Thanks for the comments on Widgeons departure!

I do need some help with this though

Widgeon was diagnosed with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia with GI bleeding. She was in the hospital for 8 days. After all this treatment she was sent home to me with high high hopes and assurances. After getting home she vommited. I called and asked for a dr. response. No Call. That night she vomited again so i called again because this had blood clots in it. The tech said not to worry and the doctor would call in the morning.

The next morning the doctor called and i told her what was going on. She told me to wait till noon and call her back. Noon passed and Widgeon vommited again with clots. I left a message with the specailist who never called me back, but, Widgeons primary vet did to my suprise! She told me to come in and get some injectable medicines to help her stomach. I went to get them, came back, and as i was about to get Widgeon to give her this medicine is when she died im my arms. I truly believe the doctors mis handled this case. I had a six thousand dollar bill at the end of this with assurances. In the end Widgeon didnt last 24 hours at home. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks for your moral support
John

John
You have our deepest condolences for your loss.
The only suggestion I can make is to listen to
your instinct. Do not wait. Go to the nearest
Veterinary hospital you can. It will be
costly but what price do you put on the
unconditional love of your dog. When there is
a diagnosis find out every possible thing you can about it. Then just do the best you can.

Billy and Kathy Smith

Thanks for the reply I was not able to take her to anyone but where she had been because no one else around could treat her problem. Her primary vet had me take her to a specialist hospital. Widgeon was being treated their for 8 days and the doctor on duty informed me that what she was going through was normal and no need to worry since she had just been out of the hospital for 3 hours. The specialists suggestion WAS to wait it out and let the meds work.

John,

I'm so sorry to hear that you & Widgeon went through such an ordeal, and then to lose her. You have my deepest sympathy. Wish the vet would've really listened to you & at least had you bring her in.

Karen

Sorry for your loss. I personally would start by not paying or canceling the payment method. Cant put into words how mad, outraged ok no cant not and have it ediited or be banned from ever posting again. Ya I would pitch a total tirade. Wont bring back your family member wont even make you feel all that better when its all said and done but sounds soooo deserving. Again sorry for your loss. Go with your gut feeling your entiteled.

John,

I am so sorry for your loss....having spoken with you on the phone last week, I know what you went through and I know how special Widgeon was to you.

I'm not saying your vets were right or wrong, but I guess the big question is "could they have found/done anything for Widgeon" if you had brought her back in that day.

I know what the vets went through treating my friend's dog that has this same problem and because it's not something that is particularly common, a lot of it was basically experimentation with meds and testing and more testing and meds until they got the treatment right. They don't even really know what causes the problem. With my friend's dog I couldn't help but feel that it was initially tick oriented, but there was nothng to indicate this was the case.

I know this doesn't make it any easier but sometimes there may not be the answers that we want.

My heartfelt thoughts are with you.

Kathy

John,

Very sorry for your loss. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, all comes to mind when these things happen.

I've had all kinds of things like this happen and the best advise I can give you is to voice your concerns with those who let you down. In fact a good a$$ chewing to them might do you some good.Unless you want a bad credit report and nothing but more problems, pay the bill. As far as legal issues, you can always go after anyone for anything however a case like this will always fall back on the fine print in the paperwork you signed for treatment of your dog.

Something happened to one of my Chessies after a similar incident. The meds the doctor gave my pal blew out his pancreas and I had to end his suffering.I never go to those butchers anymore. Chessies are fragile when it comes to medications. That is, some of them . Others can take anything.

Should this ever happen ever again , God forbid, you gotta rush your dog back to the emergency hospital . Anyone who tells you blood in vomit is OK is an idiot !

It amazes me how incompitence is gotten away with at the expense of good people.

FWIW Widgeon is hunting in the best wetlands ever and is at peace.

My deepest condolences,

Kent

Hi John,
I unfortunately have had several experiences with auto immune issues-not all in Chessies-I have lost 2 to hemolytic anemia(ages 9 1/2 and 5) (precursed by thrombocytopenia) and 1 to aplastic anemia( 4 yr. old)-and 1 with a GI bleed of unknown origin(7 1/2) that's thought to be estrogen mediated-she's spayed and still with me. I can understand your overwhelming saddness and frustration-I've been there-once very very recently. Veterinary science can be inexact-the symptoms lead you in one direction and yet what is prescribed doesn't work-its' so hard because your patients can't talk. I am blessed, I have 2 awesome vets and access to a great 24 hr. specialty hospital -God knows I've spent enough money, sleepless nights and countless hours at both! Auto immune issues can be very tricky and its' often hard to get a definitive diagnosis-often the process has been subtle and ongoing; damage has been done before it becomes apparent the dog is ill-there can be underlying issues or illnesses that cause the body to suddenly fail. There are never any 'assurances'-a friend of mine who became terminally ill said it was amazing that in the face of serious disease there is little medical science can offer-he has since passed. There are very few 'typical' or 'cut and dry' cases-but I would certainly talk to the doctors you dealt with if you feel they should've taken your concerns more seriously-the initial vomiting -bloody or not- would not have alarmed me-the second would have-especially if you were religiously followng the prescribed protocol. I know nothing can ease your heartache or bring back Widgeon, but I would have a heart to heart with your vet hospital(s) and if you are not satisfied, go elsewhere. I would be more than happy to talk with you more at length privately or via this forum on this matter.

Johanna Coutu