Dallas the Morkie – IMHA outpatient on meds

[Sheena]

Hi Amy

He is truly a gorgeous boy – what a cutie-pie & obviously a chess grand master! Brains as well as handsome.

Yes, the recommened instructions are without food, so you are following the rules perfectly, but some dogs just puke! This is not your fault, of course – just rotten luck & rotten for him. Some vets have recommend trying with food if this happens, or maybe they prefer giving Cerenia / Metoclopramide. I’m sure your vets will be happy to suggest the best option for your lovely boy. You WILL find a way to keep that drug down him!

Don’t laugh, but when Worzel was puking a lot at the beginning, I used to go through it carefully looking for undigested pills or capsules etc – I still do that now if he pukes up in case his heart murmur tablet comes back up! Revolting, aren’t I?

If I have sent you this info earlier on, sorry, but better twice than not at all – here is the cyclosporine info on our site:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/cyclosporine/

Hope you have a peaceful evening with your babies & Dallas continues to be a cheeky boy with pink gums.

Sheena & the boys xxx

[Vally]

Amy, I’m glad to hear that Dallas thinks he’s better. I’ll bet anything he’s right.

Yes, it’s important that the cyclo stay down, so if he’s puking it, maybe add a little food with it, or if he’s already getting a little bit, add a little more.

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[Amy]

Hey all,

Dallas is feeling better than ever! He is back to his playful self and he’s even back to eating his kibble!

This is just a repeat for those I was emailing with the other day but we went back to the vet on Thursday to do another blood test and got some good news! His count was at 16 on Monday (Apr 18) and 26 on Thursday (Apr 22)!! The vet was shocked and said that he is definitely in the 10% who start to recover this quickly with the meds. We know he still has a long way to go, but we are so happy to have our happy little boy back!

We also got to drop the Metronizole, so we’re down to the Cyclosporin, Prednisone, Aspirin and Famotidine. Hopefully it’ll keep dropping in the near future!

I know he is not to be vaccinated ever again, but I was wondering if that includes using flea and tick treatments in the summer? I assume we shouldn’t but any insight into this would be extremely helpful!

– Amy

[Amy E]

You are correct NO flea and tick. At least not topical stuff and NO heart guard for awhile either. You can use an all natural mosquito repellant on him. I am using the Seresto flea and tick collar on Coal. This is not absorbed into the skin and if there is a reaction to it you can remove it immediately with out worry. I am thrilled to hear about his increase! YAY! I hope you enjoy your weekend.
Blessings,
Amy & Coal

[Vally]

There’s a bandana you can get too from Amazon which has permethrin impregnated into the fibres. It doesn’t weep onto the skin or into water so it’s a very good alternative for our doggies.

I don’t use anything, but I have found that since Bingo has been getting a B12 injection every few weeks, and he is also on Brewer’s yeast (which has more Vitamin B), he just does NOT have any fleas on him ever. Just finished summer. I have seen 1 flea on him in total, which I picked off him. We used to have quite a flea problem in the park where he goes and people still complain about them, but the fleas obviously think Bingo now stinks and leaves him alone.

Ticks are more important, as fleas whilst a pest, won’t actually cause health problems. Ticks do though. I’m not in a tick area, so I can be more relaxed about this but if you are in a tick area, you obviously need to use something.

Vally & Stinky

[Amy]

Thank you so much for the advice on the flea and tick dilemma! Dallas (and Clover) tend to attract ticks because we spend a lot of time at the cottage and in the country. We will definitely need to purchase

I have some great news (sorry I haven’t posted in a while, life got pretty crazy) – but Dallas went for another red blood cell test on Monday and his count was up to 43!!! The ICU vet said that we can start weening him off of the meds in 4 weeks, he no longer needs to take aspirin, and that we can start going back to our regular vet now!

-Amy & Dallas

[Sheena]

Hiya Amy!

Wow – 43 is such good news – I like the nice & safe idea of leaving the 4 weeks before you start the reductions – here is some info on safe pred reduction:

https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone-dose-reduction/

It’s so nice to hear Dallas is doing really well & that you can see your usual vet from now on – sounds fantastic!

Please keep us posted on how things are going – you are doing a really good job –

Sheena & the hound dogs xxxxx

[Vally]

Amy, 43 is wonderful. A little slow in posting, but well done you two. And I like the vet that says to start in 4 weeks. So many rush through this, and I understand why, as we just want them off the drugs, but this is the safest way to do it.

Congratulations !!!

Vally & Bingo
xxx