And introduction to Casy

[AlnCasy]

I am learning here. I hope this helps someone out. When giving the Atopica, a small white capsule type. They are sticky. very hard to get into my tiny pups mouth. I noticed when I went to feed her, the little sneak never did swallow it. I found it stuck in her little moustache. So, Now what I am doing is dipping the pill in some water for a second or two. It becomes slippery and goes down easier. I hope this helps someone.
Al n Casy.

[Vally]

Now isn’t that funny. I found that if I didn’t get it down Bingo’s throat the first time, it would then be covered in dog slime and I’d have buckleys of trying to get it down his throat. So the only way I could do it was to DRY the capsule on a paper towel so that it wasn’t too slippery in my fingers and then try again with, hopefully, better aim.

Vally & Bingo

[AlnCasy]

Great news! Casy’s RBC was 34% today!! And she is eating like a pig. Doc has decreased the pred to 1/2 of what it was so only 1 time a day for that. I took her shopping with me today ( had to pick up meds and special food stuff. Walgreens, Walmart, Guitar store. ( Okay, the guitar store had nothing to do with her, but she loved the attention at all these places) she is my little rock star. and not one pee pee in any stores.

When I got her home she ate a bunch of chilled chicken and game me her customary ” burp” of approval.

I am giddy, so very happy.

[AlnCasy]

I need to learn to type better …..

[Vally]

Al this is fabulous. I’m so glad your little piggy has responded in absolute bounds to make up for all those lost reds.

Now, you meet paranoid Vally. Casy isn’t quite in the normal range yet. 34 is so very close, and I honestly don’t think she’ll have any problems. Whatever triggered it, and I’m certain Patrice is right, it was just the combination of treatments given, she has responded to the medication to reset her body.

We usually prefer a slightly slower reduction. Once in the normal range which is 38% minimum, to stay there for a couple of weeks, and then start to reduce and do the reduction a little slower unless there are major side effects, and in Casy’s case, she’s coping really well. Have a look at this:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone-dose-reduction/

Truly, Bingo relapsed and we had to go back up in pred again and start weaning all over again. It was heartbreaking and worrying. He was on high dose pred for longer, so Casy might just skip through it as her body hasn’t been on the pred for too long, but if there’s no real urgency to reduce, can we just delay the reductions a little and do them a little slower. We usually recommend a 25-33% reduction at a time, wait a few weeks, with a PCV check before the next reduction.

Vally and Bingo
xxx

[AlnCasy]

Perhaps it is just my nature to worry about everything. I may just be wired that way but, It is 2 am. Casy was a little hungry so we had some chicken. I could not sleep anyway and here is why.

As I type this she is in my bed, digging to make it .. more comfortable. Nesting if you will.

Today at the vet something happened and it is like a splinter in my mind.

The vet tried to take blood from her leg. I was holding her. No blood would come out. Casy was not happy with this and let everyone in the building know. So the vet and a tech took her in the back to get the sample from her neck.

Her is the thing. I have read about the worries of clotting being an issue. Her RBC going up that high and that quickly.

I am wondering if, perhaps aspirin should be used with these meds. Now, she is acting rather normally but, she does do a few things that are out of character for her.

She will go to her water bowl in the office and drink, then walk out to the kitchen and .. it seems to me like she forgot why she was going there, then look around a little confused and drink from the bowl that is in there. Other things are she will stop in mid walk and just … stare off … at the wall, look behind the refrigerator.. just weird things.

Also, her breathing is not normal. not rythmic at all. Hard to explain. It is almost a pant then, slows down, they very fast.

I understand her little body’s chemistry is out of wack and, I can be a mother hen from time to time ( like the time I wake up until the time i go to sleep).

Are my fears justified? Or, am I just over thinking all of this?

[Vally]

Welcome to the Paranoid Pet Owner’s Club, Al. There are quite a few members here.

Aspirin is needed in most cases however a blood smear is what will tell if it’s needed or not. I know it’s easy to forget when things improve, but did you manage to get a copy of blood tests done?

The breathing is probably one of the side effects of the pred. Panting is common. She’ll be feeling hot too. They often want to find a cool surface to sleep on.

The vagueness, it doesn’t happen after the dosing of the Atopica does it. Many noticed this as a side affect. Is there a specific time when it happens?

Vally and Bingo

[AlnCasy]

Well, I think that answers that as far as the Pred goes.

No spacific time, and I have not noticed much of a difference after the Atopica. I will double check that.

Doc, wants me to cut back on the pred starting today. every 24 hrs.

I did screw up last night, I was double checking everything ( three pups getting meds) I accidentally give Casy a whole pred. I feel like an ass.

So, today I will make sure she only gets a half . and I will monitor her after the Atopica.