up or walk.
10/28/18 - 10/30/18 - Admitted to puppy ER.
Tests: X-rays, blood tests, AFAST abdominal scan, ultrasound, bile acid panel
Results: The vet said there were so many weird and contradictory things in his blood work that the machine must have made a mistake. X-rays showed some sort of abnormal tissue in his chest, but not quite a mass. When I left him at the hospital that night they asked if I wanted to sign DNR papers. Hell to the no.
Before knowing any prognosis, I decided that if Lando was going to go through long-term suffering with little hope of recovery, I would put him down. If it was something treatable and he could have a normal, healthy life, I would do whatever it took to heal him.
An emergency ultrasound the next day would show that he has extra blood vessels - liver shunts. A bile acid test was done, which came back abnormal. The vet said the next step was a liver biopsy - surgery. Since he’s on steroids, he’ll need to be weaned off over the course of a month before we can do the biopsy.
Finally, things turned from hopeless to hopeful...
At this point I asked the vet if we go down this long, painful, expensive road, is it worth it? Are we just going to find more bad news and put Lando through unnecessary suffering? He said, flat out, “yes, it’s definitely worth it.” I was surprised to hear that it was more likely something treatable than not. The liver is actually the only visceral organ that possesses the capacity to regenerate.
Running total = $4,266.32
Biopsy estimate = $2,500
Estimated grand total = $6,766.32
Lando is now doing much better. He's on a special liver care diet and is being weaned off steroids in preparation for his biopsy. The vet and I are hopeful for a full recovery, so here I am...broke and full of hope!
For the past three months, my dog Lando has struggled with a myriad of mysterious health issues. We have finally learned that it is likely all due to a type of liver dysfunction. The vet refers to it vaguely as “liver dysfunction” because we need to do a biopsy to figure out exactly what kind of liver problem it is. Luckily, it is more likely treatable than not. Help Lando raise money to pay for his tests, surgery, and treatment!
If you want to read the furry details, medical explanations, and cost breakdown (includes cute photos and witty memes):
If you don’t know Lando, he’s a 1 ½-year-old Pit/Chihuahua mix. Yes, Pitbull/Chihuahua mix (12% Chihuahua). He is the first and only dog I have ever had - obviously my soul mate. Derpy, uncoordinated, hungry for squirrels, scared of turtles, loves to sniff butts, and hates to get out of bed in the morning. I knew it was love at first sight when he looked up at me with his little puppy face and I said…
His problems began when I noticed his belly swelling up like a balloon. He gained 10lbs due to fluid filling his abdomen. Strangers would frequently ask, “is she pregnant?” (In their defense, his Chihuahua-sized weenie is nearly impossible to spot.) On August 8th we went to the vet, thus beginning this saga.
8/8/18
Tests: X-rays, blood tests, heartworm test
Results: All normal except low albumin (a protein made by the liver that carries important substances through the bloodstream). Albumin helps keep fluids in the bloodstream. Lando’s lack of albumin caused fluid to leak into his body. The vet did not know what was causing this. He was put on a high-protein prescription diet, probiotics, and a dewormer (a shot in the dark just in case).
Running total = $707.15
8/14/18 - Still swollen, no signs of improvement
Tests: Fecal exam
Results: Normal
Running total = $830.73
8/17/18 - Still swollen, no signs of improvement
Tests: Full GI panel
Results: Normal
Running total = $1,058.73
8/21/18 - Switched to a much better vet
Tests: AFAST abdominal scan
Results: The vet suspected Protein-Losing Enteropathy (PLE), which can have many causes. Lando was put on Prednisone, a high-protein/low-fat prescription diet, probiotics, and vitamin B12. We tried 3 different prescription foods before finding one that he would tolerate.
Running total = $1,253.01
8/29/18 - The steroids seemed to be helping. Lando had reabsorbed the fluid in his belly and lost 15lbs. Thanks to all the diarrhea from medications and diet changes, he got an infected anal gland. God bless the vet who stuck her hands in there and cleaned it out.
Running total = $1,524.92
8/2918 - 10/24/18 - Lando visited the vet every 1-2 weeks to check his albumin level and decrease or increase his Prednisone dosage accordingly. The hope was that we could wean him off steroids and manage the PLE with diet alone. At this point, the side effects from the steroids had caused him to lose a lot of weight, most of his muscle, and control of his bladder. He started using a nighttime diaper (which I regret not taking more pictures of).
Running total = $1,844.38
10/24/18 - Lando had begun throwing up frequently...fully undigested food hours after eating. He lost even more weight.
Tests: Blood tests, X-rays, pancreatitis snap test, AFAST abdominal scan
Results: Lando had a severe case of pancreatitis and stayed overnight at the vet for treatment.
Running total = $2,374.55
On October 28th, Lando was in such bad shape I started preparing to say goodbye to him. By prepare, I mean weeping uncontrollably in front of complete strangers. He had hardly eaten in days, was shaking uncontrollably (a common sign of pain), and couldn’t stand up or walk.
10/28/18 - 10/30/18 - Admitted to puppy ER.
Tests: X-rays, blood tests, AFAST abdominal scan, ultrasound, bile acid panel
Results: The vet said there were so many weird and contradictory things in his blood work that the machine must have made a mistake. X-rays showed some sort of abnormal tissue in his chest, but not quite a mass. When I left him at the hospital that night they asked if I wanted to sign DNR papers. Hell to the no.
Before knowing any prognosis, I decided that if Lando was going to go through long-term suffering with little hope of recovery, I would put him down. If it was something treatable and he could have a normal, healthy life, I would do whatever it took to heal him.
An emergency ultrasound the next day would show that he has extra blood vessels - liver shunts. A bile acid test was done, which came back abnormal. The vet said the next step was a liver biopsy - surgery. Since he’s on steroids, he’ll need to be weaned off over the course of a month before we can do the biopsy.
Finally, things turned from hopeless to hopeful...
At this point I asked the vet if we go down this long, painful, expensive road, is it worth it? Are we just going to find more bad news and put Lando through unnecessary suffering? He said, flat out, “yes, it’s definitely worth it.” I was surprised to hear that it was more likely something treatable than not. The liver is actually the only visceral organ that possesses the capacity to regenerate.
Running total = $4,266.32
Biopsy estimate = $2,500
Estimated grand total = $6,766.32
Lando is now doing much better. He's on a special liver care diet and is being weaned off steroids in preparation for his biopsy. The vet and I are hopeful for a full recovery, so here I am...broke and full of hope!
Organizer
Annie Rygiol
Organizer
St Louis, MO