Pit Diagnosed with AIHA

[Vally]

Oh Alyssa I didn’t mean to make light of it and I did realise you were talking about the platelets, but they are in the normal range too. Fingers crossed next test will show them up a bit to put your mind at ease.

Vally
xxx

[admin]

Hi Alyssa

Received your blood tests – looking really, really good Miss Sassy! I completely understand why you are concerned – I’m not making light of this either & everything needs to be watched carefully. I’m actually really glad your vet is cautious – I much prefer to hear that!

I tried hard not to panic when things were a bit out of range with Worzel – it happens. Below is Worzel’s platelet progress – you can see many ups & downs at the beginning of treatment – this might make you feel better. It does happen with these drugs. The other thing to remember is the platelets don’t live very long (days) & they take a lot less time for the body to make them, unlike red cells which live about 120 days & take a lot more effort to make too.

As you can see, I’ve had a few panicky moments too as the levels change quite a lot in a few days – Worzel’s platelets:

17/11/12 146
22/11/12 167
26/11/12 350
30/11/12 331
03/12/12 395
06/12/12 493
12/12/12 233
18/12/12 331
26/12/12 285
08/01/13 393
16/01/13 228
23/01/13 172
07/02/13 151
14/02/13 197
14/03/13 277
28/03/13 169
28/04/13 205
15/05/13 186
02/07/13 212
23/07/13 194
03/09/13 182
22/10/13 192
25/11/13 214
13/01/14 192
22/04/14 162
29/07/14 135
07/11/14 177
14/02/15 126

If you prefer to get another test in a week before reducing the pred, I think that that will make you happier & after all, it’s only another week – not a problem! Sometimes, we need our minds put at rest & if this is bothering you, wait for the next results. I have all Worzel’s results on a spread sheet if you ever want to look (sad aren’t I????). She’s doing really well Alyssa – YOU are doing an excellent job. Let’s hope the next result will be as good as the latest one.

Love & hugs & a don’t worry
Sheena & the boys xxxxx

[admin]

Alyssa

Forgot to say earlier (my poor little brain lets me down at times) that lymphocyte levels are a good indication of her immune system being under control with the immunosuppressants. Sassy’s are nice & low. My specialist told me this at the beginning when I was very worried myself – we must always keep a close eye on them – keep them on the low side. T-lymphocytes are the things that cause the problem if they are over-active. So, more good news for you to cheer you up!

Sheena x

[Alyssa]

Ugh. Bad news. I was right, and sassys thyriod is low. :( She will be on meds for that for the rest of her life.

It wasn’t a big blow to me… I have thought she had it even before she got sick. She maintained her 70lbs forever, even after dieting and stuff, she’d never lose or gain. But once she got sick, she is ballooning out of control even though we’ve cut the food down. Also, the skin stuff.

Could it has just been “a little low” before, and once she got sick and on Pred, it made it worse ? That’s why the skin stuff started, and the crazy weight gain? I know being on pred can effect thyroid test and I’m sure my dr knew that and took it into account, I think that’s why the test was sent off and not done in-house.

The med she will be on is levothyroxine . Has anyone used this?

[Brigitte]

Hi Alyssa,
Don’t feel bad about the hypothyroid! This is so easy to treat. I think you will see Sassy getting better fairly soon once her thyroid is in balance. Your gut feeling that she was low before and got worse with the prednisone is probably right. Most dogs become hypoththyroid with high dose long term pred use. My dog was on Soloxine I am sure the levothyroxine your vet subscribed is ok.
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Alyssa]

Brigitte,
Thank you :) I’m not that upset because like I said I completely expected it. I didn’t see how it could be anything else, she had every symptom. Even as we lower her pred, and cut her food, she continues to gain. She gained 6lbs in 2 weeks after a pred reduction and huge food reduction. It just did NOT make sense! She is only taking 10mg a day and is 81lbs, it shouldn’t be causing such massive weight-gain at those levels.

And I never give her treats anymore because I feel like I’m killing her by making her fat. I was blaming myself for her being so fat, because I myself am not in that great condition, but I was trying so hard to control her weight. At least now I know why. Like I said, I’m pretty sure she has had it for a very long time, but no one ever insisted I checked it; just kept telling me to feed her less and that never worked. And I didn’t really start reading about the symptoms until it reached this point since no one ever mentioned it to me before. This disease really makes you look at everything, doesn’t it?

I have at least read that meds for thyriod don’t have nasty side effects unless the dosage is wrong. It should do nothing but make her feel better.

[admin]

Hi Alyssa

Thyroxine (levothyroxine/soloxine – same stuff, different name) is part of Dr Dodds protocol, but not many other vets ever mention it. I must apologise – I should have thought of this earlier with the weight gain & mentioned doing a thyroid panel. Hypothyroidism seems to be becoming more common in dogs these days too, as it is with us poor ladies. A cause of slight anaemia with us ladies is often hypothyroidism too. At least you have solved the mystery of the weight gain now – & we all blamed the pred! Well done you for getting her sorted out. I bet her blood work will be even better after she’s been on it for a week or so – even though it’s pretty good now.

Love Sheena x

[Alyssa]

Hey guys. My vet didn’t mention this and I am finding conflicting information! Can I give this drug with food, or near food? I see some places say you can mix it in their food and some places say give away from food and some places say if you give it with food make sure you always give it with food.

I was thinking of doing this schedule, to set up something that is manageable for everyone since it is a life-long drug. We have an odd sleep schedule, and we usually go to bed around 2 AM. Sometimes 4-5 on the weekends. So I wanted to give the thyroid med at 1AM, and then again at 1PM. Will there be a problem taking a dose right before bed?

And then theres the food – she eats at 10AM, 12 noon only if she seems really hungry, 5PM, and 10PM again. I will sometimes give her green beans around 12:30pm if she seems really hungry.