Jelly Bean:  Adopted

Thursday, September 17 we got a desperate call from Town Lake Animal Shelter. They had two middle aged females that had been found abandoned in an empty apartment, and they don't know how long they had been there without food or water. They were sick and they wanted them out as soon as possible. We named the larger one Kira - she has various infections, but will be OK with some vet care, good food, and lots of love.

The other one we named Jelly Bean. Poor Jelly Bean had not fared as well. She was down to 6.5 pounds and was very sick. Her red blood count was only 12, and should be over 40. She was heartworm positive and had a few fleas, but that didn't explain her blood count. Her fecal was negative, so it wasn't internal parasites. Her breathing was also very labored, and x-rays showed that she has a very dark spot in her left lung, just above her heart. We speculate that perhaps her heartworms, which are severe, may have migrated to her lungs, but we aren't sure. One thing we are sure of is that we couldn't really do ANY treatments until her blood count was higher and she was stronger. We weren't even sure she would live.

As one of our awesome vet techs, Ellen, who is also the foster mom to Hospice dogs Skippy and Sarge, was bringing her back to her cage, Jelly Bean whispered in her ear that she was a fighter and she wanted to live. We resolved to do what we could to save her.

Our wonderful vet, Dr. Ray Bouloy at Hiway 620 Animal Hospital, asked one of his own personal dogs, a Newfoundland, if he would be willing to give blood to Miss Jelly Bean so that she could have a much needed transfusion. He agreed! So on Friday, September 18, Jelly Bean got the big, strong blood of a Newfie.

UPDATE: September 19

After her blood transfusion her blood count doubled to 25! Her gums were pink and her eyes were much brighter. She sat up in her cage and barked, and when they took her outside she pottied. When they brought her back in she barked and barked again, so they brought her food. She just gobbled it up. She was feeling so much better. She is far from out of the woods, and we still don't know what caused the anemia, but her improvement is encouraging.

UPDATE: September 26

Jelly Bean is strong enough now that she could go home to a foster. She went with her “sister” Kira. Her foster parents report that both girls are very loving and are settling in well. It is obvious that they are devoted to one another. We hope that now that she is with her sister that extra love and care will help her grow stronger.

UPDATE: September 29

When her Foster Mom pulled back her blankies this morning they found Jelly Bean cold, not moving, and barely breathing. They rushed her to the vet clinic, hoping against hope that it wasn't too late. How could this be? Just the day before she had been enjoying the backyard, and had even picked up a few toys to play. Her temperature was down to 91 degrees. They wrapped her in heated blankets and gave her fluids and high doses of steroids. We were notified as a Board what was happening, and we gave her until the end of the day because we didn't want her to suffer. The problem is that we still don't know what is causing her problems, other than the heavy load of heartworms. She had a jugular pulse, which is a sign of cabling, caused by heartworms, and if that is the case we won't be able to save her – she is just too weak. Lots of prayers were said.

At 5:00 they took her outside, and she pottied and walked around! She is like the little Energizer Bunny – she is just keeps on going! She went home with her foster parents.

UPDATE: September 30

Jelly Bean slept well and woke up feeling stronger. She ate some breakfast and is walking around. We got blood work back showing that her liver values are sky high – FINALLY! Something that gives us a direction to treat!

UPDATE: October 4

Jelly Bean is growing stronger with each day. She eats chicken and rice a couple of times a day, and has even gained a little weight! She has spent some time enjoying the outdoors, and her foster family reports that she is now wagging her tail! Dare we be hopeful?!

UPDATE: October 19

Jelly Bean crashed again today. She woke up listless and spiked a fever of 104.1. She was able to walk, but was very weak. Her foster parents rushed her to the vet. She was very uncomfortable when the vet palpated her abdomen, and her blood chemistries and urinalysis showed a UTI, which may also include a kidney infection, causing her abdominal and back pain and fever. Her liver enzymes were elevated again, but at least her red blood cell count is fairly stable. She was started on IV fluids and antibiotics. Right now she isn’t eating. She may need to be transferred to the EC tonight. This is so sad, because she has been eating very well, and has started playing with her BFF Kira and the other dogs in the house. We had become so hopeful. Right now we are saying many prayers for this little girl.

UPDATE: October 20

All of your healing rays are working! Jelly Bean’s fever broke during the night and her temperature was normal this morning. She is feeling much better. She has started eating again. Her Foster Mommy and Daddy came, and brought her BFF Kira in for a visit. They took her off her IV for a few minutes so that they could be together, and Jelly Bean was even chasing Kira, although it was a bit clumsy since she has a leg splint on for her IV. She gobbled down a plate of rice and chicken. It encourages her to eat when Kira is watching over her, anxiously waiting for her to drop scraps! When they left she was barking loudly with dismay. She will need to spend another night on fluids and antibiotics to be sure that we are over this hurdle. Keep those healing rays coming!

UPDATE: December 1

Keep sending me those prayers because angels are certainly watching over me now! I am up to 7lb 4oz and have set a New Year's goal to reach 8lbs! The doctor says that would be a pretty good weight for me, so I'm almost there! My Foster Mom is helping me get used to canned dog food and (even though I'm not supposed to) I have been known to sneak a kibble, or two, of dry food away from my buddy Kira. I wake up with lots of energy and run myself dry. Then I crash into a blissful sleep and start over again the next day! We've discovered that some of my health episodes may be related to a reaction to the heartworm preventative, so I'm taking a smaller dose now and that seems to be helping. Now that I'm feeling stronger, I have found my "mojo" and my Foster Mom says I do great at taking control of a room. I'll be going to the doctor for another check up this week and hope to have added a touch of weight and show off my better health. Thank you to everyone who has helped me feel better, get better and do better. Kira and I appreciate you all!

UPDATE: January 15

We are so happy to report that Jelly Bean continues to improve. Her last check up showed that she reached her New Year's goal and now weighs 8 pounds, 3 ounces! We are still hoping to see more improvement in her liver function levels so that we can begin vaccinations and will know more at her next check up. Jelly Bean is starting to go for walks and tries hard to run most of the way... her little tail wagging in the breeze the whole time. Her coat is growing back nicely and she is looking so beautiful now that she is almost nearing her ideal weight. Jelly Bean has set a new goal to reach 9 pounds by April 1st! Keep sending her your thoughts and prayers as this special girl continues her journey to health and happiness!