Ashki – new thread

[admin]

Hi Tamara
Just one thing to say – yippeeeeeee!
Sending more tummy rubs too
Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxx

[Tamara]

Hi all, Ashki’s PCV is 32 this week. I’m not worried, I’ll take ups and downs in the 30s any day as we are recovering. He has been a little less energetic and his poops have been a little soft, I ran out of his probiotics and went and got another one until the original brand came in. I’m going to switch back and see if that does it.

We had a big day Sunday, went to a picnic, it was our first outing since his diagnosis. There were several people there who have been very supportive during our IMHA fight and they really wanted to see Ashki and to be honest I wanted to see them, so off we went. I set up an ex-pen for Ashki and everyone was great about keeping the other dogs away from Ashki and using hand sanitizer before petting him. We were there for about 3 hours and both of us were exhausted that night (I was the next day too, Ashki was ready to roll lol). Everyone was so happy to see Ashki. And glad to see me too :D .

Love and hugs to you all and scritchies to the four-leggeds.

tamara and ashki xoxoox

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Lovely news about Ashki’s picnic! I am so pleased that you both enjoyed it, and the fact he recovered quicker than you has to be a good sign, right?

I think you are right not to get too worried about the slight drop in PCV. As you know, this can be due to a variety of factors and I will keep everything crossed that the change back to his usual probiotics does the trick.

When’s the next outing? :)

Mary and Mable x

[Vally]

I’m glad Ashki had a fun day.

Love Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Ashki being stable in the 30’s is great – those little variations do happen (I’m convinced they like to keep us on our toes) & next time he could be up a bit.

Glad you both had a wonderful time – it’s nice to catch up with everyone & good that people understand how careful you need to be when they are on the immuno-suppressants. This disease can really stop you seeing friends doing the things you used to do because it’s so intense looking after them. So there IS someone else as paranoid as me with Worzel – I am always getting the chlorhexidine out, especially after the vet visits where there are other animals who could be carrying something we don’t want him to catch!

I too hope the probiotics will put him back on track, but he sounds like a happy, content boy, bless him. Keep on enjoying yourselves – you deserve it after all you’ve been through together.

Love & cuddles
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[Tamara]

Hi Mary, Vally, Sheena, and all — the probiotics have done the trick, now I know that this particular brand is the one for him. If you’re curious they are Rx Vitamins Probiotics, the brand and formulations have been developed by a veterinarian and they have a lot of research behind them.

I am quite introverted so big gatherings like the picnic are quite exhausting for me; Ashki is the opposite, Mr. Social Butterfly, he loves those big gatherings and all the activity lol.

Yes, Sheena, I am definitely as paranoid as you I think. And you are so right about this disease just taking over your life. Our community has classes that are very affordable and I’ve been wanting to take a painting class and a yoga class and I’m actually thinking of signing up!

He continues to do well, playing with his toys, keeping an eye on the neighborhood cats, and enjoying our little walks.

The vet suggested that we could go two weeks before a re-check! I am thinking I will try and make it that long, of course going in if I see that Ashki is feeling poorly.

Love and hugs to you all —
tamara and ashki xoxoxo

[Tamara]

Hi all, Ashki continues to do well, though his hematocrit dropped from 31 two weeks ago to 27. I am worried that he may be overmedicated, I’ve talked to a few people who have had this happen with their dog, and a vet tech who went through IMHA with her dog and they see it at her clinic. He also had a tummy episode last week when he wasn’t feeling good and his stool was very dark, so I added back the sucralfate once a day before bed. I talked about both with Ashki’s internist and she thinks it’s possible he had a bleed or microbleed, as his serum protein also dropped and that can indicate a bleed. Anyway, between the two, we decided to go ahead and drop his prednisone from 30mg SID to 20mg SID. His proteinuria is stable at 3.2, which is what it was a month ago. His urine is concentrating a little more, which I’m really relieved about, and his chemistry is beautiful! He is feeling better since I added back the sucralfate, and his fur is slowly slowly growing back in. I’m hoping I’m making the right decision, I’m of course watching him very carefully. We’re going in a week for a PCV. Please keep paws and fingers crossed for us!
sending you all big hugs and much love,
tamara and ashki xoxoxo

[Tamara]

Oh and I also wanted to check his iron, waiting on those results. Yikes, that is expensive! But you know me, I want to know :) .
xoxox t