Doberman with AIHA

[Karxlee]

whoops I meant to say it feels like our bad luck is never ending..

[Karxlee]

Hi, so we have been to Rutland and Louis’s PCV is 24% so it’s gone up 2% in 2 weeks, not the biggest increase, but it’s still an increase. We were surprised considering his energy levels are the highest they have been since he became ill on xmas day.

Stefano wants to put him back on mycophenolate and we are really worried because it made him so ill last time, he currently has loose poop, so we are worried about putting this drug back in his body. I know his PCV has been up and down but it hasn’t dropped below 20% for a few months now.
He has a benign tumour called histiocytoma as well now so we are worried that including mycophenolate will aggravate this and make his paws sore again, not to mention it makes his tummy upset as well…

To add to the cost of owning pets, Olga came with us to Rutland because the op she had on her knee in 2014 is causing her pain, so she was checked over and she needs another op!

This feels like it’s never ending :(

[Karxlee]

Oh also Stefano is leaving Rutland on Aug!! another thing to worry about!

[Sheena]

Hi Karyn

Yet again, Louis is sounding good in himself, which I am thrilled about.

But he does need another drug as he has got stuck in the 20’s on his PCV – we’ve had quite a few dogs on here that have been like this & treatment change (s) are needed. My personal opinion is that if the mycophenolate upsets him this time, you should go to cyclosporine (or azathioprine) instead immediately.

Worzel had 3 histiocytomas on his elbow when we adopted him – whipped them off & they never came back, thankfully. They only affect younger dogs & are not dangerous, but when Louis gets better, whip them off quick!

Poor Olga too – you are really going through it with them both & I’m really sorry you have this added worry & expense – so damn unfair.

Maybe you could start looking around for a good, open-minded & kind vet who would be willing to consult with Dr Dodds – problem solved when your guy leaves? That’s one idea. There will be a way round this.

Much love, huge hugs
Sheena & the boys
xxxxx

[Vally]

Hi Karyn, Up is always good. I agree with the cyclosporine – less side effects. It’s funny we’re seeing more and more of the mycophenolate being used, but it worries me every time as it can be very harsh on the stomach. I also wish they’d add in a small dose of thyroxine. For dogs that get stuck in the low 20s, that is often what kicks it off as it helps stimulate production of red blood cells.

Poor Olga, I hope she’s feeling lots better soon. She was obviously getting jealous of all the attention Louis was getting.

Love Vally & Bingo
xxx

[Karxlee]

Hi, just got back from our local vets, Louis’s had his stitches out of his tail and his wound has healed well which is good.
I’ve been over to Rutland to collect Olga after her op and she is doing well, in pain but doing well.
Stefano came out and gave us some more of Louis’s medication and said his full blood tests have come back and Louis is regenerating his red blood cells which is good, of course no sight of the readings I’m afraid.
So we currently have 2 dobbies with head cones to stop them from licking wounds!

Louis has been a bit subdued but we think it might be because he’s been missing Olga, not that he would ever admit it.
His poop is back to normal so we are going to put him on the mycophenolate tonight, and then watch him like a hawk!

[Sheena]

I bet the backs of your legs (and probably the front!) will be black & blue with the pair of them

Louis will be happier to have his friend back, for sure. My two hate being separated. Lovely news on the reticulocytes & his tail healing up – he is such a fighter, Karyn, & such a HAPPY fighter, bless him.

Good luck from the bottom of my heart with the mycophenolate – let’s hope his PCV will soon be on the up & his tummy will be fine too.

Love & hugs
Sheena & co xxxxx

[Karxlee]

Hi everyone, so we have just collected Louis from our local vet after having an emergency operation…. yes another one.
Don’t worry it’s nothing to do with his AIHA, he was out on a walk yesterday and somehow got his nail caught in the grass and managed to half drag it off! We brought him home and checked it over and it had stopped bleeding and it looked like it had straightened up, However this morning as he was barging Olga out of the way he caught it on the door frame, and it started to bleed really bad, John took him straight to our vet who advised it needed to come off, and he would need to be put under to do it, because when they had tried to pull it off, Louis cried. We asked them to remove the benign tumor off off his leg as well because that had grown quite a lot over the past few days.
Louis sailed through the op, and seems bright and breezy.
We are back at Rutland a week tomorrow so we will see where his PCV is, we have took him off the mycophenolate because after 4 days his poop started to become really bad, and his mood was awful, really depressed and his rear leg had started to swell up. So he is just on his pred now.
We notified Stefano and he was happy for us to withdraw the mycophenolate.

Karyn x