Smokey's Vet Visit Today LONG

[Dee & Evan]

Hi Everyone!  Smokey went to the vet today to get bloodwork done & to 
revisit my concerns over his breathing.   I'm not so concerned about the 
rate of breathing, but the effort it sometimes takes  him to inhale & 
exhale.  It's almost like a forceful expansion.  About 9 days ago his 
Red Blood Count was 30, just at the edge of high for anemia.  Today it 
was at 38, an +8 jump!  And he gained another pound.  He now weighs 8.4 
pounds.  Hoorah!!!  However, we just don't know what to think of his 
breathing.  The vet still thinks it may still be pneumonia & his system 
is just too weak to shake it or she thinks it may be lung worm now.  She 
said it is hard to find lung worm in testing.  The options that the vet 
gave us (& none I'm too thrilled about) are to do another series of 
chest x-rays & a trans trachial wash, both under sedation, to get a 
better feel for what is going on.   Or Give him a diluted shot of 
ivermectin, usually for larger animals like horses & cows for the lung 
worm.  Or start him on another regiment of Clavamox Liquid 2 x day (or a 
pill antibiotic if we could get him to eat the pill pockets-but he won't 
even try them) in addition to the Doxy he is already taking.  Or a 
combination of all these ideas.  I am suppose to give her an answer 
tomorrow.  We just don't know what to do.  I HATE putting him on another 
medication and taking him in there again because it gets him sooo worked 
up.  The poor dear panted & pooped all over himself before we even go to 
the vet's office & they had to give him a bath when we got there, _not_ 
good.   They wanted him to come in every two weeks for bloodwork but we 
negotiated to once a month.  I just wish someone could just come to our 
house & draw the blood here. 

   Does anyone have any suggestions on how to approach the treatment 
for his breathing?  What is anyone's opinion on Clavamox & taking it at 
the same time as Doxy?  Would you put your furbabies through that 
additional testing or only if more problems arise?  I know, a lot of 
questions.  But I just want to do what is best for Smoke.  Any input 
would be greatly appreciated, again.  Thanks. 


~Dee