Sudden atraumatic bruising and petechiae - worried sick.

[moosemama]

Just waiting for it to be time to go to our emergency vet appointment, but thought I’d ask on here if anyone has any ideas, as I am driving myself round the twist worrying.

Woke this morning, everything seemed normal, dogs not behaving out of the ordinary at all, then at 10.00, when he rolled over whilst playing, I noticed my 5 year old male lurcher had what looked like a big (about 2 1/12 inch diameter) very dark purple, almost black bruise between his back legs. Checked him over, he had another 50p size one on his side and smaller petechia on the inside of his back leg. I didn’t panic until I saw the petechia, as he is accident prone and well known at the vets for ripping his paper thin skin as a result of brakes failure and general pointy dog mayhem, so I initally though he must have failed to brake and maybe slid into the old tree stump in the garden. Although that would have been odd for him as there are no cuts or tears anywhere. Then I saw the petechiae and realised it’s something systemic.

Called vets immediately, the earliest they could get me in was 2.15. Had to rush ds1 to a vital medical appointment, left other teen son dog-sitting, came home to find more petechiae appearing all over and pin-prick blood spots on his gums, plus his gums bled when I brushed them, which they don’t usually.

He isn’t behaving out of character, seems happy in himself, still flung fluffy toys all over the place and charged about like a looney when I arrived home. He’s usually a real wimp, so you know about it if he’s under the weather.

I daren’t google, as I have a pretty good idea of the scary stuff that might come up.

He hasn’t had access to anything poisonous that I am aware of. We don’t have any slug pellets or rodent poison on the property. Shed door is locked and we pretty much only have lawn outside. He didn’t get his walk yesterday because I was too ill to take him, so there wasn’t an opportunity for him to have ingested something elsewhere.

Has anyone had any experience of anything like this before? I am dreading them wanting to keep him in, as last time he was an inpatient he tried to escape and shredded his back legs, requiring multiple stitches.

Thank you. Yes, I could really do with some sedation too!

I think I will call them just before bed, as you suggest. That way if I know he’s settled I might be able to get some sleep. I already had one hell of a week ahead of me before this happened and I’ll be on my knees if I don’t get some sleep soon.

We’re just about to take Ddog2 across the fields - he nearly had the shock of his life earlier, when next-door’s cat decided to walk in our front door when dh popped out to the car for something. It’s probably for the best that Ddog1 wasn’t here, as he moves a lot faster than Ddog2 and the cat would definitely have regretted such a bold move. Daft cat, he’s tried to climb in my living room window before with both dogs standing there staring at him!

Reminds of me of years ago when I lived in a flat. I opened my front door and my upstairs neighbour's cat trotted through and went to the end of the hallway. She then turned around and looked at me as if to say 'this isn't my home is it?!'
Hope you've had a good and slightly relaxing walk.

Just sending lots of good vibes from the Doodle and me. Hope you get a positive update soon.

FriarTuck I think the first time, with the living room window, was a genuine mistake. Poor cat had not long moved in next door and looked very confused. Since then though he seems to have been on a bit of a mission to move in with us.

He even chooses my cold car, over his owners recently driven warm car to sit on on the drive. Neighbour’s car is lovely and clean and shiny, mine is covered in paw prints and has scratch marks in the paint above the driver’s window. Today he has upped the anti by vomiting, twice, right by where I need to tread to get in the driver’s door of my car. (Who knew a cat’s stomach could hold that much!) So not only am I having to clear up his mess from the border in the front garden, it seems I am now required to clean up his sick from my driveway... and I bet his owner thinks he’s he perfect, low-maintenance cat!

We had a lovely walk in the sunshine thank you, but it was hard to enjoy without my poor boy. Ddog2 enjoyed himself though and is snoring away quietly to himself now.

Thank you doodleygirl. I do hope so.

Cats like to toy with you. DCat2 likes to bring up a hairball shortly after I've cleaned - it's his way of saying 'I'm in control, not you'. And he likes to play chase round the bushes in the back garden with me, acting like he wants to be picked up and then bouncing off at the last second, suckering me into following him. DDog is luckily more straightforward but mainly because she's older and deaf so can't hear me sneak up on her!!

You do realise that when DDog1 gets home in time you'll be expected to pander to his every wish for at least a month? You'll be happy to for the first few days out of sheer relief but then the requests for 'bring me ham, and fresh chicken, I've not been well you know' may get a little wearing. Paws crossed for a positive update from the vets this evening.

Just called the ward for an update.

They weren’t able to give me any details re bloodwork etc, but were able to tell me that he is still coping on the medication, in fact he’s now coping on just the anti-anxiety meds without a sedative top up, as long as there’s always someone with him, which there is.

He’s eating and drinking ok and has been out around the grounds for a short lead walk and was just about to go out for another before settling down for the night.

She said he’s doing ok in himself, a bit groggy from the meds, but condition-wise, he’s doing well for a sick dog, iyswim. She was very keen to emphasise that they are working hard to keep on top of his stress/anxiety and they never allow any of their inpatients to reach a point where they are distressed, which is reassuring.

So based on that, at least I can be reassured that he hasn’t needed any transfusions, which means no haemorrhages. Now we just have to hope it stays that way.

Next update will be when the vet calls tomorrow morning.

Well presumably the longer he goes like this the more optimistic it is and if he's eating and drinking okay that's great too (and a sign he's coping okay with the whole situation). And it sounds as if they're really taking good care of him. I'm guessing that the bloodwork is something that might be processed tomorrow when there are more staff so hopefully you'll get a more informative update some time soon.
Get through the evening and try and get a decent night sleep and paws crossed that tomorrow brings some more positives.

No change this morning. They are holding off drawing blood for a platelet check until tomorrow now, but he said he will call with another update later today.

Hopefully no change is a good thing and tomorrow's check will bring an improved result. He's not getting worse or (presumably) still producing petechiae so that's a good sign. It's just waiting for him to improve enough to come home with any luck. You'll probably get to the end of this and be no further forward in knowing why - it'll just be one of those unexplained mysteries that you'll look back on and sigh.
Hope you're all doing okay at home & not struggling without him too much.

Vet said the bruising had stabilised, so I presume there aren’t any obvious new patches appearing.

Fortunately I have a counselling session shortly, so I am going to go and sob all over my counsellor. I think I need to let it out somewhere, as I sobbed when another mum in the playground asked me if we had a good half-term holiday this morning. Poor woman looked really bemused, given I have been through so much with my children’s physical and mental health over the past two years and she’s never seen me upset before. It all feels a bit too much today, so it’s good I have the counselling appointment to act as a bit of a pressure valve.

Like most things - better out than in! And better out in front of a counsellor who always has tissues available than in front of DS.
He'll be okay, it's just one of those things that happens. Stabilised is good, remember that.

Better news this morning. Platelets are up to 25,000, which is good news, considering they had fallen to under 5,000 at the weekend. Vet says this is encouraging, but he’s still not out of the danger zone for potential haemorrhage. Ideally he wants him up to 150,000, but I believe 30-50,000 is generally thought of as above the haemorrhage threshold.

They are going to retest tomorrow, as apparently once platelets start increasing they often gather pace, so he’s hopeful there will be a further improvement.

That's good news. Fingers crossed it continues

Sending all best vibes that he continues to improve

Fabulous to get some good news!!! Paws crossed that tomorrow sees another big jump so you're a step closer to getting your boy back home.

Good news again this morning.

Platelets are up to 47,000. Unfortunately he’s vomited a few times, which is probably the meds, but they want to monitor him for another 24 hours just in case. If that settles down he may be able to come home tomorrow!

Now I have to try and be optimistic, but not get my hopes up too much today. Daren’t get over-excited until I get the call saying I can go and fetch him.

Well done Moosedog

The vet did mention the other day that sighthounds have different margins for various blood related counts than other breeds. On looking it up today, it’s not unusual for healthy Greyhounds to have a platelet count of 100,000 and some studies have suggested 80,000 for a lower reference for some Greyhounds. So I’m hoping my dog errs on that side of things normally, which makes his numbers less scary.

That's great news (vomiting aside, but that's dogs for you) - fingers and paws all crossed for him going home with you tomorrow!!

❤️🐾

Hoping for more good news this morning, preferably involving the words 'DDog1 is coming home today and I need to go out and buy all his favourite treats ready for his celebrated arrival'

HE’S COMING HOME!

I have to go and fetch him at 2.00 today. Vet says he is out of danger, seems happier in himself and some of his bruising has started to fade.

I know it’s not over, he will have to stay on the meds and a large majority of dogs with this relapse, but we will deal with that if it happens. I have bought him a new extra snuggly blanket and new soft toy to welcome him home. It will be interesting to see DDog2’s reaction, he’s been off his food, moping and behaving out of character, so he’ll be happy DDog1 is home, but he’s not usually one for showing him affection.

Thank you so much for everyone’s support though this. I will keep you updated as time goes on.

That's such good news. Roll on 2pm

Yes.

I’ve done something to my leg on the school run this morning. Went to strike off to run on uneven ground and felt something ‘go’ in my calf muscle. Think I might actually have torn something. It doesn’t hurt to drive, but weight-bearing is agony. There no way it’s going to stop me being there at 2.00 for my boy though!

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is such good news. Made my morning
Family celebration time ahead. No doubt your DS will also be over the moon. Happy, happy, happy.