Doberman with AIHA

[Vally]

150% behind you Karyn.

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[jill]

Me to Karen ,thinking of you and Louis , love ya xxxxx Jill & Snoops

[Kathleen]

Me too as such a newbie. xxx

[Karxlee]

Hi Kathleen

Louis has just got his Leflunomide, and our vet has told us to give him 20mg x5 = 100mg per day

Louis weighs 38kg

He has also been told to keep having 60mg predisalone per day as well and 1/4 aspirin twice a day.

Louis normally suffers the worst case side affects documented, we are really worried about starting him on this drug, and the fact that we have been supplied gloves to wear when giving it just feels so so wrong!

He seems happy at the moment and his gums are showing signs of pink, but that changes almost on a hourly basis.
He is back for his PCV checked on Monday and we are so tempted to hold off starting him this drug until we know what Monday’s score is.
His poop is back to normal now and that is how we gauge how well he feels, so introducing a drug that is known for causing an upset tummy is really causing us a dilemma.
Any advise would be great..
Thanks

[Sheena]

Hi Karyn

Kathleen wanted to send you a message but couldn’t get it on here, so I’m copying & pasting it for her below- good luck with the leflunomide – don’t give up on it even if he gets a bit of an upset tummy – that can be sorted by your vets – he needs a drug to get better! All these drugs have side effects and are basically chemotherapy & anti-rejection meds – nasty, but life saving.

Love Always
Sheena & the hounds
xxxxx

[Sheena]

Hi, Karyn.

Your boy Louis has been through so much. I’m glad you found this site. I’m glad I have too.

I did not want to put Dylan on the leflunomide; he has IBD and I was concerned it would mess with his stomach.
He is also on some homeopathic things and a Chinese herb for the anemia. If you want to know what those are, I can let you know.

A few days after the leflunomide (and the homeopathy) his gums grew pinker, he had more energy, was trotting on walks,
following me from room to room. His hematocrit went from 19 to 23.

His stool is softer but still can be picked up. So the only negative side effect I can see so from the leflunomide is Dylan farts like a sewer now.

His CBC from yesterday shows creation of new red blood cells and his hematocrit is now up to 34!!!!

I had NOT been using gloves when handling the leflunomide; but the first batch was hard tabs, not dissolvable capsules. My vet said to wash hands after also.
I looked it up but all I could find was danger for pregnant women. Maybe Sheena will know more.

Please feel free to send me any more Q’s you have. Sending you healthy vibes over email!

Kathleen and Dylan

[Sheena]

Aazthioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, leflunomide & cyclophosphamide can be absorbed by skin contact. Wear gloves for sure. A mask is also recommended when preparing mycophenolate & cyclophosphamide. No dog should be used for breeding. All these drugs pose a huge risk to anyone pregnant or proposing to get pregnant. So be careful lovely ladies.

Sheena xxxxx

[Sheena]

Karyn

Forgot to say Louis is just not going to have any side effects – tell him Auntie Sheena won’t allow it! No way!