Ashki – new thread

[admin]

Hi Tamara

Wow! 27 is a wonderful improvement & I am over the moon to hear this. You were right – Ashki is feeling better. Good luck with the liver tests – I will be thinking of you. Keep popping those retics  out Ashki!

Love & hugs to you both from Sheena & the boys xxxx

[Tamara]

Ashki is at the specialty clinic for his serum bile acid testing.  I wrote to Dr. Dodds last night; Ashki’s FT4ed did come back slightly high so I thought it was reasonable to reduce the dosage of soloxine for a trial but wanted to get her input.  She said we could reduce from .5mg BID to .3mg BID for six weeks, monitor the proteinuria and retest thyroid levels then.  I’m a little scared because adequate thyroid levels are necessary for hematopoiesis but I’m hoping this will go well, his kidneys will respond, and he’ll continue improving.  I also called his vet in Pennsylvania and asked them to send me all his labs so we can have a look at them — I have one set of bloodwork but there are two I”m missing and 2 UAs and a urine culture.  I figure it can’t hurt and might help.

Ashki’s vet nurse just sent me a picture of him with her, he just adores her, it’s really cute.

Sending you all much love and many hugs, give those puppies and sweet Mable some scritchies from here.

tamara and ashki xoxoxox

[Vally]

Fingers, toes and paws crossed for some better results.

Love Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Hi Tamara.  Just a quick hello and hoping all goes well at the clinic and in the next few days/weeks.  I will be checking in, but limited to post.  Please know I will be thinking of you and Ashki – you’re doing an awesome job.

Can you post the picture?  I know we’d all love to see it.  :)

Love and hugs to you and Ashki, Linda and Sadie

[Tamara]

Thank you so much Linda, Sheena, and Vally! The vet was very pleased today at Ashki’s energy and attitude when he was there AND also they did an ultrasound and his liver, kidneys, and gall bladder all look good, I am SO relieved!!  Looking forward to receiving the serum bile acid tests, should have thumbs up or thumbs down (but thinking probably thumbs up based upon the ultrasound) tomorrow.  They have told me again that I don’t need to check until Monday and I may actually be able to wait that long — the internist is encouraging me to pay more attention to how Ashki is feeling and acting and now that I think about it that is good advice: there have been two times that Ashki’s PCV has decreased but he has been acting like he’s feeling well and the PCV check after that has been an increase!  We’ll see how I do LOL.

Sending you all much love and many hugs, and scritchies to all the puppies and gentle chin rubs to dear Mable.

tamara and ashki xoxoxo

[admin]

Oh Tamara

This is all great news & I love the photo – his smile is just the sweetest ever! It looks like he’s being spoiled rotten too – lovely to know that when they are “away from home”. You know we are all hoping for the best possible results on the further tests – let us know how handsome Ashki is doing – good luck from us all

Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[Tamara]

Ashki continues to do well and to feel well which makes me very happy :) . Good news, liver function normal!! I don’t have numbers, just got a message from the vet.

Ashki is definitely spoiled rotten at the clinic, they all love him and his nurse especially loves him.

I took him today to the holistic vet for acupuncture and he was so happy and gave out so many kisses, he got the vet in her ear!

I am very tired and looking forward to some sleep. Tomorrow I’ll be reading about kidney diets more. Hope you all are well, love and hugs coming from here.

Tamara and Ashki xxoo

[Tamara]

Since Ashki’s liver function is normal I have been focusing my reading on his kidney issue. From my reading (mostly on the Cornell site, so glad you recommended that Sheena!) the antigens from the IMHA and the high doses of steroids have led to glomerular damage, leading to protein losing glomerulopathy. I think it’s possible that another variable is that goldens are predisposed to juvenile renal dysplasia as well as the inflammation from the disease and the combination of these have led us to where we are. I am hoping that as the steroid dose comes down (we are now down to 20mg/day) and Ashki continues to recover that his kidneys will recover as well. The good news is that all of his chemistry for his kidneys are normal so far, but his protein and albumin are low and his cholesterol is increasing, all trademarks of PLG. One trademark he is not experiencing is edema though so that is very good! I have altered his diet to a minimum of protein, approximately 1 g/lb/day, and high quality proteins. I’ve also added salmon oil as this is very supportive to the kidneys; the holistic vet has added a kidney support supplement, a multivitamin that is low in iron (Ashki’s iron is also high), a GI support supplement, and we will be adding two more supplements this week to support his continued recovery. The internist discontinued the carafate which makes me nervous so on the advice of the holistic vet I’ve added the slippery elm cocktail that several people use. He’s still taking the famotidine. So far Ashki is doing ok, he’s still eating well and his spirits and energy are very good (and his gums are pink!!), but I’m keeping a close watch on his poop and his appetite.

Hope you all are well, sending lots of love and hugs from Ash and me.

tamara and ashki xoxoxox