Sadie’s PCV results today, pinch me

Thanks Vally. Dr. Reyes and I also chatted about Sadie’s non-traditional weaning approach. She continues to think we’re doing the right thing. I, of corse, am watching her like a hawk and Dr. Reyes agrees, we should.

Sadie seems better every day. She has just recently had more spunk, cuddling (oh, how I missed that), more social with people and other pets ( she was never mean, just a ‘don’t bother me’ attitude), and overall marked improvement in her disposition.

An interesting point Dr. Reyes brought up though, which concerns all our AIHA pups, is one of; which auto immune suppressant of the (usual) two given, seemed to work better? Each animal is different, as we all know. She actually has a cat ( Mary, was thinking of you while listening to all this), with AIHA that did not respond at all to prednisone but did to Atopica (cat version). Where as Sadie, responded well to the combined shot at onset and immediately prescribed oral prednisone, but it was the Atopica added a week later that certainly pushed the new reticulocyte formation. I just thought that interesting.

With that in mind, we discussed; do we keep her on Atopica or prednisone as a maintenance (which Sadie will most likely need). Which does the least amount of damage in the long run, to their already stressed bodies? As Atopica (cyclosporine) for dogs’ dosage is 10mg, lowest, unless we do a ‘compound’ – we’re thinking, no. And as she is now down to 10MG X every 4 days, the prednisone seems to be holding her at 6MG daily. Again, for us all, interesting.

To me, it confirms that each and every dog/cat is different. The core ingredients at onset are the same, auto immune suppressant, mandatory, be it one or two (most often two) but that, coupled with how it/they reacts at onset and how it/they react at weaning, can be different and mentionable.

We all here know it, but again, what you were asking re: at which point in the low-dose weaning process does the adrenal gland know to start producing cortisol again AND how do we know it is ‘awake’ enough are huge questions and concern for relapse. Hence, we are mother hawks.

In researching – our site comes up VERY often. That’s marvelous!!! I so hope we help many going through this dreaded, stinking disease.

Love and hugs, Linda and Ms. Congeniality, Sadie

Oh Ruth, I’m so glad she’s on another immune suppressant. That’s what we have all hoped for here. Please keep us posted.

Love and hugs to you both, from both of us,

Linda and Sadie

Thanks Mary. I do know they use Atopica (cyclosporine) around here for cats. And the two are vastly different, feline Atopica and canine Atopica. I know this only because the doses are obviously lower (size) and I asked. Actually, the canine Atopica is toxic and deadly to felines. Go figure, different animals.

I hope you and Mable are well. Love and hugs to you both,

Linda and Sadie (very much thinking she deserves a bully stick too!)