Doberman with AIHA

[Sheena]

Hi Karyn

Oh, poor boy! He is such a chump! Mind you, every cloud has a silver lining as this was a chance to remove the benign growths.

That mycophenolate doesn’t suit him at all – a real shame – but no way can you carry on with it if it’s making him ill like that. I bet he feels better already.

Hope his poor tootsie & leg will soon be healed nicely & that you get a good PCV result next week. And tell him no more battering ram style antics!

Sheena & the hounds xxxxx

[Vally]

Hi Karyn, poor Louis, but I’m glad it’s all done and he’s fine.

Mycophenolate just can’t be tolerated by some dogs. Can you ask about cyclosporine and also thyroxine. I know I keep bugging you about these, but I suspect Louis won’t be able to improve on just the prednisone alone. Good luck with the next visit.

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[karxlee]

Hiya Everyone, Louis’s PCV has gone up to 26% so that’s a 2% increase which is the right direction, his energy levels are increasing each day as well, but he still gets really tired after a run, which is to be expected.
Stefano thinks his PCV would have been 45%+ when he was fit and well, so it’s something to aim for I guess.

His hair has grown back on his legs where those awful sores where which is really lovely to see, I honestly thought they would never heal, let alone have hair on them.

Love Karyn

[Sheena]

Hiya Karyn

He’s sounding good! It’s great those sores are going at long last too – that such good news. I must admit Worzel’s wounds didn’t heal up until we got on a lower dose of pred & he still has a hairless, baldy leg! Who cares though – that was the least of his problems.

What’s the situation on trying cyclosporine or azathioprine? Hope something will get him back up into the normal PCV – I think you are going to have to try something personally, unless his PCV suddenly shoots up. BUT an increase is an increase – we all want that to continue!

Much love & big hugs as always
Sheena & the boys xxxxx

[Karxlee]

We have been talking about adoing another drug, but everything they suggest has caused him awful side effects, and in some cases have caused more complications, which is why we are still not 100% he’s got AIHA, or at least he’s not got the common traits of the diesease.
So whilst his PCV is going up albeit every slowly we are going to just keep him on the pred, I know and I can hear you all taking a deep intake of breath, but we are really scared of rocking the boat at the moment with his meds.
His tail has healed and looks lots better, his wound where he had the tumor removed is healing really well, and he is eating loads, in fact we are now having to watch his food intake, poor Olga has to be quick off the mark when they are fed, because Louis eats hers if she’s not quick enough.

It’s so sad to read all the new cases of this terrible disease.

Love Karyn and Louis

[Vally]

There’s no way you heard my intake of breath. Is there???

Please ask about cyclosporine. It’s good in that it has few side effects. Sometimes some gastro but that usually settles down. And also ask about thyroxine. It helps bone marrow make those precious reds.

We love reds !!!!!

I’m so glad his no longer tail and wound are doing well.

Lots of love.
Vally and Cyclo dog. Xxx

[Karxlee]

We’ve been back to Rutland today to with Olga and Louis, both for check-ups. Olga is doing well and is allowed to do a bit more exercise now, so she will be happy, although she has got use to john carrying her up and down stairs haha, she waits at the bottom now waiting to be picked up – it really doesn’t take them long to cotton on to a good thing.

Louis has got colitis and his PCV has dropped 3% to 23%, as you can imagine we are gutted. So he is back on the cyclosporine which is so expensive its obscene! We are looking into getting prescriptions so we can source it cheaper, we are really not happy he is back on that but Stefano said nothing else is working so we have no other option really. We will be watching him even closer now, because we are sure that is the drug that made his paws break out in sores, and we will not allow that to happen again.

Apart from his PCV levels and his diarrhea he seems ok in himself, and he is still going out for walks and the odd little run/jog, which is why I’m taking this drop in PCV a lot harder than I should really.
It just feels like we are never going to get out of the 20’s.

I hate this disease with a passion!

[Sheena]

Hi Karyn

Happy news about Olga – I cannot imagine carrying her – John is a real life superhero!

Hoping to goodness the cyclosporine will do the trick this time without causing skin issues. If it does, you still have azathioprine to fall back on. But let’s think positive – it WILL work.

He is such a tough boy, your Louis, & it’s always good to hear he’s feeling fine.

For the colitis or other chronic GI issues, we always like to recommend Tylan powder, so I’ve e-mailed you some info. I swear by it because it is safe, it works & no side effects. The only restriction is that dogs on heart meds containing digoxin – they cannot be given Tylan.

Come on Louis
Auntie Sheena & your friends Worzel & Ollie are sending love & luck in bucketfuls
xxxxx