Split: Split: For Hope and Steve

[Hope]

Thank you vally! Yes, it’s definitely A LOT in your face at once.. I went to grad school in neuroscience so I sillily thought I might have a little heads up but this first week has been a complete brain smash. Haha! However I am super grateful my favorite study buddy is home to study with me. I talk to Steve and call things out to him and he just listens (or sleeps). But hes a comfort for sure!

Xoxo hope and steve

[admin]

Oh Hope.  A future doctor with a sense of humor – how wonderful is that?!  I was married to a cardiologist for almost 18 years (he passed at a way too young age), but we often joked about the lack of humor with MD’s.  Still do.

I can just see you doing all these things to promote Steve’s health.  You are a wonderful fur mom.  I say, if it looks like wee, smells like wee – it’s wee.  I know what you mean though, if there is a smell, it certainly is something.  Could he have had a little tiny bit of the ‘other’ get somewhere?  If his tummy is bothering him, the ‘other’ will be very nasty (go ahead, ask how I know that?!) and even a tiny spot can be very foul smelling.  Good thing you have a good nose, or not.

I want to thank everyone for backing me up on the no water suggestion from that, um, tech.  Water always, clean and cool.  Sadie loves fresh (which I do at least 10 times a day, when I’m home – at the insistence of everyone here!) cold water from the frig – she instantly laps it up.  I think denying clean water to anything living is just wrong, not to mention abusive.

I hope I wasn’t too stern about the LOW and SLOW.  I have very strong feelings about that, as well as the protective supplements that are absolutely necessary, and I go overboard (thanks again you all – it took me a while to get that!).   I just feel some vets, in their infinite knowledge, will promote a faster wean – been there.  But the odds are against it and Sadie and many others here are LIVING proof.  At times, my tactfulness just disappears.  Sorry.

I am so dog-gone happy that Steve is doing well (other than the smelly something, maybe).  I think we all here are almost afraid to get too excited about a good test result, pup/cat feeling well,  firm BM’s, clear urine, etc., because we all know dealing with AIHA/IMHA literally is a roller coaster.  But comes the day that you can pretty much know – you’re on the total right track.  Let’s get Steve there – he’s well on his way now.  Way to go both of you!!

Love and hugs, Linda and going on SIX Sadie

PS – Happy Father’s Day to you Dad’s (fur Dad’s too) out there!!!

[admin]

Linda

Compared to the hard nagging I gave you, you are such a sweet pussycat! We all nag with good intentions on here. And I agree with all you said – I imagine being thirsty as being in complete hell – worse than hungry. And slowly, slowly is always my first instinct too.

Hope – you know we say these things because we care & we want the best possible treatment & outcome for all our pets. I know you will remember all this when you complete your medical training – may your sense of humour & compassion continue forever – keep smelling that pee!

Love Sheena & Co

[Hope]

Hey Linda!

You most certainly were NOT too stern with the LOW and SLOW.. Your words reflect my feelings exactly, I swear! I tend to be a little anxious (as my doctor told me most people going into the medical field are lol) but I am terrified of them weaning him off too fast to be done with it, or because he’s responded well so far or whatever other reason there is. I’ve seen a glimmer of this hellish roller coaster and I do not want to be starting from the very beginning bc of that. Slow and steady works for me — when I heard his PCV was good yesterday I immediately got a knot in my stomach bc I fear them trying to decrease the meds too fast. His side effects haven’t been as bad as many so I see no reason to do more harm for the sake of rushing. I know everyone on here comes from a sense of knowledge and understanding and support from having dealt with this awful nightmare before so I really and truly welcome any and all advice! Truly! Id rather that than sugar-coating any day (I’m pre-diabetic so I need to lay off the sweets anyway lol). Your advice made me feel better really and I didn’t take it to be rude at all. Your pups are all success stories to me and i want Steve to get there too!

The water thing is absurd and I can very happily say I ignored the tech on that one. It IS cruel, and I feel bad enough as it is making him wait for food bc he’s constantly hungry. I can’t imagine taking his water away too. Y’all think cold water from the fridge is better than tap?? I didn’t know this but am glad to start.

I have a sneaking suspicion this smell might be a mixture of things – Steve did wee the bed, so there’s that. My duvet also was a smidge damp when I putit on the bed– stupid thing wouldn’t dry all the way thru and it was like 3:00 in the morning. I think that might have sat on the pee spot. Then there’s also my other pup — I saw him scooting his bottom across the bed the other day. I promptly shoved him off but he’s a nasty gassy little thing lol. I made Steve sleep on an old blanket last night and I smelled that AND another collection of tinkle this afternoon and it smells like good ole fashioned tinkle to me. I’ll probably keep up with the smell tests but I’m going to try to ride it out until Tuesday when we have our appt with the vet.

Finally – I got my milk thistle today! Yay! I went and bought human version. Are there any timing issues with other meds or food? I had a thought today that I might hold off on the SAM-e for a minute. It works to convert things on the cellular level and has something to do with purines. Steve already has 2 existing urate bladder stones bc his body doesn’t break down purines appropriately, leading to too much Uric acid. I am scared of him having to have surgery on that while he’s still not stable with the imha, and I don’t know if the sam-E would affect that somehow. Does anybody have any advice on this?? Is the milk thistle alone okay or should I add another supplement?

Thanks everyone and happy Father’s Day to all the fur baby dads!

Hope and Steve

[admin]

Hiya Hope

Found these for you

http://www.lbah.com/word/liver-diseases-2/

http://dogaware.com/health/liver.html

http://denes.co.uk/advice/fact-sheets/bladder-stones-gravel-in-dogs-and-cats

I noticed the mention of dalmatians needing low purine diets in them. Sam-E looks OK according to the literature. I found the milk thistle gave Worzel more tummy ache (he already had it badly with the doxycycline so I didn’t want to aggravate it more), so if you choose to use that, give with food would be my recommendation. I also saw mention of dribbling of urine – maybe that is Steve’s problem, so you’ll just have to forgive him. The pred is a nightmare for more peeing & the urgency must be horrible for them. They have to be forgiven a lot with this treatment, especially the smelly bottom gas! Worzel’s bottom absolutely STUNK sometimes, but the wind will settle down, I promise. I am certainly with you on not wanting surgery at this stage, so try not to think about that one for now.

I confess I am really angry at you being told to withhold water – if it were me I would want to have a severe word with that Vet Tech. This is unacceptable. Imagine someone who was ignorant on these matters doing that to their pet – an awful thought.

You must be totally shattered, Hope. You are doing such a great job under pressure – I didn’t know you had another dog too – rubbing his bottie? Possibly worms????? Don’t you just love ’em & their delightful habits!

Love Sheena & Co

[Vally]

Oh yes tell us about this other horrid little stinkycreature who blames poor Steve for all the smells.

I do give the milk thistle with food as it did seem to upset Bingo’s tummy.   I went back to a lesser dose and gradually moved back up to what he’s still on now which is 1/4 tablet (tablets are equiv. to dry fruit 7000mg) twice a day.  Bingo weighs 7kg (about 15 pounds).

Love Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Hi Hope

I’m sorry I haven’t been around for a few days, but am just catching up with all that’s been going on. First of all, congratulations on starting medical school AND on Steve’s excellent PCV. Fantastic news! I’m sure it’s hard work with all this going on and your studying, but I’ll bet it’s going to make you a fantastic doctor. It’s great to hear that you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty (and I include sniffing wee in this) ;) This, and your sense of humour and compassion, will make you a fab doctor!

Yes, I’m also cross about the vet tech telling you to withhold water from Steve. This is dangerous and cruel in my opinion and should never be done. So glad that you have your wits about you and didn’t take his water away. It’s a totally different thing to withhold food for a short time for a good medical reason, but not water. Personally, I’d raise this with the vet surgery because this advice shouldn’t be being given.

About the other stinky gassy pup – could it be anal glands? We had a small dog who used to scoot around on her bum when her anal glands needed sorted (eek). Molly also used to do it when she had a bit of poo stuck. It made me laugh out loud, poor thing, but to be fair it did the trick! Is this possible? The things we talk about, ‘eh?

I’m puzzled by the sour smell, but I am wondering whether Steve could have had a bit of diarrhoea somewhere that you haven’t found? It can smell quite sour when it is undigested. Could also be the damp duvet as you say. That awful smell when things aren’t quite dry! I think a quick dipstick urinalysis is a good idea and shouldn’t be too expensive or difficult. It will give you an idea as to whether there is any infection. If so, they can send off a urine culture and start antibiotics.

It sounds like Steve is doing great and I am so pleased. Keep up the great work you are doing.

Much love from us,

Mary & Mable (who doesn’t scoot – yet!) x

[Hope]

Hey Sheena!

Thank you much for the literature — I’m going to look over it now. I REALLY want to start him on the milk thistle AND SAM-e but I’m just nervous a little.

I’m hopefully going to see the vet tech on Tuesday AM, and we shall see what he has to say about his wonderful sage wisdom.

The other pup doesn’t have worms (or at least I really hope he doesn’t! That’s all we need!) — he is an English bulldog but he is small lol. Our vet says he’s like a miniature English bulldog..you know how sometimes little dogs can’t express their own anal glands with their BMs? And you have to take them in to have the vet do it? He’s actually had to have his done before because his poops aren’t big enough apparently.. which to see the size of them is kind of shocking. He likes to scoot around in a circle, like complete 360 degrees. He sticks his tongue out and moans happily..it’s really actually gross to watch lol but I think he does it for fun. Because of everything going on with Steve, I haven’t brought him in to have his glands expressed but that’s on the list for this week as well!

The things we do for our pups!

Thanks for checking in on us!

xoxo Hope and Steve