Vally - 22. page

[Vally]

Oh Sarah, Phoebe is a very lucky girl to have found you. Yes, nobody around me understood why I was so worried about Bingo. A few people suggested I have him put to sleep and get another dog. I told them, he’s not a battery to be replaced when he’s not working properly, so yes, I was also very grateful to find a site, like this one, with people who understood. When that site closed down, Patrice stared up this site.

I like the sound of your specialist. It’s important to suppress the immune response in the crisis, but at the same time, they can become over suppressed if on too long. Checking her gums is a good idea and will help you. Don’t check them when she’s just lazying about as they will be pale. Check them when she’s active. Dogs work differently to humans in that they store their blood in their spleen, and when needed, it’s released. So for example, Phoebe is lying about, her gums will be pale. The doorbell will ring and she will jump up and her spleen will immediately respond by releasing a supply of blood. I remember one lady here, her dog learned to smile because she was checked so often. The way she acts too is a good indication, so if she’s out there chasing lizards, she’s feeling good.

Welcome to the Paranoid Pet Owners Club – no admission fees.

Vally
xxx

[Vally]

Sarah, if it were me, I would have her tested only because I would be a basket case until tested. Hopefully the next test will put your mind at ease.

Also, I’m in Australia, and I’m guessing you are in USA, so because I’m usually asleep when you’re awake, there may be a gap before I answer. I always check though.

Regards, Vally

[Vally]

Hi Sarah and Phoebe and welcome, although I’m sorry you’ve had to come looking for us.

Totally understand the wreck. We have all been there where it just all seems impossible and you don’t know what to do.

First of all 39 is still in the normal range, so don’t panic. Having said that, it is a bit more of a drop than we like, but it could be a number of factors. How hydrated Phoebe was when the test was done, the more she drinks, the lower the PCV reading will be – we do not encourage not letting out pups drink before a test (I seriously considered doing that to poor Bingo). Stress will affect readings, the temperature.

I’d suggest that you don’t do any more reductions until another blood test is done and Phoebe is stable for a bit. I certainly wouldn’t lower anything.

Also, don’t reduce more than one medication at a time and never more than 25-33% of a drop. I’m wondering why the dosage wasn’t simply lowered, rather than going to every second day. Every second day is the normal but usually when they are on the lowest dose.

I also found that when a medication was lowered, there always seemed to be a drop in the PCV, as if the body needs to adjust. It would on the next test be back to where it should be.

Make sure prednisone and mycophenolate is given with food. Cyclosporine, instead should be given away from food, ideally 2 hours.

Mycophenolate in particular, but also prednisone, can cause stomach problems. It would be good if Phoebe was on something like Sucralfate. Again, this needs to be given 2 hours away from meds. I’d be happy to make up a chart for you. I love making people get up at 4 in the morning to start giving meds :)

Please ask anything, we’d love to help.

Regards,
Vally (Angel Bingo) and Saba

What does Phoebe weigh?

[Vally]

Yessica, if they’ve told you she’s producing new cells, that’s good news.

Please ask if she needs to be on a blood thinner, many dogs do need a small dose of aspirin to prevent clotting.

I know she looks terrible right now and to be honest, she may look worse still before she looks better. The prednisone will most likely make her put on weight as it makes them very hungry.

Good luck on Thursday, hoping she has improved.

Vally

[Vally]

Yessica, I’m so very sorry to hear about your Candy and I know you are very worried about her.

Do you have a copy of her blood test results? If not, it would be good to ask for a copy of them as they show a lot of information. If you have them, please use the urgent advice and attach a copy and Patrice, the site owner, will check them for you and help you understand what’s happening.

What does she weigh and what dosage is she on of the prednisone and mycophenolate? They do take a little time to work, but hopefully will kick in soon.

Is she on stomach protection? Prednisone and mycophenolate is very hard on the stomach and can cause ulcers. Make sure she takes them both with food.

Is she on any other medication? Thyroid medication or aspirin? Some dogs need aspirin if their blood is clotting too much. That would show up in a blood smear or blood test. Thyroid medication is recommended as it helps the marrow to make more red blood cells.

Candy will look worse before she looks better. She is not in pain right now, and is just very tired, as she doesn’t have a lot of oxygen going through her body. It’s best to keep her quite. She will drink a lot of water while on prednisone and that will make her wee a lot, so make sure she can go outside. Here’s some information on prednisone:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone

The transfusion she’s had doesn’t do anything other than buy time for the drugs to work and your vet has done the right thing by not giving too much blood, otherwise her body thinks she’s fine and won’t try and make more.

Dr Jean Dodds’s protocol for treating this disease is on this page – it’s the third item:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/hemopetresources

She is an expert in this disease and you can do an online consult with her – there’s a consult form on that same page, the second item. She’s a lovely lady. The cost of the consult is very reasonable and once she’s responded you can email her with more questions (at no extra charge).

Yessica, ask anything at all. We’ve all been through this and know where you are right now.

Regards, Vally

[Vally]

Me again, if the diarrhear continues, I would ask the vet for a prescription for Tylan powder. Its very safe for our dogs.

There’s some information on this page – at the bottom:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/medication-resources

[Vally]

Andrea, the dose of 2.5mg every other day is quite low, but stopping it may be showing symptoms.

Did Bobby ever have trouble with his tummy before starting prednisone? Prednisone is used for all sorts of conditions and it’s possible it was treating that other conditoin as well. For example, Bingo had arthritis, when on prednisone, his arthritis symptoms were being treated by the prednisone and he showed no symptoms. When the dosage of predisone was cut down, his arthritis returned.

Pumpkin is very good for diarrhea, but make sure it’s just plain pumpkin (not the pie pumpkin that can be bought which contains sugar). It’s very good for both diarrhear and constipation. That might be better than the rice.

Vally

[Vally]

Doing the happy dance. That’s great news.

Of course you’re still nervous, that’s one of the requirements of being in the Paranoid Pet Owners Club – it never goes away, didn’t they tell you that when you first joined?

The test results you’ve sent are really just your vet’s notes and don’t show much. Maybe they don’t do full testing there?

Good luck with the next test and let us know how Leo goes.

Regards,Vally