Pixie's Health - April 27th - May 2nd

This has been a horrible week for all of us.  On Monday we visited our Veterinarian Oncology Hospital in West Chester to get some definitive action on Pixie's cellulitis.  It seems to have grown and thickened on her neck and near her jawbone.  Dr. Jeglum examined her and felt the two prescriptions seemed to be working well.   Neither Sue or I felt this way, but we persisted and kept the same dosages.  On Tuesday evening just as I was watching the Spurs game (11:45 PM) Pixie came to me and showed me blood coming from her mouth area.  I immediately asked Sue to call the local veterinarian hospital that was open 24 hrs.  We left and drove the short 6 minutes to them and soon Pixie was being cared for there.  The doctor this evening wanted to look into Pixie's mouth and see where the blood was coming from.  They swabbed it and kept the bleeding at a minimum, but she wanted us to leave and promised to call around 4 am when she would have some results. We hardly slept at all and were awake when the phone rang at 3:30.  She said the bleeding had stopped, but wanted to located the reason for the flow.  She asked if we could wait until 6 to pick her up; she would have more info about her then.  When we arrived at 6 the nurse brought Pixie into the room where we were waiting.  She was breathing heavy and shaking!  I asked how long has this been going on.
The nurse explained that the doctor would be in to see us momentarily.   I tried to calm Pix, but found she needed to be held.   When the doctor arrived she explained that the two blood clots were removed and cleaned out and most of her mouth irrigated.  She had found a small piece of broccoli that was forced into her gum line.  This was how soft and damaged her mouth was.  We paid the bill and ran out the door with Pix.  Once at home, and in about 2 hrs., she was asleep & rested most of the day on Wednesday.   All of us got to bed early on Wednesday - and it was a good thing too, because on Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were at the VO Hospital in West Chester. 

The final prognoses 
We have found the radiation for Pixie's melanoma that took place in Sept/Oct. of 2014 has had repeating loss of gum tissue and some bone loss.  She is presently (May 2nd) seeing a surgeon to replace some of the tissue in her mouth and gums.   The doctors have taken a culture of her bacterial infection and should have a treatment within a few days. Pix received intravenous antibiotics on two days to fight this infection.  We are waiting for the results of the culture and then perhaps select the proper antibody to fight it.
The saga continues...and we love our girl!

At VORC-West Chester, PA



At home - August -2014, before melanoma happened