Bingo next phase

[Vally]

I know you’re all probably sick of the latest on the Bingo sagas, but who else am I going to share this with? No-one else listens to me. They all just roll their eyes and I can tell they’re pretending to be interested as I go on and on and explain what’s happening and why I’m doing this and my concerns and they are in la la land planning dinner or tomorrow’s day and just politely nodding.

I bit the bullet this morning and didn’t give Bingo his one-eighth of his 5mg prednisolone tablet. His vet wants me to drop the every second day one-eighth and leave him on every second day one quarter tablet. I was going to wait another 2 weeks or so before doing anything but decided to drop one of the one-eighths and leave the other, so, he’ll be on quarter tablet one day, eighth tablet next day, quarter tablet next day and skip the next completely. That drops down by the minutest amount going from 0.94mg to 0.78mg being an almost 20% reduction.

Because I knew the next reduction would be to skip a day, which I dread so much, I asked his vet about lowering the Neoral (cyclo), but he said no. He’d rather get the pred down to it’s lowest first. Buggar!

So today I’ve had the pleasure of worrying about him all day. He’s been very quiet (most likely on purpose because he knows it worries me) but today is incredibly hot again – can’t believe this weather. I’ll know if he’s feeling the effect at dinner time – about an hour to go. We’ve been for a couple of walks today, no problems – they were probably a bit slower than normal but, as I said, it’s hot again.

You know me, I just like to worry.

Great massage yesterday by the way :)

Lots of love, Vally & Skip a Day

[Patrice]

Vally,
Not silly at all. I went through the math games with Chance’s dosages for months.

Do me a favor. I have always wanted to ask Dr. Dodds this quesion, but always forgot.

Ask your vet what they believe is the equivalent dose of prednisone that your dog would need to identically replace what the adrenal glands would normally output on a regular day.

I think the answer to that would be very revealing. At what point in the prednisone reduction are we matching the bodies cortisone needs?

At what point in the reduction do we drop below the bodies needs and the adrenal glands must begin to function again?

And what are the risks of dropping below that dose on the alternate days?

You are watching Bingo and I have been watching Cassie like a hawk for 2 days. She had her rabies shot on Tuesday. I am sure she thinks I am nuts looking at her gums all the time. The only thing I have seen her do unusual is that she has chewed one of her nails down to the quick. I washed that paw and put it in a sock immediately.
my best, patrice

[admin]

Hi Vally

You BRAVE girl. That funny lad of yours is such a wind-up merchant – I bet he knows you are watching him! Wishing you luck with dropping the dose & hope the weather cools off a bit too – it really bothers them. The massage must have done you the world of good – you deserve it so much after all this stress.

Right, now Bingo, I wan’t some lively antics from you to make your Mum happy & give us all a good laugh.

All our best wishes & hugs to Bingo from Sheena, Worzel & Fatty

[admin]

Patrice – that would be a great question to ask about the pred – very interesting point. I’ve always wondered about the every other day logic – maybe there is a good reason. Ollie also had his rabies jab Tuesday & sends his sympathies to Cassie as he has to put up with the looking at gums treatment too. He was not feeling good in the evening & yesterday, but is perky again today. He needs to lose a couple of kilos too – greedy boy! Hope Cassie’s toe is OK – why do they have to worry us so much? I have a supply of odd socks (the twin of the ones the sock monster eats in the washing machine) for Worzel’s regular foot injuries. I have never known a dog to cut his feet so often & I have no idea how he does it!

[Linda]

Hi all. Good thinking Patrice. Of course, same questions here. Interesting Vally, your vet didn’t want to lower the cyclo. Did he say why? I am really scared about the way I’m weaning Sadie, intermittently with pred and cyclo, but we (vet agreed) just felt the cyclo at this point had to be lowered and we were already lowering the pred. She’d been on 50mg of cyclo for over a year. It’s just such a toss up.

I know what you’re taking about, the dense glaze over when taking with people about our AIHA pups. They don’t get the angst we go through and I end up feeling like an idiot – wishing so that their ‘how’s Sadie?’ is meant for politeness and a quick, uninvolved answer and my answer should been an off the cuff, doing well (true or not). I know they mean well.

But it’s here that we vent, a necessary, emotional need. Of course, the occasional massage is always a welcome stress derailer. Good for you! ;)

I think the heat really gets to them. I’ve gotten to where I walk Sadie really late (cooled off) or really early. My prior cocker spaniel-ate, slept and went out only to do her business. I rarely walked her. Stopped the rabies shot, gave daily heart worm med only. Vet visits were rare. She lived to 18, no health problems. Granted, a different era (goodness, crumbly Gainesburgers?!?), different dog – but sometimes I wonder, with all the ‘shots’ to ward off the evils of ‘out there’ – if staying inside most of the time isn’t better. Nope – boring and borderline neglectful. Poor Apple. She was an awesome dog too . Sadie – lets’s go for a mid-morning walk. :)

Maybe we should approach Dr.Dodds about Bingo? Has anyone communicated with her lately? I know what you’re going through. This IS a crucial time. Smile Bingo.

Love and hugs, Linda and Sadie

[Tara]

Hi Vally, how is Bingo doing? Thinking of you.

[Vally]

Hi Tara.

Day 1 – all good – sort of. He had to go out twice during the night and again this morning. He looks fine though, good colour and good energy level this morning – I did think he was quieter than normal yesterday, but quite hot yesterday. I’ll give him some slippery elm tonight if the poos continues today.

Linda, his vet said he wanted him down to his lowest prednisone before changing the dosing of cyclosporine because the pred side effects affect his body more than the cyclo.

His teeth, you know, I’m not sure. They actually both do still wobble, but I don’t think as much. One side definitely, less wobbly than before.

So relieved this morning though to give him his whole quarter tablet.

Love Vally & sprightly

[Tara]

I am sure you know this but Dr. Dodds recommended Sweet Potatoe to me for Diablo’s runs :)