Pit Diagnosed with AIHA

[admin]

Hi Alyssa

No, as Vally says, please don’t worry too much about her weight too much for now, just try to keep her on a reasonably low fat diet, but don’t stint on protein. I promise Worzel was the world’s fattest greyhound – round the middle – shame about those stick legs though (don’t tell him I said that). You can’t laugh at Worzel, even though he is such a fun dog – he goes off in the huff & won’t speak to us until we creep round him with cuddles – which makes us laugh even more! Sadly, he was really, really thin, apart from his tummy – his muscles disappeared before my very eyes. I like to keep him slightly “padded” these days, just in case of a dreaded relapse.

We also had water bowls everywhere at the beginning of the treatment – he was unbelievably thirsty too.

Sassy really is absolutely adorable – a right softie – no wonder you can’t resist her “feed me now” techniques. Great photos. She deserves big love anyway after her rotten start. Now her drinking is a bit less, she soon might start looking slimmer – we love hearing how she’s doing.

Sheena x

[admin]

Oh Alyssa – Sassy is BEAUTIFUL!!! Pits have such a special place in my heart. I have rescued two. Both came right up to me – wonderful dogs. One, we found her owner and the other I found a wonderful forever home.

I am so glad to read how well Sassy is doing. I love the pics – you are quite the photographer!!! Keep the great news coming!

Sending our love and hugs, Linda and Sadie

[Alyssa]

Sassy had her urinalysis again today – showing absolutely no signs of infection!! I’m so happy!! Going to continue the antibotics (but not the expensive zeniquen) to be sure we kill it all. But I’m SO happy!

Sassy is doing fantastic as well. She is back to her old ways of whining at the door making you think her bladder is about to burst, when all she wants to do is go plop in the sun. Silly.

[Vally]

Oh Alyssa, that’s fabulous news. Keep up the whining Sassy!!!

Love Vally & Bingo

[Leza]

Hi Alyssa

Just back from hols and saw the last few posts from you.
Sassy is so beautiful, what a gorgeous Pup she is. I can see why she’s so hard to resist :)

I’m so, so happy for you that Sassy is doing so well. It’s a long, slow process coming off the meds (we haven’t started yet) but it’s brilliant that she’s well on the recovery road.

Molly is like a little barrel at the moment which is weird for us as she’s always been lean and lithe. She’s now the same weight she was before she was sick but a completely different shape! Her previously well muscled legs and shoulders are all skinny but she has a nice round tummy :)
We feed her 5-6 times a day as she’s always hungry and are keeping her protein intake right up. It’s sometimes a challenge as some of her meds need a 2hr gap from food. It’s so hard to see her starving but not be able to feed her other than a couple of treats.
I can’t wait until we can start reducing her Pred. Fingers crossed we shld be able to start next week pending latest CBC results..

Again, v happy that Sassy is doing so well.
Long may it continue :)

Lots of love

Leza and Molly

Xxx

[Alyssa]

Guess what guys! This is a bit of unrelated news – but I was so excited and wanted to share with you guys as I think you’ll appreciate it :)
There is a really tiny pit bull rescue in my area – one of the only ones. We’ve been thinking about voulenteering at an animal shelter recently and were upset to discover all shelters here are now kill shelters. I honestly don’t think I could deal with that. So I stumbled upon this small pit rescue today and we’ve voulenteered. But the main thing I’m offering them is free photography of adoptable dogs. Research has shown up to a 90% adoption increase when you provide thoughtful, clean and happy photos to adopters – vs what a lot of shelters (including this one) do, snap a quick photo of a dirty dog that looks scared and dark. So, I’m really hoping this will help them as well as improve my photography. I’m truly excited!

And as for Sassy, we are doing well. Ive decided against cutting back on her meals as you’ve advised for now. At what point would we maybe see a decrease in hunger? Improvement in her mood? She still isn’t like she used to be. Consumed with food and playing is rare. We are at 20mg of pred a day at 75lbs. is this still high? I know my vet hasn’t even considered taking her completely off meds in the far future. A from the start her goal has been to get to every other day. But I fear a Sassy will continue to be like this unless she gets off it completely :( and the thought of forcing her to stay on these meds the rest of her life without even trying to stop them saddens me. Am I wrong to think the goal should be to try and Sean her off however slowly?
we are going this Saturday for another checkup and reduction. I have not voiced this opinion to my vet yet as I know we are a ways away still and that’s not her line of thinking. I was wondering if it’s something I should start discussing now.

[Vally]

Alyssa, your photos are fabulous and I think what you’re going to be doing is just brilliant and will help all those dogs find their forever homes.

I love photography and am a member of an on-line photo club (you’re more than welcome to join) – the majority of us are amateurs, it’s pretty much just for fun with weekly and monthly competitions (no prizes), but I’m sure it’s improved my photography heaps. Anyway, let me know if you’re interested and I’ll give you the details.

Well done girl!!!

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[Vally]

Oh, got carried away on the photography.

With the pred, don’t be freaked by the idea that Sassy may be on it for good. I know everybody wants their dogs off that dreaded drug for ever, and I’ve tried twice to get Bingo off it and no good. Whilst the anaemia didn’t come back the second time, his rheumatoid arthritis did. He was in pain and couldn’t walk. In the end, after the backward steps, I got the hang of it and decided, you know what, he’s happy like this taking a minimal dose. His specialist says “a little bit of pred keeps an old boy happy” and I am now more than happy with that.

Sassy won’t stay as she is now. I noticed Bingo slowly started to get back his rude cheeky demeanour back. It wasn’t a matter of so many days after we decreased. Some days I noticed him better then back to his grumpy old self, then a few more days he was happier. Is he 100% to what he was? No. But he’s also 11 years (at least) old now – he was 7 when diagnosed. That makes him entitled to be a grumpy old boy occasionally.

Having said that, Bingo is now on 1.25mg a day (1/4 of a 5mg tablet). Just last week, I’m started him on 1/8 of a tablet (I am Queen of the tablet cutter!!!) every third day (so 1/4, 1/4, 1/8) and maybe in a month or so, try and drop that 1/8th, which will have Bingo on pred 2 our of 3 days.

Love Vally & I’m not Grumpy, you’re Grumpy!!!
xxx