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Hi Alyssa
I love the photos – Sassy is a real cutie pie! It’s good to hear she’s a happy girl. I was just asking my husband if he remembered Worzel having a saggy, baggy neck on the pred – he said he definitely did. But it was never “fluidy” like that as far as we remember. I left his collar off as much as I could, in case it was uncomfortable or restricting him – maybe try that? There are so many side effects, unfortunately.
I couldn’t get Denamarin here in France, so I used high quality organic certified milk thistle from the UK – the Soil Association certifies it there, but I don’t know if you guys have an equivalent? I also bought Sam-E tablets. His enzymes soon dropped, so well worth doing. Here is a site which Dr Dodds has put information on dosing:
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/milk_thistle.htm
So you can work out exactly what Sassy needs according to her weight.
Worzel also had high glucose levels until we reduced the pred – then they dropped back into normal & have been fine ever since. Again, the pred does do this. It does raise glucose levels in people as well unfortunately. As Patrice rightly says, this also varies according to food & need throughout the day. I’m sure you know that glycaemic index tests are done 1st thing in the morning after a fast to get correct results being a diabetic – I hope YOU are OK too – the stress does get to us when coping with this disease. I lost quite a lot of weight when Worzel was ill – shame I’ve put it all back on again!
Hoping you will get the vet to check her out for infection soon – looks like there may be something going on, so this needs to be kept an eye on as they have little resistance to infection when they are on these drugs – please let us know how she’s doing.
Sheena x
Hey Tamara
This is just the BEST news – you have made my weekend, dear friend. Ashki is one amazing boy & you have worked so hard to get him into normal levels. Whoooppeeeeee! I am so happy for you. Hearing he is enjoying life so much is wonderful.
Let’s hope he doesn’t have a UTI – but hey ho, some antibiotics will sort that if necessary.
I would personally want to get the pred as low as possible too – it’s life-saving, but the side effects – well, we all know it makes them prone to UTIs & other infections. Wishing you all the luck in the world with the reduction. Being a very cautious person, I would only drop one thing at a time – if something untoward comes up, you know what’s caused it. If you have changed 2 or 3 things, it could be any of them that have caused the problem. I quite understand you want to reduce the other drugs too, but maybe one thing at a time is the “safer” way. Just my opinion of course!
Much love, hugs & doggy kisses from all of us to both of you
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xoxoxox
Hi Meghan
So sorry to hear about the little scary episode, but glad she seems fine now – goodness, they give us plenty to worry about, don’t they? I think because she’s so weak, she’s over-exerted herself & doesn’t have enough oxygen at the moment to let her do this rushing about. I agree – it sounds like she just fainted for a second or so. Please tell the vet about this though, then they can check her out for you. These drugs have so many side effects too. I know you will have everything under control now on keeping her calm – how on earth you cope so well with two young children & a poorly pup is amazing, Meghan.
When is her next CBC test? Patrice has given excellent advice about the blood draw – there certainly was a big difference between the PCV & HCT readings which makes it suspicious. Fingers crossed for the next one – I will be thinking about you both
Love & hugs
Sheena x
Hi Alyssa
Don’t worry – LY%. Immuno-suppressant drugs (prednisone) are meant to keep these lymphocytes “under control” & at a lower level. T-lymphocytes are the things that attack the body & it’s cells by mistake during auto-immune diseases, so we want them kept well under control. This was one of the first things I learned from Worzel’s specialist & I always looked to make sure his lymphocytes were normal or low – we did not want high.
Have the vets checked Sassy’s neck out for infection now? How is she?
Sheena x
Meghan,
I can imagine that was a very scary episode and you certainly don’t want to repeat that. having Gabby rest is very important now and you don’t want her to charge around. Of course with the kids in the house that becomes a real challenge. Do you maybe have an old playpen that you could put her in? She could then be close to you but still be confined. I have what is called an X-pen, something like a playpen for dogs. people going to agility or conformation shows would have them. Ask around you never know. Maybe you still have one of those gates you can put in a door or at the top of a stair case? maybe you could confine Gabby this way? I am sure you don’t want to put her in a cage or travel kennel, but try and find a solution with what I suggested.
I have no idea what caused this episode, maybe someone else has a thought. I would for sure mention it to the vet. Best wishes,
Brigitte
Hi Meghan
We received the blood tests etc just fine – the moderators get them via e-mail – so thank you for doing that. Gabby has really been through a rough time & I see she has a severe abnormal clotting risk called auto-agglutination (sticky red blood cells that can cause clots) – a good reason to continue with the Plavix to prevent further clots from forming. You can see & read about auto-agglutination here:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/agglutination/
Plavix is often used for this – good job, vets.
Her platelets are a bit low (not worryingly so) so there is no clotting risk with them at all – low platelets are often seen at the beginning of the disease too.
I am not going to tell you this isn’t serious- I know you know it is – but Gabby can get better -her treatment has been excellent – keep really positive, Meghan. The drugs will take a little time time to work & slow down the auto-agglutination – be patient – keeping her very calm & quiet is the best thing for now. I see your vets have fully explained what to look out for – it’s all very good advice. Again, if you are worried about anything, post a note on here – one of us is usually awake as we are world-wide.
Freezing cyclosporine is not advisable – I will explain another time, but please don’t do that as it may affect the potency of the drug. I know some vets advise this, but after lengthy research & discussion, this is NOT a good idea. Some dogs get nausea at the high initial loading dose & this will subside when the dose is lowered. And you have the anti-nausea meds too if necessary.
Vally will always do you a medication chart if you like – she’s brilliant at that & it’s horrible trying to work out what to give when & what with food, without food & gaps in between right! For now, make sure you don’t give the tummy protectant within an hour of any of the other drugs as it can stop correct absorption. I would also have liked to see sucralfate on the list – a 1mg dose last thing at night at least. Would you mind asking if they could add that please? When Worzel was on doxycycline, it was the ONLY thing that stopped his tummy ache. It must be given 2 hrs after any other drugs. Also, her liver is already being affected (we’ve all had this with our dogs too – again it’s the drugs), so adding Denamarin as soon as possible will help reduce the problem. This is also important – you can get it from Amazon if necessary.
The high WBC I guess is what your vets are thinking is caused by infection – let’s see how things go with the antibiotics. Sometimes when the blood cells are all “to pot” with this disease & it’s hard to get a good sample, the automatic counting machines are not that accurate – good to see they are looking at blood smears too. I can’t see anything noted there except the auto-agglutination though.
I’d like to have a chat with Patrice about Gabby’s blood results too – she has more experience than I do & may well spot something I haven’t. I hope I’ve covered everything urgent for now – please give Gabby a very gentle cuddle from her new Auntie Sheena – I hope she’ll soon be on the mend.
Loads of love, Sheena xxxxx
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
![Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4.jpg "Brigitte\'s Cleo, Ripley, Enzo and Guest \\"Rockin\\"")
