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You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Lily / Lily Update

Lily Update

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I just spoke with the vet, and while her platelet count increased, her red blood cell count actually decreased, so I am going to take her to the hospital in Pittsburgh where she can receive a transfusion if necessary. The place I am taking her to is the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, and this is the place that saved my brother’s girl Ellie.

Reader Interactions

108Comments

  3. 3.

    Sab

    We are all rooting for Lily and wishing the best outcome for you. Been there and done this with mysterious dog diseases. My dog survived but it was scary.

  4. 4.

    Garbo

    Keep us posted. Keep breathing. Flood of good vibes continues in your direction. Let us know if you need $.

  6. 6.

    Chris

    Sending all the positive thoughts in the universe to Lily and you. Glad she’ll be
    in expert hands in Pittsburgh.

  10. 10.

    eric

    I am confident I speak for all of us, and I know you know this: dont worry about the cost. We are all here and ready to do what you need.

  12. 12.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Good luck, Cole. It was the story of Lily that drew me in to the comments here.

  14. 14.

    spudgun

    Be strong, John – we’re right there with you both! Sending e-hugs to you and Lily—

  17. 17.

    Scott S.

    Hope she gets better ASAP — hope you’re feeling well, too.

    Tales of Lily love are some of my favorite posts around here…

  20. 20.

    CaseyL

    You know we’re ready if you need us.

    Best wishes for a full recovery. Love and scritches to you both (and to the rest of the Cole menagerie).

  23. 23.

    Bruce K

    Sending good vibes from the northeastern Med. (Probably most will be siphoned off by ICE at the border, but hopefully some will get through.)

  27. 27.

    J R in WV

    Those Veterinary Hospitals are the place to go when your dog is really sick.

    Our best dog evah, Clyde, lost the use of his hindquarters and back legs. Local vets couldn’t see anything on the x-rays, and recommended the Columbus OH Emergency Vet Hospital. Martha took off in late afternoon with Clyde and his folder of info, and when she got there, the Vet TEchs came running out with a gurney.

    Clyde had an MRI at Childrens Hospital, where they share the MRI equipment, that showed fusion on his spinal cord, I think he got body blocked off the back steps earlier, anyway a neurosurgeon saved him, a month later he was back on the ridges again.

    I’m sure Lily will have the very same expert care in P’burgh that Clyde received in Columbus. Vets are amazing nowadays. Take care of yourself and let the Vets do their thing for Lily.

    We’re all with you guys!!

  31. 31.

    Elie

    John, you were so sweet when I lost my baby, Buddy a couple of months ago. Years ago he had a mysterious illness that turned out to be an infection of his spinal chord and brain from a virus. It took a while but he survived to live another 12 years. Hang in there. I send you and Lilly my love and hugs

  33. 33.

    Tinare

    I have nothing but good things to say about the care my dog and cat received at PSEVC. My dog had knee surgery, and my cat, also named Lily, went in as an emergency which turned out to be an abdominal blockage. Not cheap, but especially with my Lily they were thorough, caring, diagnosed her quickly, and presented options. Unfortunately the preliminary options didn’t work and surgery was required. When I took her back for her follow-up appointment the Vet tech asked if she could take her back to visit b/c some of the folks who had taken care of her wanted to see her again.

    Your Lily will be in very good hands, I have no doubt.

  35. 35.

    Vlad

    She’s in good hands at PVSEC – I just picked my cat up from them on Monday, following a bout with kidney issues.

    Please be careful if you’re driving on I-279. The current signage and routing during the construction is very confusing (e.g. at one point you need to stay in the right lane in order to avoid the exit that splits off to the right), and there was a fatal accident yesterday involving a big truck full of slag.

    Fingers crossed for Lily. She’s a good girl.

  39. 39.

    EveryDayIHaveTheBlues

    Stay strong, JC! This too shall pass. Remember that you can’t care for her if you’re stressed out, so please breathe deep and try to chill, even though it must be awfully difficult at this time…

  40. 40.

    Mel

    John, please ask them to check sweet Ms. Lily for Babesia, just in case that might be part of the problem.
    It’s a tick-borne blood parasite that can cause low RBCs, unusual WBC numbers, lethargia, pale gums, anemia, loss of appetite, etc. Tick-borne illnesses can be slow developing and easy to miss, since they can cause symptoms that closely resemble other illnesses, and they are becoming more common in the lower Midwest and upper South.

    Sending hugs to you, Lily, and all the critters from Pixie B, Jayne, and me.

    Travel safely, and please take good care of yourself as well. Everything else will take care of itself for a while. Just focus on keeping yourself as okay as is possible during this time, and giving Lily all the usual love and support that you always do. You are a good man and a great parent to your critters.

    The clinic to which you and sweet Lily are headed is an excellent one.

  41. 41.

    Wolvesvalley

    Seconding (thirding? fourthing?) the comments that say we are ready to contribute to Lily’s vet fund if needed.

  42. 42.

    stinger

    @Tinare: That’s a great story, and also Vlad’s heads-up about the roadwork.

    John, best thoughts to lovely Lily and you.

  43. 43.

    Nicole

    Drive safely, and we’re all rooting for you. Glad you’re not far from a top-notch facility.

  44. 44.

    Elizabelle

    Be well, Lily. Glad she’s getting the specialist care, and hope she’s right as rain and home in WV by dog soonest.

  48. 48.

    geg6

    PVSEC is an excellent facility and they will do their best there, John. Everyone here sings their praises and this is where all the police dogs are treated when they are injured or wounded. They do great work. Lily will be in very good hands. Keeping you both in the light.

  55. 55.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    Much love and healing thoughts to Lily. We know you will be a basket case during this so make sure to keep yourself well too. She will need you.

  56. 56.

    O. Felix Culpa

    Fluffdog Pippin and I send all our best for Lily’s recovery and many more years of doggie joy.

  58. 58.

    hitchhiker

    Thanks for checking in again … my first thought when I woke up was a hope that there would be news from WgdV. Love to you both.

  60. 60.

    Gelfling 545

    Every reason to be hopeful for Lily’s recovery eith such love and care. Blessings to Lily.

  64. 64.

    Alain the site fixer

    Best wishes to Lily, John. She’ll get great care there. If you don’t have insurance for her, we should run a little fundraiser to help out…

  66. 66.

    Dog Mom

    I woke up early and wondered about Lily – I am glad you are taking her to specialists (with no slight to general vets). This dx is a rough one and experience will help to get through this – as will a hospital setup with accessible labs. John, please take care of yourself too – Hydrate, eat right, stretch, take breaks – you need to be ready (mentally and physically) for the ups and downs of a hospital stay as well as the possibly long haul of her care at home too. I hope that it all goes easy and she quickly responds and gains her health back, but from one who has been through similar situations, sometimes it is a slower process.

  73. 73.

    Amir Khalid

    We all love Lily, and you too, Aand we want so much to see both of you get through this.

  75. 75.

    dexwood

    @Cermet:
    Quickly before I run… Vets often get them from healthy dogs volunteered by their owners. My dog, Dexter, was a blood donor once in awhile.

  77. 77.

    a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio)

    @Cermet: I can answer this! There are donor dogs–usually larger breeds, as they can donate more without risk than small breeds can. They want healthy dog donors, just as they want healthy human donors. A friend’s dog was a donor for several years–he was a really sweet mellow guy. The Humane Society has a piece about this on their site.

    As I recall, Charley would visit his friends at the clinic, snuggle up for some pettins from his friends the techs who were doing the work, and when it was done, get treats. and more hugs.
    I see @dexwood: beat me to it.

  80. 80.

    Skepticat

    A top vet facility for a top dog. We’re all sending the most positive vibes possible and have crossed all the paws.

  81. 81.

    Josie

    Appreciate the update. The first thing I looked for this morning was news on Lily. Hang in there. Love you and your girl.

  89. 89.

    Lizzy L

    John, I just saw this — had to go back to read the previous Lily posts. YAY for good vets and vet clinics! Sending love to you — you are a superlative dog and cat Dad. I hope Lily gets all the treatment she needs and that she responds to it. Virtual hug.

  92. 92.

    Sloane Ranger

    Sending positive vibes to you both. She’s going where she needs to be. Good luck.

  94. 94.

    Yutsano

    Vet hospitals are the best for these things for multiple reasons. Not only is Lily going to get top notch care, the costs are (usually) much less expensive than an outside vet would be. Hoping for the most positive outcome for you both!

  95. 95.

    Trinity

    Drive carefully John. You know we are all sending positive thoughts to Lily and you. Let us know what you need.

  97. 97.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Btom89: Basically malaria. Fever, ache, and awful sweating at night. I’d have to get up and change the sheets in the middle of the night because I had soaked through everything.

  98. 98.

    Ian G.

    I’m an atheist and don’t pray, so all I can say is that I hope everything turns out OK.

  100. 100.

    martian

    Safe travels to both you and your best girl, Cole, and all my hopes for a swift recovery for Lily.

  103. 103.

    debit

    @kindness: The paypal button is right there on the right hand side.

    ETA: That sounded curt, which was not my intention. Just click on it, enter the dollar amount and press ok.

  104. 104.

    J R in WV

    Our local ER for pets keeps rescue cats and dogs as donors for wounded patients coming in the front door. It’s a win-win, the rescue cats and dog were rescued, in the first place, and now they save lives of their fellow cats and dogs who need help.

    The ER facility opens when the clinics are no longer available in the evenings and over the weekend, and is sponsored by those clinics. Originally opened to help the clinics’ doctors and techs actually have a life with evenings and weekends off. Working well in the Kanawha valley.

    Hoping and expecting Lily will get great care, and that you will chill out and relax so you can take care of her as she recuperates.

  107. 107.

    LaNonna

    Only positive thoughts for you and Lily. One of our rescue dogs has Leishmaniosis, she’s still living a happy dog’s life even while hating the daily pill (now often buried in a nice provolone cube). Ciao for now.

  108. 108.

    WaterGirl

    @Cermet: I do t k ow about dogs, but when my kitty eeded a transfusion, there were two cats who lu ed at the emergency y clinic that had all the blood types co ered. The rest of the time they hung out like any cat would. That was their home.

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