My 13 yr old just diagnosed

[Terri]

Thanks Patrice for the info…
I’m probably overkilling with the blood food. It’s such a crapshoot.
I probably won’t buy more but will use up what I have.
Hanging on to hope and may be being taken..like so many others. It’s so hard to know if what you are doing is even doing anything until you get numbers. Just hanging on to the numbers. I can’t wait til Monday.
Terri

[Terri]

I have experience with hyperthyroidism and the effects of iodine associated with it. No experience with the opposite end of the spectrum. I’m learning a lot.

[Terri]

My next question/thought. I make my own Kefir. My dogs and cats have gotten Kefir for the last couple years.
Kefir as some of you know is a very powerful probiotic and known as the “feel good” drink for it’s many benefits. It populates the digestive system with all the good bacteria necessary to maintain a healthy immune system. Probiotics/immune system.
Are probiotics a boost to the immune system? Could Kefir trigger an immune attack?
Another thought during sleepless nights.

Terri

[admin]

Terri, now you are definitly a member of this exclusive club! We are all slightly paranoid. I think you are safe to give kefir, especially since you have givn it to Koda and the cats for quite some time.

Brigitte

[Terri]

Lol I’ll wear the hat proudly. Checking gums daily…

[admin]

Hi Terri

Thank you for saving all those cats! 6 is certainly a handful! Trooper is lucky to have found such a wonderful home and obviously feels very comfortable.

Have you and your vet discussed giving a long term immunosuppressant alongside the pred? Prednisolone is often essential in treating IMHA but alone, it isn’t always enough. I fully understand what you are saying about doing all you can, and I remember only too well trying to negotiate treatments and side effects and the overall minefield of this disease. Still, the rise in Koda’s PCV is encouraging. I am also baffled as to why the platelets are dropping and the White cells are high, and am hoping one of the others may be able to shed some light on this. I wonder if the high white cell count is the reason Dr Dodds suggested inflammation or infection. What does your vet say?

I’d love to see Koda in his pink booties and rest assured he will not be the first on this forum to wear some, eh Bingo?

Hang in there. You are doing a wonderful job.

Mary & Mable x

[admin]

Terri,
I just did some random google search, arthritis inflamation white blood cells, and found an article with this statement:

A high white blood cell count could suggest inflammation, which can be due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, infections, stress, and exercise will temporarily elevate the white blood cell count, too.

Run that thought by your vet when you go for blood tests on Monday. It would make sense. Just throwing it out there.

I hope you get some sleep,

Brigitte

[Vally]

That’s what Bingo was originally diagnosed as having – Rheumatoid arthritis. I just went through his old records. His WCC (a white cell count – is that the same as a white blood count?) was 30.4 (normal 3.5-12.0) and his neutrophil were 27.4 (normal 3.5-12.0) when diagnosed in November 2011. The next test I have was February 2012 when he was admitted back into hospital and his WCC was 26.6 and neutrophil were 24.7.

Interesting Brigitte.

I may need to pick your brains on making kefir Terri. I made my very first batch yesterday but I think I goofed. The consistency is very liquid, just like the milk that I added to the grains – shouldn’t it be a bit more solid? I’m Googling it now.