Update On Lyric

[Doberluv]

Yesterday Lyric had a blood draw and a re-check of his liver enzymes. Last month when he was sick and first being diagnosed, his enzymes were at the number, 1,600. They are now at 380, significantly down. However, normal is about 175, so they're not all the way down. He'll be re-checked again in about a month. But at least they're better. And he feels better. So, hopefully, he'll not get worse, at least not yet.

Just thought I'd let people know who were so encouraging to me when he was going through his biopsy etc.

The vet also said, the only way to really know how his liver is doing, besides the copper storage disease, (he has more going on in there than that) is to do another biopsy. I just don't know if I can do that...not only was it no fun for him, but it amounted to over $2,000. So, I just don't know what to do. He's got another RX coming which should also be of help. It's called Denosyl, a nutritional suppliment. He's on Ursodial, Prednisone, Penecylamine (sp?), milk thistle, zinc (all good stuff for the liver) and a shoe box full of other herbs and stuff, plus a special diet which I cook for him. He's gained weight. He had gotten very skinny. Now he's just under 90 LBS...Yeah!:) Just right for him.

So, that's the low down on Lyrical Raindancer.;)

[Charliesmommy]

Oh, I'm sooo glad Lyric is feeling better. I can't believe a biopsy costs so much! Maybe would be best to wait and see how the new meds work out?

[Saje]

That is a signficiant improvement! I'm so happy for you. It looks like he's well on his way to normal numbers :D

[RedyreRottweilers]

I am so happy to hear he's feeling better, which I'm sure makes YOU feel better.

Butt scritches and belly rubs to him.

[Debi]

GOOD news!! way to go, Lyric!! :)

[Doberluv]

Thanks everyone. Yes, it makes me feel much better that he feels better. He's romping and running, although his stamina doesn't seem to be quite what it was. But he's eating like a pig and hasn't had head tremors since those levels were so high. Head tremors is another thing he has had always, but they were few and far between. (another thing Dobermans are prone to) When he was so sick that one month, he was having them almost daily and quite severely. It's so upsetting to see. So, it was even affecting his nervous system, I guess. I don't know if he'll ever get down to normal levels but we'll see. His liver is diseased and although some of it can recover, I mustn't forget that he has a serious condition with his liver. No going out drinking tequilla with the Chihuahuas on Saturday nights for him!

[dr2little]

That's really a big difference, something to celebrate for sure...just not with Tequilla shots. I'm sure you can fill in for him when his glass comes round.

So great that his weight has come back and he's excited to eat. The head tremors, I remember you mentioning them quite a while back. I didn't know that they had gotten that bad. You must have just been beside yourself watching your special boy going though that. I'm so happy that they too have subsided.

It sounds like it's be a day at a time and I hope that he just continues to surprise you and get better and better.

Maul him up right for me! Nothing more kissable than a big spongy doberman nose....yum!:)

[Baxter'smybaby]

Yeah--so glad to hear it is good news--you must be thrilled.

[Doberluv]

Nothing more kissable than a big spongy doberman nose....yum!

No kidding. This is just how he kisses too! LOL. He will for sure get a mauling. I'll tell him it's from you Colleen.

[/QUOTE]http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/data/500/medium/need_a_kleenex.JPG

Thank you very much for your care and concern everyone. Yes, Doc...he was having those head tremors, sometimes twice a day while I was in Seattle.... and they'd last way longer than ever before....must have been all that copper or other toxins seeping out of his liver. He was jaundiced too just around the time of his biopsy. So, these meds and diet, I guess are helping him do better.

Thanks for your support.

[Barb04]

Glad Lyric is doing better. Denosyl definitely helped CJ with her liver. Her levels actually got back down to normal.

[squirtsmom]

Yay for Lyric. Glad she is getting better. Hugs to you. Must have been a tough time for you.

[Doberluv]

Oh Barb! That's great how it brough CJ's levels down so well. I hope Lyric's go down further too. Thanks for the encouragement. Thanks you Squirtsmom. It is quite devestating. I'm over the shock....still worried, but a little leveled out. And very glad that for now, at least, he's feeling more normal. Thanks so much for your kind words.

[noludoru]

I'm really happy to hear how much better he's doing. :) Big hugs to you and him..

[ACooper]

Great news Doberluv................Good job to you, I am sure it has been hard work to this point, and I am sure you don't consider it so if it is working..........it's all about the love isn't it?

I will keep on sending prayers for him :)

[sam]

Hey! That's fabulous news! I knew I checked Chaz tonight for a reason. :)

So how do you get all his meds and supplements into him ?

[Doberluv]

Great news Doberluv................Good job to you, I am sure it has been hard work to this point, and I am sure you don't consider it so if it is working..........it's all about the love isn't it?

I will keep on sending prayers for him

Thank you so much. You're right. Nothing is too hard for me where my boy is concerned. I just want to do the best for him. So, I cook him a wide variety of foods which are specifically good for liver disease...go outside and pick dandielion leaves, cilantro, other veggies; squash, yams, white new potatoes, green beans, mixed veggies as long as there is no onion. Those get partially cooked and pureed into a disgusting mush. He gets a lot of eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, ricotta cheese, rice, oats then a whole bunch of other suppliments along with his prescriptions. Everything is not the same every day. One day I might use rice and the next, oats or vary between meals.

So how do you get all his meds and supplements into him ?

Thank you Sam for thinking of us. Well, there are a few things which must be fed on an empty stomach so those just get shoved down his throat, sometimes with just a bite of something like a piece of banana right after so they're sure to go down. The stuff I'm waiting on, Denosyl has to also be fed on an empty stomach. Three of the capsules he takes, the Penecillamine are very small and I can stick all three in there at once. He's learned what "open" means and opens his mouth willingly for me. I use to do peanut butter and he'd take anything, but no more. He spits out the pill. Those which must be on an empty stomach have to be timed right.....12 hours apart, so I must get up by 7 am in order that he can have food by 9. Any earlier or later won't work for me or his meals and still be 12 hours later. LOL.

But most of the things are in capsule form and I just open them and sprinkle on his food. Most of them are fine to be opened like that. One is not, as it is bitter. Then the hard things, like the B-complex, Ester C and his prednisone, I crush in my little pestle and morter thingy and dump on his food. He eats about 6 times a day....small meals.

So, he needs to get a lot of his protein from other things besides red meat, although he can have some if it's lean. Mostly chicken, turkey, any white fish. And rice, oats....he can have pasta, but I haven't done pasta yet. He can have some of his kibble too....I just replace some of it with these lower ammonia/copper producing things. He gets fish oil, garlic, milk thistle, zinc, ( copper binders) and a bunch of other stuff. Every other day or so, I cook up a storm...just enough to save in the frige for a few days. I'm thinking about the freezer, but I have to make a plan first if I do that because, for one, my freezer is full. LOL. For the other, I'd have to be sure I make variety and mix and match. So, thus far, I've just been cooking more than I have since my kids left home and I went off to live alone. LOL. One thing I hate the smell of is that cilantro cooking. Gross. My son is fishing right now as we speak to try and cut down on the food bill. He is eating some very expensive and lovely fish sometimes. I look at it longingly, thinking of taking a little bit for my dinner. But then I think......"nah....there won't be as much for Lyric." Isn't that mental? So, I go eat some left over taco meat tossed in a tortilla from the night before or a little spinich for a salad.

So, it takes me about 10 minutes to fix his food in his bowl and he stands there like he's going to starve if he doesn't get it soon. My son told me he looks like a coke addict seeing but not getting.... and I'm really torturing him.

I'm still studying the diet thing because he may need some other things. I have a hard time finding bone meal, but am not sure if we need that since he is having so much dairy. So, I'm still looking into that. I don't want him to be missing out on anything. It makes me a little nervous.

[Renee750il]

Dober, that is such magnificent news about Lyric! He's going to grace us with his presence for a long time to come :)

[Doberluv]

Thanks Renee. I've just emailed Mordy for a diet consultation....waiting for a reply. I am hoping to get the amounts and type of food all balanced, along with the suppliments etc. That should give him even a better chance.

[Renee750il]

A good dose of Mordy Magic will surely be a big boost for Lyric!

[Red_ACD_for_me]

I am so happy for you an Lyric :) Glad he is feeling better!!

[Buddy'sParents]

Carrie, I am soo glad that he is feeling better! I'll keep the good thoughts heading your way!

[Melissa_W]

I'm so happy that he's doing better! Yay!

[bubbatd]

You'se is a Good Momma !!! Kudos !!

[otch1]

Glad to hear your babies' on his way back!!!! Looking foward to seeing him (and you) soon.

[Doberooney]

All the best to you and Lyric, DL!

[dr2little]

No kidding. This is just how he kisses too! LOL. He will for sure get a mauling. I'll tell him it's from you Colleen.

http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/data/500/medium/need_a_kleenex.JPG[/QUOTE]

I just love this picture. I'll bet he's a great kisser!:)

[Doberluv]

Thanks everybody. Your support means the world to me.

Yes Colleen. He's a great kisser. Better than my last b.f. to be sure! It's not too wet and you can feel his teeth just a little bit. Great stuff. LOL.