Split: Split: Nula (5yr old English Cocker Spaniel)

[admin]

Hiya Ruth

Oh, I love to hear about when they’ve been naughty! Little monkey made me laugh out loud! That means she’s feeling better – clever girl. Please, please, please – what happened to Vally’Bingo (& Linda & Sadie too) is a serious & frightening setback that you don’t want to happen to Nula – please do not reduce the drugs until she has been completely stable for some time. Worzel was stable for 5-6 weeks before we started reducing.

We had PCV checks twice a week for the first month, then once per week until the prednisone was reduced to nil. Some dogs may have to take a small dose of pred forever – that’s no big deal – it doesn’t matter at all, as long as they are in remission & well. It is also VITAL to get a PCV done before & after any reduction when the time comes. If there is a significant drop in PCV, you can always put the dose back up to the previous amount. I would appreciate some comments from the others on what I’m going to say – in my opinion, a safe reduction (tapering) would be up to (but not exceeding) 20% per month. Please don’t let your vet push you into doing it any quicker unless there is a good clinical reason for doing so (which is unlikely).

The drugs are really doing their job well – I’m so glad for you, Ruth. I hope your poor hip is not giving you too much pain – what a nasty, painful disease EDS is. I’d never heard of it either, so I had to look it up! It must be very debilitating, but you certainly cope incredibly well. I bet having Nula around helps you too – animals always manage to cheer you up, even if you’ve had a rubbish day! You’re right – it sounds like she HAS turned the corner to me too. Brilliant – keep it going Nula.

Lots of love from Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[Linda]

Hi Ruth. How’s Ms. Nula doing this week? Thinking of you both.

Love and hugs, Linda and Sadie

[Ruth]

Hello all, thank you! Apologies for lack of posts. Been busy with hospital appointments. Seems I now have a subluxed disc or vertebrae in my lumbar spine which is why my leg has been numb for the last couple of months. Might need an op to fix it. So been na bit of a shock. I’m waiting for an op on my hip too atm so it’s just a bit of a pain! Nula is doing really well though! She’s been bringing toys to play with the last few days and even chased a ball a couple of times! She’s currently chewing a cardboard box she thinks she stole! I’ve got her booked in for a PCV test on Thursday. Although her vet said to drop from 15mg prednisolone twice a day to 10mg twice a day, I’m too worried, so I’m doing 12.5mg twice a day. It’s her third day doing that and she’s doing well, so I’ll see what her PCV says and work from there. She’s still on the same Atopica. She’s panting a lot though, and I think it’s worse because it’s been so hot here the last couple of days so I made some ice cubes to go in her water bowl. How are you and your babies all doing? I hope you’re all well! Xxxxxxx

[Vally]

Ruth, I’m sorry you’re having such problems with your own health. I’m glad at least that Nula sounds as though she’s feeling a lot better and hopefully that takes some of the stress away. I think the 12.5mg is a much better idea so fingers crossed on her next test. Keep an eye on her gum colour too.

The panting is normal, certainly if it’s warm, so don’t worry too much about that. That will get better as the prednisone continues to lower in dosage.

Now don’t panic if the numbers go down a little bit – 39 is a big jump up from 26. I always seemed to find that after a jump up, they always seem to come down a little bit. I’m sure Bingo always did it on purpose so I’d have as much grey hair as him. I often found too that after an adjustment in predisone, Bingo’s PCV seemed to dip a little but usually went back up the following test. So good luck.

Love Vally & Bingo

[Linda]

Hi Ruth. So sorry you’re having back/spine problems. My fingers (all they typos – okay, not an excuse) and toes stay numb. You’re a better person than me – I don’t want to deal with it – but then the pain is bearable. If it were not, I’d be right where you are now. Best of luck with this. Better taken care of, you’re right.

This is GREAT news about Nula. I am glad though, that you are opting to go slower on the weaning. Sometimes, the vets just don’t get the “relapse” part. This way, you will have better control if there are any problems. Starting back at square one is NOT fun. ;)

So glad too, that Nula is getting a bit frisky. I love the box story – mischievous little gal. Too cute.

As Vally said, don’t panic if the numbers go down a bit. Yes, Vally – Sadie ADDS to my grey hair too! As with Sadie (and Bingo), Nula’s PCV may go down a bit. Sadie has a tendency to drop just a tad, then it pops up better than before, so give it a week or so. Of course, a drastic drop would not be good, but that won’t happen. Just keep checking Nula’s mouth – PINK is good!

My thoughts are with you and Nula. Good luck on Thursday with her PCV test. And good luck to you with your back. Please continue to keep us posted.

Love and hugs, Linda and Sadie

[admin]

Hi Ruth

Sorry to hear about your back too – you are incredible coping with all this pain and I hope they can do something to help you as soon as possible.

Glad you have opted for the slower plan – you know I feel very strongly about rushing things as it is fraught with danger – vets are understandably keen to reduce the prednisolone, but they haven’t seen the number of relapses we have experience of because this disease is so rare.

As Vally & Linda have said, PCVs vary a bit – slightly up, slightly down. As long as it’s only a few points, that’s quite normal & depends on how hydrated they are etc. We are all habitual gum checkers on here ( I even check my Ollie’s!). Use you gut instinct too – you know Nula better than anyone & if she’s acting fine, great. If she’s not, get her checked out immediately.

Good luck from us all with the check-up. You have been an amazing Mum – please give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for looking after Nula so well & making the “slow” decision on the prednisolone reduction.
Let us know how she gets on – we will be thinking of you – love to you & Nula
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxx

[admin]

Hi Ruth,
I am so sorry about your health problems. I had never heard of EDS before and wish you best of luck for all the procedures that lie ahead of you. Nula is so lucky to have you, but of course she would say she is lucky to have YOU! I agree with the others, taking the reductions slow is good. You will see all the side effects of the drugs diminish very quickly once Nula can reduce the prednisone even more.
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Ruth]

Argh! Panicking a bit. PCV results came back funny. First result was 26, second was 31. The local vets do it by a manual test. But either way she’s gone down at least 8 points in 10 days since dropping from 15mg prednisolone twice a day to 12.5mg twice a day. Thank God I didn’t drop it by the 10mg a day they initially said! Trying not to panic. She seems well in herself at least. But Dick Whites (the specialist vets) have made an appointment for us at 10am to try their more high tech machines and work out what’s going. Also they can check her platelets. Just when I was starting to think Nula was safe round the corner :'( I hope you are all doing well and your fur babies are well. Xxxxxx