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3/17/2006: Chester's liver disease has been stable since early December. He has slightly elevated liver numbers, but overall is doing well. While being given a routine vaccination, a vet from our regular clinic discovered a lesion on one of Chester's retinas. We had it checked out by the specialists at the vet school, and it appears to be nothing serious. He will have a recheck in a few months just to make sure it's not growing. We are now proud owners of digital photos of our dog's eye! 4/30/2006: Chester is not doing particularly well at the moment. While his appetite is good, his energy and activity level are down. His liver numbers have continued to rise a little at each checkup since early December. His friends at the vet school feel it is due to one of his medications. He is going to be taken off that one and put on a different one, which should hopefully help. Please pray for him as this new med can cause stomach upset, and he is very sensitive to that. 6/14/2006: CHESTER'S LIVER NUMBERS ARE NORMAL!!! This is the best news we've had since his relapse last summer. So far, he is tolerating his new med, Colchicine, which helps to reduce scarring in the liver caused by inflammation. The other good news is that he is now able to be put back on Metacam for his arthritis. This is the original drug he was on and is much more effective at treating his arthritis than the Tramadol has been. It is also a liquid and typically he only needs a dose every 2 or 3 days which means fewer pills to give (down to 13 1/2). He won't need another checkup for two months. 7/25/2006: Chester has been experiencing problems with his appetite again during the last week. He went to the vet school today for a recheck. Unfortunately, his liver enzymes are elevated again. He will be put back on Budesonide, but at a smaller dose. Please pray that he will be able to eat regularly soon and that the smaller dosage of Budesonide will be effective at reducing his numbers. 8/1/2006: Chester's liver values have not improved, and some values have worsened slightly. He may possibly have an infection, so he will need to be put on antibiotics. His dosage of Budesonide will also be increased. While his appetite has improved, we are concerned about putting him on antibiotics due to his stomach sensitivities. We have not forgot ton the many weeks of force feeding he underwent two years ago when he was initially diagnosed. Please pray that he will be able to eat during the weeks of antibiotic treatment to come. 8/13/2006: Chester is responding to the Budesonide and the antibiotics! His liver values have improved. He is eating better and even gained a pound. (He lost some weight during the early part of this relapse.) Chester wishes to thank his puddy friends, Mocha and Muffin for their encouragement in helping him with his inappetence. They are always available to compete for his canned food and other special treats designed to coax him to eat. Only one time did he actually growl at Mrs. Muffin when she tried to eat off his plate. She never missed a bite, suggesting with a look that he "get over himself." 9/9/2006: Chester's liver numbers are still elevated above normal. He has also been experiencing increased thirst and urination. He has a kidney infection, as it turns out. He is back on a heavy dose of antibiotics and will have an ultrasound sometime this week to look at his kidneys. 9/24/2006: Chester does NOT have a kidney infection as it turns out, but perhaps a urinary tract infection which now seems to be on the run. His ALT is still elevated. If the elevation continues, some adjustments may be made to his dosage of Budesonide to see what impact that has. As always, he gets OUTSTANDING CARE by his friends at the vet school. 10/23/2006: HOWLIN' GOOD NEWS!!! Chester's liver numbers are finally moving toward normal. They are the lowest they have been since his relapse last July. Lowering his dose of Budesonide seems to have helped. His WHOLE PACK has been howlin' with joy since they heard the news (including his friends at the vet school)! 12/18/2006: Chester's ALT is still slightly elevated, but his doctors feel he is stable for now. All his other liver numbers are normal. No medication changes for now. Chester would like to request that you pray for a member of his extended pack, Andy, who also has liver disease. Andy is in critical condition and is hospitalized. Chester likes Andy very much and is very concerned about him. >>>>>>>Send Chester Get-Well Greetings!<<<<<<<<<
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