Ashki – new thread – Page 44 – Second Chance AIHA Dogs

Tamara

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Hi all, wanted to update you on Ashki. lots to tell. We did a very thorough check up this week, cbc, chemistry, u/a and upc, as well as x-rays of his hips as I was worried one of his hips seemed swollen, and it felt to me like it could possibly be the bone. His hips are fine (well, as fine as a dysplastic dog’s hips can be), some minor arthritic changes. HCT up a point to 25, retics at 31 and 1%. Chemistry showed some changes, high AST (he has lost weight on the increased pred so the specialist thinks that is from the catabolic state and muscle burning), high TCO2, low chloride, which the vet thinks is from an upset tummy and internal regurgitation. He has been wanting to eat grass, even though I’ve increased the sucralfate, so we’ve added omeprazole once daily, 20mg. His UPC is back up from 2.4 to 6.5, most likely a result of the pred and/or the cyclosporine.

We had a very long conversation when I was there and Dr. Burtch wanted to bring in more opinions. She suggested calling Davis as the vet she emailed there never responded. I asked her if she would be willing to talk to Jean and she said she would, so they talked at length yesterday morning, going over everything. Jean said that Ashki is doing okay (she doesn’t worry unless dogs can’t stay above 20), and that for some dogs it just takes a very long time to recover, a year or even two years — they just get better. Dr. Burtch was encouraged by her optimism, but is also bummed because Ashki was in the mid30s for so long. They did decide to reduce the mycophenolate again as it can be myelosuppressive. Jean suggested adding folate rich foods such as lentils, kale, carrots, asparagus, and mushrooms, as she believes that folate is a piece of late-stage maturation arrest. She did not think we need to do a bone marrow exam at this time. Dr. Burtch and I are both worried about the prednisone and the effects it is having on Ashki (GI, weight loss, etc) so that will be the next thing we reduce, but very carefully, I’m already thinking about how to do it. I’m very grateful Dr. Burtch was willing to talk with Jean, I hear of so many specialists who won’t talk to her or work with her, and many generalists who won’t either. So to sum up, Jean thinks we are doing fine, just a suggested a few minor changes, and that we just need to be patient as some dogs take a very long time to recover and it seems that Ashki is one of those.
Love and hugs to you all —
tamara and ashki xoxoxo

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