Sadie – Weaning…..

[Vally]

Just thinking going from 7.5 to 5mg is still a 33% drop.  I’ve gone through my stuff and that is what we did with Bingo.  It was when we got to the 5mg mark that we had problems twice, went back up and back down slower.

Linda, what mg tablets are you using.  I’m guessing 5mg tablets.  Bingo actually uses prednisolone, not prednisone, and 5mg is the lowest mg tablet.  You’re giving 1 tablet in the morning and half a tablet at night.  Correct?

Perhaps for a few weeks do 5mg in the morning and a quarter tablet (1.25mg) at night, making it closer to a 20% reduction.  After a few weeks, when all is good (hear the positive in my tone???), drop the night one and just do 5mg in the morning.

Heartworm medication – I don’t use it – well Bingo doesn’t use it – now and I know that is a risk but his vet said it’s not the issue HERE that the pharmaceutical companies make it out to be.  I used to do every 6 weeks which is every 42 days – that was easier to mark on the calender.  I also felt a bit better knowing if I did forget by a few days, I was still inside the 45 day mark.  I believe the 30 day idea is simply because it’s easier to remember to dose on the say, 1st day of each month.

Lots of love

Vally & Bingo

[Linda]

The lowest prednisone dose here in the states is 1mg.  Here is a list:
<div>There are six different prednisone strengths available:</div>
<div></div>

• Prednisone 1 mg
• Prednisone 2.5 mg
• Prednisone 5 mg
• Prednisone 10 mg
• Prednisone 20 mg
• Prednisone 50 mg.

Since January 29, 2014, Sadie has been on 7.5mg prednisone daily, one 5mg tab in the am and one 2.5mg tab in the pm.  So maybe I should do the 5mg in the morning and cut the 2.5 in half, giving her 1.25mg the pm?  It won’t be exact, I’ll use a pill cutter and we’ve discussed the downfalls if that!  ;)

So, she’d be on 6.25mg a day, 5mg in the am and 1.25 in the pm, OR I could go the 33% and do 2.5mg in the am and 2.5mg in the pm.  Either way, I’d go at least three weeks before dropping again and was sure she was tolerating it well (note my positive tone – oh yes, following your lead on positive). :)

Goodness – this IS the ultimate test isn’t it?!  I think I should stay with the 6.25 daily – I’m such a wimp.  She’s done so well – I don’t want to mess her up rushing anything at all. Especially since we’re so low on the cyclosporine, from 50mg to now 10mg every third day (or as you say, 3.33 every day) – LOW.

Thanks for your input.  I really appreciate it and so does Sadie – she told me (yes, she talks – much to my husbands disbelief….).  ;)

xoxoxoxoxo  Linda & Sadie

 

[Linda]

PS – Anyone else have any suggestions on dosing heartworm meds to AIHA dogs that give it to their precious pup, in the southeast US, being more exact?

xoxoxo Linda & Sadie

[Patrice]

Linda,

I don’t have much time.

The 45 days between doses is directly related to the life cycle of the heartworm and the dosage. The dosage in a preventative is effective against the stage the heartworm is in from the day of infection until 45 days later.

If you start fresh with a SNAP 4DX+ test and it is negative for heartworm then, according to Dr. Dodds, you can safely extend the dosages to 45 days. You must adhere to this strict schedule, there is no wiggle room. If you are apt to miss a few days or a week, this won’t work.

This would be dangerous to give the preventative if there is an active heartworm infection because it can be dangerous to kill heartworms in an advanced life stage that are in active circulation as this can cause blockages. It needs to be treated under a vet’s care at that stage.

Most owners cannot remember to dose exactly every 45 days so manufacturers advise the 30 day dosing to make sure there is absolute coverage.

Start with the SNAP 4DX and then you are set.

my best, patrice

[Linda]

Awe – thanks Patrice.  Sadie’s snap test was negative.  But we still want to test again in about four months – just to be on the safe side.  I’m calendaring every 45 days (or 42, as Vally said).  It’s on Sadie’s calendar (which I look at daily) and on my alerts (phone).   And as Vally said – with 42 days – there’s one day wiggle room either way.  But I WILL remember.  ;))

Thanks much.  xo  Linda and Sadie

PS – Hope Cassie’s knee is healing!

[Patrice]

Yes, I test my dogs three times a year for two reasons. One is to test for heartworm and the other is to test for exposure to tick diseases.

So I start with a SNAP 4DX test when it is still consistently below 50 degrees. Then I start the heartworm and the Frontline. Midway to fall I test again to insure that these have been effective. Then I test in late fall as temps begins to drop consistently below 50 to insure that there has been no exposure.

The tests costs $30 or so and it is a very effective yes/no test. The best money I spend! Every three years I titer their vaccinations and now Cassie, as a senior, gets a checkup twice a year with CBC, chem screen and a thyroid panel.

[Vally]

Linda, the wimp here says go with the 5mg in the morning and half the 2.5mg at night for now, then, when you’re ready cut out the night dose and leave Sadie on the 5mg tablet only in the morning.

PS Congratulations on the 1 year anniversary.  It’s a wonderful milestone and worth celebrating.

Love Vally and Bingo.

[admin]

Hi Linda

The 2nd wimp here says go with Vally’s idea. Don’t rush it. You could dissolve the tablet (need to shake it up & be patient for it to dissolve completely) in a syringe of exactly 50ml of water, then give her 25ml of it (so you know that 50ml is 2 x 1.25mg doses) & put the rest in the fridge for the following day. Just an idea that might be easier & it is accurate – this is what we used to do many years ago when I was nursing & drugs were not so conveniently dosed like they are now! We had to do some maths sometimes to get it right. I have never found a good pill cutter either.

Many, many congratulations to my darling girl Sadie for fighting this damn disease for a year – she’s a great gal – give her a big cuddle from me.

Love Sheena & the boyz xxxxx