Split: Split: For Hope and Steve

[admin]

Hi Hope
Lovely to hear the good news – I’m very glad Steve is doing so well. A couple of points difference in PCV is neither here nor there anyway, but we all have to worry about something. Oh, & well done you for getting through your block too! Crossing everything for the next reduction – let us know how you’re doing when you get time.
Love, cuddles & crossed fingers & paws
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[Vally]

Hope, that’s wonderful news and a fabulous PCV results.

Well done in getting through your “block” (no idea what that means, but it sounds pretty hard). My nephew is just doing his end of year medical exams at the moment. 2 down 2 to go. This will be 1 year down. He’s an incredible nerd – don’t know who stole him from where. He’s still loving it so though (not the exams, the studies) so that’s great.

Love Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Hi Hope

It’s so lovely to read how well Mr Steve is getting on and that he is holding his own off the pred. I’m sure he is feeling like a different boy, and I’m glad the chicken test is working!

It must be so tough trying to look after him with all the hard work you are doing, but well done! It’s obviously paying off.

Keep it up Mr Steve!

Mary and Mable x

[hope]

hey all!

sorry i’ve been MIA — last block of exams for the semester and i’m trying to finish strong! lol! Steve’s been doing very well… he went to the specialist the day before Thanksgiving for a checkup and his PCV was at 51%. They knocked his myco down to every other day and so far he seems like he’s doing well with it. We got back next week for another checkup and hopefully he’ll be able to discontinue all together.

My only concern is — before thanksgiving (so before the last check up), he had a few days, about 4-5, of bilious vomiting — just yellow liquid. Its usually either first thing in the AM or after he’s been lying down for a while not moving. He basically stands up, retches and throws up the fluid. After a few days of it, i took him to the regular vet and she ran a whole panel on him and said everything was perfect so just monitor him. When we went to see the specialist, i told them about it and it had stopped. they said if the regular vet ran a blood panel and everything was good, they wouldn’t worry about it. he was good for about 2 weeks but he’s done it the last 2-3 days, again after he’s been laying down for a while. i emailed the regular vet again and she consulted with the specialist and they agreed to start him on Reglan. Any ideas? i’m kind of worried bc i don’t know what s going on. he’s acting fine otherwise. he sometimes (not always) eats grass before the vomiting episode, like this morning. he goes out as soon as he gets up and when he went out he immediately went at the grass and then did it a few minutes later. they said if the reglan doesn’t clear things up they’re going to have to scope him or do an U/S, which i might rather they do now anyway to be honest.

Is Reglan okay for IMHA dogs also? Any ideas?

Hugs and much love and holiday wishes to everyone and their babies!
xoxo hope and steve

[Vally]

Hope, I know nothing about this, so I’ve been consulting with Dr Google. Have they mentioned reflux or GERD? Steve’s meals – what does he get at night to eat?

Love Vally & Bingo

[Hope]

Hiya Vally!

They mentioned just regurgitation possibly .. He eats around 7:30-8 for dinner: wet food + rice + veggies + dry food. It’s a pretty solid size meal. I’ll sometimes give him pumpkin yogurt late like midnight but that’s not regular. And when he gets his thyroid at 2am (im up anyway bc of school lol), he gets turkey or chicken or cheese to make it go down. then he gets his morning prilosec arouns 7, again with turkey or chicken or cheese.. I usually make him a roll up of meat with cheese and maybe some broccoli. From what I researched this sometimes happens when their stomaches get so empty the acid starts to irritate it. But he eats a lot .. I mean I’m a snacker so he’s a snacker lol. I was trying to cut back a little bc the vet said he needs to lose weight but he still eats a bunch.

Thanks for everything!!
Xoxo hope and Steve

[admin]

Hiya Hope

Lovely to hear from you. I’m really pleased Steve has made such a great improvement – give him a big cuddle from me, the darling boy. Yippeeee! You must be flat out with your exams – I don’t envy you that at all – hope all went well.

Can’t find any information on metoclopramide (Reglan) being a problem for IMHA. It’s really good stuff for stopping nausea. It can cause tremors (some breeds are prone to this & dalmations are on that list) & has various other side effects – it is only meant for short term use – you can look at this for further details http://www.drugs.com/sfx/metoclopramide-side-effects.html

It is used for acid reflux as well as anti-nausea, so maybe your vet suspects that? It has serious interactions with some other drugs too. http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/metoclopramide-index.html?filter=3&generic_only=
I have checked – no reaction known or listed with MMF – good!

If it is acid reflux, maybe going back to good old famotidine (pepcid) might be an idea worth talking to you vet about. Also it is not good for humans to eat before going to sleep if you have GERD – I wonder if reducing the late night eating might be worth a try? I would do that if it were me.

When my two go & eat grass, they are ALWAYS sick with yellow bile afterwards. It always seems to be in the morning too. I have never worked out if they feel sick in the first place or not – I only know when I follow them round & stop them doing it, they are not sick! A puzzle.

By the way, don’t give dairy products within 2 hours (either side) of the thyroxine (soloxine) as the calcium inhibits absorption. It’s always better on an empty stomach if you can do that.

Hope the reglan works for Steve & he settles down – keep us posted – and good luck with your work, you clever thing.

Sending love & hugs
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[Linda]

Hi Hope – just wanted to check in with you and Steve. How’s he doing? How are you doing?

Much love, Linda and Sadie