Honey

[Vally]

Oh Lynda, I’m so sorry you’re in the midst of it again and that Honey is having more problems. When do you get the results of the swabs?

[lynda]

Hopefully later today, when I pick her up. And hopefully it IS an infection and not a reaction to the cyclosporine…… because if it’s that, I have no idea what else we can do :-(

[Vally]

Yes, fingers crossed.
Love Vally

[admin]

Hi Lynn

Oh, poor Honey. I hate hearing that she is feeling miserable. I am also crossing everything for this to be “just” an infection, not the cyclosporine. It’s early days on the cyclosporine / reticulocyte front, but I know you are disappointed with the PCV. If it is the cyclosporine causing her throat problems, there are MANY other drugs (you can even give a cocktail of drugs) & you can always consult Dr Dodds too. She has vast experience with the more difficult cases of this disease. How would you & your vet feel about involving her more closely?

Lynn, please don’t get too disheartened. Some dogs are very difficult to get to the regenerative stage & you also have the possibility of adding thyroxine. Adding something to the treatment can make a huge difference. I hope you don’t think me rude, but if it is the cyclosporine, my personal opinion is that I would contact Dr Dodds immediately.

Thinking about you constantly
Let us know how things are
Love from all of us to all of you
Sheena & the boys xxxx

[lynda]

Hi Sheena – my vet has taken swabs, but it will take a few days for the labs to culture them. In the meantime, he has added a second antibiotic (against anaerobic bacteria). He thought she may have bitten the inside of her cheek and it has become badly bruised – she obviously has no ability to heal herself. At least it hasn’t got much bigger, and she now feels rather better for the latest transfusion (she came upstairs – always a sign). I didn’t cook her any meat today, but gave her tinned food as it’s softer – and she scoffed down a tin and a half!
She is already on thyroxine, and my vet is trying to follow Dr Dodds protocol, which I gave him. I have emailed her, too.

[admin]

Hi Lynda
Great to hear she’s better after the transfusion – oh, it’s lovely when they are hungry! I didn’t realise it was all in hand on the Dr Dodds front – I am so pleased to hear that & I apologise if I sounded like I was nagging you! It was meant with the best intentions, you know that. Hope she carries on with that big appetite & has a great weekend. Crossing fingers & paws for all to be well
Love Sheena & the boys xxx

[lynda]

Dr Dodds is really great at getting back! Email almost by return…. she said it is possible that it’s the cyclosporine, but more likely that it’s a contact hypersensitivity. There is a tiny hole in Honey’s cheek inside, and massive bruising (ie internal bleeding) around it. It may be that she bit herself and, with a non-functioning immune system, everything goes crazy.
But my vet said he thought she could travel with us to see my Dad on Monday (don’t want to leave her behind…. who else but us could cope with the massively complicated drug regime???). This trip entails taking the caravan so that we arrange things for Honey to get outside to pee in the middle of the night without posing problems in Dad’s kitchen….

[lynda]

Poor Honey’s face is still v. swollen, and there is some bleeding inside. But this ghastly disease can lead to bleeding, so I’m thinking that the little nick inside her cheek can’t heal easily and that that is the trouble. We will keep on with the antibiotics, of course.
In the last 48 hrs we have come close to making that decision, as she has seemed to be suffering with this. She is clearly uncomfortable around the mouth – and her face looks like a Staffie’s.
BUT, her general outlook has improved with the latest transfusion and she is eating well.
If we could only see an improvement in the blood tests……
This is so hard – for her, and for us