Ashki, 3 yo Golden IMHA

[Vally]

Sorry Mable. We love out cats to bits too.

Vally and Bingo (who doesnt like cats, but makes an exception for you)

[admin]

Hello Tamara and Ashki.  Ashki, you are a very handsome fella indeed.  Dazzling smile!

Tamara, so happy you found this site too – but of course, so sorry for the reason.  You do have jumped right on all this for Ashki – very, very impressed and wonderful to read.  You are absolutely are doing all the right things.  The reticulocytes – that word, in the ‘plus’ category, always makes me smile.  And that you have contacted Dr. Dodds is wonderful.  HUGE smile.

I agree with the bio algae comments.  As all have said, check with Dr. Dodds on this one.

You mentioned the Frontline Plus, being given on 03/25/14 and his GI upset on 03/29/14.  His issues seemed to manifest just after this was administered right?  I wonder if this could be the culprit?  It wouldn’t be the first time flea/tick, plus, medications have been the culprit.

I am glad Ashki is on all the protecting supplements.  They are a MUST and you have down.  I used Denamarin with Sadie too, for a long time.  And then, as Vally mentioned, I switched to milk thistle and SAM-e, both in Denamarin.  I use HerbPharm (liquid) milk thistle (it has an alcohol base, minimal, but it helps with the absorption) and I use Lumina Cell Food SAM-e (liquid) – both of which I order from Amazon.   Sadie is 38.9 pounds (my heifer gal) and is on 18 drops of MT 2XD and 11 drops of SAM-e 2XD.

One more supplement, and the only other Sadie is on presently besides the milk thistle and SAM-e, is PetTinic.  Dr. Dodds recommends this too and luckily my vet put Sadie on it immediately upon diagnosis, before he talked with Dr. Dodds.  But it’s ALWAYS great to get her indorement!  :)  I swear by the PetTinic – Sadie continues to take it 2XD, to this day.  I give all three supplements in her food.

Re-reading your posts – I am still SO amazed by your knowledge, diligence AND open mindedness.  It is such a roller coaster and you are definitely hanging on with determination and love.

Please stay with us, post often.  We are here – we are family.

Love and hugs, Linda and Sadie (last PCV Friday was 50 – yippee!! There is HOPE)

[Tamara]

Thank you all so very much, what a wonderful group. I’m so glad to have found you, and  I’m so happy to read these wonderful PCV numbers, they do give me hope.

I feel horrible that I’ve been giving something that works against the cyclo, and have discontinued the algae.  I’m so thankful to have your advice and knowledge.

I don’t think we’ve been seeing spherocytes, and there have been no agglutination issues because he’s been non-regenerative.

I have a research and statistics background, and have been reading like mad for the last month.  I don’t have access anymore to  PubMed and the like, which is frustrating me a bit, but I’ve been able to find information from various university web pages and other websites. I was looking for information on the life cycle of red blood cells in dogs and found a page from a vet school course that answered my questions :).

The first few weeks were brutal, I was so frightened, and it was such a roller coaster and so exhausting.  I’m coping better now, though the other day was rough when his PCV came back at 15.

He’s resting comfortably today and wanting to dig at the gophers.  He’s such a silly puppy.

Thank you again, so very much.

With love and gratitude,

Tamara and Ashki

[admin]

Mable says thanks Bingo. You can share her treats any time ;)

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Welcome to the site, although I am sorry you’ve had to find us. Ashki is a beautiful boy and is very lucky to have such a dedicated Mum as you. I’m amazed at how much you have obviously read and understood about this disease, which is brilliant and will help you so much in making decisions about Ashki’s treatment. It is as you say, a terrifying time and every one of us has been through it and understands how confusing, shocking and frightening it can be. I’m the resident cat owner here, and my cat Molly had the same rare type of AIHA as Sheena’s dog Worzel. It is extremely positive to hear that Ashki’s cytology is showing increased reticulocytes and here’s hoping for great results on Tuesday!

Please don’t feel bad about the algae. We all do the best we can and with the best intention, and you have done amazingly well to have learnt so much so quickly. I’m so pleased that you are consulting with Dr Dodds, and that you have a good veterinary team on board.

Glad to hear that he is happy and comfortable today, and I will keep everything crossed that those retics soon make their way out into the bloodstream. Do let us know how you get on, and please always feel free to ask questions or just to post how you are feeling. We all completely understand.

Lots of love, Mary and Mable x

 

[Vally]

Yes, don’t feel bad.  I’ve done it with other stuff.  As Mary said, we become so desperate to make them better that we throw everything at them with the very very best of intentions.

I second Linda’s Pet Tinic advice.  Also you probably know but I’ll mention Cyclosporine 1 hour before or 2 hours after food – unless it makes Ashki sick. Also the soloxine and denamarin- at least an hour away from food.  Sucralfate acts as a bandaid for the stomach but also stops absorption of medications so dose away from all meds.

Everything crossed for Tuesday.

Love Vally & Bingo

[Tamara]

Hi, I’ve probably forgotten to answer some of your questions so please let me know.  And thank you for your kindness regarding the algae.  They do make it sound like it will help, but it really makes sense that it would stimulate the immune system which of course is not what we want.

Here is Ashki’s med schedule I’ve worked out, l et me know if you think I should make any changes.

6 sucralfate

8 pred, flagyl, hepatic support, b vits, meal

10 cyclo, myco, soloxine

12 sucralfate

13 snack

1430 flagyl, meal

1630 denamarin

1730 famotidine, cerenia every 72 hours

1830 pred, urso, hepatic support, b vits, meal

20 cyclo, myco, soloxine

2130 sucralfate

2230 flagyl, meal

I realize that the night time meds are a little close, but I really need to get to bed by 11.  I’m one of those people who does not do well at all when sleep deprived,  and I need more sleep than most.  Even with this schedule I am still napping in the morning between meds.  I tried pushing going to bed until 11:30 and just was not coping.  Oh and I think I forgot to tell you about the cerenia for nausea!  So many meds!

We go to recheck PCV tomorrow and may have more bone marrow info back.  And I’ll try to remember to get bloodwork numbers!

Ashki was feeling good today – he  was even barking at the neighbor’s cats (nothing personal Mable :)

With love and gratitude –

Tamara and Ashki xoxo

[Vally]

Wow, Tamara, it’s unbelievable isn’t it when you right it down.  Bingo wasn’t on a lot of these, so can someone else check them.

You’ve kept the different ones that I know that are okay with food or can’t be with food or apart from others or blagh blagh blagh, right.

Love Vally & Bingo