My heart is breaking.  My Courtney died on Sunday (4/20/08) at Approximately 4:30 in the afternoon.

It all started on April 6th - I brought Courtney to an emergency animal hospital because she seemed to have hurt herself.  She had been whimpering and walking with her head down.  I believe she probably pulled a muscle. The vet on-duty gave her Tramadol 50mg (2 tablets every 8-12 hours) and a prescription for Previcox 227 mg to be taken with her meal  (late in the day) on 4/8/08.  This delay was due to the fact I had given Courtney a low dose aspirin (80mg) on Sunday afternoon - I was told to wait 48 hours.

So, Courtney had her 1st dose around 6:30 pm on Tuesday.  Wednesday morning she threw up.  I gave her another pill with her food and Courtney seemed to hold it down.  I gave Courtney her dosage on Thursday morning as instructed.  However, by Thursday afternoon she started to vomit - and she never stopped.  I brought her to my regular vet on Saturday and he agreed that the vomiting was caused by the Previcox. Instructed me not to give her any more.  I had already stopped - I do not give her a pill either Friday or Saturday. 

The doctor gave her a shot of anti-nausea medicine and an antibiotic and sent her home.  She was able to eat on Saturday - but Sunday she vomited twice.  Monday I had her back to have X-rays - Tuesday she went back for an ultra-sound. The ultra-sound showed an enlarged gall bladder.Arrangements were made for her to have her gall bladder removed on Friday(4/18/08).  By this time she had already lost over 6lbs and was dehydrated because she had not been able to hold food nor water.  The surgeon went in and found the bile duct has been plugged (caused by the vomiting and not being able to eat) and she had developed 2 ulcers.  Mind you - this was in a matter of less than 2 weeks. 

I had been optimistic she would survive - by Sunday she died.  I was with her on Sunday morning - she was suffering.  They had to perform surgery again and found her spleen had no blood and her abdomen was purple.  I think this was caused because her feeding tube was leaking.  It doesn't make a difference - she is gone and I am devastated!!!!

If I had not taken her to the emergency room - if I had not given her the Previcox - My beautiful girl would be alive today.   I am so sad and I miss her so much.  I feel like I lost my child.  My heart goes out to you - I know just how you felt when you lost your boy. There is a void that will never go away but how fortunate we are to have had such wonderful times with our loves.