Dewey, the Dachshund

[admin]

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, Marla!
I’m so happy for you & Dewey – you have done the greatest job possible for him & you are a very determined lady. Vally is spot on – you must lower the cyclosporine as soon as possible – as Dr Dodds said, take it gently & slowly, but it’s got to be lowered as he is on such a high dose.
Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[lynn]

marla, I do not know how I over looked this…. linda is so right about pettinic… it really does build the red cells… that sure did help Hayley. Hayley was very slow and steady she stayed in the middle 20’s for ever … I didn’t worry about her over playing because she couldn’t stand on her own for a long time. but once which took for ever to get to 35% she was like Hayley she could walk but it took time for her to get her strength to walk fast or follow me around. if fact Hayley had to be taken to U.T. to get therapy to build her back legs up… this disease can be slow but I am just so very happy for dewey and you he is doing better. my heart jumps for joy for you both.and, you are so very right sheena,vally,patrice,linda,brigitte,and many more pulled me up and I did not feel alone and the advice was right on the dot.they are such good ladies and they do care. Robert was another one I always thank also he was on this forum also at the time Hayley was so very ill.remember Hayley was so very slow to get to a good place but she has been very healthy for some time and I too am thankful for all these good people here she was 7 years old then now she is 11 years old and has been off all med’s since she was 8 years old… I do hope this will help you to know some can be fast and some like my baby very slow to build her pcv to a good place. one thing I know these wonderful ladies will be there for you all way’s because they care about all fur babies and their parents…. I look at each of these wonderful ladies as my very good friends… there was a time I went off the forum because of heart surgeries and was out of state at a hospital a few times couldn’t get out of bed… but I knew I had their prayer’s as I prayed for them and their dear fur children… that’s true friends. love lynn & my sweet hayley

[admin]

Hi Marla

Fantastic news about Dewey. Thank you for letting us know. That’s wonderful to hear :) Good luck at the next check up and with tapering down the cyclo.

Best wishes,

Mary and Mable x

[Marla]

Hi everybody
Another Dewey update!!
Had his appointment today and his pcv levels went from 24 to 30!!!! Cannot believe it!! Just saying yesterday, that I wonder what it would feel like when he reaches the 30 mark!!! Incredible is the feeling!!! i had a lengthy talk with the vet and said he wasn’t concerned with the cyclosporin being toxic to Dewey since he hasn’t been on it for that long. So we are starting to taper regardless. So from 100mg daily he will go to 50 mg daily for 3 days and then 25mg for another 3 days and then be finished. He will have another check on next Friday. This is the scary stuff. To see if his body will allow those red blood cells to remain in his body. Like the vet said this disease will always be lurking in the background! I have learned to treasure every second of everyday that I have with mr Dewey !!❤️🐾🐾🐾❤️

[admin]

Hi Marla,
fantastic news! Yes this disease sure keeps us on our toes. We start to observe our dogs very closely and of course most of us have some form of paranoia. Small things become scary huge problems. It is great to have a vet on your side that knows where those feelings com from and understands. Yes, it sure shakes you up and you treasure every moment with your dog. The fact that Dewey has improved so much is just wonderful! i think you are giving him petinic. Is he also on thyroxin? The thyroid supplement was a big turnaround for my dog.
Marla, keep doing what you are doing, obviously you are doing it right! Dewey is a superstar and he is doing it right as well:)
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Alyssa]

Marla, so glad to hear Dewey has reached 30% – great!!

I am concerned about the tapering? Someone else can chime in.. is it okay to taper cyclos that fast, or should it be done slower, like pred? I do not know for sure. I know my dr wants to wait a month between each Azathioprine reduction at this stage. That cyclos reduction sounds extremely aggressive especially since dewey is not in the normal range yet ( he is close, but not quite! )

Again I dont know – someone please chime in ASAP!!

[admin]

Alyssa,
as far as I know Dr. Dodds has approved of this tapering of the cyclosporin. Dewey’s immune system is still very suppressed by the prednisone so there should not be a problem. At least this is how I understand it. Having Dr. Dodds approval behind it would be good enough for me:)

Brigitte

[Vally]

Hey guys, no this is actually faster than Dr Dodds recommended. The recommendation was 25% each week until maintenance dose is reached (3-4mg per kg once daily), so hopefully Dewey can do it a bit slower to be on the safer side. A few emails have gone out to see if it can be done this way.

Brigitte, I’m pretty sure Dewey is still on thyroxine.

How awesome is that number 30 !!!

Love Vally & Bingo