Bourbon's Emergency Hospital Bills
Donation protected
My name is Monica Vickers. I have created this GoFundMe account for my sister, Theresa Sucha.
Theresa never thought she would ever request monetary help but, as a few of you already know, her baby, Bourbon, is very sick. He has been in her life and all of our lives for over 10 years. If any of our names are mentioned, he will run toward that person. He knows all of us by name. Any and all help would be appreciated at this difficult time.
We noticed some changes in Bourbon’s behavior about a week ago. He would not eat and became lethargic and uninterested in his daily routine. Theresa took him to the vet on Saturday, April 9. He came home that day but overnight, he became so lethargic that he could barely stand. He could not control his bowels and had several accidents in the house. He began drinking very large volumes of water but then would immediately vomit it all back up, drink more and vomit again. This short cycle of drinking and vomiting made him so dehydrated that she took him back to the vet emergently early on Sunday morning, April 10.
At the vet, he had a temperature of 104 degrees. They admitted him for urgent rehydration with IV fluids. They suspected pancreatitis, a common condition in miniature schnauzers. After a series of diagnostic tests (lab work, ultrasound and x-rays), pancreatitis was confirmed but they also found extremely elevated liver enzymes – off-the-charts elevated. They started him on antibiotics, “liver and pancreas support”, probiotics, anti-inflammatories, meds for stomach acid, and injections for pain. Inflammation of the liver and pancreas is quite painful, and they suspected this was the reason he would not eat. In order to rest the pancreas, they withheld food for a short time. After this “rest,” however, he still would not eat, so they had to start feeding him thick, white liquid through a syringe. They did blood work daily and the initial results looked to be improving.
Today is Wednesday, April 13. Bourbon is still in the hospital. His labs results show some improvement but also some deterioration - still not normal. They said the results were not as good as they had hoped for given the treatment he has been given. Yesterday, they found an anal gland tumor though cannot say for sure if it is cancerous. Today, the test for kidney function (SDMA) is slightly abnormal. Today, they found a heart murmur.
He has eaten some, but not normally yet. They say he might be eating some just because the pain med has decreased his pain. They could not say that he was eating because he had improved. They just don’t know for sure.
Tonight, they will stop the pain med injection since they cannot discharge him on it. Instead tonight they will try an oral pain med prior to his planned discharge tomorrow morning, April 14. Then we will see if he will eat on his own. The vet cannot give a definitive prognosis except to say they had hoped for more improvement at this stage in his treatment.
Theresa loves her dog. We all love him. He is a fixture in our family. Vet bills are mounting for Theresa so any help will be appreciated.
Thank you in advance for any help and prayers. Any money donated will be used for Bourbon's treatment.
We will keep you updated.
Bourbon's Family
Theresa never thought she would ever request monetary help but, as a few of you already know, her baby, Bourbon, is very sick. He has been in her life and all of our lives for over 10 years. If any of our names are mentioned, he will run toward that person. He knows all of us by name. Any and all help would be appreciated at this difficult time.
We noticed some changes in Bourbon’s behavior about a week ago. He would not eat and became lethargic and uninterested in his daily routine. Theresa took him to the vet on Saturday, April 9. He came home that day but overnight, he became so lethargic that he could barely stand. He could not control his bowels and had several accidents in the house. He began drinking very large volumes of water but then would immediately vomit it all back up, drink more and vomit again. This short cycle of drinking and vomiting made him so dehydrated that she took him back to the vet emergently early on Sunday morning, April 10.
At the vet, he had a temperature of 104 degrees. They admitted him for urgent rehydration with IV fluids. They suspected pancreatitis, a common condition in miniature schnauzers. After a series of diagnostic tests (lab work, ultrasound and x-rays), pancreatitis was confirmed but they also found extremely elevated liver enzymes – off-the-charts elevated. They started him on antibiotics, “liver and pancreas support”, probiotics, anti-inflammatories, meds for stomach acid, and injections for pain. Inflammation of the liver and pancreas is quite painful, and they suspected this was the reason he would not eat. In order to rest the pancreas, they withheld food for a short time. After this “rest,” however, he still would not eat, so they had to start feeding him thick, white liquid through a syringe. They did blood work daily and the initial results looked to be improving.
Today is Wednesday, April 13. Bourbon is still in the hospital. His labs results show some improvement but also some deterioration - still not normal. They said the results were not as good as they had hoped for given the treatment he has been given. Yesterday, they found an anal gland tumor though cannot say for sure if it is cancerous. Today, the test for kidney function (SDMA) is slightly abnormal. Today, they found a heart murmur.
He has eaten some, but not normally yet. They say he might be eating some just because the pain med has decreased his pain. They could not say that he was eating because he had improved. They just don’t know for sure.
Tonight, they will stop the pain med injection since they cannot discharge him on it. Instead tonight they will try an oral pain med prior to his planned discharge tomorrow morning, April 14. Then we will see if he will eat on his own. The vet cannot give a definitive prognosis except to say they had hoped for more improvement at this stage in his treatment.
Theresa loves her dog. We all love him. He is a fixture in our family. Vet bills are mounting for Theresa so any help will be appreciated.
Thank you in advance for any help and prayers. Any money donated will be used for Bourbon's treatment.
We will keep you updated.
Bourbon's Family
Organizer
Monica Vickers
Organizer
San Tan Valley, AZ
