Ashki – new thread

[Tamara]

Sheena, I’ve been worried about EPO, and so relieved that Ashki’s PCV has been holding.  I feel like we need to get this thing managed though so it can increase!  I will definitely mention this to the vet, though. Ashki says thank you for the ear scrubbles and sends leaning hugs! :)  Please give  those boys some scritchies from me.

Vally, I’ll definitely ask about the fish oil.  Before all this Ashki was on fish oil regularly, but I stopped everything I was doing before, I was so frightened I was going to do something wrong. I’ve been thinking of you and Bingo and hoping things are going well.

Linda, the vets (and I!) are really hoping this is just an “incident” from the IMHA and meds, and that Ashki recover and be okay going forward.  I did hear from one woman on the fb IMHA page who also had a dog that had kidney trouble while going through IMHA.  She was able to get him through it with a low protein diet, and his values normalized.  I’m hanging in there, I forgot to answer Mary — yes my eye is all better! I hope you and dear Sadie are doing well.

Maybe in addition to my CD I can have a cooking show?  Ashki can be my sous chef!

sending you all much love ad big hugs,

tamara and ashki xoxoxo

 

[admin]

Hi Tamara

I’m sure you’ve read what I’ve put about the healing problems with the pred on Hope & Steve’s thread, so won’t repeat it!

Yes, you are right to be careful with the EPO – it must be canine, not human otherwise they can develop anti-bodies which would be a setback. Canine EPO is sometimes used to enhance performance in racing greyhounds etc (sadly in my opinion – I hate this kind of thing).

Have a look at this which shows that human EPO is not a good idea:

http://ip.cctec.cornell.edu/index.cfm/ts.details?tk=K4AB0414235155053778&from=search

This article shows good results for canine EPO

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14765736

Here is our site’s information written by yours truly:

https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/erythropoietin/

We cannot get canine EPO here in France – it is illegal – some of us have signed a petition about that recently. I think you can get it over there though. Again, I would go with Dr Dodds advice on this though. It’s a complicated subject.

Hoping to goodness Ashki’s kidneys will soon be responding to that lovely diet! No doubt at all that the drugs don’t help, but we have no choice but to use them in the early stages. Glad to hear your eye is better too – I think we all get run down with the worry & stress of our babies being ill.

Loads of cuddles & scratchy ears to Ashki from me & my boys!

Sheena & co xxxxx

 

[Tamara]

Hi all, I have been reading and reading about kidney disease and other problems.  I am worried we are missing something important.  Took Ashki to the holistic vet to have his thyroid levels and iron checked and asked for serum to send to Dr. Dodds and they don’t have a centrifuge, they just send out whole blood, so the regular lab will be reporting back.  They are testing FT4. The internist wants to get Ashki off the soloxine as excess thyroid hormone can create/exacerbate kidney disease, so we are testing.  Ashki was due to have his levels checked, so this is good.  I had hoped to have them check his PCV too, but without a centrifuge no PCV check, so I took him to the specialty/emergency clinic where we see the internist to check the PCV and get a couple mls of serum to send to Dr. Dodds since she has better reference values, etc.  They did  not give me the serum, they want to wait until the results are back from Antech (I’m fine with Antech, Dr. Dodds consulted to them to develop their tests).  I’m just annoyed.  Ashki’s PCV is 23 today, and of course I’m worried.  I really thought it was going to be higher as he was feeling really well today, very perky and energetic.  Anyway, it’s been kind of a hard day for me.  Hope you all are doing well, scritchies to all the poochies and of course darling Mable.

love, tamar a and ashki xoxoxo

[Vally]

Oh Tamara, big hugs.  The PCV drop of 3 isn’t dramatic.  There can be so many reasons for slight ups and downs.  When do you get the results?

Love Vally & Bingo.

[Hope]

Hey Tamara and mr. Ashki!

hang in there!! You’re doing so well and I’m sure you’re going to get his kidney woes worked out! I know 3 pt drop is a bummer — any is always a letdown. Just try to keep in mind what everyone tells us.. There are lots of things that cause fluctuations from day to day, test to test. He’s being happy and looks good clinically and from what I’ve learned and been told that’s super important too. I hope you hear some results soon!!

sending love to y’all!

Hope Steve and Jeffrey

[admin]

Hi Tamara

I know this is a bit disappointing, but a drop of 3 is not drastic – if he is feeling fine, that is far more important than a number. Worzel carried on “OK” for quite a while at 17-18-19, as you know, but I admit I was worried sick & it’s not ideal. I know how much you would have loved to see an increase. I also think there is something going on here that hasn’t been discovered yet – maybe the latest test results will come up with something & you have the experts on your side. Just keep it going Tamara – he’s getting along fine for now, which is really positive. You know we are all behind you every step of the way & I have been thinking about you & Ashki constantly. Give that lovely, sweet. special boy a hug from me

Love & cuddles, Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[Tamara]

Thank you so much Sheena, I think the same thing, that there is something else going on, and that is what has me so worried. BUT you are correct, Ashki is feeling so much better, he is acting so much more himself and that is so comforting to me and such an important indicator. You all are such a comfort to me and so helpful.

xoxoxo tamara and ashki

[admin]

Tamara, please try not to worry too much – it only makes you ill. By the way, I am a worry guts about any slight change in behaviour in Worzel even now, so you are in good company with the rest of us on here!!!  All puzzles are meant to be solved, but some take longer than others. There are several great brains trying to work out exactly what is happening with Ashki – keep the faith, my friend.

Love from Worry Guts, the cause of the worry & the other one!