This has been a long road

[Willow]

We adopted our little Staffy when she was 10 weeks old . She has always had a need to eat stuff, when she was just 6 months old we had to have surgery to remove a towel..it was hard..they called in the middle of it to ask if they should continue..of course we said yes..you can’t just stop. We learned a lesson and moved on making sure everything was picked up, but she didn’t make it easy. 6 months ago the same thing happened (she is now 2 years old) but it set off a long battle. They continued to think she had a bleed due to surgery and missed the AIHA Dx for months… they are great though, not blaming them at all..just the timing of it all.They put her on Predisone but for some unknown reason that almost did her in, we ended up taking her back after only 2 weeks on it with a PCV of only 8..she got a blood transfusion and that took it up to 13.. So now we are trying Cyclosporine and Mycophenolate. Which I have read is a GI irritant and I so afraid it will cause issues with her still. We have been holding steady at a PCV of 13% but her blood work shows she is not regenerating blood cells at all now, which before she was. I am just at a loss. Luckily we purchased puppy insurance which has been a life safer for us. This medication is so expensive. I guess I am just here hoping someone understands, other then my vet, my kids and my husband everyone keeps giving me…she is just a dog speech…. I am tired of hearing that.

[Vally]

Hi Willow, I’m so sorry to hear this. I’ll bet you’re a mess right now, and I know I WAS!!! Still am always worrying, so you’re very welcome here.

I also had many people telling me that I could let Bingo go and get another dog. They told me it would be kinder to let Bingo go. I told them Bingo isn’t a battery that gets replaced when it’s worn out. In fact Bingo survived and remained in remission for 5 years. I lost him in January to a cancer.

Your girl certain must love the attention at her vets. 2 towels!!!

Is your girl on any other drugs? She should be on stomach protection (sucralfate or pepcid) and usually aspirin (although not in every case – depends on blood tests).

Dr Jean Dodds is a marvel at this disease and she also recommends using thyroxine to help the marrow to make more red blood cells. Bingo had been started on thyroxine before his AIHA diagnosis, but it wasn’t until I changed the way I was giving it that he started to improve.

So I would ask about those extra things, tummy protection, aspirin if the blood it clotting, and thyroxine to help the marrow to make more reds.

Ask anything at all, we would love to help your puppy get better.

Vally (Angel Bingo) and Saba.

PS I’m in Australia, so different time zone.

[Willow]

Thank you for your reply. Yes she is on Pepcid and has been on sucalfate when she was on Predisone. . I have not heard of the thyroxine but will ask about that.
She is one of our vet office unofficial mascot. Everyone knows her. They put up with all my questions when I call..almost daily this week I think I owe them a gift basket or something .lol
I had to put down my Choc Lab due to cancer about 5 years ago and I always felt I should have done more before making that decidion so there is no way I am giving up on this little girl.. she’s only 2 and is such an awesome dog.

[Vally]

Hi, just wondering how things are going.

Vally

[Willow]

No change so far. ..which I will take as a good sign. Other med combos we could tell just by the way she was acting that her blood work wasn’t going to be good. She is eating a lot and playing with our husky. Our next blood work is in a few weeks… I am hoping we don’t have any need to visit the vet before her appt. But I am watching her closely incase things start going down hill. Thank you for asking 😊

[Willow]

Well we ended up getting g another transfusion today. I had to force her out of bed this morning..she is normslly rhe first one up and stznding by her bowl wsiting to eat. The vet wants to try Predisone again. I am hesitate but I will give it a try. Her pcv was at 10 this morning and her transfusion brought her up to a 12… I really hope these meds start working soon. A little good news is she gained some weight. 3lbs in 2 weeks.

[Vally]

I’m so sorry to hear this. I know your devastated right now.

The transfusion up to 12? Is that correct. That’s not very high. They can be transfused up to 25, but not more, or the body gets lazy and doesn’t respond properly.

What dose prednisone and how much does your girl weigh? Is she still on cyclosporine and mycophenolate? Please do ask about thyroxine.

Regards, Vally

[Willow]

Yes..only 12. I figured they could only do so much but didn’t realize it was up that high. I will have to ask them when we go back. She is up to 44lbs and is on 250mg of mycophenolate 2xday, 100mg of cyclosporine 1xday, 20mg of Predisone 2xday, sucalfate every 8 hours, pepcid 2xday and prilosac 1xday… I feel like I am forgetting something. Between what needs to be taken on an empty stomach and how long to wait to feed her and what needs to be given with food I think I need to make a chart. And I am so mad I forgot to ask about the thyroxine … thank you for reminding me.