Dylan, the Mini Schnauzer‏

[Vally]

Kathleen, the post above this is from Sheena. She’s having computer problems, so I said I’d post it for her.

Vally

[admin]

Testing to see if this works
Sheena x

[AmyE]

Kathleen I am so sorry you had to come to the boards but I am very glad you found us. My puppy Coal was diagnosed with IMHA at 4 months old. Which is almost unheard of. This has been a very crazy journey. I am fairly new and not a good giver of medical advice concerning this wretched disease but I am here for support,an ear and to pray and send many well wishes to your pup. Please know we are all here to help in any way we can. I send prayers of peace to you through this crazy time.
Blessings,
Amy & Coal (the sassy standard poodle)

[Kathleen O’Donnell]

Hi, Vally!
I work out of town two days a week, just back yesterday. I hate having to be away from Dylan but it’s my freelance gig for now.

Thank you SO much for your support and hugs.

It is a LOT to digest, and though I ask a lot of questions, I see I don’t really understand all that is going on. I see I need to ask my main vet and homeopath what exactly the Chinese herb is supposed to do (it’s 5 days on, 5 days off).

I will be emailing the test results I have though I believe there is a newer one. I need to ask what to look for on these tests. Can you help with that as well?

Today and yesterday, Dylan seems much more like his old self. He is trotting on walks, yipped at me and put his head on the sofa when he wants me to pay attention to him, and PLAYED with another Schnauzer we met on a walk tonight.

I couldn’t believe it! Also is sleeping more peacefully, not as restless.

But, I know you say not to worry; his count has started up before and then plummeted. So, I am on the roller coaster but much prefer the drugs as weapons of IMHA destruction. His gums are still not as pink as they were.

Interesting thing the homeopathic vet said about treating a dog with cancer; she told the pet dad not to look at tests anymore, but to look at how the dog was doing. And it lived and thrived.

I’m just scared cancer is the underlying cause of this all.

How long does it take the pred to work? It’s a week of the leflunomide as of today.

Rambling reply. I guess I’m still trying to process this all and not read all the scary stats elsewhere.

Kathleen

[Kathleen]

Amy and Sheena–thank you also for your moral support. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.

Hope I am posting where you can see it. I write web copy for a living but seem to be challenged when it comes to posting here.

[Vally]

Kathleen, this is Sheena’s message. She’s still have problems posting so I said I’d put this in for her. I know she’s emailed you.

Hi Kathleen

Thank you for the blood tests which came through clearly. Your vets have reviewed a blood smear & there is nothing worrying there relating to clotting. There is only an observation of “slight” spherocytes, so your vet has checked for clotting risks beautifully.

I am highly suspicious that Dylan has developed an infection as his neutrophils are very high – this is the most usual cause of high neutrophils by far & I would definitely get him checked out for tick borne-diseases etc – a Snap4dx is a good place to start. His monocytes are a litle raised too, indication inflammation. It is true to say the drugs can affect these figures though. The immuno-suppressants make them prone to catching infections too.

Has Dylan got a temperature at all? Or any sign of an infection? I think you should have a good chat with your vet to find out why this has happened as the neutrophils are much higher on the latest test than they were. Maybe one of the drugs is responsible – possible the chinese med or something else? But my gut feeling is infection – we see this quite often, so please don’t panic – my boy Worzel had to have 5/6 weeks high dose doxycycline for a tick disease – his neutrophils went really high at the begining of treatment too, so we knew he had something nasty – most likely ehlichiosis from his symptoms. Doxycyline is very effective for tick diseases.

Be careful which antibiotics you use if he does need them. There are 3 groups best avoided if possible:

Sulfa drugs

Penicillins

Cephalosporins

However, if it means the infection can only be killed off with a cephalosporin, you don’t have a choice. The other 2, I would avoid though.

He is on Tylan still? Correct me if I’m wrong please. It is a macrolide class of antibiotic, similar to erythromycin, so he can’t have erythromycin and Tylan together as I read that cross-resistance can occur. I would also ask your vet to check carefully for interactions between drugs – I can’t see any other interaction myself on the Tylan info, but always best to be 100% sure.

It’s great to hear he’s feeling playful! I bet that has cheered you up a bit. That is always a good sign.

Hope we’ve helped a bit -any other questions, fire away!

Sending more BIG supporting hugs

Sheena & the boys xxxxx

[Vally]

Kathleen, I’m posting your message here too, so everybody’s clued in:

Hi Sheena! Hi, everybody!
I seem to be challenged posting as well! And I write web copy for a living (I have written for JCREW, Saks, Bloomies, Coach, VS, you name it).

Anyway, this is all so helpful.

He was checked a slew of things right after he collapsed.

I can find that and send to you. Could it be cancer causing the raised neutrophils?

Should I get bone marrow tests? None of this is covered by my insurance and that is stressing me too, I’m freelance.

If cancer, I don’t get how he could be fine (just peeing in house because of stones) and then two weeks after bladder surgery, all hell breaks lose.
Was it a med—like metacam that caused it?

He didn’t have a temp on Thursday when they checked. I will send that test from last week and the CBC from this week.

He is still on Tylan.

This week no chinese med. 5 days off.

Gums are not bright pink as they should be but still have pink in them. He gets annoyed when I check.

You guys are a lifeline.

[Vally]

And Sheena’s answer:

Hi Kathleen

Yes please – send us anything you have. I’m sorry to say neutrophils can be raised with cancers (not always, but fairly common with some cancer) – I assume the treatment was successful though, so let’s look on the bright side for now & hope it is just an infection – they were not high on the first test either so infection seems more “logical” at the moment. I’m also suspicious if he’s peeing stones that it might be worth doing a urine check for infection – that’s a starting point anyway – but you could also buy some pee test strips from the chemist & look for yourself for any abnormalities – I did this regularly in the first few months Worzel was ill. Cheap & easy to do at home!

Metacam, rimadyl, previcox – all these NSAIDs can trigger this disease, unfortunately. So can lots of other things such as vaccinations, other drugs (antibiotics I mentioned for example).

I would NOT get a bone marrow aspirate/biopsy done at this stage because it changes nothing in the treatment required. I wish I had not had it done for Worzel. Another needless anaesthetic & a waste of money. I would get a reticulocyte count done though – that shows how well his bone marrow is doing pumping out new baby red cells. It would be good to know what level of regeneration he has. We would class him as regenerative or non-regenerative according to the figure.

Is it easier to check for pinkness in the corner of his eyes? I know how tricky some dogs can be with looking in their mouths. I don’t want you to lose any fingers!!!

I LOVE that Tylan – I don’t know wha I would do without. Sadly UK & French vets cannot prescribe it – it would be illegal!!!!! (stupid) but we can now get it delivered here from Amazon in a big pot. Worzel had a really terrible stomach upset (probably Giardia) & it was the only thing that got him better – wonderful stuff. So easy to make your own capsules up too, so they can’t taste it – it tastes completely VILE apparently.

Keep asking questions, coming up with ideas – two, three, four heads working together are always coming up with better ideas.

Hope this helps – give him a cuddle from me

Hugs

Sheena x