anyone have experience with pseudamonus pneumonia in bullies

[jgengnagel]

Just wanted to see if any of you have any experience with this type of pneumonia. Last Saturday, I awoke to my 5mo very short of breath. He was not that way at 10pm the nite before. A quick rush to the Emergency vet was useless. All they did was put him on O2 and suggest that I leave him with them at the cost 2-3k to determine what is wrong or put the pup to sleep if I could not commit to the cost. Well, I maintained him there until my vet opened. An hour and half later at my vet, it was first determined that Champy had aspiration pneumonia. Brought him home on O2 and anitbotics. The weekend was touch and go...thank God for the O2. He was rexrayed on Monday morning not much different from Saturday in the lungs. The vet's husband, who is more proactive than she, suggested a lung/tracheal washing. Samples were taken and he seemed improved for a few hours. He was sent home to continue with antibotics and now is receiving nebulizer treatments twice daily.  Champ has to be held to sleep as it must be uncomfortable to lie down. I have slept in the floor with him for the last week.
Today, we had another lung cleansing and the cultures now show-pseudamonus and gram negative bacilli...the vet says that this type of infection is very hard to treat. We are awaiting the sensitivity part of the culture to return to make sure that the baytril is the correct ABX to use. What a nightmare! Vet also, said that this type of infection usually takes older pets and older people out...not sure how this happened to him. He was always the slowest of the litter since birth just wondering if it was an in-utero transfer or not. None of the others exhibit any issues similiar to him.
Have any of you here experienced any thing like this? Thanks. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

[winwinsmom]

I have no experience in this but my thoughts, prayers and hugs coming your way!  Hopefully one of these super peeps will chime in with some suggestions/help! 

[DaBabaDoo]

No experience here either, but I send  you and Champ my love.  Let us know how this progresses, we're all praying for him to pull through.

[kavrno]

We haven't had this happen but have had it happen to acquaintances bulldogs.  Aspiration pneumonia in Bulldogs can be very dangerous as I am sure you are aware since you are going through this.  Good Luck my thought and prayers are with you and my fingers are crossed all will be well.

[buddha]

I have no experience either but wanted to let you know we're sending Champ tons of healing thoughts.  I hope the meds kick in and he starts getting better soon.

[Susan & the bullies]

I'm so so sorry to read this. I hesitated to respond because while Auggie did have aspiration pneumonia twice I don't think it is exactly the same thing your baby has. Or maybe it is?  Auggie's was from vomiting and some of it getting into his lungs and causing pneumonia. He was quite ill both times but recovered at home on antibiotics. Once his palette was shortened it did not happen again.

Is the pneumonia your baby has bacterial? I really cannot offer any guidance either way, but I can offer lots of support. Many of us on here have had bullies with pneumonia, some quite severely -- that were ongoing and difficult to cure. Try the search function and I'm sure you will turn up some of those threads.

In the meantime, please come back and let us know how he's doing. Or to get some general support. We're here for you.

[jgengnagel]

Just a little update for today. Champy is still hanging in. His appetite is very good. He gets winded very easily and from time to time will lie down I suspect from complete exhaustion. The meds are still ongoing....Baytril, and the nebulizer tx with the broncho dialators twice a day. Nightime seems  to be the worst. Very liquidy sounding and he trys to cough up..but not much success. I have researched this on the web and understand it can take weeks to see any improve. But just a passing hope is all that I am asking for.
The vet's original thought of aspiration pneumonia I am not sure of. As the literature that I a seeing suggest that pseudamonus pneumonia is a bacterial kind. I just pray that he can hang in until the sensitivity is back the first of week to see if we are administering the correct antibotic.
I appreciate all the kinds words and prayers from all of you on this board.

[Susan & the bullies]

ps I have to tell you the avatar pic of Champ is SOOO cute!!!! He looks like quite a love.

[ksdstny]

i can share my experience with harlow, it was a long road my friend. harlow was 9 weeks when she caught kennel cough from the ??clothes, shoes, of my granddaughters. their puppy had it. well it turned into pneumonia/bronchitis. a hot mess. the vet i was seeing did not prescribe the correct meds, imo. she was sick for weeks and weeks. i did everything from "shower soothers", massaging her sides (called "cupping") to help her bring everything up. she had a reaction to one of the meds (she was on like 4 or 5) and i finally had enough. i went to the holistic website and bought natural remedies for sinus and respiratory problems. within 2 weeks she was FINE. i swear.

i also think that that whole situation compromised her immune system and left her open for a boatload of other issues. allergies is a big one, she's had so many issues i cant begin to tell you. s is now almost 3 and doing well.

i have no idea what type of pneumonia is was but i can tell you it was a trial and a hot mess. xo

[brumzoo]

Keeping Champ in my thoughts and prayers! Glad he is doing a little bit better! 

[DaBabaDoo]

  :-*For Champsky.  Thanks for the update, we're all praying for him.

[jgengnagel]

Here is the latest on the saga of this type of pneumonia. The sensitivity was back today and just like we had suspected the Baytril was not doing anything...seems like this pseudamonus strain is the pits to knock out! Resistant to the tryad of usual antibotics. Most sensitive using a drug called Tazicef. Not sure of what other trade it goes under. They put a iv cath in and administered the first dose. I will do the others. He will receive these twice daily for at least 3 days IV then change over to IM.

It truly has and I am sure will continue to be an uphill battle. I pray that he can hang in for the rest of this battle.  I will keep you all updated as I have information to share.
Susan, thanks for the kind words on the pic....but that is Champy's uncle who recently turned 4 yrs old. My Amos is another special boy.

[ksdstny]

i dont believe the baytril helped us either. i am so very sorry that your baby and you are going through this. it is tough. you are doing a great job hanging in, they are stronger then we give them credit for and i am praying that is the case here. all of our prayers are going up for you guys. xo

[Jerr_N_Tiff]

my Brody had pneumonia as a baby, he was only 12 weeks old and it was horrible.   Jerry and I were up with him around the clock for weeks it seemed, we made steam tents and performed cupping on him several times a day.  It also weakened his over all immune system and he ended up with demodex after he finally got better.  I hope Champy has a quick recovery, Kudos to your vet for performing the culture and sensitivity rapidly and giving the IV abx.  That's awesome!

[jgengnagel]

Well guys here is the update for today (Tuesday). Champy is getting this new drug Iv twice a day. Along with cupping and the nebs tx's. For a short time today he seemed to want to interact with the other bullies...I had a brief moment of finally...maybe we are on the right path. But  by afternoon, it was gone by the wayside and he is more congested and tires easily. I think the new med is hard on his stomach- so he really has nothing that seems to please him in the way of food. I boiled chicken and rice and even tried yogurt which he loves...not much interest. He weighed about 38 when this started and the vet says that he can stand to loose some weight.

Thanks again for all the well wishes and prayers for us. I will take all the prayers that is offered. Any suggestioins and things that have worked for you in the past is very much appreciated. I love my Champy and cannot imagine what I will be like without him. He has been my very special boy for the last 5months I only hope that God allows him to continue to be with me awhile longer.