- Second Chance AIHA ›
- Forums ›
- AIHA Dog ›
- Coal and questions
Good Morning! First of all I wanted to let you all know that Coals blood work came back from the lab and it looks fantastic. There was a 3% difference in her RCV compared to the vets office but she said that was normal and the numbers are rising regardless so she is happy with that. We got a 30% read and the lab came back with a 27% either way its up! All the other tests on her blood work came back looking great. Dr.C decided to continue the course and leave her on the 30mg of prednisone for now and we will head back for another blood count on Wednesday. My Questions… First – Can you become a “member” so you can sign it to get unread posts or such? its very hard to navigate this website and it is extremely slow to load. I didn’t know if there was a better way to use the message board than what I am doing now. Second- If I wanted to contact Dr. Dodds and have my vet talk with her what would be the best way to do that? Do I call or send a request or have my vet call? I am not sure how it works but I would like to know just in case my vet needs to get in touch with her. Third- Coal lost so much weight and I am trying to put it back on slowly. She has never been a big eater and is on 4 small meals a day of high calorie food. Any suggestions on good food to help boost her red cell production that I can give as “treats” between meals. I know dog biscuits are her favorite but they are not doing much to help her health. Thanks in advance! Warmly, Amy
Yayyyyyy. Wonderful news Amy. Yes there’s often a difference, but the vet’s result is actually more likely more accurate as they have probably done a PCV test which is a manual test – see https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/pcv-packed-cell-volume/
and
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/hct-hematocrit/
Amy there is no signing in. That’s only for moderators to get into the back of the site. You can see everything there is, including all old posts in the Forum. You can use the search box at the top to search for topics and it will bring up all entries with the word you’ve searched.
Yes, the site can be slow to load, sorry.
The AIHA Terms is a glossary with heaps and heaps of information on everything set out alphabetically.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/aiha_terms/
Under Second Chance Resources (at the top) there’s a link to contact Dr Dodds, you can do an Owner’s Consult – Hemopet is Dr Dodds’ company. The first link will take you to her site – there’s a vet’s consult on that page. The second link takes you directly to an Owner’s Consult.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/hemopetresources/
If you contact her directly, I just want to let you know, she is not very verbose – so don’t be offended. She often answers in “Yes” and “No” to questions, so ask specific questions. Once she has responded, feel free to email back and query anything said or ask again. She truly is a lovely generous very clever lady. If you do do a consult yourself, when you attach something, it only allows you to attach 1 item. So what I do is scan different items into 1 document to attach.
Under Resources again, there’s Medication Resources which has the various medications used. https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/medication-resources/
The urgent advice sends an email to the moderators, and you can read some of our Stories in the Our Stories at the top.
Any questions, just ask.
Vally & Bingo
xxx
Hi Amy
Thanks for the update on Coal – everything sounds good! That makes me smile from ear to ear. Most of us have experienced our dogs losing weight & more worryingly, not eating much at all. It is part of the side effects of the pred (catabolic action that atrophies muscle) that causes weight loss, despite being really hungry when it kicks on fully. Keep the fat low (reduces pancreatitis risk) & protein fairly high. Being a pup, she needs good protein anyway, but it’s not easy to get weight back on them at this point.
I gave Worzel home-cooked white fish, low fat beef mince, boiled chicken, boiled turkey. At one time, he would only eat biscuits, as in treats, so I broke them up in his food to get him to eat. Lots of folks add rice, but my boy HATES it. I also gave him mashed steamed green beans & carrots, pumpkin &/or sweet potato. I also added a lot of water on Brigitte’s advice to make it soupy to prevent dehydration. He loved that. I’m sure others will have great advice too. Later, when he was ravenous, I added good quality kibble, which he loved anyway.
Please have a read through this which has a side effects explanation:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone/
I truly believe our type of dog (greyhound, standard poodle, saluki, other sight hounds & big chested dogs) suffers more quickly because they don’t have much fat on them. I promise that when you can reduce the dose, these side effects disappear & they are soon back to normal! I was very surprised how quickly my skeletal boy with a pot belly & stick legs got back to looking like his old self, considering he looked diabolical during treatment.
As far as I know, you should be able to access all the old posts, glossary of AIHA terms etc on here without logging in – just page backwards on the Forum AIHA dog page (index) for older posts. The only area you cannot access without permission is The Bridge which is understandably private for owners who have lost their dogs. Regarding your other questions/comments about the website itself, the site owner, Patrice, is the person to speak to.
Finally – it would be easy for you or your vet to contact & consult with Dr Dodds here:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/hemopetresources/ – the consultation form is top right. Your vet could set up an account if needed.
Things are looking positive for sweet Coal – you are doing everything in your power to help her. I hope you do contact Dr Jean Dodds. She is truly exceptional in so many respects – Coal is a special pup & I am certain she would be very happy to talk to your vet, and to help you through this.
Sheena & the sight hounds xxx
Sorry Amy & Vally! Typing at same time again. AAAAAGHHH! Apologies for any repetition.
Hi Amy,
your head must be spinning with all the information you are getting here. It is a steep learning curve! I will throw in some more:) I just got home from visiting with a friend that has my Standard Poodle Enzo’s uncle. Trip is a lovely boy and he had to be taken to emergency with torsion today. You probably know that all deep chested dogs like Standard Poodles are predisposed to this deadly condition. Why am I telling you this? It mostly happens to dogs that are on dry kibble. Trip is actually on raw food but on the weekend visiting grandchildren fed him hotdog buns, crackers and pizza crust in big amounts. I know that eventually Coal will get ravenous, eating like a horse. If you feed her dry kibble and she is wolfing it down, the chances of her getting torsion will increase. Look into Dr. Dodds liver cleansing diet in the Nutrition Resources:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/nutrition-resources/
It will be better for her AIHA recovery and also prevent torsion.
Best wishes,
Brigitte
This was s wonderful news, Amy!!!! Coal has redlined very well and actually, very fast. I like that your vet wants to stay the course for a while. Smart. Just remember, when he’s stable enough with a good PCV, start and continue reducing SLOW. We’ll be here when that starts. Not worries, especially now.
Please do contact Dr. Dodds. You will be so glad you did. Vally and Sheena have sent the link on this forum, so there you go. 😊
You’re doing great!!! Please continue to keep us posted.
Love and hugs, Linda and Sadie
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
![Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4.jpg "Brigitte\'s Cleo, Ripley, Enzo and Guest \\"Rockin\\"")
