Doberman with AIHA

[Vally]

I’m with Sheena, he’s on the mend !!! Auntie Vally says so too.

Love Vally & Cousin Bingo
xxx

[Karxlee]

Hi, Louis has just got back from Rutland after his check-up and he’s dropped to 20% :(

Plus his foot has started to swell, we have agreed to put him on this new drug, we held off because we wanted to make sure his tummy was right before giving him something that we know will upset it.

We have also asked about a small blood transfusion just to give him a little top up, because as soon as he goes below 18% he drops like a stone.

We thought long and hard about giving him this new drug because of all the side affects and how he is with all the immune suppressants but we have had to give in and put him on them, it’s really weird because yesterday morning his gums were pink, and I mean noticeably pink, then last night when we checked them again they were white, and then an hour later they had pink again, surely he cannot be going up and down so quickly?

Anyway this is the last drug I believe that he can have, and as always we are on tender hooks just waiting for the crash, or side affects to take a hold of him.

We were hoping to take him away next week to see his friends as FOND, but it will literally be seeing on a day to day basis.

I’m heading to a real low again and I just cannot seem to pull myself back up.

Karyn xxxx

[Vally]

Karyn, Sheena is having trouble posting at the moment and asked me to psot for her:

Hi Karyn

What does Stefano say is causing his foot to swell up? Have they checked for
infection?
Poor baby.

We are all beside you – pulling you back up. Tell yourselves he will not have
any side effects. If he has some GI issues, you can easily deal with them &
they will settle down. Don’t give up if he gets an upset tummy -;persevere &
get help for the GI issues.

There are other drugs available which are not used as commonly –
cyclophosphamide, danazol, vincristine (usually for Evans Syndrome) & a
study is being done on lyposomal-encapsulated clodronate as an adjunct,
chlorambucil – also IV human immunoglobulin (but that costs a fortune &
isn’t proven to work that well).

Go for it – sending love, luck & hugs
Sheena xxxxx

[Vally]

From me to Karyn,

I agree with Sheena, if the side effects are GI issues, persist with the drug. They usually do cope with it, or there are drugs to help with that too. All our dogs went through side effects at the high doses.

I agree too, be positive !!!

Love Vally & Bingo
xxx

[jill]

Hi Karan,im sorry to hear you feeling low but please don’t give up carry on we are all behind you , lets hope this new drug works for Louis, my dog Snoopy has suffered gi issues but there are drugs to help this , is Louis on a tummy protectant at mo? im sorry im not much help with the drug side of things ,Sheena and Vally are the wizards! My vet put Snoopy on hills id gastrointestinal food when he had to stay overnight at the vets as its gentle on there tums, I don’t know what food Louis is on? thinking of you and yourlovely boy Louis , love Jill & Snoopy xxxxxxxx

[Karxlee]

Hi, Louis is one eukanuba intestinal so that is for super sensitive tums, and he’s also on a tummy protection medication.

Louis is on day 2 of the new drug, and up to now apart from him not really being sure where he is for a couple of hours after taking them he seems to be fine. His tummy is really good but I don’t want to tempt fate.

He’s eating well and drinking well, so lets see what tomorrow bring, thank you for all the support ladies xxxxx

[Kathleen]

Hi Karyn!
Apologies for the late reply; I work 3-4 days out of town in MA so was getting ready yesterday and then had trouble posting.

Please don’t give up–Dylan has the most sensitive stomach in the world (I mentioned he used to poop 8 times a day) so I was concerned about the combo of the pred & the leflunomide.

But within a few days he perked up remarkably. His stool is soft though. but he is only going 3-4 times a day. Dr. K wants to decrease the pred to the lowest dose that will help manage it once this combo proves to work longer.

What do you mean he doesn’t know where he is? I haven’t noticed that in Dylan. Can you be more specific?

Dylan is proof that a sensitive stomach dog can handle things, as the others have said, you just have to treat the GI issues.

[Sheena]

Hi Karyn

I’ve heard about spaced out for a couple of hours with people, so makes sense. How’s he doing today? Hope he’s continuing to tolerate it pretty well

Love Sheena xxxx