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[teddysmomanddad]

HI everyone, we are so grateful we found your forum. After a day or so of labored breathing and a limp and an eye infection, Our three yr old Lab Retriever was found to have Blasto and admitted into the hospital Tuesday night. He is now receiving oxygen and Itraconozole. His blood oxygen levels dropped to 70% this morning but back up to 97% tonight with steroids.
I see many of you did not keep your dogs in the hospital (which we totally understand- it is unbelievably expensive) so we want to ask, do you all think it's a waste of money to keep him there or can we deal with this at home. I'm sure without oxygen and the steroid he would be gone by now.
We need hope and prayers as well as advice please.
Thank you and here is a picture to tug at your heart.
Wendy and Scott

[Cosmo]

Sending healing thoughts to Teddy.  He looks like a sweet dog.  He even comes with a tennis ball.  This is the most difficult thing we've ever gone through with our pets.  Hope it's all smooth sailing for you and your pet.
Jacci

[teddysmomanddad]

Thanks so much Jacci!

[Sadie123]

From what I have read some have put their dogs in the hospital and others have treated at home.  It's a touch and go thing.  When we were first seeing our vet and we were thinking my dog Sadie had Blasto, my vet told me the first 7-10 days were the worst and that the breathing may get pretty rough to a point where she needed steriods.  He told me if she made it through the 1st 7-10 days that she would probably be ok.  Unfortunately our blasto test came back negative and she declined from there.  Her final diagnosis was hemangiosarcoma.  But when we were thinking it was blasto my vet let me take her home, but gave me his cell number to call him if I needed him.  I did several times.  So it's maybe not the norm for most people on here to put their dog in the hospital, but you are definitely not the first.  I'd find out how willing your vet is to let you call him/her after hours if needed before you make your final decisions on when to bring home.  It can really help, and maybe save you a visit to the emergency clinics.  Teddy is absolutely adorable!!!  Please get better Teddy, you are too cute!!  Good luck and praying for you all.

Shelley

[Niners]

Hi, Wendy & Scott. Teddy is absolutely beautiful. So very sorry that you have to deal with this. Hope we can reassure you here. So many decisions. We took our girl, 99, to the hospital. And even though our outcome was not what we hoped (she died the first night), I'm glad she was able to breathe easier for awhile. We'll be sending prayers and rooting for Teddy.

ct

[jefndebbacon]

Hi Wendy and Scott, so sorry to hear about Teddy.  If the vet feels that he is better in the hospital, then I would go with that.  Once he gets stabilized, he may be able to come home.  It is a roller coaster of a ride, with ups and downs, good days and bad.  Do not hesitate to call your vet with any questions.  Do not hesitate to ask any question on this board.  We are here for you.  As a group, we have so much experience with this dreaded disease.  You guys and Teddy are in our thoughts and prayers.  Deb

[Cathy, Bailey and Duke]

Teddy is a beauty!!! Prayers for a speedy recovery!

[teddysmomanddad]

Thank you for your replies, we felt like the only ones suffering with this disease. This is Scott, the other half of Teddysmomanddad.
Our little bear is still in the hospital and on oxygen. His saturation went back up which is hopeful but his breaths are still in the high 40s and 50s, but down from the 80s and 90s.
They found Blasto in his Trache wash a few days ago. His breathing was bad and he had a limp. We had taken him to the vet two weeks before all this started because he had an eye infection but after an antibiotic it all went away. That has not come back so we are trying to stay hopeful that was a separate incident.
We live in Georgia and think Teddy got the stuff on one of our camping trips in N. Georgia in October or Nov.
Our other dog has not shown any signs of it.

Last few days have been the hardest I've been through. Teddy is my best friend. He goes fishing with me, camping, he sleeps in bed with us, lays on the couch with us, everything we do we do with our doggies.
He only just turned 3 in September. We were not expecting anything to happen to our bear for a long time.
We were blindsided by it all.

I don't know how our vet thought of Blasto, it's rare in Georgia, but we are glad we know what we are dealing with.
Teddy is on 300 mg of Itra, he is a big boy at 107lb and he is on Predizone now and oxygen.
His temp has gone down to 101.

We are going to visit him again tonight and are so sad without him. Our house is noticeably emptier and sadder without our Teddy.
We want him home.

Prayers for our Teddy bear!!

[Sadie123]

Scott, 

Be careful about the steroids.  You want to avoid them if you can when you are dealing with blasto.  It lowers the immune system, and I think it may make the antifungals weaker.  There are cases where vets have had to give the steriods in order for  the dog to survive, but only in extreme circumstances.  My vet held off on giving my dog any.  It wasn't until I thought she was not going to make it through the night that I reached into my medicine cabinet and gave her some of mine.  It really turned her around compared to the extreme situation she was in.  If your vet doesn't know much about Blasto, make sure he reads about using steroids in combination with antifungals, and in cases of blasto.  You should only use a short acting steriod and wean them off as soon as possible.  Teddy will most likely slide backwards after you get him off  of the steriods, but hopefully its not such a slideback that he can't recover from.  Just don't keep him on the steriods.  My Sadie was on them for her last 10 days, but it turned out she had cancer instead so it never hurt her condition. 

Everyone here knows how rough this is for you guys.  We have all had some very sick pups.  Prayers and strength being sent up for the 3 of you.  Take care and keep us all informed.  Take it one hour at a time, and say lots of prayers. 

[benniesmom]

Poor Teddy... Great that your vet figured this out and got him going with all the props... We'll be praying for you. Bennie is ..... OMG..... a month into this now, and he is doing pretty well......... I hope Teddy gets to come home this weekend. It's easy to imagine how much you miss him. He's a handsome boy.

All good luck.
Barb, Bennie and the lovely Miss Heathergrace (who has skipped this minefield altogether)

[Cathy, Bailey and Duke]

Prayers for your Teddy Bear!!!

[Sadie123]

How is Teddy tonight? Hope he is feeling a bit better.  You must keep us updated.  Once you join this forum you and your dogs become part of our family and we make room for you in our hearts.   Especially since you put up that adorable heart tugging picture.  Please keep us posted, you and  Teddy are in our prayers.  Feel better Teddy Bear!!

[jefndebbacon]

Teddy Bear, get better soon so you can come home!  Praying for you!  Deb

[Cosmo]

Hoping that Teddy can come back home to you soon.  He is lucky to have a great family like you.  He looks like a dog that needs a virtual ear scratch from me. 
Jacci

[teddysmomanddad]

 First thank you so much for all of your prayers and advice and kind words! We spoke to the Dr. this morning and he has been off oxygen since 4pm yesterday and is doing well. His blood oxygen levels are good and he breathing much better. We get to see him at 3pm (we are in Atlanta, GA) and she said we may be able to bring him home tomorrow or Monday! Go Teddy!!!
With Love,
Wendy