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Hi Susie
I’m really sorry – I didn’t answer your questions – here you can read about what Brigitte & I mentioned – checking gums:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/capillary-refill-time/
Here’s the pred reduction:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone-dose-reduction/
I know it doesn’t mention that drops of up to about 5 in PCV are pretty common (not every dog has this) but we all know this more from experience than anything else! See also the prednisone article – near the bottom you will see about a “significant” drop. Again, from experience on here I would personally put that figure over maybe 8 as then is when I would have been a bit concerned. If a “significant drop” was seen, I would recommend another PCV in a few days time. I think a drop of more than 10 means you might have a problem & you need a re-check & to be cautious – if the re-check also shows this drop, put the pred dose back up again.
Remember the blood tests will always vary by a few points – that IS normal! Sorry if I am repeating myself here, but this is important – be consistent about where your vet takes the blood from – neck or leg – always use the same place. My specialist insisted Worzel’s blood draw was always taken from the NECK – he said it gave more accurate results & was less prone to handling errors. So that is what we did. Sometimes Worzel did not drop PCV, sometimes it went up, sometimes he did drop. The average drop was 5, the biggest drop was 8, but a retest came back 4. I hope this puts your mind at rest a bit.
When is the next test Susie? Crossing everything for you & sweet Emily
Love Sheena & the boys xxxxx
Hi Susie,
I know that these drops in PCV can be so upsetting. We want to move forward and preferably fast. Unfortunately this disease is anything but fast healing. So be patient! I agree that the last higher PCV might have been at a point when Emily was a bit dehydrated. They can get dehydrated even though they drink immense amounts of water. The high prednisone doses puts these dogs metabolism in a kick start so they are always hot. Add the high temperatures and you see them panting and getting tired. Emily has to do a lot of healing and that is always exhausting. All this could be the reasons why the PCV was lower at the last test and why Emily is tired. Of course you don’t ever want to let your guard down and always keep a close eye on her. I think you already understand that and I don’t even need to say it:) You already got very good advice from the others what to look for. I think checking gums becomes a total obsession with parents of AIHA dogs! There is an other little test you could do on Emily , the capillary refill time. When you check her gums press on them fairly hard with one finger, let go and see how fast the blood returns to the spot that turned pale when you pressed on it. The faster the better. If it is very, very slow you might want to get her checked out.
About walks, I always went with my gut feeling and also with how my dog felt and what he wanted. I definitely stayed away from strange dogs. A side effect of the medications is that Emily’s muscles are weak, so are her ligaments. If a dog is playing with her too roughly or jumps on her, she would be easily injured. But I always felt that it was good for my dog to have a bit of normalcy, a routine and going for a short walk was part of that. I also felt that it was good for him to get fresh air and see something else than our house and backyard. Never push for exercise at this point though, go with your gut feeling and you will do the right thing.
Best wishes,
Brigitte
Oh Alyssa – Sassy is BEAUTIFUL!!! Pits have such a special place in my heart. I have rescued two. Both came right up to me – wonderful dogs. One, we found her owner and the other I found a wonderful forever home.
I am so glad to read how well Sassy is doing. I love the pics – you are quite the photographer!!! Keep the great news coming!
Sending our love and hugs, Linda and Sadie
Oh Amy, I am so very sorry that JD is not doing well, but hopefully, this is temporary and he will be turning around soon. As others have said, the first few months are horrible to go through AND watch. Yes, please let us know.
I am so thinking of you and wishing all the good thoughts possible.
Much love and huge hang-in-there hugs, Linda
Hi Susie. I have been out of pocket for a bit – so sorry. But wanted to pipe in about the drop in PCV. We ALL here worry about that, but as all have said, not to worry – 36 is still good and Emily is doing well.
I go through this with my Sadie too. I do a tiny (never more than 20-25%) reduction in her prednisone (she has relapsed twice) and she’ll always drop from 3-6 points. The 6 points REALLY gets me. I would like to say I’m learning not to worry, but I do – of course.
I can not believe about the rat being eaten. Yikes!! But glad all is okay. We have had two here, outside. One was killed in our pool heat pump (poor little thing…..I know – I just hate to kill anything at all). The other though, I caught in a non-lethal, live trap (baited with sun flower seeds and tiny carrots – well fed little creature!) and took him to the woods. He got out of that trap and buzzed out instantly. They ARE fast!!! He was a very happy, either very large mouse or very small rat, but happy, none the less. But that was outside, getting into our lanai – inside may be a different story.
Oh and yesterday, Sadie rolled on a very dead, very stinky snake (small, garden type). The stinkier the better, says Sadie! Geese!!!! ;)
I hope both your pups are doing well. They sure are precious!!!
Love and hugs, Linda and Sadie
Hi Susie
As Vally says, normal roses are not poisonous & that PCV drop is not severe. She’s only 1 point below the normal level – just keep an eye on her, check her gums when she is active & cross your fingers for the next test. If you took two PCV tests an hour apart, I know the figures would vary a little bit. We worry about every single little thing – it’s hard not to with this scary disease. I quite often catch both my two eating compost out of my plant pots – dirty things!
Love Sheena & the boys xxxxx
Hi Alyssa
No, as Vally says, please don’t worry too much about her weight too much for now, just try to keep her on a reasonably low fat diet, but don’t stint on protein. I promise Worzel was the world’s fattest greyhound – round the middle – shame about those stick legs though (don’t tell him I said that). You can’t laugh at Worzel, even though he is such a fun dog – he goes off in the huff & won’t speak to us until we creep round him with cuddles – which makes us laugh even more! Sadly, he was really, really thin, apart from his tummy – his muscles disappeared before my very eyes. I like to keep him slightly “padded” these days, just in case of a dreaded relapse.
We also had water bowls everywhere at the beginning of the treatment – he was unbelievably thirsty too.
Sassy really is absolutely adorable – a right softie – no wonder you can’t resist her “feed me now” techniques. Great photos. She deserves big love anyway after her rotten start. Now her drinking is a bit less, she soon might start looking slimmer – we love hearing how she’s doing.
Sheena x
![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\\"")
