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To be honest, right now, her staying home is probably safer. However, I totally get quality of life. If it were me, I’d likely do 5 minutes outside for a sniff, rather than a walk. Sniffing takes up a lot of their mental energy. It’s good for dogs that can’t exercise after surgery and the like.
Hi Michelle,
I know your girl looks a mess right now, and that is the drugs, as you’ve said, but they are saving her life. She sounds as though she has improved though and that’s great.
I probably wouldn’t be doing the walks right now, or if she really wants to go out, maybe do really short trips. Also, her immune system is being kept in check with the drugs right now, so it could leave her at risk of picking up any sort of infection.
In most cases, prednisone is lowered first, as it has the most side effects. Reducing the dose doesn’t normally happen until the PCV has reached 35 and has stabilised there. This has some information that might help:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone
It’s important to reduce the dosage slowly and a reduction of no more than 25-35% at a time with checks before and after.
Yes, it does happen sometimes that a dog will need to stay on a small dose of prednisone. My boy Bingo was one of them. However it was a very low dose.
Ask anything, happy to help.
Oh Kat, I’m so sorry to read this. This is a horrible disease that hits so hard and so fast, and sometimes it just can’t be beaten.
When you feel ready, you might like to go to this page and have a read. I know it will help you, or maybe come back in a few days to have a read.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/the-bridge
My condolences.
Vally
Hi Kat, I’m sorry you’ve had to come looking for help because I know how worried you are right now. We’ve been there too.
The first days are terrible, and the medications will make Z look even worse, but let the meds do what they have to do.
Call out if you need help or just want to cry or rant, we’re here.
Vally.
Hi Hope, I’m sorry you and Coco are going through this. It’s a terrible time, I know.
Yes, many many dogs survive and it’s often a case of hitting this disease quickly and hard in the early days.
Hopefully the azathioprine will help. It that doesn’t work, ask your vet to add in Cyclosporine.
Is Coco on any other drugs? stomach protection? blood clotting protection like aspirin?
Do you have a copy of Coco’s blood test results. If you send them through on Urgent Advice, Patrice, the site owner can have a look at them. She’s very clever with understanding what is going on and can help you to understand.
Coco will probably get worse before he gets better, I’m sorry to say, but don’t give up hope.
Ask anything.
Regards, Vally
Hi Jen, welcome to the site, although I’m sorry you had to come looking.
Coco is sounding as though she is doing great and I’m so pleased. Your work to get help I’m sure saved her life.
As Patrice said, so many times we’ve come across vets who just didn’t know what they were doing and did so many unnecessary tests and the right treatment wasn’t implemented fast enough and what became apparent was that fast hard treatment was so important.
Foodwise, stick to what Coco normally eats, although make sure it’s not too high in fat. I wouldn’t change her diet too much, especially if she has a delicate tummy. One thing I would do is make sure she’s getting good quality lean meat food. You want to avoid any chance of pancreatitis, especially while she’s on prednisone.
Do upload the paperwork. Patrice is amazing at understanding it all and can help you understand what’s happening. And yes, if you don’t have a copy of all the tests, ask for them. I always said it helped me to get my head around it all if I could compare the tests to see progress.
Coco, you are a very lucky girl to have such a great mum.
Regards, Vally.
![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\\"")
