Scoot's first day home...

So yeah I got him yesterday and that was good. It was really nice just to have him back in the house with us (even though all he does is sleep, but hey - I completely understand). He still can't walk very well... he staggers and stumbles and falls a lot... I'm not sure if it's the Ivermectin still in him, or if it's from him not really moving all week, or if he can't see (his eyes still look pretty dilated), or if he's just weak from the whole situation, or if it's just a combination of all of those things. He's eating and drinking well, though, and he'll come to me if I ask him to so he's doing much better than he has been. I'm very proud of him for his progress and for being such a fighter. He's such a good boy and I am THRILLED to have him home.

Well, other than that things seem ok. I talked to the vet and they agreed to split the bill down the middle... They said that it wasn't my fault he got sick (ummm, YEAH)... but they said it wasn't their fault either; that they couldn't have known that was going to happen. Nevermind the fact that he obviously looks to be one of the breeds that has trouble with Ivermectin, or the fact that there are simple tests they could do to tell if he was particularly sensitive to it... Apparently, I still wholeheartedly believe that it was indeed their fault, but I'm glad (even if they didn't come right out and say it) that they accepted some responsibility for it.

Well, one more thing and then I'll end this one. For those of you who haven't seen my bulletin - Wednesday after 5:00 there will be a little "Welcome Home Scooter" thing. It's not really planned to be a party (I'm too broke at the moment to throw a party), but anyone who would like to visit him or come by and hang out is welcome to do so. If you are interested send me a message and I'll give you my number and some directions. And thanks again to everyone who has shown so much love and support. I have some of the best friends ever! I'll have to do something great for all of you when I'm less broke, for real.

Love,

Blu

Good News!!!

Well, just like the phone call I received this morning said - Scooter is doing much better. He can eat on his own, but not without making a giant mess. He can also pick up his head, (and even move around some), but not well. He's still trembling and shaking terribly and is not nearly in complete control of himself just yet. But progress is progress and I'm proud of him.

ALSO... (this is the best part) - WE MAY BE ABLE TO BRING HIM HOME TOMORROW!!! It's not definite yet; they want to keep him and make sure he's doing well enough to not be under their care, plus we're going to have to get set up to care for him before we can have him. So here's where it looks like I may need your help again. (I'm so sorry; I'm not usually this needy.)

We are going to have to have a kennel one of the ones with a grate in the bottom and a pan underneath for when he goes to the bathroom since he can't always move out of his own way. We are so broke right now... (for those who didn't know, me AND Nick got our hours cut at work), and we just spent everything we had extra on school supplies for Shadow.  Anyway, if you or anyone you know has one that they would loan us or sell for cheap - PLEASE let us know. We desperately want to bring our fuzzy boy home. Thank you all in advance.

Love, Blu

THE VET JUST CALLED!!!!!

SCOOTER'S EATING BY HIMSELF THIS MORNING!!!!! SHE ALSO SAID THAT HE'S MOVING AROUND BETTER TODAY, TOO!!! I AM SO EXCITED AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GO SEE HIM!!!!! I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THE VISIT GOES! I LOVE YOU!!

BLU 😁

Scoot Scoot today...

Of course I went to see him this afternoon. He was sleeping when I got there, but I petted him and talked to him anyway. He ended up waking up and his little body began to jerk around... I suppose that's the way it's going to be for a while, though - at least until that medication gets out of his system. 😟 On the bright side he was blinking his eyes and attempting to look around (I don't know how well he could see - his eyes are still very dilated), and also he licked his nose a time or two. None of those things was he able to do yesterday, so, THANKFULLY, that was more improvement. 😀

Also, the vet mentioned putting a feeding tube in him tonight which would provide him with more nutrition than he's currently getting from his IV. I feel pretty good about that because he's looking puny. (He hasn't eaten anything since Tuesday evening and with as much as he vomited I doubt he kept much of that down.) Anyway, I petted him and loved on him until his spasms calmed and he fell back to sleep. I felt nice knowing that I may have helped soothe him and that maybe our visits really do make a difference. *sigh*

I'm a firm believer that it's the thought that counts so certainly all of that (as well as thoughts and prayers from all of my awesome friends) is helping with his recovery. Well, please don't stop yet - he's gotta hold on until Monday-ish (that's when the medication should FINALLY be wearing off)... and as for now I'm uncertain as to what happens after that. But I will definitely keep you posted.

I love you.
Blu

Just came across these... Go ahead - have a good laugh. :D

Just thought I'd share... It's a nice change of pace from the last few days' postings, at least.

Before Shadow

Possibly shortly after Shadow... *shrugs*
(Btw... I think that spot on my face was from the scanner or something).

Senior portrait; my hair was purple with blue streaks (though you probably can't tell).

Right after high school graduation. Yes, my hair is really green.

More on Scooter...

I went to see him today... again - there was some slight improvement. He's moving around a LITTLE bit on his own... not much, though. He still can't stand up or even pick up his head, for that matter. *sigh* I guess for lack of a better word he scoots around, but he can't move any more than about an inch at a time and it looks like it takes a lot out of him to do so. His eyes are still dilated crazy-huge and his tongue just hangs out all the time so he's covered in snot and drool. Also, he smells like rot since no one's been able to wash him since he vomited all over himself the other day. His body's still jerking a lot and the paw his IV is in was really swollen. They said something had happened to it, but that they fixed it; the swelling just hadn't gone down by the time I'd got there.

Right now the only thing keeping him going is the IV... I suppose it's also a good sign that he's not on any medication other than that. The only thing that still has him in the shape he's in is the Ivermectin I gave him... and like they've said before we just have to hope he holds on until it all gets out of his system. ... Still no more seizures since yesterday and that's also a good thing... Sadly, they are not yet able to say that they think he will make it - only that there is hope for him to.

Today I have felt pretty down, but I haven't cried as much as I have over the last few days. I don't know why that is because I'm still very upset and he's constantly on my mind; perhaps it's the fact that he's improving at all that comforts me. Also, today they said that they're pretty certain that he's becoming more aware of his surroundings... he doesn't move for the most part unless they're doing something to him or someone comes to see him. So I know he hears me when I tell him how much I miss him and that he HAS to get better so he can come home. He'd better be listening to me... at home I was about the only one he'd listen to, anyway. *half smile* I always felt special because of that. Scooter is my buddy. *wipes tears*

... Well, the only other thing I can say about the situation is that it's starting to look like the doctors are trying to make me think he was allergic to that prescription in which case his reaction could not have been predicted - therefore relieving them of liability for what happened. Well I'm not buying it. He has EVERY ONE of the symptoms of Ivermectin Toxicosis which means the medication poisoned him. He was given WAYYY too high a dosage and without being tested for sensitivity first. THEY KNEW that that stuff kills some dogs and THEY KNEW that he was a mutt (therefore they couldn't know what all genes he might carry). I can't help but feel like they are at fault and that makes me angry. The little bald spot on his forehead was not such a big deal that we couldn't have waited for test results before giving him that medication. ... Damn, I feel sick.

Update on Scooter...

I went to see him today after work and he looked about the same. I talked to him and petted him and he blinked his eyes a little... I don't really know if that was the effects of all the meds he's on right now, but I'd like to believe that he knew I was there. The doctor said that he'd had no seizures since this morning and that was a good sign; however, a recovery for him would inevitably be slow (i.e.: weeks), if at all. They've pretty much come to the conclusion that he has Ivermectin Toxicosis, which does basically mean that he was poisoned by the prescription he was given. The symptoms include: dilated pupils, depression, coma, tremors, stupor, loss of coordination, vomiting, drooling, in rare cases seizures, and death.

Right before I got home today I received a call from Animal Medical Center. I hate to admit it, but I was expecting the worst. I answered the phone with my heart pounding and my eyes tearing up. As it turns out, Janie (the lady who's husband found Scooter) wanted to visit him while he was there and the vet just needed my permission. That really made me happy and of course I said it was fine for them to go. I'd been keeping in touch with her via email so she knew what all has been going on. Also... I'm going to throw this in here just because it makes me smile... she has a picture of Shadow and Scooter (the same one from my page) on her kitchen table at home. 😊

Despite all that is going on, at this moment I feel very hopeful. That's probably got a lot to do with all the emotional support and reassurance that all of my friends have been giving me. To everyone here that has offered encouragement and support - I thank you. I desperately need it. The battle my furry little baby is fighting seems to be far from over. 😭 But with friends who offer such reassurance and good will - I feel like anything is possible. Thank you SO MUCH for giving me hope. I truly can't express what everything all of you have done means to me. Thank you, again.

Love, Blu