A wagging tail spreads hope

[AmyE]

Hello all!
Coal is slowly but surely improving. Yesterday we witnessed a wagging tail for the first time in weeks. She is still doing a lot of resting but seems to have worked up enough energy to annoy Vidia just a smidge. We are still at 40 mg a day or prednisone and 300 of cyclosporine. She will have another PCV and CBC tomorrow. We are also starting B12 shots as she can’t seem to get enough of my food that has nutritional yeast on it. The nutritionist seems to think it can’t hurt so why not. Her hair is still falling out so we are very careful when we are giving her affection to not rub too hard or clumps come out. She is eating well and drinking a TON of water. So for now we are floating down the river with out too much white water and I hope and pray it’s stays that way. As an aside for any of you following the weather we woke up to -6° F this morning Brrrrrrrr the dogs didn’t even want to go out 😂

[AmyE]

Sorry correction 150 of cyclosporine !

[Vally]

And a rather warm 48°C here yesterday with a much milder 32°C today. Highest temperature on record for here and Saba goes and lies down in the sun. Must have needed some Vitamin D, while I’m standing at the back door saying, “get your butt inside!!!”, trying to keep the house closed up.

I’m really pleased to hear that Coal is improving. Little steps in the right direction are really big steps.

Bingo used to have Vitamin B shots every 3 weeks, but that was an age thing. It’s very safe, what they don’t need gets wee’d out.

I’m sure Coal’s hair will improve when she can come down a bit more off the prednisone.

[AmyE]

just another quick update for Coal. It has been stressful but we did another reduction for Coal on the steroids. She is doing very well with out it. She is down to 10 mg a day BUT still on 150mg of the cyclosporine which is the medication that we feel is really helping her. The hair loss continues and I am not used to having a shedding dog. WHAT A MESS!! But she is in great spirits and she is super pink so I am not going to worry about anything other than watching her PCV and Platelets she is getting checked weekly. Also we added a weekly injection of B12 to help her cell stay healthy. The steroid river is moving along calmly. Lets pray it stays that way.
XOXO
Amy and the girls

[Vally]

Yep anything but smooth makes me sea-sick.

She’s sounding really good Amy. Don’t forget to take care of yourself.

Vally and Saba (who is a natural shedder)

[AmyE]

The Vet wants us to go to 10mg every other day on the prednisone. As always any reduction causes me stress but again we believe that the cyclosporine is the thing that is really helping her so I am happy to reduce again. If we have to go back up we go back up. Her PCV was 52 today!!!!! GO COAL!!!! She is still leaving massive amounts of hair all over the place. I’ll see if I can get some pics for you. she is starting to look like she has mange :(
Warmly,
Amy and the girls

[Vally]

52 !!! Well wow miss fancy pants. Amy, have you done the reduction yet? Is that a 50% reduction?

[AmyE]

Yes we did the reduction and it is 50% we are pushing hard to get her off the steroids. The muscle waste and hair loss are astounding. She is doing very well and we will NOT be reducing the cyclosporin any time soon. here are a few pics of her hair loss. I have more but didn’t want to over load the thread.
Warmly
Amy and soon to be hairless Coal