Liz’s pup (and best friend) Lena became acutely and severely ill right after Thanksgiving.

On 11/27 she suddenly became very sick and was diagnosed with gastroenteritis. She was treated with the standard medications normally prescribed for this condition… but over the weekend she rapidly worsened. She became extremely lethargic, weak, and ataxic (unable to walk normally).

By Monday night, one of the veterinarians became suspicious that she might have the MDR1 gene mutation, a rare genetic condition that causes dogs to have severe, sometimes life-threatening reactions to certain commonly used medications. We then learned that the medications she was initially given (medications that would normally help) are actually on the list of drugs not safe for dogs with this mutation. This may explain why she deteriorated so quickly instead of improving.

On 12/1, Lena had to be hospitalized at BluePearl in Raleigh, NC due to the severity of her symptoms. During her stay, she also had a reaction to a sedative med, further supporting the concern for MDR1 sensitivity. While we are pursuing official MDR1 genetic testing, the testing only occurs in a lab at WSU every Tuesday, and her care team is doing their best to support her while we wait.

Right now, Lena is still hospitalized and still not eating, likely due to ongoing nausea that may still be connected to the medication reactions, though it’s hard to know for sure. She now has an NG feeding tube to ensure she receives proper nutrition while she recovers since she has not had any food in about a week.

The positive news is that her care team believes she can continue to improve. Lena is already showing small but meaningful signs of progress: she is drinking water on her own, more alert, walking normally again, and even giving hopeful tail wags when we come to visit her. These signs give us hope that she’s fighting her way back.

Her medical bills are climbing quickly; emergency visits, hospitalization, diagnostics, medications, sedation reactions, feeding tube placement, supportive care, and now specialized genetic testing.

“I’m doing everything in my power to get her through this, but the financial strain is becoming overwhelming.

I’m reaching out for help so I can continue supporting her treatment without being forced to make decisions based solely on cost. Lena is my family and my best friend, and I just want to give her every possible chance to recover.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our Lean Beans story, we appreciate any thoughts, prayers, and/ or help that you can give. ❤️” - Liz