I'm not a doctor, but judging by Lucky's appetite, attitude and alertness, I would have to say we are on our way over the top of the ladder!

It is hard to believe that just 4 days ago, the prognosis was very grim. Sometimes I think it was silly that I was so upset about him.

I would never have believed that a 2 LB Minpin could survive two major surgeries in 48 hours and then be almost acting like a normal Minpin (if there is such a thing) 48 hours later. He is truly amazing.

He bit Max's leg this morning. Max wasn't too happy, but I was glad to see he was being playful.

We are still giving him the pedialite every 4 hours (Vince bought bubble gum flavor!) But he is eating well. He still will not drink water. (Wendy, any idea what that's all about?) I can't imagine why he will not drink it. Maybe Dr. S. will have some ideas when we see him on Monday. He called a left a message today, asking for an update on Lucky's status. I thought that was really nice of him. This may be normal for Vets, but we are not very experienced with them. We have only had Minpins since last May.

Just think, I didn't want a dog 15 months ago, and here it is 15 months later and I have three. I just found out that the town we are moving to in February only allows 3 dogs so I guess we will have to limit ourselves.

I won't be able to take Lucky to work with me tomorrow, so he will be left home for 5 hours. (OK by Doc to wait extra hour for meds.) Max and Nikki will probably torment him from outside the crate. The good news is that today he actually walked into it himself and went to sleep for a couple of hours. He may not be to scared. I will probably be more anxious than him. He will probably sleep. We are setting up the video camera for the first two hours to see what happens.

That's about it for now. Will let you know if there is any change and when we get that clean bill of health!

Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky

<<Looking for an update on Lucky when you get a chance. I expect that he'll dazzle his doc tomorrow with his miraculous recovery! Susan & the girls>>

We are not really sure how he is doing. Yesterday he starting have diarrhea. It sounded like a soda can popping as it came out. A loud popping sound. He is still eating, however. Then this morning after eating, he vomited all over the place. I can't believe he had as much in his stomach for him to vomit so much. I could not take him with me to work and was really concerned. Vince got home early and told me his crate was clean and that he ate his lunch, but was still having diarrhea. However, when I got home and picked up the blankets, there was vomit all over them. Smart dog moved the clean over the dirty, but he must have been really sick. He also looks like all the weight he put on is now gone. He is really boney looking again.

We go to Dr. S. in an hour and I hope that he can give us some guidance as to what is wrong. Maybe he just picked something up outside and ate it.

He was doing great. Playing like a puppy with the other two. Even taught himself how to get out the dog door.

Will update once we return from Dr. S.

Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky

Again, Lucky seems to have had a set back. As you know, he started with the diarrhea last night and the vomiting this morning. When Vince gave him his lunch, he seemed to keep it down, so I fed him dinner before we went to see Dr. S. (by the way I took a photo of him with Lucky today. It's attached) He was still very lethargic this afternoon.

His temp. was normal, his eyes & ears and heart were good. He was also happy with the healing of the incision. They found nothing in his stool, but he vomited all over the floor and Vince. (You know, that nice sour smelling baby food kind of vomit) Dr. S. took 3 more x-rays and again is worried about what he sees. He showed us that again, the definition in his stomach/intestinal area was not clear. It was a big blur. He is afraid there is more fluid build up. They want us to drop him off in the morning, they will do more blood work and take a sample of the fluid. They said they do it with a needle and won't have to open him up again. Depending on what they find he will tell us where to go from there. He may just have to go on a different medication or they may have to drain it again. He is not worried that is has anything to do with the peritonitis. Possibly just an infection. Is there such a thing as JUST AN INFECTION?

He is very happy that Lucky is eating (although he is not keeping it down). But does not like the look of the blur. They then put a bubble of fluid under his skin to help hydrate him. (It went down within 20 minutes) He looked like a camel. He was soo good getting poked and prodded again.

Our poor little guy. He as been through so much already. Can't they just let him be well. He was doing so good. Acting like a puppy. Max & Nikki want to play and I have to keep telling them to go away. We want him to be well. Vince had to leave the room, he could not stand to see them stick another needle in Lucky. Again we will go through a worrisome day wondering how he is doing.

Vince can stop there tomorrow at 1 PM. They can let him know what the status is and possibly let him go home.

I will get home around 3 and send you all an update. Keep those prayers and wishes coming, I think he may need them again.

Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky

Tue, 1 Sep 1998 20:59:19 EDT - from Nancy & Vince, via Petie

Lucky seems to be in better spirits today, but we will not have the results back from his tests until tomorrow.

They did an adbominocentesis on him and a CBC/Antech/Screen?? They sent the fluid out for Culture & Sensitivity? I don't know what all this means, but that's what they said.

Dr. S. changed his medicine to Clavamox and Metronidazole. They did not find anything in his stool so I assume the coccidia is cleared up. They did not tell us to continue with any more albon.

He is still having the diarrhea but has not vomited today. Of course the side effects of Clavamox is vomiting & loose stool, so I guess we are stuck with that for a while. He is really good with going outside, so that should not be a problem.

We have to continue with the pediatlyte due to his dehydration. I guess we will not know what is going on in his abdomen until tomorrow.

They did make an appointment for next Tuesday for his stitches to come out, so it seems they do at least foresee a future with him. It just may not be a healthy one.

Anyone know about this 1-800-USA-PETS insurance for dogs. It may be a good idea to get it for him. Unfortunately, hereditary problems are not covered, which I think the luxated patella is. Dr. S. has not even mentioned this, so maybe he will not have any problems with his patella. Or maybe he doesn't think it a priority at this time.

We will update you once we hear the results of his tests.

Again, Vince & I want to thank everyone for their support.

Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky ^A^

Wed, 2 Sep 1998 20:04:04 EDT - from Nancy & Vince, via Petie

Well, we're not sure how he is doing. He only threw up twice last night and it was only a small amount around 1:30 & 2:45 AM. I was lucky enough to get him over the sink so it was not all over us and the bed.

This morning when I went to feed him, he refused to eat. That was a first time ever. I am hoping it was a reaction to his latest medicine. The vet changed him again to Amoxicillan. They do not have the results of the culture back yet.

I am told that the culture will show what medicine the infections react to and therefore they don't have to guess what to treat him with. They won't have the results for 5 days.

He is still very quiet today and sleeping a lot. My mother watched him today, Vince starts his vacation tomorrow so he will be home with him.

We are planning on going away for Labor Day, Max & Nikki are going to the kennel, but Lucky is coming with us. My whole family rents a house for the week at the beach. There will be plenty of people to pay attention to him then.

Thanks for asking, and we appreciate your concern and kind words.

We will keep you updated on his progress.

Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky

Thu, 3 Sep 1998 19:30:34 EDT - from Nancy & Vince

I guess the list was down for my last couple of posting. Petie did re post, but I will give you another update.

On Monday, he was vomiting everything and had diarrhea. He was still eating, but when Dr. S. took x/rays, he was worried about his abdomen So on Tuesday the took a sample of the fluid in his abdomen and sent it our for a culture. They also changed his medicine to Clavamox and Metronidazole. On Wednesday, Lucky stopped eating but was still having diarrhea and vomiting. We called the vet and they said it could have been a result of the new medicine they had put him on. So they changed it for the third time to Amoxicillan (Spelling?) He is still getting the vitamins and pedialyte along with Metronidazole.

It's Thursday and he now has his appetite back, but is still having very soft bowel movements. (I actually had to stop him from trying to eat it after going. I could not believe it. I have seen puppies eat there feces, but diarrhea, never) Now I have to make sure I pick it up immediately after he goes, or he will track it down in the yard and try to eat it. Disgusting!!!! I have the Deter from when Nikki was doing that, but have not asked the vet if I could give him some. With all the other medicines, I don't want to just add it in.

I have to admit he is much more awake today than so far this week. He is actually walking around and tried to run after Max. He is still a little weak on his legs and did not get far. We were so happy to see him act somewhat like a puppy again, but I am still very cautious because we have gone through a few other days like this and then had a down slide.

We are hopeful that this will soon come to an end. Our poor little guy has gone through enough for one lifetime. Max & Nikki are still being great around him. I love them for it.

We will be away for the Labor Day weekend and Lucky will join us. My whole family is looking forward to giving him some extra loving to help him recover.

Have a safe Holiday Everyone! We will update you with any news.

Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky

Tue, 8 Sep 1998 18:45:40 EDT - from Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky

I guess you can tell we had a really good weekend. The sea air did him wonders. He was the best since we got him on August 23rd. He was very playful, got a lot of attention from my family and was a really good boy.

Vince took Lucky to see Dr. S. today. As you can see, he put on some weight! A very good sign.

As for the culture, they found 4 different bacteria's in the fluid, all that are effected by different types of antibiotics. So they are waiting for the lab to get back with what would be the best way to treat all 4. In the meantime, they are keeping him on the amoxicillin. He now has some mange problems. They took 3 scrapings from him and have given us Goodwinol Ointment to apply to it for now. My only problem is that Max & Nikki try to lick it off him. We will have to apply it then put him in the crate for a little while so they will not get it all off.

I am pretty sure that you have all said that mange is not contagious, so I won't worry about the other two.

He also got his stitches out today. No more stitches until he gets neutered. (Although I hate to put him through another operation, there is no question about him getting neutered!) I hope he will have forgotten about all this by then.

Vince & I have decided to use June 1st as his birthday. Vince wanted to use July 4th, but I didn't think he could be that young so June 1st it is.

We don't have to see Dr. S again until the 16th. I feel confident now that Lucky is going to be all right. They know what the infection is and will soon know just what to treat him with to cure all 4 types of bacteria. If mange is going to be the worst of his troubles, I think Vince & I can handle it.

Well, I'm gonna sign off now and go into the yard and play with the two maniacs and our Little Guy Lucky!

Thanks for all your well wishes.

Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky

Thu, 10 Sep 1998 18:31:42 EDT - from Nancy

OK everyone, you know how well your good thoughts and prayers worked for Lucky, now his vet, Dr. Sigel is in need of them. The man who probably saved his life.

On Thursday, he and his wife were involved in a very serious accident. He has been unconscious and in critical condition in a trauma unit here in South Jersey. They have already had to remove his spleen and it is still touch and go as to whether or not he will make it.

Vince, Max, Nikki, Lucky and I are saying gigantic big prayers for him and his family and I know you will all help so he will have a speedy recovery.

There is a Walk for PAWS this weekend to raise money for PAWS, and they are dedicating the walk in his honor. He is a well liked Vet.

Lets all keep our fingers crossed.

Nancy, Vince, Max, Nikki & Lucky

Sat, 12 Sep 1998 21:27:52 EDT - from Nancy

<<address for him and each of us send him a get well card ...... even if it's to his home so his family could see how many people care for him.>>

I don't have his home address, but will see if they will give it to me on Monday, in the meantime, his Animal Hospital is at:

Dr. Stanley Sigel
Black Horse Pike Animal Hospital
4250 Rt. 42/Black Horse Pike
Turnersville, NJ 08012

Nancy, Vince, & the kids