Ty

[JoAnne]

Our Dog Ty was diagnosed with IMHA on April 9th. They ran a myriad of tests x ray, abdominal ultrasounds, blood function tests for anything and everything that a dog could possibly have. All of the tests came back in perfect working order, healthy as could be. Except for his PCV was 11, we had noticed lethargy and white gums so we took him in immediately.
Currently he is taking:
75 mg Atopica 2x day
20 mg Prednisone 2x day
180 mg Mycophenolate 2x day
10 mg Famotidine 2x day
30 mg Cerenia 2x day
1/2 tab Plavix 1 x day
There has been much improvement in his PCV in the last few weeks. It is currently 28-29 and has been holding steady for about a week at that number. I am very interested in tapering off some of the medications, I know they are so hard on his body. Up to this point he hasn’t been experiencing any gastro symptoms but a slimy, loose, stool started on Tuesday.
We have heard a couple of things about his PCV and tapering medications.
1) We can taper medications after he has shown upword PCV for 2 weeks.
2) We can’t taper off any medications until his PCV reaches 30
3) Atopica really starts to work at the 4-6 week mark.
Of course we want to go on the vets recommendation, won’t pull any of the meds until they say. The roller coaster has been brutal, has anyone else had the experience of PCV staying the same for a week or so?

[Vally]

Hi JoAnne

I’m sorry Ty has been so sick. It’s terrifying and the drugs are horrendous, but remember, they’re life savers.

What sort of dog is Ty and what does he weigh?

First of all, no, tapering shouldn’t start until they’ve been in the normal range for at least a few weeks, probably a month. The risk of relapse is the problem at tapering too soon or too quickly – been there, done that.

Atopica seems to work differently in different dogs. It can take up to 6 weeks to work in some, and in my boy, it seemed to work immediately. First test after he started it, he had improved.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/cyclosporine/

It’s great that he’s responded so well, and at 28 and 29, he’s out of danger, but he’s nowhere near normal yet.

Do you have any idea what may have triggered this? Was a tick test done? Any infections? Any vaccinations?

Ask anything, we all love to do whatever we can to help.

Vally & Bingo (diag Nov 2011, in remission)

[Sheena]

Hi JoAnne

Lovely to see you joined us – sorry your pup has been poorly though. Ty seems to be responding fine, which is great news! Like Vally, I am worried your vets will reduce too fast & too quickly. They should be stable for around a month – this means a PCV of 35 or higher. Then you can start reducing the prednisone only (NEVER reduce more than one drug at a time & always reduce prednisone first, unless there is a valid clinical reason to do otherwise). Here is how to reduce safely:

https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone-dose-reduction/

When their PCV gets over 25, the increase in PCV gets a bit slower, so don’t over-worry about that. The body is starting to think it’s OK again at that level & the amount of new red cells being produced slows down somewhat.

I you could get the information Vally asked for over to us, that would be wonderful as it gives us more of an idea of what’s happened. Really pleased to see the plavix to prevent abnormal clotting is in place.

A lot of info on cyclosporine taking 6 weeks to work relates to skin conditions & other less serious problems where lower doses are used. It is more usual to see a quicker response, and Ty is certainly improving, which is really great to hear.

Hope this helps!

Hugs
Sheena, Worzel (diagnosed Dec 2012, in remission) & Ollie xxxxx

[Amy E]

JoAnne I am sorry your dog is ill. Every time I see a new post here my heart breaks. Everyone here is so helpful I hope you find some comfort in knowing we will do what we can to ease your worry.
Amy & Coal ( the sassy poodle)

[JoAnne]

Thank you all for responding. I’m very appreciative of your support. I’m really hoping in time that he goes into remission. I know it is a possibility, our fingers are crossed and we feel guarded but hopeful about his long term prognosis.

Vally to answer your questions Ty is a hound mix, we got him from the shelter when he was 6 weeks old. The paperwork says Basset mix but he doesn’t look like one. He weighs 40 pounds. As far as the cause goes he hadn’t had any injectable vaccinations since June 2015. We did give him a nasal Bordatella vaccination about 40 days before we noticed the lethargy and pale everything. He super active and we live out a bit, so in the last year there were some ticks, puncture wounds and smaller wounds/scratches from hunting in the yard but nothing that immediately( 30 days or so) could have caused his illness. We suspect that it could have come from a fight with our cat in December 2015, he was scratched up and bitten pretty badly. The cat is old, and the play got out of hand. He was on Doxycycline after the incident, no pathology was found in the blood tests to determine the cause, everything was negative. We will continue his treatment, but at this point is getting SUPER expensive. I have been able to get the same drugs at valley vet for a lot less, but it ‘s still adding up. Does anyone know if Atopica has a rebate program? Anything tips on medicinal costs would be really helpful
JoAnne Ty’s Mom

 

[Sheena]

Hi JoAnne

He’s a very handsome chap indeed! Lovely to see a photo of your boy. Nice tongue!

Just a thought – we had a dog on here who went into anaphalactic shock after a nasal Bordatella vaccination – the owners were categorically told not to vaccinate ever again. This makes me a bit suspicious that it could have some significance with what’s happened to Ty. Now Ty has IMHA/AIHA he can’t have any more vaccinations anyway, but maybe you could discuss this being a possibility of being the trigger of the disease with your vet? There is a definite link with many vaccinations & IMHA – without any doubt at all.

I’m really sorry I can’t help with advice on the costs as I live in France. I bet someone on here will know – I know lots of US owners use Costco, if that’s any help? Or maybe Google help with vets bills?

How’s Ty doing now? Hope he’s feeling more like his old self very soon.

Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[jill]

Hi Joanne, your dog is just geougous, im so sorry to hear he is poorly. xxx My dog Snoopy is a lurcher cross, and has AIHA , but is on the mend now and doing well.Thanks to all the support and advice from the lovely ladys on this site.They will help you all they can.We are in the process of reducing our dog,( Snoopys) predonisilone and are going very slowly as we don’t want the risk of a relapse, its most important.I have learnt to be patient but its so worth the wait when you see them improve.Hoping your doggie does to , Love Jill & Snoopy xxx x ps sorry haven’t any advice on the costs .

[Vally]

Hi JoAnne, with the cost of drugs, can you ask for a presciption? If you can use Costco, then I think that’s the way to go. I’m in Australian and our Costco don’t sell medicines, but I asked the vet for a prescription and bought Atopica from the local chemist. The difference in Atopica was AU$120 for 30 capsules at the vet and $50 at the chemist.

Regards, Vally & Bingo

PS – He’s a handsome boy – and yes what a tongue !!!