Hi everyone,
Yesterday Mazie Grace had her first post-op check-up appointment with her internist at the Veterinary Referral & Critical Care Hospital. The doctor checked her incision from the exploratory surgery, the incision for the feeding tube, her overall health condition and also changed her bandage. We also discussed the biopsy results and overall treatment plan.
As you might expect, Mazie once again charmed all of the folks that worked with her yesterday...I just had to laugh because the vet was actually making a "goo goo gah gah" noise while talking with my little Half-Pint! There's just no way to resist those tiny little deformed eyes and that sweet innocent face!
Her incisions are all healing beautifully. She is tolerating the tube feedings incredibly well...in fact, she still LOVES the tube feedings...literally purrs so loudly and hard that I can feel her vibrating through the syringe once it's hooked to the feeding tube! She hates having the e-collar on but...she's doing well with the one they designed for her. It's smaller and allows her more access to things but...prevents her from harming the feeding tube and the incision for its placement. Unfortunately, Mazie has not gained any weight...but, for the first week in a long time, she did not lose any weight, either! So...for that we are thankful.
In terms of the biopsy results and diagnosis:
- Mazie Grace does have confirmed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the stomach and intestine. She has a mild amount of fibrosis (or scarring from the disease) in the intestine with the most severe being in the duodenum.
- They found a few Helicobacter organisms in the mucus layer of the surface of the stomach.
- They also did a liver culture that showed growth of Staph pseudointermedius (basically a liver infection). Normally they would not treat for Helicobacter unless it was found deeper in the gastric organs (as opposed to the surface of the stomach) but since they found this staph infection in the liver plus the Helicobacter in the stomach, they are going to treat for both.
The doctor said that sometimes bacterial infection is a true cause of clinical signs but other times these pathogens may be either contaminents, part of the normal flora or not the cause of the clinical signs at all. She felt, regardless, it was very important that we treat for the bacteria. Then, once we are 10 - 14 days post-op, we will start treating with prednisolone (steroid) for the IBD.
I am continuing to try to entice my little booger to eat on her own. We are supplementing her diet with the tube feedings so...please continue to pray that little Mazie starts to gain weight. We go back to VRCC for another check-up on Tuesday, December 27. Please pray for weight gain and a healthy appetite! We want to get that feeding tube out so Mazie can get back to being with the rest of the Gang. She hates being in the kitchen!
As always, thank you all for your support and prayers. We certainly appreciate all of your kindness!
All the best,
Jenny
