AIHA-Just Diagnosed

[Wendy Gonzalez]

Thank you for the information. I will read the article. In addition, yesterday at the appointment, ( I just re-read my notes) the vet stated that she wanted to decrease the pred that he is on. He is on 1- 1/2tables (20mg each tablet) and would like to drop him down to just one. Is this too soon? Makes me worried that she wants to drop his pred so early on or do you think this will help with the upset tummy.

[Brigitte]

Hi Wendy,
I am not a vet and don’t have Franks latest blood results in front of me but my gut feeling is that it would be too soon to reduce his immune suppressing drugs. A reduction from 30mg to 20 per day would be ok but I would want him on a higher PCV than 25. Maybe the vet has an other reason for this, I would ask. Again this would be a situation you might want to check with Dr. Dodds. If you have not already asked her about the heartworm protection, maybe include the question of reducing? Maybe it is ok because he is still on the cyclosporin.
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[admin]

Hi Wendy

It’s much too soon in my opinion too – I agree with Brigitte that his PCV is still too low. He’s not been on the cyclosporine very long either. Frank should be stable & in the normal PCV range before you reduce the pred, unless there is a very good clinical reason for this. I would ask Dr Dodds too, if I were you before you let them change anything.

Love Sheena xxxxx

[Vally]

Wendy, ditto what the others have said. Usually the reductions don’t start until they’re stable in the normal range – above 35 and been there for a while. Sometimes there are very real reasons why they need to be reduced. Unless there are serious side effects from the prednisone, then no, it’s too soon to start reducing.

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[Wendy Gonzalez]

We have an appointment in an hour or so and I will request that he does not get his medication reduced at this time and point. I think what happened was that my vet talked to the UC Davis vet and they told her to have him on one tablet of prednisone rather than the 1 1/2. But my thinking is that he is doing really well with the 1 1/2 tablets and his PCV level is going up. I will advocate for my baby.

[Brigitte]

Wendy,
as I said before I think it is too soon to reduce. Having said that, at 20mg per day Frank’s immune system is still suppressed enough for the adrenal glands not to kick in. That is what we are scared of, the adrenal glands not getting enough cortisol and triggering an adrenal crisis. Those glands have to be woken up slowly so they can go back to work. I would ask, what is the reason for reducing, could you wait for an other 2 weeks and what would be the disadvantage of waiting. Have you seen any really bad side effects of the pred? How much does Frank weigh? I would want to clearly understand why the reduction is needed and what the benefits would be. Good luck and best wishes,
Brigitte

[admin]

You said you were frightened about a relapse. One sure fire way for Frank to have one is to reduce too quickly. We have explained this earlier – sorry to be so harsh but you need to start reading & taking note of what we are telling you so you can stand up for yourself at the vets. There is only one person that can stick up for Frank & get him better – YOU.

[Vally]

Wendy, yes your worries are right on this and you have to stick up for Frank. As Sheena said, reducing prednisone too quickly or too much is what, in probably most cases, causes relapses.

The minute anyone mentions reducing prednisone by 50% or reducing too soon everybody’s BIG RED FLAGS go up in everybody’s mind to stop this happening.

Good luck with the appointment and don’t let them reduce !!!

Vally & Bingo
xxx