Rocky — IMHA, day 16

[admin]

Hi Lauren

Seems like poor Rocky is already suffering the side effects & you are dealing with them beautifully! We can all sympathise with the “little accidents” scenario. You sound like very compassionate & kind owners who care deeply about Rocky.Worzel always preferred to wee on the carpet, not on the tiles!

I wanted to back Brigitte up on the supplement front. I agree – do not rock the boat & use anything except the Denmarin, PetTinic & milk thistle unless your vet advises you to. We all recently had a discussion about this very thing. Supplements etc are actually “drugs” & need to be used with caution with this disease. I expect you already know that many prescription drugs are derived from plants & fungi, in fact cyclosporine is derived from a fungus. The last thing anyone wants to do is to prevent the useful prescribed drugs from doing their good work. Also, as I said before, I am a huge fan of Sucralfate for tummies.

People who take long-term prednisone are advised to increase their protein intake & our vet was keen for us to do this too. Brigitte has given great advice on diet & I admit to cooking everything for Worzel so I knew exactly what was in it! We stuck to lean minced beef, chicken, fish & lamb when Worzel eventually got his appetite back (it came back HUGE!) with some Pedigree Chum mixer (I think you call it kibble in the USA?) & was eating much, much more & more often than normal. Sadly, muscles do atrophy on the high doses of prednisone, no matter what you do on the feeding front. Don’t worry too much about that though, as this will improve when you are able to lower the dose later on.

I see his reticulocytes were high originally & have dropped now because his PCV is coming up. This is absolutely normal. When transfusions have to be given, they are normally given to raise the PCV, but not to take it over about 25, as this will slow down the production of reticulocytes because the body thinks it’s doing OK now! Have a look at
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/reticulocytosis/
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/reticulocytes/
As Rocky has reached the very respectable figure of 28 already, the slowing down of production has kicked in. As your vet said, he is not killing off his own red cells so much either – GREAT!

I’m really looking forward to seeing a picture of Rocky when you have time – sending you our very best wishes in the meantime. What Patrice said is so true – trying to keep some normality really helps. I know you will do you very best for him & that’s wonderful.
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie

[admin]

Oh, I forgot to warn you about stinky bottom scenario – they get awful wind! I hope you have understanding friends when they visit – at least you CAN blame it on the dog!

[admin]

Dog food or food for dogs:) is always a hot topic. Dr. Dodds says feed the best quality food you can afford. I honestly can not help you with kibble (what brand) because I have fed home cooked and raw for many years. Just keep in mind that even the best and most expensive kibble has preservatives in them. For convenience cans can be a good option. I just like cooking for my family and my dogs are part of that. Don’t get me wrong, kibble is very convenient and if that is what you want to feed it will be fine. High protein, no grains would be the key. Eggs are a great source of protein for Rocky! Look at the Dr. Dodds liver cleansing diet and you will see it is not that hard. You can make a batch to last Rocky a couple of days it will keep in the fridge. I know he would love it:)

Best wishes,
Brigitte

[admin]

Hi Lauren

Just checking in to see how Rocky is doing today? You sound like wonderful owners, and Rocky is a lucky little guy to have you. I quite agree about the carpet :) The prednisolone makes them drink and pee so much, they just can’t help it sometimes, bless them. Great to hear that he is eating better since being home. That’s always important.

I love Patrice’s story about walking Chance to the end of the drive to watch the world go by. It is very difficult, but I quite agree that keeping things as normal as possible helps both you and him to cope with this.

Hang in there, it sounds as though you are doing an excellent job and that Rocky is on the right road.

Mary and Mable x

[admin]

Hi Lauren,
Dr. Dodds told me Wilderness dog food was good. Dunes did not like it but Nauset does. Dunes HCT was 7 when I first got her to the hospital She jumped into and out of my Jeep. She was mostly yellow (golden) Lab. She did live five years. Keep getting advice here. Good luck and God bless.

Joe

[Lauren]

Thank you for all of the encouraging words. This is such a difficult diagnosis, and you feel so helpless. Rocky is doing pretty well. I think I over-analyze things too much. If he doesn’t wag his tail hard enough, or he is breathing too hard, I get really nervous.

I love our team of Doctors. They are internal medicine specialists, and there is always a doctor at the hospital 24/7. We are in Memphis, TN.

I was concerned that he wouldn’t take the Cyclosporine. It is HUGE! But he is such a trooper and took it. We go back on Monday for more blood work, PCV, CBC, etc.

Hope ya’ll have an amazing Thursday!!

[admin]

Hi Lauren

It’s so good to hear you like the team & feel confident with them, especially at the moment as you must be worried sick. I don’t think you are over-analysing at all. We all felt exactly the same as you – watching them like a hawk for anything unusual. It’s good to keep a close eye on Rocky anyway – puffing & panting is “usual” with the prednisone too.

Unfortunately, that crazy paranoid feeling never leaves you – I still worry about any strange behaviour from Worzel & check his gums about four hundred times a day!!! Wishing you all the luck in the world for Monday – keep taking the pills, Rocky!
Love Sheena & the boys

[admin]

Hi Lauren

I’m so pleased to hear that you have a good team of vets working with you. That is worth its weight in gold, and it’s excellent that you have internal medicine specialists.

Welcome to the crazy paranoid world! Every one of us understands and experiences the feelings that we are reading too much into things. Mable is subject to regular gum examinations, and she has not even had IMHA (her sister did). Although we all tend to worry ourselves silly about things, it is good to be vigilant as you know Rocky better than anyone and will be able to pick up subtle signs that no-one else can. So, I don’t think you are over-analysing either. I just think you are a loving and caring owner who is doing the best for her pup :)

I hope you had a great Thursday too. Very best of luck for Monday – do let us know how you get on. Well done Rocky for taking your tablets. That surely deserves a treat ;)

Mary and Mable x

• This reply was modified 10 years ago by admin.