anemia, red blood cells dropping rapidly in my pit bull :(

[chico2]

OMG,yes I agree,Sway must be an extraordinary pup and you an extraordinary young man and you certainly deserve a break
It breaks my heart just to read about your struggles,I can only imagine how you feel:sad:
Are the vets encouraging you,do they think there is hope she'll recover from this?
If you are going to Mexico,please be careful..
Still hoping for a miracle

[want4rain]

Motion 3 made me cry. :sad:

im sure there are untold folks here following this and pulling for you guys.

-ashley

[rainbow]

I am so sorry to hear that the transfusions are not helping. :sad: What exactly are the anabolic steroids supposed to do? Poor Sway :sad: ....I hope they help.

[hazelrunpack]

We've still got all our fingers and paws crossed--and you're in my thoughts and prayers daily!

[sways_bodyguard]

just wanted to give a quick update...
we are still in the same spot, and still fighting.

she had to get another transfusion on monday (her 7th) and we stopped the cyclosporine totally last night.
its ravaging her stools so i said enough.

i was also able to get the anabolic steroid Durabolin, so she will now get a small shot of that once per week.
it is something that was used in Dr. Dodds' most extreme case of AIHA so we are hoping that it makes some sort of a difference.

sway is so fragile. she can barely raise herself up from a sitting/laying position.
it is disheartening.
we are still fighting tho, have no plans on giving up.

[shredy]

You are both fighters and I am pulling for her I keep hoping that when you post you will have better news, I can only imagine how difficult these times have been for you. Sways has a great dad! She must be one extraordinary girl...

Keep fighting Sways

[growler~GateKeeper]

All & are crossed here for good news for Sways

[kigndano]

i just read through this entire post and i hope your pup comes back strong soon!

[rainbow]

I hope the Durabolin works magic for her.

[sways_bodyguard]

over the last week ive made a blog for sway,
to basically give a visual to what AIHA is, with pictures and info, & to track what weve been through and what lie ahead...
maybe it will help someone else who has a dog dealing with this awful disease.
i know i am a very visual person, so just seeing pictures and knowing what to expect can be of some benefit.

http://143sway.blogspot.com/

[melody]

Have just read through all your updates on sway, I lost my own dog Bobby on the 18th of July to this same dreadful disease . Bobby was the light of our lives and we miss him dreadfully. He had everything done that could be done to try and save him but he wasn't producing platelets and transfusions were not helping as his immune system just attacked again
Bobby was a Crossbred and had standard poodle in his breeding ,we believe there is a genetic link to this disease via his Poodle ancestry.
Had a few tears about Sway, do hope things improve for you both soon.

[rainbow]

I just read your blog and I still have tears rolling down my cheeks. :sad: Josh, you are a great person and a wonderful dad to Sway. I think about you and her everyday and I so hope that she has the strength to overcome this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[growler~GateKeeper]

I hope Sway is doing better today

The pictures made me poor girl & you too

I'm sure this has probably been suggested to you before: has the vets mentioned Iron Supplements? Feeding Steak? - lots of iron & protein there too.

[TeriM]

Wow, I have also just read the blog and I wish you every courage and joy imaginable in this difficult journey with Sway.

[chico2]

There is not much to add after reading yours and Sways blog,the pictures of Sway says it all,poor,poor Sway and you:sad:
I your love and determination,coupled with Sways will to live,will work miracles.
I know she's very ill,but I am hoping she is not in constant pain you and Sway

[growler~GateKeeper]

I forgot to mention Liver too, one of the other members has recommended it before for anothers' dog that had bled alot (toe injury) so I think there is also alot of iron & good proteins in it too.

[budboybudboy77]

Hope Sway is doing better and going to be getting stronger.

[sways_bodyguard]

i almost lost sway yesterday.
when i came home from work i found her laying in her own vomit and gasping a mile a minute.
her tongue was swollen and she was lifeless.
she had a temp of 107 and i was faced with possibly having to put her down.

i chose to go on and we kept her on fluids the next 4 hours...
her temp dropped to 98 but she is in a bad state.
she is at the vet now for her 2nd day of fluids.

this last week hasnt been the best of weeks.
if your interested in the details you can surely check out the site i made for sways battle.

http://143sway.blogspot.com/

thank you for everyone who has thought of us, and i hope all of your dogs are doing good.

-josh

[chico2]

You know Josh,like your mom,I would say,maybe it's time to let her go,she is suffering greatlyof course it's your desicion to make..
You love her,she loves you,but all the love in the world is probably not going to help,I wish it would
Of course,I am still hoping,that by a miracle she'll get well
However letting her go,to have peace and no more pain,also shows your love for her..
I've had to do it several times,a totally unselfish desicion,we want our animals to stay with us forever,but it' just not possible,once an evil desease has taken hold.
I still hope Sway will improve,but even your vet says it's time to let her have peace and let her go...my thoughts are with you and Sway

[badger]

I don't understand why you are putting your dog through this. You are blinded by love (and science), but he is the one who has to suffer. Please understand, I am not attacking you, I think you are incredibly brave. I just think you have lost your way.

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

I'm sorry

[Winston]

Whatever you decide I will be thinking of you and your beautiful Sway! Only you and her will know when it is time...until then I pray for a miracle!! Josh you are one strong person and Sway must know that!

Thinking of you and Sway!

Cindy

[shredy]

I am so sorry to hear of Sways continuing trouble. I know how scary it is to see your baby having trouble breathing and to see the weight loss as well. I had the same experiences with my girl. What do your vets say about her prognosis, are they hopeful? It is so hard to lose someone you love so dearly and I want you to know how much support I received through this board during Shade's illness and her death. You are the one who is with her everyday and you are the one who knows if she has fight left and is still living a quality life. If the time comes to say goodbye you are the only one who can make that decision, but it sounds to me like she is really having a hard time and if you need to talk about the final decision we are here for you. I know how impossible it is and how committed you are to fighting I just want you to know you are not alone, and talking about it doesn't mean you have to go through with it. I am for you and Sway and I truly hope that she get well

[mummummum]

Making a decision to end our animal's lives is for most of the us both the most difficult and the most selfless thing we can do. It is a testament to the completeness of our love for them and our deep sense of responsibility and commitment as their guardians that allows us to make this decision for them.

[sways_bodyguard]

Originally Posted by badger

I don't understand why you are putting your dog through this. You are blinded by love (and science), but he is the one who has to suffer. Please understand, I am not attacking you, I think you are incredibly brave. I just think you have lost your way.

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

I'm sorry

words hurt, and the way you worded that was classless.
thats all i will say.
dont speak to me, who spends 24/7 with my dog, like you know everything that goes on throughout each day that WE live.

[hazelrunpack]

How is Sway doing tonight, Josh?

[rainbow]

Josh, I hope Sway turns that corner soon. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[huskeylover]

I havent postes on here before but I have been in this very hard, painful and scary situation before with my second Husky that has some sort of tick fever. For some reason she developed a really bad case of anemia and just like ure sawy her breathing was almost forced.
The vet told me that the red blood cells as we know take oxygen to the different part of the body and by not having enough of these it was almost like she was suficating. It was horrible and we lost her. She was not even 2 years old. I feel for both of you and my best advice is truly to enjoy her as much as you can. I understand why you dont give up I didnt eighter. There still is hope and dont ever lose it. You are truly an amazing person. Good Luck to both of you
I send you prayers and lots of love...

[chico2]

Josh,I was concerned you might take our comments the wrong way,you are right,only you know what quality of life Sway has.
We can only read what you write and draw our conclusions from that..:sad:
The final desicion is yours to make,every single person on this Forum has been there,it's a great responsability,one not ever taken lightly.

[Winston]

Hey Josh! Cindy here! how are you and Sway doing today? I hope you and Sway had a better night....You and Sway are in my thoughts....By the way I love how you have documented this time with Sway on the website ...I think thats a great way to honor her!

Cindy
Winston's Mom!

[budboybudboy77]

HI Josh hope Sway is doing better ,I know how hard it is for u my Bud has cancer and some people I know say we are crazy and to just let him go , well I don't listen to them anymore and I listen to my heart and to Buddy's state of mind.
He still has chances and I take it day to day, just listen to your heart and if u feel he can make it then go ahead and keep trying , some will say the dog is suffering but don't we all suffer (human or animal) when we are extremely sick ,the doctor does not come in and say hey we have to put uncle Joe down he is doing bad today, u get what I mean.
I just have to say keep thinking with your heart and mind , and Sway might come out of it, I hope he does , things in life today are so unpositive, why not keep optimistic for a lovely dog like Sway.
I keep hope everyday for my Bud, I wish all the best for u and Sway.