Ashki – new thread

[Vally]

Tamara, 34 to 31 is really okay. I think 5 up or down is an okayable number. It can vary for so many reasons, how hydrated they are. Specialist told me once, when they have a dog staying in over a few days, on a drip, the PCV will drop, because they are kept so hydrated.

Make sure you fast him before the blood test on Tuesday. I was told Bingo had kidney disease by the local vets. A fasted blood test showed otherwise. So it makes a big difference.

I’ve bought a urine test kit and can do a test trip on Bingo every now and then. It’s not very expensive (here). Have the urine analysed again for your sake.

Also I always found a slight drop in his PCV after a drop in prednisone. I came to expect it. It seems to take a little while for the body to adjust (that’s the way I see it – don’t know how technical that is). I so often found the first test after an adjustment went down a bit, and the next climbed back up.

Fingers crossed this has all been a false alarm. Yes, it’s only money (sigh).

Lots of love
Vally & Bingo

[Tamara]

Hi Vally, thanks so much. I agree, I’m less worried about the drop than the bilirubin, though the combination of the two is worrying. And like you if it had just been the drop I would have thought it was just a result of reducing the pred and would expect it to bounce back. I need to get a urine test kit, did you get it on Amazon or? Ashki’s kidney chemistry has been fine thank goodness, he’s just persistently proteinuric and we’re all worried about kidney disease resulting from that. It’s much much better than it was, just still high. Normal is < 0.5, his is 3 at last check.

Lots of love to you and Bingo, give him a scritchie from me please.
tamara and ashki xoxox

[Vally]

Tamara, the one I got was called a Combur-9 Test Strips 50. Only thing I didn’t realise it didn’t have was specific gravity, but it has, among other stuff, protein, glucose, bilirubin and blood in urine tests. I paid about AUS$25 for it and got it from an online pharmacy here. I found this one on Amazon, and it also has specific gravity:

http://www.amazon.com/Phinex-Parameter-Urinalysis-Reagent-Strips/dp/B0099WTWTA/ref=sr_1_1/192-6265451-2685721?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1416719072&sr=1-1

Love Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Tamara,
now I know why you are worried! The dip is really not that bad and as Vally said can hapen if the dog is less hydrated then at the last test. The bilirubin in the urine can of course mean that there is destruction of red blood cells happening. This is definitly a worry and you need to keep a close eye on this. How is Ashki behaving? Any changes? Does he have yellow eyes or skin as well? I would probably see if you could have a full CBC and have a pathologist look at his blood. I think that would bethe only way to know for sure if there is destruction going on. I think you have worked together with Dr. Dodds before, maybe you could send some blood to her? I read that steroids can be the cause for bilirubin in the urine, maybe that is the cause? You certainly want to find out what is going on with Ashki rather sooner than later. Thinking of you!

Best wishes,
Brigitte

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Hoping you are feeling a bit better – I know this has upset you an awful lot. Please don’t worry too much – I totally agree with Vally & Brigitte that a PCV change of 5 or less is not too bad & we usually see small drops with pred reductions. I know you are concerned about his kiddley diddleys though & appreciate your vet sensibly is doing her very best to minimise the problems. I too use amazon test strips for Worzel
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008RWF0I0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

I take Vit B complex, so will check my results with a test strip & let you know if anything unusual turns up! I imagine that the yellow colour does skew results

We will be thinking about you on Tuesday & I think doing a full CBC & blood smear is a great idea too. Dr Dodds can help too if necessary – maybe ask her about what reductions to try as well?

In the meantime, try to get some relaxing cuddles with that lovely boy of yours – if he if feeling good, that can only be a very good sign.

Love & Hugs from us all
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxx

[admin]

Dear Tamara

I’m really sorry to read about this latest blip. I am also an anxiety sufferer, and whilst I would never wish to draw comparisons, I do want you to know you are not alone. I can well imagine how you must be feeling.

Vally and Sheena have mentioned home testing urine sticks which I think is a good idea. You can get them fairly cheaply online. Just make sure to get a batch which includes bili as some of the cheaper ones test for fewer things e.g. protein and glucose only. It will be interesting to see what Sheena’s results are as she is also taking B complex. Just maybe, it’s an error?

Does Ashki have any signs of jaundice at all? I agree that it’s well worth checking his serum bilirubin and taking a blood smear also. I wonder whether Dr Dodds’ lab could do any additional urine testing to try to identify the cause?

Thinking of you and that beautiful boy and sending lots of well wishes.

Mary and Mable x

[Tamara]

Thank you all, so much. You are such a comfort to me.

Vally, I ordered those strips, they’ll be here tomorrow. I feel so much better that I can keep an eye on this myself!! When you test, do you just collect some urine in a glass, or did you get some special containers from the vet, or?

Brigitte and Mary, no signs of jaundice, no yellowing, thank goodness. We did do a CBC and this lab is very good about reporting if there are any abnormalities in the cells and there were none. We also did a PCV that day and his serum was clear. That’s why this is so confusing — there are no other signs of RBC destruction. I am really hoping it was the discoloration from the B12 shot that led to the high bili result.

Sheena, now that I will have these testing strips I will do a check the morning after a shot and another morning and see if there is a difference — though I know the lab uses a machine so it will be a different method. I think it will still be interesting to see though. I will let you know as soon as I try it. I’m sure poor Ashki will get tired of me chasing him around to test!

He is feeling well, keeping an eye on the neighborhood from his window, although his gums look a little pale to me. Worry, worry. That will be my new middle name.

Love to you all —
tamara and ashki xoxoxo

[Vally]

Tamara, I went and bought some of the little test containers from the chemist. Wasn’t sure if there could be contamination from anything else I used. They were a $1 each so I bought a bunch and now have them on hand.

Love Vally & Bingo