Marley's Medical



First of all I would like to express my gratitude and say thank you to all of my friends and family that have sent well wishes and expressed concern for both Marley, Lucy and myself over the past week. 

As may of you know Marley unexpectedly became ill on the evening of Saturday, July 16th, and I tried everything I possibly could have to help him. Unfortunately the vet bills continued to add up, but I did not want to say I didn't try everything I could for my little guy.

It humbles me to reach out and ask for help in paying Marley's insurmountable veterinary costs. If you can help, I would be forever grateful, and if not I can completely understand.

 

The story...

Saturday, July 16th at about 11:30 pm, Marley unexpectedly became ill with extreme vomiting. He seemed to feel better on Sunday, but then in the evening became far worse and was vomiting digested blood and in pain throughout the night.

After all night phone conversations with the emergency vet, I took him in early Monday morning and they performed several tests and gave him an IV, because he was severally dehydrated. I left him for about an hour and then went back to get him and brought him home with medications, but he just was not the same. Very lethargic, but that was expected after what had happed.

The vomiting had subsided, but he was not eating or drinking and wanted nothing to do with the medications. So, I ended up taking him back to the vet Monday afternoon and they did some blood work and gave us different medications to try, still no luck.

I brought him home Monday night, but he was uncomfortable all night and was having accidents in the house, which is unlike him. I took him back to the vet first thing on Tuesday and they decided to hospitalize him. His glucose levels were 17 when they are supposed to be between 70 and 80; they wondered why he was not in a comma. So, they hooked him up to an IV again and quickly got his glucose levels closer to normal, but they later dropped again.

They performed more blood work and also tested him for both Addison's disease and insulinoma (pancreatic cancer). The insulinoma is what they suspected it was, but it was going to be 3 days for results to verify. If it was either of the conditions, they could only prolong his life 6-12 months and there was no guarantee he would be pain free or wouldn't have another episode like he did.

The insulinoma would have required an MRI and a CAT scan to see if it had metastasized to the rest of his body. I left him in the hospital overnight on Tuesday and most of the day Wednesday to see if he would make any progress, but unfortunately no.

I went in to sit with him and hold him all wrapped up in his blanket, which he loved, for about an hour. He just was not his normal self. I knew it was his time to go. He licked the tears off my nose, he let out a few tears and just laid his head on my chest. I knew it was his time. Wednesday, July 20th I made one of the hardest decisions of my life as he lay in my arms. 

 

Marley, I love you to pieces, more than I thought I could ever love a dog. You will forever be in my heart!! Love you my little peanut! xo
 
I can't thank my mom enough who dropped everything and came to be with me all week. I also cannot thank my job enough. They have been extremely gracious, letting me work from home during one of our busiest times of the year. I also have to thank Roll Over Animal Rescue for being beyond gracious!