Hector

[Clara]

I got some notes from Dr. Dodds today.
Of course she recommended thyroid supplementation. I already have some soloxine so I am starting it tonight.
She said if we can’t get the PCV maintained above 25% to add mycophenolate. That was what my vet had recommended next, too.
Liver cleansing diet, milk thistle and SAMe (already do).
She recommended a multivitamin like Missing Link in the liver cleansing diet, but she also recommended a hematinic like Pet-Tinic which also kind of looks like a multivitamin. Do you know if I should be giving both?
He has been the same, maybe worse, since we started the Albon for his coccidia. Dr. Dodds said that he may have sulfonamide hypersensitivity. She said to stop his Albon immediately and get Kocci Free (herbal). I am concerned because while I’m waiting for the herbal he will be without any treatment for several days. Any advice?!?!

[Vally]

Clara, can you get the herbal any quicker? Maybe email back again and clarify if it’s better for Hector to be without for the few days rather than using the Albon.

Pet Tinic is an iron supplement, I think the other is more a general vitamin supplement. Bingo gets Pet Tinic and also a supplement (from Aussie) which sounds very similar to the ingredients of the Missing Link, so I don’t think it’s a problem to use them together but can someone clarify.

Love Vally & Bingo

[admin]

As far as I know Pet Tinic contains iron, folic acid and B12. I could not get it easily in Canada so Dr. Dodds recommended to give these vitamins and minerals separate. So 3 more pills a day we did… Pet Tinic definitely sounds easier. I would check the labels and make sure you don’t over dose the iron, in my opinion that could lead to complications. That said I am pretty sure Dr. Dodds would not have recommended giving both if that were the case. Something like that would not slip her eagle eyes:)
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Tamara]

I have Pet Tinic in the cupboard, I couldn’t give it to Ash because his iron was high. It has iron, copper, and a bunch of B vits – thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and B12. So definitely a hematinic rather than a multi.

[Tamara]

ps definitely just shoot her back an email, she’ll respond quickly with clarification re. the wait and whether to d/c right away or wait until you have the herbal.

[admin]

Hi Clara
Tamara is spot on – I’m sure Dr Dodds will get straight back to you on the Albon – a good idea to check with her about using both supplements as excess iron can be a problem. Hoping the soloxine will make a difference to Hector, coupled with the addition of MMF if necessary. You are in great hands now – hoping for an improvement very soon.
All our best wishes, Sheena, Worzel & Ollie

[Clara]

Tamara,
How did you find out that Ash had high iron? Did you suspect it and tested?
Sheena,
What is MMF?
Dr. Dodds said to give a multi and hematinic. How do I know if I’m giving him too much iron?
I took Hector to the vet for acupuncture and CBC today. We decided to put him on metronidazole until the herbal coccidia remedy arrives. His diarrhea has gotten very bad and I’m not willing to do nothing!
His PCV was 31% today! His HCT, HGB, RBC, and platelets all went up slightly. His gums have been extra pale lately so I expected disappointing blood work today, but he must be pale from the nausea.

[Tamara]

Clara, we tested Ashki’s iron to make sure he wasn’t low iron because he was nonregenerative and it turned out he was high iron, which can also inhibit red blood cell production.

I can answer Sheena’s question too :) MMF is mycophenolate.

I think the solution of metro is a really good one. It sounds like your vet is holistic too? I wonder if probiotics would be helpful too? Ash has had persistent GI inflammation (mucousy poops, soft poops) and our new vet suggested a therapeutic dose of probiotics and that has helped him, his poops are great now. Might be worth asking your vet about?

OH I can also make a suggestion about too much iron and supplements; I specifically got Animal Essentials Herbal Multi because it has no iron.

I’m so happy to hear that his numbers are up! We go for Ashki’s acupuncture tomorrow and PCV and chemistry Thursday.

hugs — and scritchies to handsome Hector :) .
tamara and ashki xoxoxo