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Almost Like You, Monroe, NC (2025)

11/22/2025

Fatty McFatterson Update
November 22nd at 3:30 PM

I finally have an update that gives us a little bit of hope today. CARE repeated Fatty’s bloodwork this afternoon, and for the first time since this all started, we are seeing signs that his body is responding to treatment.

His total bilirubin dropped by HALF.
Yesterday: 7.3 mg/dL
Today: 3.6 mg/dL
This is huge. Bilirubin is what makes him yellow, and it’s the number that tells us whether bile is moving or stuck. A drop this big means the bile duct obstruction might finally be easing, and the bile is starting to drain again. This is exactly what we needed to see.

His liver values are STILL very high but they’re trending DOWN instead of up:
• ALT: 2,939 → 1,817
• ALP: 5,037 → 3,917
• GGT: 74 → 43
These numbers are nowhere near normal yet, but the downward trend is the important part. It shows the pressure on his liver might be decreasing.

Clotting tests are NORMAL
• PT and PTT both within normal limits
This means his liver is still functioning enough to make clotting proteins, and the plasma transfusions are helping. Also important: if he ends up needing surgery later, his blood can clot properly.

Kidneys and electrolytes look GOOD
• Creatinine: 0.6
• BUN: 8
• Sodium: 155
• Potassium: 4.6
• Chloride: 114
• Albumin: 2.9
His kidneys are holding steady and there are no dangerous electrolyte issues, which is a big deal for a dog this sick.

Pancreatitis markers are still high — but expected
• Lipase: 4,359
• Amylase: 1,410
This confirms the pancreatitis is still very active, but these numbers almost always lag behind clinical improvement. What matters most is the bile flow — and that number improved dramatically today.

His Diagnosis (straight from the doctor) Severe pancreatitis with extrahepatic bile duct obstruction.
This is exactly what we thought swelling from the pancreas is squeezing the bile duct shut, which is what caused his bilirubin and liver values to spike.

CARE is treating him aggressively with:
• High-rate IV fluids
• Continuous pain control (Fentanyl → Methadone)
• Plasma transfusions
• IV antibiotics (Unasyn)
• Cerenia + Ondansetron
• Sedatives (Trazodone + Acepromazine if needed)
• 24/7 monitoring

They’re doing everything possible.
Now… something I want to explain clearly. I am NOT going to visit him, and it’s not because I don’t want to.
It’s not because I’m being cold or detached. It’s not because I don’t care. Seeing my dog would be my number one priority today if love alone healed pancreatitis. But the goal right now is to keep him calm, quiet, and stable. And right now, the staff tells me he is being a good boy he’s quiet, settled, and not screaming or panicking. That’s exactly what he needs to heal.
If I walked in that room, he would:
• Lose his mind
• Scream
• Cry
• Shake
• Get overstimulated
• Demand to come home
• And completely fall apart when I had to leave
The stress alone could spike his pancreas again, raise his blood pressure, worsen inflammation, and undo every bit of progress he made today. When I see him, I want it to be because he’s coming home, not because I am walking away from him again. It may sound cruel, or cold, or like I don’t want to be near him but it’s actually the exact opposite. Right now, loving him means choosing the path that helps him heal, even if it breaks me in the process. Please keep the love, prayers, and good thoughts coming. Today is the first day he actually fought back and gained ground. And I am holding onto that with everything I have.

11/22/2025

Fatty McFatterson Update — November 22nd at 11:00 AM

I just got off the phone with Fatty McFatterson’s nurse or should I say his newest bitch because this sick little con artist has officially added yet another woman to his damn harem.
She told me he is her absolute favorite, that every time she looks at him his butt wiggles so hard it shakes the entire kennel like a deranged bobblehead. He ate his breakfast, then immediately demanded everyone else’s breakfast as she walked by like the greedy little walrus he is. He even conned her into a long walk this morning, and now she’s head over heels and apparently considering kidnapping him. I had to politely explain that unless she wants to reenact the Salem Witch Trials, that would be a very poor life choice because the GSP As****es group would come at her with pitchforks, torches, and a GPS tracker to get their boy back. She just laughed and said she loves him, is thrilled she’s on his schedule today, and appreciates every single person supporting this dramatic little bastard.
They’ll repeat his bloodwork between 12 and 1, and the vet will call me with a full update after.More soon.

11/22/2025

I just wanted to take a minute and apologize from the bottom of my heart to all of my boarding clients. I know I’ve been MIA the past couple of days, and things definitely haven’t looked like our normal “House of Wayward As****es” routine. I’m so sorry for that.

Manservant has been here holding down the fort like a champ, and your babies have been in very good hands. As much as it pains me to admit it… they love him every bit as much as they love me. I’ve spent years raising these little gremlins and they switched to the replacement model without hesitation. Traitors.

Truthfully though, I’m so thankful that all of your dogs are here right now. Every single dog curled up on top of me last night, and that warmth and love helped me more than I can ever explain. I needed them.

I know there haven’t been photos or updates on the app like usual. I have taken hundreds of pictures—your dogs playing, causing chaos, cuddling, being their wonderful ridiculous selves. I just haven’t had the energy to get them uploaded yet. I’m exhausted… truly exhausted… and that’s the only way I know how to say it. But I promise I’ll get everything posted as soon as I can catch my breath.

Thank you for your emails, texts, donations, love, support—every bit of it. I appreciate you more than you know. I will try to get back to everyone as soon as I can, and I’ll keep Facebook updated, so if you don’t hear from me directly, please check here.

I’m truly sorry that this stay doesn’t look or feel like our normal level of fun, photos, and chaos. I would give anything to be here running around with all the dogs instead of sitting in a vet’s office worried sick.

Thank you for understanding. Thank you for your patience. And thank you for trusting me with your babies during one of the hardest moments of my life. ❤️🐾

11/22/2025

Fatty McFatterson Update
November 22nd - 8:00 am
Full Medical Update

I wanted to give a detailed update because so many people love my Fatty McFatterson and have been following his fight, and he deserves for everyone to know exactly what’s going on.
Over the last 48 hours, Fatty’s condition became very serious, very quickly. His labs from Thursday and Friday showed extreme elevations in his liver values, including a total bilirubin over 12 mg/dL (normal is under 0.5), very high GGT, and liver enzymes so elevated that the analyzer literally couldn’t read them. These numbers, combined with the yellowing of his eyes, gums, and skin, confirmed that something was blocking his ability to drain bile.
When bile can’t drain, it backs up into the bloodstream and essentially poisons the body that’s what causes the severe jaundice and the sudden decline we saw.
Diagnostics
Total Bilirubin: 12.2 mg/dL → 11.7 mg/dL (both extremely high)
GGT: 74 U/L (normal 450 mg/dL (extremely high — common in bile duct obstruction)
Lipase: Elevated
Globulin: Slightly high
Chloride & Potassium: Low
Radiographs: No foreign object detected, no GI obstruction, but no cause for the jaundice was visible on X-ray.
Ultrasound Results
These findings are the core of what’s happening to Fatty right now:
1. Severe active pancreatitis. His pancreas was inflamed and angry this inflammation compresses surrounding structures.
2. Moderately to markedly enlarged gallbladder which means bile is building up and not draining normally.
3. The cystic duct & proximal common bile duct were distended which is the biggest problem. When these ducts swell shut due to pancreatitis, bile literally cannot escape. This is called extrahepatic bile duct obstruction (EHBDO) and it is exactly what causes high bilirubin and jaundice.
4. Splenic nodule with dystrophic mineralization. The good news is the nodule did not distort the splenic capsule which is classic for a benign nodule and not the cause of his current crisis. It will need attention later, but it is not what is hurting him right now.
What all this means is Fatty McFatterson is suffering from severe pancreatitis that has caused swelling around the bile duct, which has blocked bile flow, leading to, jaundice, sky-high bilirubin, liver values off the charts, inflammation, lethargy, nausea, loss of appetite unless medicated and risk of infection and clotting issues. This condition is life-threatening, but dogs can and do recover from it especially when treated aggressively and early, which he is. Fatty is now hospitalized at CARE a 24/7 specialty hospital and they are performing the exact treatments a dog with this condition needs.

High-rate IV fluids
• Reduce pancreatic inflammation
• Support the liver
• Improve bile movement
• Flush toxins

Plasma transfusions
• Clotting factors (pancreatitis consumes them, risking DIC)
• Albumin and proteins that help restore fluid balance
• Scavenger proteins that bind toxins released from the inflamed pancreas
• Support for liver function while bile isn’t moving
• Improved circulation to the pancreas and liver
It stabilizes the entire system so his body can fight.

Pain control of Buprenorphine at BluePearl and CARE continues pain management, because pancreatitis is extremely painful.

Anti-nausea medications without Cerenia, he cannot keep food down.

Close-hour monitoring
CARE is watching:
• Heart rate
• Blood pressure
• Hydration
• Temperature
• Pain level
• Mentation
• Urine output
• Bile duct size
• Risk of gallbladder rupture

What happens today (critical day)
CARE will be performing:
Repeat bloodwork to reassess:
• Bilirubin
• ALT, ALP, AST
• Cholesterol
• Electrolytes
• Clotting factors
• Pancreatic markers
A drop in bilirubin even a small one would be HUGE.

Repeat abdominal ultrasound this is the most important test today.
They are looking to see if:
• The bile duct is less swollen
• The gallbladder is decompressing
• The pancreas is settling down
• Bile is starting to move
If it is improving, we stay the medical course. If it is not improving, or is worsening, surgery will be discussed.

Repeat radiographs to check:
• Gas patterns
• Stomach and intestinal movement
• Spleen
• Any signs of fluid accumulation
• Any new changes

Surgery possibility if the obstruction does not open on its own, CARE may recommend:

Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) + bile duct flush. The good news here is gallbladder has not ruptured, the spleen nodule is benign-looking but will still be removed. His vitals are stable, he is still eating, he is still alert and responsive and he is still fighting. Dogs undergo this surgery successfully all the time.

For everyone praying for him, Fatty isn’t giving up, CARE isn’t giving up.
And neither is Mommy Dearest. Today’s tests will tell us what direction this is going, but he is in the best hands possible, getting exactly what dogs with this condition need to have a chance. Thank you for loving him, thank you for loving me, thank you supporting me and sharing this difficult journey with me. Please keep the prayers and strength coming he needs every bit of them. Sharing some of the photos I’ve been getting to help us stay positive and smile. We love each and every one of you and I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have such a big family backing us.

Thank you to for the picture below especially from the kiddos, it truly warms my heart.

11/22/2025

Fatty McFatterson Update – November 21st, 10:30 PM

Well… I am just now getting home from the vet. I honestly thought I was dropping him off and heading back out, but that was absolutely not what happened. I got there whenever my last post was, and I’m just now walking out the door. They took him back, ran bloodwork, got him evaluated, started IVs, the whole nine yards. I sat in that lobby stressing myself into a stroke because emergency vets do not come out and talk to you which is fine, I get it, they’re busy and this is one of the best ER vets in Charlotte. But lord have mercy, sitting there is torture, thankfully I have the best vet team ever and Fatty’s favorite vet tech drove down to sit with me and make sure I asked all the right questions and my amazing vet texted me the entire time.
8 PM, the vet finally calls me into a room, and the second she opened her mouth, I knew she was the right doctor for Fatty McFatterson. I was firing questions at her like a deranged medical student:
“Why can’t we remove this?”
“Why can’t we take that out?”
“What about surgery?”
And she looks at me dead in the face and goes: “Listen… it’s not like I’m going back there trying something just to f**k around and find out. I actually have a plan. So hear me out.”
At that moment I said, “Yep. This is Fatty’s vet. They speak the same damn language.”

Here’s the plan:
• They’re giving him plasma tonight she said several studies show plasma helps big time in cases like his.
• IV fluids, anti-inflammatories, sedation to keep him calm.
• In the morning they’ll rerun bloodwork and imaging to see if his numbers are improving.

The goal is to place stents in his gallbladder so it can drain properly. Right now it’s so swollen and full of bile that it’s backing everything up that’s why he turned yellow and why things got critical so fast. Surgery is on the table, but she told me gallbladder surgery in dogs is NOT as simple as it is in humans, and it is never the first choice. They only go that route if they feel he won’t stabilize enough with the stents. If they have to open him up anyway, then they’ll also remove the spleen at the same time because the ultrasound found a mass on that too. But removing the spleen is not the priority tonight. She will call me at 4 AM and 7:30 AM with updates. I’ll post first thing in the morning when I know more.
Now to bring some humor to this mommas extreme depression and sadness; your boy strutted into the room wearing his cone inside out because he had apparently spent his entire time in the back, crashing into doors, trying to force his way into rooms he didn’t belong in and screaming bloody murder for his mommy. That gave me hope. If he still has enough energy to cause that level of f**kery, then my boy is still fighting.
His deposit today was $5,000, and because of all of you absolutely incredible humans, that was covered. You all blew my phone up with Venmo alerts so hard that my phone died in the vet’s office around 8:30. I am overwhelmed. I am humbled. I am undone. I never thought I would ever be part of a community that would show this level of love and support for my fat little bastard. I’m home now. I doubt I’ll sleep, I don’t think I’ve ever slept without Fatty curled up against me. Sure, I have about seven other dogs lying on me right now, but Fatty is Fatty. We fit together. We are the same entity. I love each and every one of you. I promise I will try to get through all the messages and posts the admins told me they’ve been approving all day. I will update everyone in the morning as soon as I hear from the vet. From the bottom of my heart thank you. I do not deserve this kind of kindness, but I am so damn grateful for it.

11/21/2025

Fatty McFatterson Update — 11/21 at 5:15 PM

We are at CARE. We’ve been here for about 40 minutes and they just now took him back to triage to figure out our next steps. Skyline faxed over every record, every image, every detail — so CARE has everything they need in their hands.

At this point, I’m done sitting around and praying that maybe tomorrow will magically look different. My recommendation to the doctor is going to be simple: go in, fix what needs fixing, and take the damn gallbladder and spleen if that’s what it takes.

If they get in there and find something else causing this blockage, then they can fix that too. And if it really is just the pancreatitis causing all of this inflammation, then removing the gallbladder gives him the only real shot he has. I am not waiting to see if he’s “going to get sicker.” He is already at the cliff.

He is extremely critical. This isn’t mild pancreatitis. This isn’t “give him fluids and let’s see.” This is act fast or lose him. He can survive this. But we’re out of wiggle room.

I’m waiting for the doctor to come talk to me now, and I’ll update everyone the second I know more.

And I want to say this before my phone completely dies — thank you. Every single one of you. The donations, the messages, the love… I don’t know how to explain what this dog means to me, but he is my whole damn world. Knowing that so many people love him enough to fight for him with me? I can’t even put that into words.

You have done more for me than anyone in my entire life, and I love you for it. And I know Fatty loves you for it too, because this little boy is so, so sick… and you’re giving him a chance.

I’ll keep everyone posted as soon as the doctor comes out.

11/21/2025

Fatty McFatterson Update – November 21st, 2:45 PM

I just got off the phone with Skyline Vet, and I swear my heart dropped straight through the damn floor.

They did the ultrasound. Everything inside him is so unbelievably inflamed that they can’t see a damn thing clearly. They did see a small mass on his spleen that will have to be watched—and honestly, at this point, I don’t even have the capacity to process what the hell that means—but they don’t think that’s what’s causing this nightmare. Still, I’ll be getting that removed sooner rather than later because we’re not playing with that.

His gallbladder is huge. They think it’s just a horrible effect of how severe this pancreatitis is—like everything inside him is just shutting down from inflammation and it’s not responding to anything they’re trying. The only other option left on the table is exploratory surgery to see if they’re missing a blockage somewhere.

I’m grabbing my keys and rushing out the door to go pick him up now to take him to CARE, where he’ll be for two to three days. And we just… we just hope he pulls through. If they decide to do exploratory surgery, maybe they’ll find something. Maybe they can remove the gallbladder. Maybe there’s something, anything, they can do to save his life.

But the vet told me—straight up—that even with the two to three days at CARE, there is no guarantee he’s going to make it. That I need to be positive but not get my hopes up that CARE is going to magically fix this. And that we’re already looking at $4,000–$6,000 just for the stay, and even more if he needs surgery.

And then they said the words I never wanted to hear:
They don’t think he’s going to make it.
We’re just doing everything we possibly can at this point.

And I don’t know what I’m going to do. I genuinely don’t. My whole world is spinning and my heart is in my throat and I feel like I can’t breathe.

11/21/2025

Update on Fatty McFatterson
November 21st • 11:00 AM

I just left Skyline Veterinary Services.

When I got to my regular vet this morning, Fatty was critical. So critical that they didn’t even want to waste time trying to start IV fluids or run bloodwork. The second they saw how yellow he was, they said, “Go. Now.” and sent me straight to Skyline, where they have an internal medicine specialist and can do an immediate ultrasound.

I just walked out of Skyline, and Fatty is staying there now to get the ultrasound done.

Even Skyline doesn’t want to take any chances with whatever this is.
Once they finish the ultrasound, they’re sending everything directly to CARE, and he will be moved to CARE where he’ll spend the next couple of days hospitalized.

My dog has never spent a single night anywhere without me.
Not at a vet.
Not at a boarding facility.
Not with anyone.

So the thought of him sitting in a vet hospital for two days without me is absolutely ripping my heart into pieces. I already know I’m going to annoy the hell out of whatever vet is assigned to him with how many times I’m going to call. And I don’t care. They’ll just have to be annoyed.

He is in so much pain that even gently touching his stomach to prepare for the ultrasound made him react. They’re going to have to give him pain meds just to make him comfortable enough to even do the scan.

He’s panting.
His teeth are chattering.
He wasn’t doing that this morning.

Everything is getting worse.

I don’t even know if I’m saying everything I need to say.
I can’t think straight.
I feel numb, broken, and terrified.
I don’t know what to do except wait — and waiting is killing me.

I will update as soon as I hear anything.

11/21/2025

Update on Fatty McFatterson
November 21st • 8:30 AM

We just left the house, and we’re headed back to his vet to start IV fluids again and recheck his liver numbers.

The reason we’re going to his regular vet first and not straight to the emergency vet is simple:
My vet — being the most amazing vet on the planet — gives me a discount. That means we can get all the bloodwork, panels, and tests done there without the emergency vet charging me a thousand damn dollars just to poke him with a needle. Then, once we have those results in hand, I can take everything straight to the emergency hospital and only pay for the ultrasound and for it to be read.

My vet can handle almost everything else.
What we need now is answers — and those will come from the ultrasound.

If it turns out to be something that cannot wait… then I will absolutely sell my soul if that’s what it takes to get him taken care of. I brought every credit card I own, every savings, every backup plan — everything. If money is what it takes, then money is what it gets. Period.

He slept REALLY well last night. He dreamed, he twitched, he moved — and I didn’t sleep at all. Every single twitch from him woke me up, and I didn’t care. As long as he woke up with me this morning, that’s all that matters.

But his jaundice is worse today.
His ears are yellow.
His eyes are yellow.
His gums are yellow.
His stomach is yellow.
Everything about him is telling me his liver is worse today than it was yesterday.

We are praying hard for good numbers this morning.
By noon we should know if we’re headed to CARE in Charlotte, which is one of the best emergency hospitals in the area.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I know there have been thousands of comments, and normally I reply or at least heart, laugh, or like every single one. But I just don’t have it in me right now — not yesterday, not today, maybe not tomorrow either — because I’m barely holding myself together.

My crying yesterday was so bad that my entire face is swollen, I have a migraine from hell, and now I’ve got raw sores inside my nose from blowing it so much. I’m attempting to keep it together today, but it is not easy… and of course Mother Nature decided to throw rain on top of it all.

Perfect timing.

I’ll keep everyone posted, and I’m hoping I’ll have news for you by noon. Thank you again for the support — I feel it, even if I can’t respond right now.

11/21/2025

Heads up for today:
Visits will be short and sweet — potty breaks only. There will be no social media posts because I have to get Jake back to the vet, drop him off, try to get some work squeezed in, and then get him to an emergency vet for an emergency ultrasound this afternoon.

If you’re able to be home today, that would be fantastic and so appreciated. This mama is an absolute nervous wreck right now, and I’m just trying to keep it together for my boy.

Thank you all for understanding. 💛

11/21/2025

Update on Fatty McFatterson
November 20th • 8:25 PM

I just picked up my boy from the vet’s office. He finally ate for them, and he spent the entire day getting IV fluids, IV antibiotics, and liver meds. They ran blood panels four seperate times, and not a single one came back better than the last. His liver numbers are still refusing to go down. So he is coming home with me tonight, because this is where he belongs in his home, in my arms, where he is safe. He’ll go back at 9 AM tomorrow morning, and they’ll run another blood panel, start more IV fluids, and try again to bring those liver numbers down. If they still don’t move, then we will be headed straight for an emergency ultrasound. Now, regarding the “C” word cancer has not been ruled out yet which is the purpose of the ultrasound. The ultrasound tomorrow is specifically to check for masses, tumors, or anything abnormal that could explain his enlarged gallbladder and the spot they found on his pancreas. So until that ultrasound is done and read by the specialist, cancer is still on the table, and we’re not out of the woods.
Tonight, I’m giving him a liver detox herbal tea, and praying that somehow we get better numbers in the morning. I am exhausted. My eyes are so swollen from crying that it looks like someone punched me in both of them. I couldn’t read your messages. I couldn’t even say his name today without crumbling. Add a migraine to the mix and today has just been one long spiral. And for those who don’t understand the depth of this I get it.
But many of you do.
I told Stacy earlier that the only way I can explain the bond between me and this dog is from The Golden Compass. In that book, children have animal companions called dæmons. They aren’t pets they’re a physical manifestation of the child’s soul. They share emotions, pain, comfort, everything. When the dæmon is hurt, the child feels it like their own body is wounded. Being separated causes actual physical agony. And if one dies, the other breaks in a way that’s beyond words. That is the closest thing to what me and Fatty have.
It’s not “my dog is sick.” It feels like my soul is hurting.
I heard the word “cancer” way too many times today. Even though the basic tests looked okay, they don’t mean anything definitive yet, and my heart dropped every single time it was said. But I’m holding hope stubborn, desperate hope that this is some awful sickness that just needs time, medicine, and fluids to turn around. I cannot say enough good things about my vet. Even on his day off, he called me multiple times, trying to calm me down because Lord knows I needed it. And my vet tech, Victoria you all know her sweet dog Lottie I couldn’t have made it through this day without her. The pictures, the updates, her trying to hand-feed him and when he nearly took her hand off over wet food, she wasn’t even mad. She was happy he ate. That’s the kind of heart she has.
I doubt I’ll sleep tonight. I’ll be watching him breathe, holding him too tight, and praying for better numbers tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be long. On top of this, I have two rescue dogs coming in one Friday, one Saturday both coming here for vetting Sunday before going to their fosters. I have boarding dogs all weekend. It’s holiday chaos. And Manservant is working extra, trying to help keep us steady so we can cover anything and everything this boy needs. Thank you all for the prayers, messages, support, and love. Please keep them coming. I’m not ignoring anyone. I’m just trying to keep my head above water.I’ll update as soon as I know more tomorrow.

11/20/2025

Just a heads-up to everyone: along with visits being short and sweet today, there will not be any social media posts. For those of you who see me come and go in your house like a lightning bolt of pure chaos, tears, and hot-mess energy… just ignore me. I am literally losing my s**t today.

I can’t explain the connection I have with Jake. It’s not like anything I’ve ever had with any other dog, ever. So every time the vet calls, I stop breathing because I don’t know what they’re about to say. And as of right now, I just got off the phone with them — his bloodwork is back and they’re reviewing it. They’re also sending his rads off to a specialist to see if there’s anything we’re missing. They asked me some questions about meds from when he had his dental, so… we’re still waiting. And I’d love to say I’m doing it patiently, but I’m absolutely not. I’m on straight autopilot at this point.

So no posts today. And if you catch me on your cameras crying in a corner somewhere, just pretend you didn’t. It’s just a crazy dog mom losing her damn mind over her boy.

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