Ashki – new thread

[admin]

Tamara,
I really feel for you, I think not knowing is the worst! Try to stay positive. Not seeing any destruction is wonderful, no jaundice is also great, Ashki is feeling well that is the best of it all! I hope (with you) it is all just a weird glitch and that you can soon continue again to lower those nasty drugs that have saved Ashki’s life.

Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Vally]

PS Bingo has leaned if he wants privacy, he now goes under a bush – good luck trying to get a sample there Vally!!!

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Yes I agree with Vally. If you can get some sterile urine pots, that will be best. Whatever you use should be sterile as a contaminated sample might show up some false positives. As far as possible, try to ensure Ashki or you dont touch the pot either, for the same reason. There used to be little cardboard trays that were sterile and folded out into a dish which were great, but either way something sterile is important and I’m sure wouldn’t cost too much.

Great news that Ashki’s bloods were fine, and I am keeping everything crossed that this is just a little blip and nothing to worry about.

Lots of love and good wishes,

Mary & Mable x

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Worry is our middle name – ALL of us! I am a pretty sensible, matter of fact person who just gets on with things most of the time, but this disease changes every single one of us. I do worry far more now about my dogs even now, so you are in good company here. During the serious illness stage, I was so worried that I couldn’t think about anything else & every little thing that happened would make me very stressed out. The only good thing was that I lost a lot of weight! So there you are – we are all the same, Tamara. The difference for you is that this has been going on a long time & the stress of it does take a toll on your own health. You need some “you” time badly, my friend.

Pale gums – I had a few nice surprises with Worzel – his gums are incredibly pale (even now) when he is inactive & it’s frightened the life out of me several times – the dread of the results – until the PCV came back OK. I’m not saying this is always the case, but sometimes it’s just that they haven’t done much moving around & all that blood is stored in the spleen. A biscuit gets the circulation going for Worzel!

I am really puzzled as to why his retics are higher now, but his PCV hasn’t gone up. It’s very strange – does your vet have any ideas on this? Great that there’s no sign of intravascular haemolysis though – that’s such good news, Tamara. I presume they must have done a blood smear from what you’ve said, so we can assume all is well – good!

Looking forward to hearing some wee collection stories. I found that waiting until he’s started peeing then running across with a clean glass (from the dishwasher which should be hot enough to kill any bugs off) to get a mid-stream usually worked. I know our French neighbours at the farm have had a good giggle at me though – they are lovely people who adore animals too, so I don’t really care. They were really supportive when Worzel was very ill actually, even though they were cracking up laughing at my antics, especially poo inspection! Talking of which, how are Ashki’s stools? It’s another good way of checking on their health as you know.

Hopefully this is a temporary setback & he’ll be on the up again – fingers crossed

Sending love & cuddles as always
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie too xxxxx

[admin]

Hi Tamara
Vit B complex wee test – everything was completely normal for me, even though colour was quite yellow. How did you get on?
Sheena xxxxx

[Tamara]

I got the strips yesterday and tested — negative for bili, high protein but that’s expected. Tested again this morning — high bili. Tested this afternoon — negative or maybe very low bili, hard to tell.

His PCV was 27 today, another dip from 31. We sent out chemistry and I think CBC too, she’ll call tomorrow and I should be able to get copies tomorrow too.

I’m exhausted, having a rough day. Ashki is feeling pretty well.

I did have one thought — last time we had that dip to 25 we had increased his dietary protein; when I changed it back to the reduced protein he came back up. Recently I’ve been training him a lot, working on his recall, and those training treats are all meat, and I haven’t reduced his meals at all. So I am going to start tracking that carefully and making sure his protein is not too high.

I’m going to keep checking his urine and I’ll let you know.

Love to you all —
tamara and ashki xoxoxo

[Vally]

Tamara, I’m sorry you’re even more confused now with the test strips and the further drop in the PCV must be really worrying. Waiting to see what the results are like tomorrow.

Absolutely worth keeping an eye on the proteins.

Love Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Hi Tamara

I’m so, so sorry about the little drop again – this is really frustrating & really unfair. Thank goodness Ashki is feeling OK though – that’s so important. You could be onto something with the protein content of his food though. Interesting & confusing bili results, so it sounds like your vet could be right – B vits affect the results, even though mine have been normal. Or maybe it’s something to do with one of the drugs? Perhaps at different times you are getting different results because it relates to when Ashki is given particular drugs, e.g. the pred?

Found this when I Googled: drugs that can increase bilirubin measurements – include allopurinol, anabolic steroids, some antibiotics, antimalaria medications, azathioprine, chlorpropamide, cholinergics, codeine, diuretics, epinephrine, meperidine, methotrexate, methyldopa, MAO inhibitors, morphine, nicotinic acid, birth control pills, phenothiazines, quinidine, rifampin, steroids, sulfonamides, and theophylline.

I hope this helps a bit – get some rest & cuddles – you can get through this Tamara. I have sent you a message about MMF – I hope that helps too.

Love, hugs & moral support
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxx

[admin]

Tamara,
I really feel for you, I think not knowing is the worst! Try to stay positive. Not seeing any destruction is wonderful, no jaundice is also great, Ashki is feeling well that is the best of it all! I hope (with you) it is all just a weird glitch and that you can soon continue again to lower those nasty drugs that have saved Ashki’s life.

Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Vally]

PS Bingo has leaned if he wants privacy, he now goes under a bush – good luck trying to get a sample there Vally!!!

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Yes I agree with Vally. If you can get some sterile urine pots, that will be best. Whatever you use should be sterile as a contaminated sample might show up some false positives. As far as possible, try to ensure Ashki or you dont touch the pot either, for the same reason. There used to be little cardboard trays that were sterile and folded out into a dish which were great, but either way something sterile is important and I’m sure wouldn’t cost too much.

Great news that Ashki’s bloods were fine, and I am keeping everything crossed that this is just a little blip and nothing to worry about.

Lots of love and good wishes,

Mary & Mable x

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Worry is our middle name – ALL of us! I am a pretty sensible, matter of fact person who just gets on with things most of the time, but this disease changes every single one of us. I do worry far more now about my dogs even now, so you are in good company here. During the serious illness stage, I was so worried that I couldn’t think about anything else & every little thing that happened would make me very stressed out. The only good thing was that I lost a lot of weight! So there you are – we are all the same, Tamara. The difference for you is that this has been going on a long time & the stress of it does take a toll on your own health. You need some “you” time badly, my friend.

Pale gums – I had a few nice surprises with Worzel – his gums are incredibly pale (even now) when he is inactive & it’s frightened the life out of me several times – the dread of the results – until the PCV came back OK. I’m not saying this is always the case, but sometimes it’s just that they haven’t done much moving around & all that blood is stored in the spleen. A biscuit gets the circulation going for Worzel!

I am really puzzled as to why his retics are higher now, but his PCV hasn’t gone up. It’s very strange – does your vet have any ideas on this? Great that there’s no sign of intravascular haemolysis though – that’s such good news, Tamara. I presume they must have done a blood smear from what you’ve said, so we can assume all is well – good!

Looking forward to hearing some wee collection stories. I found that waiting until he’s started peeing then running across with a clean glass (from the dishwasher which should be hot enough to kill any bugs off) to get a mid-stream usually worked. I know our French neighbours at the farm have had a good giggle at me though – they are lovely people who adore animals too, so I don’t really care. They were really supportive when Worzel was very ill actually, even though they were cracking up laughing at my antics, especially poo inspection! Talking of which, how are Ashki’s stools? It’s another good way of checking on their health as you know.

Hopefully this is a temporary setback & he’ll be on the up again – fingers crossed

Sending love & cuddles as always
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie too xxxxx

[admin]

Hi Tamara
Vit B complex wee test – everything was completely normal for me, even though colour was quite yellow. How did you get on?
Sheena xxxxx

[Tamara]

I got the strips yesterday and tested — negative for bili, high protein but that’s expected. Tested again this morning — high bili. Tested this afternoon — negative or maybe very low bili, hard to tell.

His PCV was 27 today, another dip from 31. We sent out chemistry and I think CBC too, she’ll call tomorrow and I should be able to get copies tomorrow too.

I’m exhausted, having a rough day. Ashki is feeling pretty well.

I did have one thought — last time we had that dip to 25 we had increased his dietary protein; when I changed it back to the reduced protein he came back up. Recently I’ve been training him a lot, working on his recall, and those training treats are all meat, and I haven’t reduced his meals at all. So I am going to start tracking that carefully and making sure his protein is not too high.

I’m going to keep checking his urine and I’ll let you know.

Love to you all —
tamara and ashki xoxoxo

[Vally]

Tamara, I’m sorry you’re even more confused now with the test strips and the further drop in the PCV must be really worrying. Waiting to see what the results are like tomorrow.

Absolutely worth keeping an eye on the proteins.

Love Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Hi Tamara

I’m so, so sorry about the little drop again – this is really frustrating & really unfair. Thank goodness Ashki is feeling OK though – that’s so important. You could be onto something with the protein content of his food though. Interesting & confusing bili results, so it sounds like your vet could be right – B vits affect the results, even though mine have been normal. Or maybe it’s something to do with one of the drugs? Perhaps at different times you are getting different results because it relates to when Ashki is given particular drugs, e.g. the pred?

Found this when I Googled: drugs that can increase bilirubin measurements – include allopurinol, anabolic steroids, some antibiotics, antimalaria medications, azathioprine, chlorpropamide, cholinergics, codeine, diuretics, epinephrine, meperidine, methotrexate, methyldopa, MAO inhibitors, morphine, nicotinic acid, birth control pills, phenothiazines, quinidine, rifampin, steroids, sulfonamides, and theophylline.

I hope this helps a bit – get some rest & cuddles – you can get through this Tamara. I have sent you a message about MMF – I hope that helps too.

Love, hugs & moral support
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxx