Pred/Atopica not working anymore

[admin]

Mike

Woke up this morning feeling guilty that I didn’t say to be VERY careful & do regular PCV checks so that you can spot any potential problems as quickly as possible. I am very cautious & we always did a PCV the day before any reductions & 3 days after. I would also feel happier if you consulted with Dr Dodds to be ultra-safe.

Please let us know how things progress – we will be thinking of you

Best wishes
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie x

[Mike Chen]

Quick update:

-We will be starting the Pet-Tinic this afternoon when I get it in the mail. In the meantime, our doc half-jokingly recommended “red meat for iron” so we bought Lola a small steak and cooked it up for her. She appreciated that.

-I got my consult back from Dr. Dodds last night. She said blood work indicated iron deficiency, so the Pet-Tinic was a good idea. She suggested getting on Thyroxine (I asked my vet if we could do that without a TSH screening) and folic acid (good thing Lola loves raw carrots). She had a few more recommendations but they were only if Lola is not sustainable after a few adjustments.

-We go in for a PCV check tomorrow just to make sure the adjustments aren’t making Lola’s system crash. Today is the first day with no atopica and no azathioprine (though that will be every other day, so she will get some tomorrow).

-In general, her spirits are good and she seemed more comfortable at night without the atopica. And she loved the steak, though I told her not to expect that regularly!

[admin]

Hi Mike,
I am so glad your vet is working with Dr. Dodds, this is really a great situation. I have an idea so Lola’s taste does not break the bank. If you want to give her some nice red meat try to find beef heart. It is easy to trim the fat off and then all you have is a very lean muscle. It might not be as tender as the steak she loved but I can guarantee she will love it too. I sometimes boil some in a bit of water for treats, the “soup” that is left is also a great treat for them. Heart also has taurine something that is very good for our dogs. While the raw carrots certainly do no harm, they might not be as beneficial as you think. I am pretty sure that dogs don’t absorb the nutrients from raw veggies. They are carnivores and their digestion is not made to digest raw veggies or grains. You are better off to cook, freeze, grate finely or even ferment the veggies. Like I said no harm done with raw veggies I just see them come out almost the same way they went in:)
Lola is one lucky pup! You sure look after her with all you got. Good luck for the PCV check tomorrow!

Best wishes,
Brigitte

[admin]

Oooooh, lovely steak! Nothing else will do now, you know – a BIG steak tomorrow, please Daddy! Wishing you loads of luck with the tests tomorrow & I’m very happy that Dr Dodds is “on board”. I love Brigitte’s diet ideas – she really knows her stuff & always has great ideas to tempt the doggie taste buds whilst providing a good source of nutrients. Please let us know how you get on
Our best wishes to you & Lola
Sheena, Worzel (wish I had steak) & Ollie ( wish I had steak too) xxxxx

[Mike Chen]

Quick question — how accurate is the gum color check? Or does it fluctuate quite a bit?

I find myself checking it every 30 minutes and driving myself nuts with it. We have the PCV check tonight but I am extra paranoid because of the recent adjustments. Is her demeanor the best judge during the periods between PCV checks or should I keep up my constant gum color checks?

[Vally]

Mike yeah we’ve all done this. One of our members Lynn said her dog learned to smile to show her gums because of the constant checking.

The colour of the gums is an indication but if Lola has been asleep or resting you’ll find they are going to be paler. If she’s in action they’ll be darker.

The spleen is responsible for this. It releases blood as necessary so if they suddenly jump up the spleen responds by sending out the reds. There’s an explanation in the AIHA Terms. I can’t link it as I’m on the bus with my phone and I dont know how to paste the link with my phone.

Good luck with the checkup.

Oh I just saw her photo. She’s gorgeous.

Vally and Bingo

[admin]

Hi Mike,
yes the paranoia is part of this disease. I can also tell you that everybody that goes through this is getting to know their dog very intimate. What goes in, what comes out…. and yes of course the gums. Vally described it perfect. When they rest the gums can be pale, when they are active they are pinker, darker. When they are very ill the gums are almost gray. Trust yourself to know the difference. You have good instincts Mike, you already mentioned her demeanor. It is ALWAYS a great sign when they are active and happy. YOU know when your dog is happy. They are eating interacting, moving. But don’t forget even at this stage Lola has a lot of healing to do. Her body went through a major crisis and has to work very hard. So don’t be alarmed if she rests more than when she was healthy. Try and relax! I know that is easier said then done. But you being relaxed is so beneficial for Lola. She will sense that things are ok, that you have her back and are in control. Nothing to worry about for her. You do your job, looking after the vet bills, feeding her properly and giving her the right medications. Lola’s job is to make those red blood cells. You are a team and together you will beat this!!!
Best wishes Brigitte
PS: What a cute, sweet girl your Lola!

[Patrice]

Mike
This is called capillary refill time. Here is a good description that may help you understand this better.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/capillary-refill-time/
my best, patrice