On 1 October, Tracie Cotton writes:

BJ has some kind of virus, and Peggy is in Syracuse, so she asked me to post an update.

She spent about 1-1/2 hours with Ceelee last night. She's still not eating, but her white blood cell count is down. They did a urinalysis - she is not diabetic, but has ketones . . . the babies are fine, but she is still not eating, and they are keeping the feeding tube in for now.

ROCHELLE ANGULO:
I'm a maternity nurse and in pregnant women, ketones in the urine usually means sugar is spilling into the urine (kind of like in diabetics). This could just be pregnancy-induced and might pass after Ceelee delivers her pups. She probably has borderline diabetes. Hopefully it will pass after her delivery (I assume it will since this problem seems to have appeared with her pregnancy).

Sending get well vibes.

BENNIE JONES:
Hope BJ gets better; she probably is worn out. Well wishes her way and for Ceelee also. As Ceelee had not been eating, she is probably borderline toxemic; she is being cared for in the right place, being kept quiet, getting nutrition, fluids and being monitored. Wishing for the best!

On 2 October, BJ writes:

Thanks everyone for the well wishes, I feel much better today.

I called on Ceelee yesterday; she was about the same. When I walked in, she saw me and that little tail went to wagging, she was so excited. She is still not eating, but Dr. Allison told me she weighed a whole 11 pounds now! They are going to up her feeding tube feedings today. Little Miss Ceelee is still not eating real food. Where she had felt great on Thursday, she is feeling yucky today.

Dr. Allison told me Ceelee "tools around here like she owns the place." They let her out and wander around the hospital when no one is around. I took her outside and she finally started walking around and peed. She walked some, but just didn't have the get-up-and-go she had Thursday.

I kept holding her and rocking her telling her she needed to eat, please, please eat. I just don't think she wants to or feels like it.

Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement & prayers.

PERLA CHIAFFITELLA:
I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.

SHELLY SIMINSKI:
Prayers are with Ceelee & Brenda. Any Cairn that crosses that lady's path is so lucky! What a heart!

BOB ANDERSON:
Glad she's made it another day or two! What a little trouper . . . . Sounds like she is in the right place, that's for sure!

On 7 October, Peggy writes from Brenda's house:

Ceelee is not doing well at all. She aborted one of the puppies this morning; it was a little boy and died in my hands. It was too early and just would not have made it. We rushed her to the hospital; they said the puppy was too early and would not have made it anyway. They gave her fluids and sent her home with us as she is more relaxed & comfortable with us. Brenda & I are just heartbroken and praying that Ceelee can make it through this ordeal. We are in a waiting pattern right now, hoping she can deliver the other two on her own.

She is so weak and has no energy. I am afraid she will not make it. Brenda is holding her now, per vet recommendation, and hopefully she will have them on her own; if not they will have to do surgery, which is very risky.

Ceelee came home Monday evening from the hospital. They had done all that could be done for her, so we have been force feeding her with a syringe. She ate three times yesterday and kept it down until BJ gave her her vitamins and she threw them up last night. We fed her again, puréed baby food & dog food and got a little nourishment in her. She doesn't spit it out and I think she wants to eat, but just doesn't have the desire or energy to do it on her own.

PERLA CHIAFFITELLA:
Sending prayers for Miss Ceelee . . . poor baby girl. I really hope she pulls through this.

MARTHA WATSON:
I'm praying for you two and poor little Ceelee. She has been through so much and you all with her!

SHELLY SIMINSKI:
My prayers go out to this poor little girl; she's trying so hard. It's like she's doing it for those pups. God, please give us a miracle for this little lady that is fighting so hard and her pups. Please heal her and save those pups. Bless Brenda and all her crew!

That evening, BJ writes:

Ceelee made it through surgery! Thank God! We took her to the vet around 3:30 p.m. She had been in labor since early this morning. She was just to weak to have the other two, so the vet did a C-section. The puppies were just too premie to live. So sad, hopefully now she will gain strength without having to sustain the puppies. She also had a section in her colon that was blocked. The vet broke it up and moved it and gave her a warm eynema to help move the blockage. She is at the hospital where they are giving her fluids and antibiotics. She hopefully will be on her way to a full recovery.

SHELLY SIMINSKI:
That poor little thing. I sure hope she can recover a bit easier now. It had to be difficult on her, being pg and having heartworm.

KATIE KNEESEL:
Continued prayers for Ceelee.

DIANE GAUL:
Glad to hear Ceelee made it thru; hope she gets well soon.

PERLA CHIAFFITELLA:
Sad to hear the puppies did not make it and now hoping she gains her strength, recovers and finds a forever home; her will to live is incredible.

VI MILLER:
I've been praying for Ceelee and feel so sorry for her. She tried so hard. My heart goes out to all who have been helping her. God bless you all!

BENNIE JONES:
What a trouper; Ceelee still has a lot to overcome and she has shown she can do it! Prayers & thoughts for her & BJ. Hoping for Good Health for both.

BOB ANDERSON:
May Ceelee get the rest she so needs & deserves . . . .

BETTE BOYERS:
Breaks my heart. Hang on, Ms. CEELEE.

Heartworm disease is a potentially deadly infection, caused by worms living in the right side of the dog's heart & arteries of the lungs. These worms can grow to a length of 14 inches!

Heartworm infection can cause potentially serious damage to the arteries and eventually lead to heart failure and, in severe cases, damage liver & kidneys. In extreme cases, a dog can be infected with several hundred heartworms.

Heart of a dog who died
from heartworm infestation

Heart showing
heartworm infestation

Treatment of heartworm consists of a series of injections of a drug called Immiticide (containing arsenic) which immediately begins to kill off the worms. As the worms die and begin to decompose, pieces are "shed" into the dog's bloodstream and filtered out through the lungs.

To insure that these small pieces do not clog the blood vessels and cause fatal embolisms, it is critical that for the four to six weeks after the injections, the dog is kept quiet and physical activity is held to an absolute minimum. That means that Ceelee will be confined to a crate or similarily small area. No running . . . no playing . . . no jumping . . . and going outside only for bathroom breaks.

Once the initial treatment period is over, another round of Immiticide might be administered, followed by another four weeks of restricted activity.

Dirofilaria immitis - These adult nematodes are found primarily in the pulmonary arteries and sometimes in the right ventricle. Large numbers of adult heart worms (as seen here) can so damage the lining of the pulmonary vasculature that pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure can result.

TO VIEW HEARTWORM REMOVAL SURGERY,
VIEW THIS VIDEO (NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH):

For more information, please visit these two websites:
Living with Bugs: Heartworm, Mosquitoes & Pets
and
American Heartworm Society