Help! Very Sick Rescue Pug!!

I pulled a beautiful 3 year old fawn spayed female from the Orange County shelter today for our rescue. She was surrendered by her owner because he said she was mentally ill and chewed her own legs to the point of bleeding. The shelter was going to euthanize today if rescue didn't pull her.

I picked her up and her legs are swollen, with huge weeping lesions all over them. She dripped blood and fluids from her wounds and it looked excrucitatingly painful. She had a fever of 104.7. Like most pugs she licked my face and gave me a grateful look through her e-collar. My hubby drove the Rescue Roadster and I held her on my lap, the blood and fluid soaking my jeans and sweater.

She laid down and fell deeply asleep. I had to rouse her several times because I was afraid she had died in my arms. It was a 2 hour drive to the vet, where I left her to be examined. Got a call from our rescue coordinator that they felt her prognosis was bad. They were doing testing, but felt it was either immune mediated disease, vasculitis, cellulitis or systemic fungal infection. They were giving her massive antibiotics and pain killers tonight and would have results back tomorrow on the bloodwork.

They said if she has not improved by morning they will likely recommend that she be euthanized because she is suffering in terrible pain.

I told the rescue coordinator that I was willing to pay for a course of Nzymes as she looks much like the white german shepherd on their site:

Dog Health | Nzymes.com

Does anyone have experience with these ailments and any hope for this little girl? If she is suffering and can't be helped then I want her euthanized quickly but if she can be helped I want to try, even if rescue isn't willing to foot the bill.

Please guys any thoughts/experiences??

Thanks again,
Lisa

No info to share, but I'll say some prayers for this little pug. Thank you for being there for her and giving her a chance, however small, and for the love you've shown her.

That poor baby. I know this is difficult but is there any way, if there are no definitive answers tomorrow, to get her to see a dermatologist? Perhaps one that would work with the rescue?

When Sophie first came into rescue, no one could figure out what she had-it wasn't as severe as what you are describing, but the vet first diagnosed her with a fungal infection. And this is a great vet with lots of pug experience. However, we took her to a dermatologist who correctly diagnosed her-it wasn't a fungal infection at all but what she had was rare so the regular vets just didn't know what to look for. Just my two cents-it might be worth it, if no answers pop up tomorrow.

No useful experience to share. Prayers going out that she feels better soon. If she continues to be in pain and is suffering, then at least her last days will be surrounded by love and not in a shelter. Thanks for getting her. If you picked her up from the Orange Central Shelter, that place is a hell hole and I'm so glad she got out and into your arms.

Poor little mite!! What with Carina and now this poor baby, there are certainly some very tragic cases around. I hope you can save her.

How sad! I'll say a prayer for the poor little thing tonight.

Wow, I hope you get an answer to what is wrong with her, and that treatment will work. How horrible that people allow dogs to get so bad that euthanasia is the only humane alternative. I'm just depressed by the evil in people some times.

I wish I had some words of experience, but I don't, so I'll add my name to the list of people sending positive thoughts.

Please do not give up on her... it may take a while .... but her wounds should heal...

The most tragic cases always make the most dramatic recoveries.....
Please keep us updated...

Hi Lisa:
I did respond to your email, but wanted to post here as well. Without seeing the dog or hearing any kind of diagnosis, it's hard to know what to advise. And while I know that the Nzymes products have their value, I have a dog with systemic yeast and he can't take Nzymes due to his allergies to plants. I also have some issues with their advise re nutrition--although I do agree that some carbs in a yeast dog are a bad thing--but it's alot more complicated than just not feeding potatoes, etc. I can send you the protocol I'm using with Tank who has systemic yeast. And it has taken us two years to get him into any kind of shape.

If this pup has an auto-immune issue, then whatever happens with her medically will have to be approached very slowly and carefully. Immune boosting a dog that is immune compromised can rebound on you in a big way and make the situation much worse. And while what's going on with her could be allergy/yeast related--until there is some idea of what the central issue is, then it's risky to start her on any kind of protocol without some idea of what the issue is.

From the sounds of it, she now has secondary and tertiary infections that will need to be dealt with. I've not seen a dog in this bad shape so don't know what to advise except to endorse the recommendation that a specialist see her. Poor little soul.

Adding my prayers that this poor little mite can be helped...

They have given her a tentative diagnosis of Immune Mediated Vasculitis and said she is responding to treatment and is much better today than yesterday. She said her convalesence will be long and intensive for her foster, about 2-3 months and her health will need to be carefully managed her entire life as she is likely to have relapeses and sensitivities to chemicals and foods, etc. She will need someone with plenty of time and dedication and knowledge of immune problems and nutrition and hollistic treatments may be beneficial. She said it is possible with diligent and devoted care (her entire life)for this dog to live pain free and in relatively good health. They also said she will require at least one surgery to close the wounds on her legs.

Our coordinator said "Is Lisa willing to take her on?", which I am, however I'm full to the gills right now. I've got 6 of my own and 3 fosters. One of the fosters is leaving on the 12th. I have someone interested in the second (a pug mix). The third is older and has degenerative disc disease and is semi-incontinent. It would mean I would need to have the two short term fosters gone and possibly even consider re-homing one of my permanent dogs, which would be hard for me.

So I have to think about this one long and hard. I don't want to euthanize a 3 year old dog who, with proper management can live a pain-free life....I also don't want to re-home one of my own dogs. Maybe instead I could re-home my teen-aged son?!?! (just kidding!). If anyone out there you know is good with immune compromised dogs and/or holistic care and might be willing to give her the home she needs, likely for her lifetime please let me know asap.

We have a couple days to decide what to do.

Take care,
Lisa

Lisa, I am not familiar with this, but I looked it up and some of what I read stated that the treatment uses cortiosteroids to manage it. This is what we had to do with Sophie-she won't ever be "cured" but it can be controlled, with tapering off of to the lowest dosage she can tolerate without flare ups. It was rough at first to get her under control-she had high dosages of various medications with lots of side effects, but it got easier as time went on. Her prognosis was poor at the beginning but we are now at the 2 year mark with her. I just want to say I know it sounds daunting at first but it really was a lot easier than I thought it would be. All you need is one person to fall in love with her, we had a few people interested in Sophie even with her issues (of course by then, I wasn't letting her go) so sometimes people will surprise you. Sometimes the hard cases are what will draw a special person to adopt or foster her, she just needs a special plea to go out for her. Good nutrition also does wonders, we really don't do a whole lot of supplements now (just coconut oil) and she has remained healthy. The main thing is first getting it under control.

Yep--the treatment of choice is steroids to get the immune response under control. She will likely remain on steroids to some extent for her life. It is related to lupus in some cases. She will need a VERY low stress home with some around alot. Immune boosting her right now would be the worst thing that could happen if this is immune mediated, but a decent diet (NOT raw) would go a long way.

Poor little thing.

Our rescue coordinator is considering fostering her herself.

The plan is to keep her in the hospital this week and hope by the end of the week she is in good enough shape to tolerate surgery. Her tendons are exposed in both rear legs and it needs to be surgically closed. Can you imagine how painful that must be??

They will also do more tests and try to get a firmer diagnosis/prognosis.

For now it is one day at a time.

I'll keep you updated.

Take care,
Lisa

6 Pack of Pugs wrote:Our rescue coordinator is considering fostering her herself.

The plan is to keep her in the hospital this week and hope by the end of the week she is in good enough shape to tolerate surgery. Her tendons are exposed in both rear legs and it needs to be surgically closed. Can you imagine how painful that must be??

They will also do more tests and try to get a firmer diagnosis/prognosis.

For now it is one day at a time.

I'll keep you updated.

Take care,
Lisa

Jesus. That poor little girl. Vasculitis can be caused by a drug reaction as well--although I doubt that's the case with her. Would be hard to imagine her getting that bad unless it's similar to human reactions to Sulfa where Stevens-Johnson syndrome occurs (think I have the name correctly).

Let us know how she does, Lisa. Poor girl has a rough road ahead of her.

Here's a bit of a write up on vasculitis for your information:

Vasculitis

Vasculitis can be due to infectious or immune-mediated causes. Vasculitis can result in thrombocytopenia due to local platelet aggregate formation or can initiate DIC. Infectious causes: Rickettsia rickettsii, the etiologic agent of RMSF, is an obligate intracellular parasite transmitted principally by the vector ticks Dermacentor variabilis and Dermacentor andersoni. The organism invades vascular endothelial cells leading to cell necrosis, increased vascular permeability, and perivascular hemorrhage and edema. The developing vasculitis is accompanied by thrombocytopenia and variable activation of the coagulation mechanism. Early signs may include petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages of the skin and mucous membranes, retinal hemorrhage, epistaxis, melena, and hematuria. Severely affected individuals may develop DIC. The most useful test for diagnosing RMSF is serologic testing. Although cross reactions do develop between other rickettsial organisms, the titer is usually highest for the specific rickettsia causing the infection. Paired acute and convalescent serum samples (10 to 14 days apart) are recommended for testing. Tetracycline is the recommended therapy. Intravenous fluid therapy should also be used with caution due to the presence of increased vascular permeability. Although the incidence is sporadic, herpesvirus infection can result in the rapid death of puppies usually between the ages of 7 and 21 days. The disease is characterized by multiple hemorrhages throughout numerous tissues including the liver, kidney, brain, gastrointestinal tract and lung as a consequence of a viral-induced necrotizing vasculitis. Puppies usually die within 24 hours; treatment is often unsuccessful. Immune-mediated vasculitis: Deposition of immune complexes in small vessels can cause damage to the wall with perivascular leakage of plasma and blood cells that mimics thrombocytopenia. The antigens involved in the complexes can be autoantigens or antigens of infectious agents. Petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages and marked edema of affected areas are typical signs. The most well known syndrome in domestic animals is purpura hemorrhagica of horses. This syndrome is one of acute onset of edema of the head and limbs with petechiae in the mucous membranes. The syndrome is usually a sequela of infectious diseases; many affected horses have recently had strangles or Streptococcus equi infection. Horses with purpura hemorrhagica have normal platelet counts. A necrotizing vasculitis has been reported in young Beagle and Bernese Mountain dogs. Thrombocytopenia is variable in these disorders.

I'm adding my prayers for this poor puggie. I hope things can be worked out.

6 Pack of Pugs wrote:Our rescue coordinator is considering fostering her herself.

The plan is to keep her in the hospital this week and hope by the end of the week she is in good enough shape to tolerate surgery. Her tendons are exposed in both rear legs and it needs to be surgically closed. Can you imagine how painful that must be??

They will also do more tests and try to get a firmer diagnosis/prognosis.

For now it is one day at a time.

I'll keep you updated.

Take care,
Lisa

That poor puggy!!! I don't understand how someone waits until they get in that condition to dump them..grr. We're keeping her in our thoughts over here.

There is a special hell for people who cause such suffering in these defenseless creatures. My heart aches for this little girl.

Through it all - the pain, the IV's the cleaning, the dressing changes she remains, sweet, loving and happy to be with those who are caring for her. She has soft, liquid brown eyes that quietly watch you, full of trust...still full of trust.

Dogs are way better people than people.

BTW - If anyone would like to donate a little to help, here is the website:

www.pugbutts.com

There are links for donating on the site.

If you look at the available dogs, you will see my Dickson there as well. I love it because more than half those dogs have been given a lift in the Rescue Roadster and I fall in love with every one of them.

Take care,
Lisa

The pain this poor girl must be in! I just hate when people let things go this far! I hope the right foster becomes available for her. She would make a good companion for someone living a quiet life.

I took a look at the available pugs and see our Petunia is still on there! She had found a home and was returned. She is such a sweet girl! I always wish I could do more but I've got my hands full with my 11 at the moment.

Petunia is one of my favorites, along with sweet, fragile, old Barley. I've spent a little time with her. She was returned, thankfully and now Quinn has her dog back! Petunia's fostermom, Michelle, has a little girl named Quinn who is 2 or 3 and Petunia is her constant companion. Michelle has decided that Petunia will likely not be leaving...from now on anyone wanting to adopt Petunia has to be able to offer her more than Michelle can, and I think that would be nearly impossible.

Everyone tells Michelle to quit trying to give away Quinn's dog!

It's heartwarming to see the pics of Petunia and Quinn together.

here's a video of them Michelle posted on FB recently:

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/video/video.php?v=1325906080234

So freaking cute!

Take care,
Lisa

6 Pack of Pugs wrote:Petunia is one of my favorites, along with sweet, fragile, old Barley. I've spent a little time with her. She was returned, thankfully and now Quinn has her dog back! Petunia's fostermom, Michelle, has a little girl named Quinn who is 2 or 3 and Petunia is her constant companion. Michelle has decided that Petunia will likely not be leaving...from now on anyone wanting to adopt Petunia has to be able to offer her more than Michelle can, and I think that would be nearly impossible.

Everyone tells Michelle to quit trying to give away Quinn's dog!

It's heartwarming to see the pics of Petunia and Quinn together.

here's a video of them Michelle posted on FB recently:

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/video/video.php?v=1325906080234

So freaking cute!

Take care,
Lisa

Thanks for posting that information! I dropped Petunia off at Michelle's house and was sooooo impressed by Michelle. She's such a fantastic pug mom and takes on some tough cases. I'm so glad that Petunia and Quinn have bonded!