The roller-coaster ride continues

Hi Everyone Louis’s Mum here…

So the roller-coaster ride continues, Louis had been bright and at the beginning of the week he had been eating ok, until around Wednesday when he started to just pick at his food, and hardly drank much and was then being sick, we called Stefano at 7am and he advised us to get an anti-sickness injection from our own vets asap, and then to take him over to Rutland that afternoon. When we got to Rutland Stefano checked him over we asked if he would to do a sneaky PCV test, which came back at 21.5/22% which amazed us, he gave us some new stomach medication and some antibiotics and we brought him home, feeling a bit like neurotic owners!

On Thursday I came home from work to find a box of beautiful flowers and a card saying “To the best Mum and Dad in the world, with love from Louis and Olga” this made my day. I think he’s been in touch with his Auntie Pam to arrange, bless him. He seemed to be very quiet again and had really gone off his food and drink, we couldn’t tempt him eat anything.

Friday the 8^th April it was 4 years to the day since we first drove up to FOND HQ to meet and fall in love with Louis, he melted my heart the minute I saw him, and he made a beeline for John, it was clear after just a few seconds he was going to become part of our family. How times change – on Friday John was driving Louis back to Rutland for an emergency appointment because he had stopped eating and drinking altogether, and had lost a lot of weight the worst thing is I couldn’t go with him because of work and it felt like I might not get to see him again, I know we have said this a few times over the past few months, but this time it felt different.

After he had been checked over Stefano advised that he still has interest in food, but it looks like as soon as it hits his stomach he stops, they did another PCV test and he was still at 21%, but he had lost 3kg from Monday to Friday. So they admitted him to be put on a drip and to see what was causing him not to eat or drink. They advised that he would probably be in over the weekend, Stefano was at a conference but he would be in touch with the surgery to see how he doing.

Saturday morning we got an update from Cornelia (Louis’s nurse) saying he still hadn’t eaten much and his PCV was down to 18%, but this is probably because he is on a drip and his blood was being ‘watered’ down, which Stefano had said and google also said the same. Our hearts sank again, it feels like we take one step forward and two steps back. Olga has been trying to take over Louis’s jobs by waking John up each morning by just staring at him, and then flapping her ears… bless her. She is missing him because every now and then she searches the house for him, we keep telling her Louis is playing hide and seek and he’s really good at it.

Then today (Sunday)I got the call from Rutland as I was doing the food shop, it was Cornelia asking what his favourite food was because he had eaten all the treats but wouldn’t eat chicken or fish, she asked if we wanted to go and visit him which of course I jumped at. I asked what his PCV was and she said they are checking it at 12, so if we could get over for 1pm and take some of his favourite food, it might perk him up a bit, she did say she felt he was brighter today, I said we would be there at 1pm with a bag of goodies. I called John and he said get him some liver he loves that, and some of his treats.

We couldn’t wait to see him, and the drive over felt like it took a life time. When we got there we went into the waiting room and waited to for them to bring him down, the lady on reception said they don’t normally allow visitors at a weekend but because everyone loves Louis they made an exception. He really does have some kind of pull with people, everyone he meets loves him.

Cornelia came down for us and said we were going to see him on the ward, I was quite pleased because I wanted to see where he was staying, and did he have a comfy bed and blankets etc… mental I know.  We asked what his PCV was and she said it had gone down to 16% but he was coping really well at that level, so don’t worry about it at the moment. When we went onto his ward he heard us and was up wagging his tail like mad, he looked the brightest we had seen him for ages, his paws looked really good and he just wanted to come out for a cuddle, he also smelt the goodies in the bag I had and almost mugged me for them!

We all went down stairs on to the grass at the back of the building and I gave Louis some liver which he devoured, and would have eaten the full tub if we had allowed him, he also had a small bag of treats, but wouldn’t entertain the ‘proper’ dog food, Cornelia took a little video of him eating and a few photos and sent them to Stefano, he replied instantly saying “clever boy”. We stayed outside with him in the sunshine for about 30mins and then took him back to his ward. We spent another 15mins with him, then we had to leave because there was an emergency coming in, we left his bag of treats and liver and Cornelia said she would try him again with some more later – little and often.

Louis's Gofundme page

Stefano is back tomorrow so we will see what he has to say, we are now just hoping that his PCV doesn’t drop anymore overnight, and as soon as he comes off the drip it starts to go back up again. We are so glad we have been able to see him today, and meet his ward buddies, although Arthur the Newfoundland will not be happy when he wakes up! His back half is bald and his front half is all furry lol.. and the spaniel across from Louis just wanted his treats, but was nil by mouth, then the new patient that was being brought in was a greyhound that looked like it had lost the use of it’s legs because it was on a spinal board, god bless them.

All the nurses and vets at Rutland seem really dedicated to animal welfare, and each one gives Louis a sneaky stroke when they walk past him, you just can’t help it!

Love Louis’s Mum xxxx