Diablo

[Tara]

Hello! I have missed you all so much. Sorry I have been out of tough. In December we moved and also lost our younger schnauzer to a brain tumour/seizures :( Diablo is still fighting. It will be a year in February since his initial IMHA diagnosis. He is 14 now.

Diablo just had bloodwork done and now I have new concerns :(

He is down a little bit:

December he was 42 HCT and RBC 5.9 and this month he is 41 HCT and 5.7 RBC.

Everything is in the normal range except Platlets still raised at 792 and Neutrophils are elevated at 13.0

I also did a chem panel and that is where I am worried….for the first time ever is Glucose is slightly elevated at 6.6 and is Albumin is low at 26. These numbers have previously always been normal.

I did a complete urinalysis and there was alot of bacteria in the urine and a tiny bit of protein and it was very dilute. No WBC found.

He has been having accidents and is no longer able to make it through the night….has to go out at least once to pee in the middle of the night.  I was wondering about cushings because his coat has really thinned lately too and skin has become very dry.

He is on 2.5 of pred every a.m. only and 25 mg of cyclo in a.m. and again in p.m. He takes thyroid 2x per day.

The vet does not want to wean any further and wants to re-test in another month.

Any thoughts? Thanks everyone!

 

 

[Brigitte]

Tara,

I am so sorry you lost your Schnauzer. You have my sincere condolences.

I must say I am not sure what to say about Diabolo. How is he over all, clinically? Is he happy or does he seem to be in pain, lethargic, is he eating? All that would be much more important to me than the test results. He is getting up there in age and some of his problems might be age related. Is he neutered? The accidents could be prostate related or he could have bladder stones. Has that been looked at? The pred an cyclo doses seem low to cause cushings, but then I am used to a 55 lbs dog:) How much does Diabolo weigh? Is he a mini? I guess lowering the doses would be good if you suspect cushings. The drop in HCT and RBC is so slight it would not worry me. Instead of rechecking in a month maybe do it in 2 weeks and if he is not going down any further taper the cyclo? just some ideas.

Best wishes, Brigitte

[Tara]

Thanks so much Brigitte. How are you? Diablo is a mini and he is 20 pounds. Besides the accidents and being unable to make it through the night Diablo is doing well…has energy and is eating well. He does not seem to be in any pain. They have not investigated prostate or bladder stones…I will inquire when we go back. He is neutered.  He back legs tremble quite a bit too but he does not seem to mind and I have always attributed that to muscle loss. I do find he does lick himself after he urinates but they have ruled out a urinary infection but put him on a 10 day course of antibiotics just in case…..nothing has changed though and he is done the meds in a few days. Thanks again Brigitte so nice to hear from you!!

[Vally]

Hi Tara.

I’m so sorry about your younger schnauzer.

With Diablo, someone correct me, but I believe that albumim and glucose levels can always be slightly out whilst on prednisone. Neither of the results are out by a lot.

The drop from 42 to 41 is really nothing to worry about. I’ve come to expect slight ups and downs  is normal with Bingo.  Up to 3 I don’t worry (much) up to 5, I worry a little bit!. I know we never want to see down, but something as simple as how much water they’ve drunk, how stressed they are when tested, the time of day, will affect the result.

As Brigitte said, how is the “Little Devil” acting.  You can usually tell a lot by the way they look to you.

I like Brigitte’s idea too, if you’r worried, have the test redone earlier.

My best, Vally & Bingo.

[Tara]

Hi Vally!! So nice to be back in touch. How is Bingo? Any funny stories? I still break out into a smile remembering some of the Bingo stories you’ve told :) The ‘Little Devil’ is acting pretty normal except for the accidents and night time peeing.  I will definitely get him checked sooner…..I can’t help but worry as he has always been able to make it through the night even on a much higher dose of the meds.

[Brigitte]

Tara, one thing that just came to mind about UTI’s, did they do a culture?did you have to wait a couple of days or did you get the result in 20 minutes? If they did not do a culture I think there is still a chance he has a UTI. Only doing a culture would make sure he has not. I am not 100% sure on this but it is how I understand it. With the culture they could also say exactly what kind of antibiotic to give. The comment about the prostate is just a hunch, a thought. When Enzo was neutered our vet said his prostate is enlarged and he had a bit of an infection. This could possibly be the reason for Diabolo’s incontinence. I was just thinking how human guys do with that:) I am not sure if the bladder stones would cause incontinence, probably more pain. but definitely something to consider. Patrice knows more about that condition. She has some great websites if it turns out that is what Diabolo has.

Thanks for asking, things are very good here! Happy and healthy poodles, what more can I ask for:)

Best wishes,

Brigitte

[Tara]

Thanks Brigitte…they definitley did not do a culture……just prescribed clavomox for 10 days to be safe. I am definitely going to inquire about prostate!! Yes, happy and healthy is perfect!!!!!!! How many poodles do you have? Male or female or both? What colour? Thanks again!!!!

[Vally]

Bingo, the dope. Check the forum where I explained how he nearly burned down the house, that was about a month ago.

He’s always doing something.

Last night I went out and when I go out, Bingo goes to bed with dad until I get home.  Usually when I get home, I open dad’s door and Bingo is waiting and comes straight out and heads straight to the kitchen – supper time!!!  Starts barking if I’m too slow.

Last night, I get home, open the door and …nothing.  I call Bingo quietly as I don’t want to wake dad, nothing.  My blood pressure goes up with my stress levels.  Something’s wrong.  In the back of my mind, Bingo has had diarrhear for a day.  I’m now picturing Bingo so ill he can’t get up.  I don’t want to wake dad as he can’t hear much and, without hearing aids in, I won’t be able to explain what’s wrong.

I look under the bed and see Bingo sitting in the far corner of the room. I’m now really worried.  I go over to him and quietly pat him and he doesn’t move.  I speak to him and he gets up quickly and stares at the wall wagging his tail.  He’s now in “pointer” stance (except he’s wagging his tail). Staring at the wall. Bizarre.  He won’t come away when I call  him.

I race out to get a torch (imagining a mouse/rat/huge cockroach/small monster/alien/ghost etc cornered), dad hasn’t woken thank goodness, turn around and Bingo’s behind me.

I’ve worked out the dope must have gotten turned around and he’s waiting at the wrong corner of the room. He’s sitting staring at the wall, thinking it’s the door waiting for it to be opened.  His vision isn’t the best, never really was.

All good, he’s now wondering what I’m doing and waiting in the kitchen for his supper.

Lots of love, Vally & dope.