Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Latest updates for BiBi

I hope some of you have read about BiBi's story. Recently Vi update me on his conditions. I am shocked and worried. For those Chrisitian friends, let pray for s full recovery for BiBi. As I read the updates, my tears cant stop rolling down. My lips quivered and I cant help my feelings. I hope al kind hearted souls like Vi can help her in her journey to make BiBi feel better.


"For pet hotel, I've contacted some to check, but injecting of insulin twice daily is pretty hard for them.

Anyway, some update which is pretty upsetting:

On Friday mid-night after I have updated on BiBi's coming curve test, he seemed wobbling when he walks and lethargic. He trembled and fits-like, but when we called him, he responsed by looking at me and moving his head. Just the limbs were paddling. I called ARVC for advised and rubbed honey on his gum a few time hoping to get his glucose level up. After we confirmed with the nurse that we would be bringing him down and managed to leash him up, he walked like normal again. We brought him down the block and after awhile he seemed normal and we called back to cancel the emergency. And Dr Loon advised to bring BiBi down for his glucose curve test on Saturday instead of Sunday.

On Saturday, we brought him to ARVC for curve test and as Dr Loon is not in, Dr Koa in charge of BiBi for the day. In the evening, we were told by Dr Koa that the curve showed is "strange" as quoted by her, as the curve went up and down and up and down. And the lowest point of the glucose level is below the normal range. She told us to give 8 units of insulin instead of 9 units. Monitor and bring him back 2 weeks later for another curve test. I inquired about the fits and wobbleness, and were advised to rub honey on his gum.

Left the clinic around 9pm and reached home around 9:30pm. BiBi started to wobble when he walked. I rubbed honey on his gums, and again at 9:45pm. After I'm back from dinner at 10:30pm, he still wobbles. I measured the glucose level in his urine but there is none. I fed him 35g of food (around 1/4 of his normal portion), and continue to rub honey and give honey water. I called ARVC and told them what I have fed and was told to monitor till 11:30pm. I called them again at 11:30pm and BiBi is lethargic and response slow to my calling. I was told to monitor him further and bring him in the next morning. I have also tried to check on the amount of insulin to be giving in the next injection.

I ran a search in the internet for Hypoglycemia and take a look at all the symptoms.

By 12+pm, I decided to take a rest (both me and BiBi) and bring him to ARVC the next morning. Suddenly, he got a seizures or fits, and foams coming out of his mouth. I tried to use my blanket to wrap around him and hoping to bring him down while calling ARVC. BiBi's fits lasted for a couple of mins, I am not sure exactly how long but seems like a year for me who's terrified and hopeless at the situation. After awhile, the fits stopped and he sat there staring at me and turned aggressive. He then walked to a corn of my room, sit there and stared blankly. We tried giving him biscuit, and but he did not respond at all. By then, I managed to get through ARVC, and told the nurse what happened, and informed that I'll be bringing him down as soon as I can leash him up. The nurse informed the vet on duty Dr Koa, who advised us to let BiBi relax and continue to monitor him and bring him in the next morning. She advised us to call again after BiBi is stable and I told her that I would only take at the most 10 mins to reach. I insisted on bringing him asap and told the nurse to get Dr Koa to ARVC, and I told them that seizure and agressive is way past the being symptoms of hypoglycemia from what I have read. But of course, I am in no professional position to diagnose. By then, BiBi 'regained' his conscious and started following him around. I took this chance to feed him another 65g of food, hoping to bring his glucose level up. I informed ARVC again, and we noticed that BiBi still wobbles and he started to bite the bowl instead of eating his food, and he kept knocking against things when he walks. I told them that I'm bring him down to ARVC immediately and please get Dr Koa.

Just when I was hopeless as I have no transport and started calling for cab, a cab that drove past agreed to take us to ARVC. (I have tried calling a pet taxi number which claimed to be 24-hours through an internet search but no response at all)

We waited for awhile for Dr Koa's arrival. Blood glucose was measured and it's lower than what is acceptable. (Despite feeding him twice, rubbed lots and lots of honey and give him honey water) She asked us how long was the fits, and we gave an estimated answer of 5 mins, she responsed: "5 mins, cannot be. The dog would be dead by then." To me, that few mins is like year and I panic and stuff, it's impossible for me to time and give her the exact time. We were told to wait outside while they do some procedure for BiBi.

The next morning, we brought in his food and insulin and had a short update by Dr Loon. He said BiBi would needs to be hospitalized as they need to monitor on his glucose curve and insulin dosage. At that time, he had suggested of giving him 6 units. Also, because of his seizures and hypoglcemia, it's better for him to stablize before discharge.

For both Monday and today, Dr Sham had called me to update me on BiBi's condition and had also done a blood test to confirm that no other problem in the body so that they can focus on his diabetes therapy. Currently BiBi is hospitalized as he needs to be monitor for the dosage of insulin before discharge. I have visited BiBi today and he gets excited when he sees me, and kept knocking at the door trying to get out. As I worried his move would disturb other patients in the ICU, I kept my visit short.

My fund for him is running low after his very first visit to the clinic till now and on his food. And all those flamming and defammation, nuisance calls which caused stress to my own life, makes me started thinking if I should give up. I was unable to attend my grandmother's funeral as I was not able to find a pet hotel for him. And I just had a minor surgery last week which I am still recovering from. I'm drying up and I'll probably have to make a painful decision through this hospitalization and the cost of the emergency consultation on saturday. For those who wish to contribute, you may contribute directly to his medical bills by going to ARVC and contribute directly to BiBi. (As per advise by another fund raising rescuer. So that you can know that the fund is used for this medical and no others. )

On a personal note, I kept thinking if possibility of hypoglycemia could have been deduced on Saturday itself from his glucose curve test, which then BiBi can be given better treatment, eg hospitalization immediately to monitor and dosage for his insulin. And by doing so, can also cut down the cost for the emergency consultation after mid night which costs around 300+. And I wonder after seizure, shouldn't BiBi be brought to the vet's attention immediately instead of the advice of calming him down and let him rest till the next day.

For those who have doubts, you can check with me personally, or vist BiBi. Green light was given by DS_admin some times back for fund raising for BiBi's case. And I have then seeked advise from a forumer who is experience and recommended by the admin. But as I was rather upset and helping in my family as my grandmother was down with stroke, I did not update frequently and starts to raise for BiBi.

For those who wish to help out in any way, you can either approach me through pm or post it for transparency.

Currently he's feeding on Addiction Raw Dehydration Venison. For those who wish to contribute on food, I can also arrange so that your fund would definitely go into his food and no where else by buying the box of food.

I believe this long update post with personal rant would lower BiBi's chance of being fostered/adopted due to his condition. But, I wish let everyone be updated and aware on his current condition. However, this is the early stage of diabetes, hence, we are still going through trial and error for the right dosage. Once all stabilized, it'll be easy to maintain as long as BiBi has a routine life.

I am still trying to cope with the death of my dog who left me a month ago which I have yet got over and with the fostering of BiBi.

Sincerely,
Viv"