Forum Replies Created
Alyssa
Forgot to say earlier (my poor little brain lets me down at times) that lymphocyte levels are a good indication of her immune system being under control with the immunosuppressants. Sassy’s are nice & low. My specialist told me this at the beginning when I was very worried myself – we must always keep a close eye on them – keep them on the low side. T-lymphocytes are the things that cause the problem if they are over-active. So, more good news for you to cheer you up!
Sheena x
Hi Alyssa
Received your blood tests – looking really, really good Miss Sassy! I completely understand why you are concerned – I’m not making light of this either & everything needs to be watched carefully. I’m actually really glad your vet is cautious – I much prefer to hear that!
I tried hard not to panic when things were a bit out of range with Worzel – it happens. Below is Worzel’s platelet progress – you can see many ups & downs at the beginning of treatment – this might make you feel better. It does happen with these drugs. The other thing to remember is the platelets don’t live very long (days) & they take a lot less time for the body to make them, unlike red cells which live about 120 days & take a lot more effort to make too.
As you can see, I’ve had a few panicky moments too as the levels change quite a lot in a few days – Worzel’s platelets:
17/11/12 146
22/11/12 167
26/11/12 350
30/11/12 331
03/12/12 395
06/12/12 493
12/12/12 233
18/12/12 331
26/12/12 285
08/01/13 393
16/01/13 228
23/01/13 172
07/02/13 151
14/02/13 197
14/03/13 277
28/03/13 169
28/04/13 205
15/05/13 186
02/07/13 212
23/07/13 194
03/09/13 182
22/10/13 192
25/11/13 214
13/01/14 192
22/04/14 162
29/07/14 135
07/11/14 177
14/02/15 126
If you prefer to get another test in a week before reducing the pred, I think that that will make you happier & after all, it’s only another week – not a problem! Sometimes, we need our minds put at rest & if this is bothering you, wait for the next results. I have all Worzel’s results on a spread sheet if you ever want to look (sad aren’t I????). She’s doing really well Alyssa – YOU are doing an excellent job. Let’s hope the next result will be as good as the latest one.
Love & hugs & a don’t worry
Sheena & the boys xxxxx
Hi again Lynn
Just a thought – Hayley is/was hypothyroid, right? Is she on soloxine (thyroxine for dogs)? As people get older they often need their thyroxine increased as the gland doesn’t work so well. I think it would be a good idea to get a full thyroid panel done for her. We all know what a difference adding soloxine makes to getting the PCV of our dogs up & Dr Dodds ALWAYS recommends it regardless for anaemia. Hypothyroid people are often inclined to be anaemic, so are dogs. The other thing you could get is a Vitamin B12 test to make sure she is absorbing enough through her GI tract.
I agree with Vally completely – it’s horrible when you are not 100% sure of your vet & it makes things very difficult. I always pick which vet to see at our practice according to what we are going in for – they all have strengths & weaknesses!
Sending all our love to you & the babies, as always.
Sheena & the boys xxxxx
Right my friend Alyssa!
You can look up normal levels on this lovely website:
http://www.2ndchance.info/normaldogandcatbloodvalues.htm
Please Everyone, remember levels do fluctuate -if they are normal, they are NORMAL!
Sassy’s platelets are not low – they are perfectly normal. There is nothing to worry about. Low platelets below 60 are to worry about. My non-IMHA dog Ollie has platelets slightly below normal, (140-150) but that is OK for greyhounds & lurchers. Remember these things do vary between tests too.
Also her PCV of 47 is really GOOD! Why is your vet saying you can’t reduce? I don’t understand. There is no reason I can see why you shouldn’t be reducing the pred at our recommended rate from the above blood test results – this will get her weight down too. Pred = hungry & water retention. You need to do the reduction as follows of course:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone-dose-reduction/
Slowly & safely.
Great to see her liver enzymes are under control.
Now stop worrying this instant – sending love & hugs
Sheena xxxxx
PS you can scan & send the whole blood test to us if you want – it might put you mind at rest?
Hello my sweet lady
Hayley with her toys is such a beautiful story & really funny too, bless her! I’m assuming you mean she has degenerative valve disease. There are lots of medications available, but she should have specialist examination to determine exactly what is going on. An ECG (I think you say EKG?) & ultrasound should be carried out to see what’s happening inside her heart – which valve is the problem, etc etc. This is a common thing in certain breeds including chihuahuas & greyhounds, so we are in the same boat! I completely understand you are worried about her PCV & I would be too. At least she’s in normal still – what has she been before, Lynn? Is it a big drop or just a few points?
Worzel has a leaky mitral valve (a prolapse) – has had for years – and his been on pimobendan (which regulates the heartbeat), plus prilactone (which improves heart function – see http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Summary_for_the_public/veterinary/000105/WC500063366.pdf)
for about 5 years now. He is absolutely fine, touch wood, and has not got any worse so far – he’s at least 14 now. He has an ECG & ultrasound every year to check him out. It is really a specialist thing for a vet to know exactly what the problem is & which drug(s) will work best. Here is an interesting read from Cornell University:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospital/Services/Companion/Cardiology/conditions/leaky-valve.cfm
I am a huge fan of pimobendan:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimobendan
as it has prolonged the life of many, many dogs with this MVP problem- Worzel’s heartbeat dropped from 200 bpm down to normal within 12 hours of starting treatment. I’m not saying that it would definitely work for Hayley as I’m not sure precisely what her problem is – but it’s certainly worth asking your vet specialist/cardiologist about a different medication if she’s not quite right. It does say it is better than benazepril in some articles, but it depends on the diagnosis.
Hope this has helped a bit – we will always worry – forever – about our babies. It can’t be helped after the trauma of getting them through the IMHA treatment.
Sending much love & loads of hugs to you, my very dear friend, and to little Hayley as well,
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie too xxxxx
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
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