Odie – cocker/golden mix

[Vally]

Posted for Melissa

Odie was “diagnosed with IMHA on 3/3/2016. Had one transfusion. Was on IV fluids. Dog will drink, but won’t eat…only peanut butter with meds and ate a few treats yesterday. PCV was 22% a couple of days ago. Then down to 20%. Last night and this morning it was 19% and holding. They still discharged him to me today. Have given him one round of meds at home. About 2 hours after pills, vomitted a little foam. Should I be concerned??”

[Vally]

Hi Melissa. I’m so sorry your boy is sick right now.

Vomiting a little foam 2 hours after meds could be because he’s not eating and the tablets are upsetting his stomach. Is he on stomach protection medication? Pepcid (famotidine) or sucralfate?

It’s also not unusual to see PCV dropping after a dog is on IV fluids. The more hydrated they are the lower the PCV result. Having said that though, when are you checking Odie’s PCV next? Obviously you and your vet are watching that.

Can you list the medicines Odie is on and what he weighs?

I’m assuming Odie is on prednisone. That should always be given with food as it’s very harsh on the stomach.

It’s not unusual that he’s not eating right now. Stick with small meals, a bit more frequent. Try some chicken and rice, with broth, or fish. Any of his favourites. Try and keep it low fat though. Once the prednisone kicks in, they usually have an incredible appetite.

My very best
Vally

[Vally]

Melissa posted:

Here are Odie’s meds:

-Prednisone 20mg tablets
1 1/2 tablets by mouth every 12 hours (currently getting the doses at 1:30 AM and 1:30 PM)
-Mycophenolate Oral Liquid
1.5 ml by mouth every 12 hours (currently getting at 5:30 AM and 5:30 PM)
-Doxycycline 100mg tablets
1 tablet orally every 12 hours (currently getting at 5:30 AM and 5:30 PM)
-Pepcid AC
(famotidine 10mg tablets)
2 tablets by mouth every 12 hours (currently getting at 5:30 AM and 5:30 PM)
-Aspirin 81 mg
1/4 tablet by mouth every 24 hours (currently getting at 5:30 PM)

He has his next PCV test tomorrow already. Odie weighed 47 pounds on Monday of last week (when this whole nightmare began). I don’t know what he weighs now that he hasn’t been eating.

I have tried chicken and rice-so did the pet hospital. He just won’t eat a thing. This is the most frustrating part. He had some peanut butter to get his meds down earlier this evening. But not a lot. The vet said maybe try meat-flavored baby food. I can run to the drug store and get that. Maybe feed him with a syringe??

I also ordered Pet-Tabs. It seems similar to PetTonic, which Amazon tells me it doesn’t have anymore.

I’m just scared and honestly overwhelmed. My other dog Murphy doesn’t know what to think either. It’s a lot to try to juggle alone with a career and finishing grad school.

Any advice you have–especially with how to initially get him eating again–is welcomed and appreciated.

Melissa

P.S. How long before the Prednisone kicks in? He started it on Thursday evening (3/3) after his blood transfusion.

[Vally]

Linda said:

Let’s get Odie feeling better

Warmest regards, Linda

[Vally]

The Pepcid tablets should actually be given away from other medications, as it can stop their absorption so move that away. Ideally 2 hours before or after. I’m sure that’s going to kill your schedule isn’t it. You could do it at 5.30am and move the meds to 7.30? And the prednisone WITH food, so what time are you trying to feed? Is that 5.30?

Make sure there’s no onion in the baby food. My boy refused to eat whilst in hospital, but slowly started eating when he got home. What about barbecue chicken.

Prednisone at high doses works faster as an immunosuppresent than other immunosuppresents, but it can take 5-7 days to have an effect, so crossing everything numbers are better tomorrow. https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone/

Try and stay calm around him. I know that can be impossible (it was for me!!!), but he’ll read your panic as well. Maybe try feeding one bite to Murphy and one to Odie, that sort of thing. Make it a game and show Odie, you’re not panicked (MUCH !!)

Vally

[Vally]

Melissa said:

Thanks Vally.

I will work on the med. schedule. Good to know that the Pepcid needs to be away from the other meds. The thing that kills me is my schedule right now with school. SO, I’ll have to do the best I can on this. Is 1 hour at all a possibility if I can’t figure out how to do the Pepcid 2 hours before or after??

And honestly, with the feeding, I’m trying to get him to eat whenever. BUT, I can see that this needs to be at Prednisone time. I will work harder on this.

And yes, if you could copy our correspondence into the forum, that would be great…and I’ll start posting in there from now on.

I’ll work on staying calm around him. I know how in-tune Odie is with my emotions…he’s probably picking up on my frustration and fear and overwhelm BIG time.

Thanks again!!!

Melissa

[Vally]

Vally said:

Absolutely, whatever he wants to eat. Just avoid high fat foods as they can be susceptible to pancreatitis.

Should have asked before too. Do you have any test results? If so, send them through. Couple of the ladies here are very good with them, and they can help you understand what’s happening. Send them to me or use the Urgent Advice again – whatever is fine. If you don’t have them, ask the vet for a copy tomorrow. They are yours as you’ve paid for them. If they’re funny about it, just say you want to keep track of things, that’s what I always say.

[Vally]

Melissa said:

I’m assuming if we change med times that it’s a slow transition to those times and not just an abrupt shift all at once??

I bought some baby food tonight. Organic chicken and chicken broth. I will try that with the prednisone at 1:30 AM.

I have only had one CBC done and that was before he started treatment (it’s what sent us to the pet hospital from the vet). Otherwise, they have only done PCV, TP tests every 8 hours. They also did ultrasound and x-rays upon admittance to the hospital and all were clear. I can get the CBC for you if you think it’s still relevant. I think they’ll be totally fine with giving me a copy.

OK, THANK YOU AGAIN.
Melissa