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Cinnamon Wood is a very special patient at our practice. Joanne and Jim Wood presented her on 12-27-2004 for not eating or drinking for several days. After being treated by her regular veterinarian, she was brought to the Animal Clinic for a second opinion. Cinnamon had also lost some weight from not eating. After I examined her I felt that she probably had some liver, kidney or pancreatic problem. Because she was nine years old, the possibility of a tumor also had to be considered.
Lab work and a urinalysis revealed very high kidney values and the diagnosis of acute renal failure was given to the owners. They loved Cinnamon very much and wanted the best for her so we started a regimen of intravenous fluids and antibiotics to make her feel better. We also told the owners that the prognosis of kidney failure is guarded as some patients can die from the disease. A urine culture revealed a Staphylococcal bacterial infection that may have caused the kidney infection. After two days of hospitalization, Cinnamon's lab work was getting worse rather than better and we were all concerned we might lose Cinnamon. Over the weekend Cinnamon stayed at our Veterinary Emergency Clinic and seemed to be improving somewhat.
On 01-04-2005 we re-examined Cinnamon and found her kidney values were still high and Cinnamon was probably going to be a chronic kidney failure patient. Mr. & Mrs. Wood wanted to continue to get to the bottom of how Cinnamon acquired the problem. I suggested they have a specialist, Dr. Heidi Ward ultrasound her to rule out a tumor. Dr. Ward did not find a tumor but could not determine exactly what had caused the problem. Cinnamon's owners decided to continue with medical treatment and fluids at home and after two weeks the kidney values were miraculously coming down. Cinnamon was also starting to eat better and putting on a little weight. Two weeks later she was still improving and today looks like her old self according to her mom and dad.
The case is very special because Cinnamon was such a wonderful patient throughout the whole ordeal and her owners never gave up on her. We, at The Animal Clinic are also very excited and happy because Cinnamon's recovery is very rewarding to all of us.
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