Please pray for Bella.

Bella was in the hospital again yesterday for xrays.  Her cough had not subsided with the additional medications.  The xray was a precaution, to rule out secondary infection (like bronchitis or pneumonia) before we put her on higher dose steroids.  The xrays were expected to be normal.  Just a precaution. 

Instead, the xrays were shocking, and revealed terrible news.  Bella's heartworm disease is way more severe than seemingly possible for a dog as young as she is.  So advanced, that there are major abnormalities in her heart and lungs.  Her heart is deformed, the pulmonary artery is bulging from the infestation, barely allowing blood to pass through.  The vessels in her lungs are inflamed and twisted up.  She also has fluid in her lungs.  So although she seems fine on the outside, she is in critical condition. 



Bella's xray.  



My best attempt at explaining the xray.

Bella appeared to be the perfect candidate for heartworm treatment.  She is young and strong and was totally asymptomatic.  A dog with a case as advanced as hers would typically show all signs of the disease.  They have a chronic cough, exercise intolerance, and just an overall "sickness" about them.  Bella showed none of those.  She seemed like a perfectly healthy dog who would breeze though the treatment.  The protocol would have been different for an advanced case, like hers, had we known the danger.

We followed the norm.  Nobody did anything wrong because we couldn't have anticipated this.  Old dogs that have had the disease for years have these issues, not pups.  But what is done is done.  We can't undo the treatment.  We can only wait it out now and pray that Bella pulls through.  She needs to be our little miracle dog. 

But there are just so many worms.  And her poor little heart is so full.  It terrifies me.  One hard cough, one jump off the couch, one tiny piece of worm dislodged is all it would take.  It could happen that fast. 

Long term prognosis is unknown, but Doc thinks pretty good if she makes it through the next month.  Of course we won't know how much, if any, permanent damage was done until the follow up xrays after the treatment is complete. 

I got no sleep last night.  I'm just sick over this.  I'm still in a state of disbelief.   And I feel so helpless.  Bella is in critical condition and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it. 


I will keep you all posted.  I feel like I share Bella with all of you who contributed to her care.  I am doing what little I can for her and loving her enough for all of us.  And you should know, even with  this mess going on inside of her, she has no idea she is sick.  Her spirits are high and she is very happy.