Hope in a panic

[Patrice]

No. Chance didn’t bother his at all. And I knew what it was right away. In fact I only had to describe it to the vet over the phone and they just prescribed the correct antibiotic without a visit.

my best, patrice

[Hope]

Hi Patrice!

thsnk you so much for your expertise and knowledge — I feel a little better about it now. I’ll post how it goes as soon as I get home.

Hope

[Tamara]

Hope, thinking of y’all and looking forward to the report in the morning.  I am SO thankful for Patrice and this website, for you and for me too.  Sending you hugs, I know this is so scary.

xoxoxo tamara and ashki

[Vally]

Hi Hope. Good luck on the checkup tomorrow.  Love Vally and Bingo.

[Hope]

Hey all!

Just got back from bringing Steve – PCV is holding at 40% since the Pred drop (it’s been 40-41%).. I feel like a pain asking but would it go up with more reductions or even staying with dosage as is? It’s been that for roughly 1.5-2 weeks now.

The ER vet had him for a while looking at the lumps in his mouth (upper lip). She described them as ulcerations and asked if he’s been chewing on his lip or anything like that bc that’s what it looks like. I told her no but that is where husband and I grab him to open his mouth for all of his medications. I usually grab just one side but I actually noticed in horror this am that husband opens his mouth by grabbing it right in both those spots. So I don’t know if it could be like pressure sores? She said to obviously not to do that anymore and make sure he doesn’t eat anything that could aggravate them. I asked her about it being infections and she seemed unwilling to prescribe anything. She said with autoimmune dogs it’s difficult to find an antibiotic that won’t counteract the immune suppressants and she doesn’t want to go there. I told her I immediately jumped to a cancer and she said that they’d have to biopsy it to know but that since he’s got it on both sides she thinks it’s okay. One side is just way more noticeable/more defined than the other.

 

[Hope]

Hey all!

Just got back from bringing Steve – PCV is holding at 40% since the Pred drop (it’s been 40-41%).. I feel like a pain asking but would it go up with more reductions or even staying with dosage as is? It’s been that for roughly 1.5-2 weeks now.

The ER vet had him for a while looking at the lumps in his mouth (upper lip). She described them as ulcerations and asked if he’s been chewing on his lip or anything like that bc that’s what it looks like. I told her no but that is where husband and I grab him to open his mouth for all of his medications. I usually grab just one side but I actually noticed in horror this am that husband opens his mouth by grabbing it right in both those spots. So I don’t know if it could be like pressure sores? She said to obviously not to do that anymore and make sure he doesn’t eat anything that could aggravate them. I asked her about it being infections and she seemed unwilling to prescribe anything. She said with autoimmune dogs it’s difficult to find an antibiotic that won’t counteract the immune suppressants and she doesn’t want to go there. I told her I immediately jumped to a cancer and she said that they’d have to biopsy it to know but that since he’s got it on both sides she thinks it’s okay. One side is just way more noticeable/more defined than the other.

Patrice and everyone – any thoughts or ideas? I feel like I should bring him in again to see the internist especially with the infection concern. She said she was going to pass the word on to his internist and see if he had any suggestions. I told her I plan on coming in at least 2x/week for PCV checks and she said it’s good bc they can monitor the bumps also. I guess I still feel uneasy since she admittedly said she doesn’t know what the bumps are?

Thanks and hugs to all!

Hope

[admin]

Hi Hope.  I know this all scares you silly.  You mentioned opening Steve’s mouth to put the medications in.  I don’t give Sadie her meds WITH food, but right after (prednisone) AND I use and swear by, Pill Pockets.  I use the Greenies, Duck and Pea (Allergy Formula Dog Treats).  I use the ones for capsules and break them apart (wash your hands after, they are VERY stinky – but you get used to it).   They are actually on sale:

http://www.chewy.com/dog/greenies-pill-pockets-canine-roasted/dp/29791

This is a good price and one bag goes a long way if you break them apart.  Sadie LOVES anything that stinks, so she LOVES these!!!  ;)

This way they actually look forward to taking the (disguised) medicines!!  I buy them in bulk, when possible.  Some pet sites will sell them 6 to a box and they’re much less that way.  But I just found this, which is still a good price.  They sell them at all the pet stores too, but much higher price.

Good luck with poor Steve’s mouth.  As we say, always, always something.

Much love and huge hugs, Linda and Sadie

[admin]

Hope

Sorry to see you were so worried about what has happened – no wonder you were concerned & good on you for keeping an eye on the spots. Patrice has given wonderful advice & I would just like to  re-iterate what she said about being scrupulously clean, which is not easy with two dogs. Hoping the antibiotics will do their trick very quickly.

Love & hugs to you & those lovely lads, Steve & Jeffrey

Sheena & the boys

PS Steve – please keep your tongue out of Jeffrey’s ear!