snoopy

[Sheena]

Hi Jill

Mary has given you some great advice too – I know you can see how much we all want to support you.

Denamarin comprises Sam-e & Milk Thistle & is for liver health. In my opinion, the Milk Thistle is the most vital part to keep enzymes down, but you can give both for sure. You know you can buy denamarin in the UK from amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nutramax-Denamarin-Tabs-Large-Dogs/dp/B0011XHGR0

Slippey Elm is for GI tract protection & soothing, healing. I am seriously wondering if Snoopy had bad tummy ache because you mentioned him eating stuff like dirt in the garden – they do eat strange things to try & alleviate the pain. But it still could be the pica I mentioned which often happens with severe anaemia. I am honestly only recommending the slippery elm because your vet won’t give you sucralfate or the like & it worries me. So it’s a safe alternative – a completely natural product. You can see here it is used for ulcers & has no side effects worth worrying about:
http://www.drugs.com/npc/slippery-elm.html

So ideally, you can give Denamarin and the slippery elm yourself – but don’t forget slippery elm must be given completely separately from the other drugs – 2 hours away is best.

Mary is right about Heinz body anaemia – caused by onion, large amounts of garlic, plus other things – and would clearly show up on a blood smear. Another reason we would like to see those all important results.

I can understand your frustration about all the test results – hoping the Coombs Test will be on there as well, but we’ll see. I can only say to be firm from now on & get a copy of everything before you leave the surgery. I am thinking, as Mary is, that maybe your vet feels a bit miffed about you contacting us – nothing we haven’t seen before though! We can handle this & in no way wish to make any vet feel uncomfortable. Please invite him to look around our website, especially at the AIHA Terms – our glossary – maybe they will realise all our infmoration is factual & that we do have a lot of experience helping owners. We are not pretending we are vets, but we have all learned a lot along the way!

Love Sheena & the Hounds
xxxxx

[jill]

Hi everyone , the vet contactated us yesterday evening with results of Snoopys tests, he said blood level had gone up from20 to 24, and his blood is regenerating! so good news , we are pleased.He definitly has more energy, is eating well , and weeing!i do hope it continues. Sheena thank you for all your advice, im popping to town today to health shop, does Snoopy need slippery elm if hes got the omeprazole? I thought that was for his tummy? You might be right about vet feeling a bit niffed . He is a really nice guy but they are always so busy there.Hoping to get the other reults soon . love Jill xxx

[Linda]

Hi Jill. Sadie was on Prilosec when she left the emergency room in July, 2015. It is just like Omeprazole. She did well on it, although I did switch to Sucralfate. These meds are all to protect against ulcers, which unfortunately are a side effect of the drugs our AIHA/IMHA fur children need. And, important, need to be given away from other meds, as you most likely akready know, will alter the absorption of the needed and necessary medications.

Since Sadie is at a low dose (weaning) of these necessary meds now, I have taken her off the Sucralfste. I now use the slippery elm, but not daily, only if her tummy seems to be bothering her. I give Sadie about 1/2 teaspoon, mixed in a bit of Greek yogurt and water, whisk (slippery elm is hard to mix) and she gulps it down. Or you can make a slurry, with water, boil, let cool and add that to yogurt (or low fat cottage cheese). It really does help her tummy. If you google ‘slippery elm for dogs’ you will be amazed by what you find. Just be sure you always use quality slippery elm, preferably from your favorite health food store that you trust.

Slippery elm us an amazing herb. It spores the tummy, helps with diarrhea and ironically, can help with constipation. Just be careful not to give too much. It can also cause diarrhea. Start with a small dose.

Can you use both together? I have, but not at the same time. And be careful too, NOT to give near any other medication, the same as with the Omeprazole (or Prilosec, Sucralfate, etc.). When Sadie was on high doses and her tummy would rumble (breaks your heart, I know), I would give her a little slurry in the evening, before bed. Still do. Great stuff.

Did I confuse you more. Perhaps others will pipe in.

It is great to read that Snoopy’s PCV is up. Awesome!

Sending love, Linda and Sadie

[Sheena]

Hi Tim & Jill

Thank you very much for the results, which I passed on to the Moderators with this message. I can’t see any need for anti-clotting medications – no agglutination & only a very few damaged red cells – nothing to worry about. Good news & important to know. This is looking like a good test for a dog recovering from anaemia, which I am very happy about! I hope you are
reassured a little too.

If possible, we would like to see the earlier tests in case we can give you more of an idea of what happened/triggered this. But, as you know, sometimes, no-one can find out & this is not unusual – certainly not worth worrying about either.

The only thing missing is the exact reticulocyte figure, which your vet
commented on as being a bit slow at the moment to replace the lost red cells just yet. So, give Snoopy time & a chance for the drugs to do their job – early days! Expect side effects, but these will gradually go away when you can eventually wean the drugs.

Your vets have done a thorough, very good report here – and most importantly,
Snoopy is improving nicely. Now you just have to remember that when he gets into normal levels ( be patient, this takes time), you can reduce the prednisolone very carefully – please follow these guidelines to avoid a relapse – this is vital:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone-dose-
reduction/

Then, and only when the pred is reduced to nothing or the lowest dose possible, reduce the azathioprine gradually.

Please give Snoopy a huge congratulatory hug. And I hope you can relax a bit.

Huge hugs & much love
Sheena & the boys xxxxx

[Vally]

Tim and Jill

This is great news. Give Snoopy a big sloppy kiss.

Regards, Vally & Bingo

[jill]

thankyou everyone for all the advice , we are pleased things are looking up for Snoopy at last, its such a worry and is stressful,i actually had a little cry when we got the results Tuesday evening ! im afraid these animals just become like our babies don’t they, he means so much to us.its just lovely to see him with more energy, he iscwalking a lot further now.although I don’t wont him to overdo it, so I do several small walks instead of 1 long one.xx I do hate the drugs but they seem to be working so do hope it carrys on , love to you and your doggies xxxx

[Vally]

Jill, the shorter walks are a great idea. Oh, yes, we all know about crying with good news. It’s a good cry.

Love Vally & Bingo

[Sheena]

Hi Jill

Just a quick “hello” & to see how Snoopy is – it means the world when they show signs of feeling better – such great news. They get right inside our hearts, don’t they? And you are right to be careful with exercise, but it’s so nice to see them enjoying a little stroll after wanting to do absolutely nothing when they are so ill.

Please, keep us posted on how he’s doing!

Love & hugs
Sheena & the hound dogs
xxxxx