Hello: Rosemary and Tempe

[Sheena]

Hi Rosemary

As Vally says, thyroid function is so important – great that you are near Hemopet & Dodds too.  I’m sure when you can slowly slowly reduce the pred, she WILL get back to normal.  Worzel’s blood sugar was pretty high too & it’s back to normal now.  He only has 1x50mg azathioprine per week & I am hoping that will keep him going without any relapses.  Specialist wants me to stop it altogether, but I am very reluctant (yep – I’m a big coward!) as he is doing fine.

Best wishes to you & Tempe for a relapse-free life this time

Sheena & Worzel

[Joe]

My Wonder Dog, Dunes, kept going for 6 years after diagnosis.  At first she had about 3 transfusions.

She recouped but was never off Prednisone.  She took 5 mg. a day with Atopica and Immuran.  The medicines over a long period of time cause major issues but she had a pretty good last year.

Never give up.  We also did some steroid injections as proposed by Dr. Jean Dodds.  You know, when I look at it, I had six years.  That is a lot of time if you think about it.  I am grateful for the time.

 

We had ups and downs but she was with me.  It doesn’t hurt any less to have lost her.

I had this Board, Patrice, Josh and Dr. Dodds.

Then -ALL of the people here are so compassionate  and a wonderful support.  They give great advice too.

My advice would be to be vigilant, ask questions, be an advocate.

I love the people here.

 

Joe

[Linda]

Hi Rosemary. Glad you are here. Sorry for the reason, but you being here means Temoe is a very lucky pooch. My cocker spaniel, Sadie, relapsed too – weaned too fast. Just remember – slow weaning – our ‘timeline’ has been one month per reduction, blood work every week (PCV). She’s holding, doing well. Her normal PCV, prior to AIHA was 46. We just tested Saturday, she at 44. She’s doing okay.

Sadie is also on PetTinic – great (smelly) stuff. I swear by it.

I have a recipe for Slippery Elm Cocktail, if you’d like it. I give it 15-30 minutes prior to eating AM and PM, mid-day and sometimes before bed. How often you use it is up to you, but I’d at least do twice a day. E-mail me at LNijem@yahoo.com and I’ll forward it – if interested. I also give her a half tab of pepcid per day. All tjis in place of the Sucralfate. She doing well on this combination: SEC (Slippery Elm Cocktail) and pepcid.

I’ve taken Sadie off Denamarin and replaced it with HerbPharm (liquid) Milk Thistle (about 25 drops) and CellFood SAM-e (10 drops), twice a day. I just put the drops over her food. She had been on Denamarin For 6 months and wanted a more natural approach for liver support.

I’m glad you had her thyroid checked through Hemopet. Dr. Dodds is so great at what she does. We just tested Sadie, which was sent to Michigan State. She was well within normal limits. But I still want Dr.Dodds to do the thyroid panel, 5, within the near future, just to be sure.

I know what you mean about the long duration of meds. Joe, you and your Dunes…..it’s so rough on them. But a necessary evil. Glad you’re on top of things (sugar). Diligence is utmost right?!

Hang in there. Keep us posted. As Joe – I love everyone here too. We’re all in this this together – a day at a time.

Hugs, Linda

[Vally]

Rosemary, don’t believe Linda,, Pet Tinic is NOT smelly stuff.  It smells like Vegemite – a food staple in the Australian kitchen – it really does Linda – I have it on my toast most mornings – the Vegemite that is, not Pet Tinic – Bingo thinks it’s the bees knees!!!

Joe’s right, Linda’s right, love you all.

[Linda]

Oh Vally – yummmmmm.  Stinky, stinky…..but great stuff.  ;)

xo

Linda

[Patrice]

Linda,

Please be careful:

“I have a recipe for Slippery Elm Cocktail, if you’d like it. I give it 15-30 minutes prior to eating AM and PM, mid-day and sometimes before bed. How often you use it is up to you, but I’d at least do twice a day.”

Don’t give this close to the time you are feeding or giving medicines. It *will block absorption* of food and medicine, just as sucralfate does, they are essentially the same thing, a mucous like bandage that coats the internal walls of the esophagus and stomach.

I would give at least a few hours on either side for this.

my best

patrice

[Rosemary Sanchez]

You guys are too funny! Thanks Linda, I do have the slippery elm recipe and do use it twice a day. Tempe had a bout of colitis about 4 months ago so I starting using it along with more pepcid.  Thank you all for your help, I’m grateful for all advice and recommendations :-) .

[Linda]

Sadie was one of tho AIJA pups that immediately had tummy problems with the strong meds they so need. I remember posting on VetNet that she couldn’t get comfortable, moving,, adjusting her body,  legs stretched out and just overall miserable.  She was originally on NO stomach protection (remember Sheena?!). It was horrible to watch her.  When I finally did start the Sucralfate, it was like a miracle.  I gave it one hour prior to eating.  But, I have always given the Atopica WITH food (per vet) and this was (totally) against all rules, but Sadie has THE most sensitive tummy, so we tried and it helped.   She still responed very fast to the prednisone and Atopica. And her PCV was rising, so we continued.

Sadie was on the Sucralfate for six months. Then I found out about the SEC.  I was glad to get Sadie off the Sucralfate and she responded well to the SEC.  But, again, broke the rule by giving it (typically) 30 minutes prior to food.   We did this because she was getting bad diarehha.

So, I apologize. Absolutely, at least one and ideally two hours prior to medicines and food.  I should have injected that.  Thanks for catching Patrice.

Hugs, Linda