The Facts About Canelo ...

Canelo was released by my vet on Wednesday, after being hospitalized for nine days. He was put on prednisone and a cough suppressant. Other than that, there is nothing else my vet can do for him.

We'll know more by Monday, but it looks like Canelo will need to go to a specialist for a BAL (Bronchoalveolar lavage) with a fiber optic scope. Brush cytology. They'll use a brush to brush the lungs and gather a sample for culture.

This is an expensive procedure ... I got a quote from one internist that the procedure will cost between $1,200 and $1,800.

Also there are possible dangers to this procedure; however, we may have no choice in the matter. The need to find out what is going on outweighs any possible risks. And the belief is that this is a fairly safe procedure.

My vet had Canelo on broad spectrum antibiotics but had to switch him to the most potent antiobiotic that they have--Amikacin. You can't use this drug long-term as it can cause kidney damage. Yet still he was coughing and heaving even with this drug.

As of today, Canelo is still exhibiting very deep breathing. When you hold him, you feel his lungs--his body--heaving. It's the weirdest thing to see and feel--very disturbing

The pred is helping; his coughing is down and he's eating. But he's still deep breathing.

Canelo could have several things going on ... the problem could be:

• fungal
• resistant bacteria
• COPD (lung disease)--Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• PIE syndrome--Pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia; a disease of dogs of unknown origin characterized by dyspnea, reduced exercise tolerance, diffuse pulmonary infiltration by eosinophils and an eosinophilia.

Boy, do I hope it's fungal and can be easily treated!

We will assess Canelo again on Monday. If he is still breathing heavily by then, we will have to go through with the procedure.

Sadly, we don't have the resources to cover this procedure, so once again we turn to you for donations so this sweet boy may get the medical help he needs to recover. And Canelo deserves to live a long, healthy and happy life--he really is a special little dog.

Click Here to donate using Paypal.

Critters in Need now offers dog clothes and accessories, available by donation. So deck out your dog in the latest fashion and help Canelo at the same time.

Thank you so much for caring about this special little boy.