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- Sadie – PCV drop or ?
Hooray for 46! Definitely keeping everything crossed for Pat and Sadie, and hoping that all goes well in Atlanta.
sending you love and hugs —
ashki and tamara xoxoxox
Hi all. Hotlanta and home. Pat did excellent – will be adding him to Sadie’s payroll (lots of puppy licks!). I hope you are all hanging in here – pups and fur parents.
Although Sadie seems to have fared well in my absence, she does seem to be having joint issues. I think weaning the prednisone to 5mg daily (from 6) AND stopping the Atopica, this may be the culprit. Prior to AIHA she was pretty bad, even as young as she was. During the high doses of prednisone and cyclosporine, she did do better with her joints. Upon weaning, I could immediately see a marked difference and hear more clicking/creaking. And now, she is really creaking more, worse than AIHA perhaps. And then this morning (as I wrote to Vally) she was running to stay with me as I was asending the stairs and wam, she missed completely and slammed right into the first step. As much as I hate the carpet on our stairwell, I was glad it was there today. It hurt, I’m sure, but it would have been worse. She just looked at me and continued upward. She seems okay, until she moves.
But like Vally with Bingo, I think she may be in pain too. I have stopped the blood thinner (Plavix), but continued the Pepcid, which I’ll stop soon too. I think everyone agrees, DVM and not, that at this dose, neither are needed any longer. However, I am wondering if it would be okay to give her a low-dose aspirin for the pain? Does anyone here give aspirin to their dogs for arthritis.
Also, as I wrote on Vally’s post, I am researching again and thinking about giving Sadie Adequan injections, the regiment which I posted to Vally re: Bingo’s arthritis bout. To my knowledge, so far, no one here has used Adequan for their pup, right?
There is always something – always. But then, I, like all of us here, am a lifetime member of the paranoid club. This isn’t paranoid though, she’s creaking/clicking and I am sure, hurting. To be continued – to the vet next Wednesday for PCV check (here’s hoping we’re hanging in on this too) and will ask about it all.
I won’t be doing anything new until back from Europe. Although my greyhound friends down the street (whom are so graciously taking care of Miss Priss, Sadie) will only have one pill to give her a day (as opposed to the 12 the last stay!) – now they have this, her joints being totally wacky. Goodness. But I totally trust them to deal with ANY unforeseen happenings. Hopefully, there will be none. :)
Will keep you posted as to what I find out about the Adequan AND Sadie’s PCV next Wednesday, July 2nd. This will be the longest we have gone on the PCV testing, 12 days between – here’s hoping she maintains.
Love and huge hugs to all, Linda and Sadie
Linda, yes the prednisone does quite a job in masking arthritis and, worse, doing more damage unfortunately, but we wouldn’t have our friends with us today without it. So one thing at a time.
I suspect Bingo’s vet is going to call over yesterday’s adventures and I’ll mention to him about the cartrophen, but he had previously recommended it for Bingo BUT I thought it was only for osteo, not rheumatoid. Vet yesterday said both, so I want to check that with him. It’s actually not expensive at all here. I had to pay for the whole course up front (and could have taken it home with me to inject at home but I can’t inject Bingo). Here it’s a course of 4 injections, 1 a week, once a year – although last time I took Bingo in, they suggested after the initial course, do it once a month as he was a bit of a mess then. It has a very good safety record. Because I didn’t ask for a copy of the bill because my dear fur friend has used up all his insurance for his arthritis, I can’t check, but I think it was about $25 per injection and they don’t charge for the returning visits.
It’s terribly to see them in pain. Speak to your vet about green lipped mussels and gelatin, even turmeric to check they’re okay. Only issues with all of these could be gastric and I know Sadie has a sensitive tummy. I’m fortunate in that Bingo seems to have a cast iron stomach. (Ollie said the gelatin tastes like poison, but how would he know what poison tastes like – Bingo said “what gelatin”). But maybe smaller amounts might help without causing more upsets. Vet yesterday said because they’re on prednisone, there isn’t much to do for pain other than pain killers (not NSAIDs obviously) , the injections or supplements. He told me to up the dosage of the GLM back to 1000 a day for Bingo. He’s also a big fan of turmeric, (he’s researched it treating tumours), but said stick with it for the arthritis and hey, it will hopefully prevent any tumours – I like that idea too.
I agree, though wait until you’ve back.
Lots of love Vally & Bingo.
Thanks Vally. I will talk with the vet, most likely when I get back. I’m so glad that the monetary amount for injections for Bingo will not be too bad. I’ll be anxious to hear about it. Yes, I’ll wait until I return to do anything new with Sadie. I am anxious enough about leaving her. I am excited about the travel but leaving her for this duration will be so hard. My saving grace is who is keeping her. Very lucky to have that, indeed.
Poor Ollie and his distaste for the gelatin capsules. I give Sadie Slipper Elm in yogurt. Just open the capsule and put a bit in – she laps it down in no time flat. Perhaps I’ll try this with the gelatin too. I’ll have to figure that one out. Sheena – is Ollie getting used to it or did you stop giving it to him. How’s he doing? And Mr. Handsome Worzel – the latest?
Hugs and love to all, Linda and Sadie
Linda, Ashki has horrible hip dysplasia, it’s scary how bad they are. I had him x-rayed at 2 just to see how they were. I did do a course of adequan, but that was 18 months ago, well before IMHA.
I am of course worried about his hips and how this muscle loss will affect them. I do massage him every day, hoping that will help.
Let me know if you have any questions about the adequan.
Please give Sadie some ear scritchies from us! Hope she’s feeling well.
love and hugs from ashki and tamara
Hi Linda
Oh, the poor creaky girl – it’s rotten for them to be like this. Ollie is continuing with the GLM & gelatin, but STILL is a fussy so-and-so with his food, even when there’s nothing extra in it! He is highly suspicious of everything, so I’m going over to gelatin capsules, rather than the powder, so I can put them down his throat. His tummy has been fine so far. I have noticed a huge difference (thank you Vally & Bingo), but he was not as bad as dear Sadie baby or Bingo. No more creaking & straining to get up & down though, so I would highly recommend Sadie trying this regime. Worzie is OK, thanks Linda, but getting older & suffering a bit in the heat here – he insists on lying outside – no matter what we do to try & stop him, I find him panting & baking in the sunshine. Ollie has the sense to stay in the house where it is nice & cool, but not Sick Note! Oh no, he has to be hot.
Tamara – Ashki has really had a rotten start – I’m so sorry to hear about the hip dysplasia too. Yet he still has the most beautiful, happy smile because you love him so much. The muscle loss certainly makes things seem worse & we are all very careful not to let them over-exert themselves during high dose pred treatment for this reason. Again, when you can drop the dosage, it makes a big difference.
So a big thumbs up for GLM & gelatin from me!
Love to all, as always
Sheena & the boys xxxx
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
![Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4.jpg "Brigitte\'s Cleo, Ripley, Enzo and Guest \\"Rockin\\"")
