Reduction of Prednisone

[Vally]

Fingers crossed she holds it down. That will be a big relief. The blood test has come through, but I’ll leave that for Patrice.

Vally

[Linda]

Hi Elizabeth. Linda here, Sadie is my going on 9 years old, cocker black spaniel (story on Our Stories). She came down with AIHA at two.

I am so impressed with what your vet is doing. Especially all the supplements, which many vets don’t understand are needed. This is very good. I totally smiled with the PetTinic – which Sadie will be on for life. Good stuff.

Also, Sadie, as Vally’s Angel Bingo, will be on a prednisone maintenance for life too. She continues to be on 3.5 mg’s in the am and 1 mg in the pm. She does fine. Her liver values are finally coming down, but the values were off the chart due to the continued relapses and consequent high doses of immune suppressants. I agree, keep Izzy on the Denamarin and glad too, to see they put her on Ursodiol. All good.

Krill Oil. I actually (per Dr. Dodds) put Sadie on Krill Oil (human NOW brand, 1,000 mgs daily – watch the other brands and do not use any with flavors or additives). Maybe ask your vet what he/she thinks about the krill oil (as an Omega 3 supplement replacement, supposed to be better absorbed)? Sadie has done great and no more skin issues to date, which she did have even though she was on an Omega 3 (Nortic Naturals, Canine – great stuff too through).

Izzy is very lucky to have you – your diligence, commitment and unselfish love. You just hang in there – Vally and Patrice are amazing and helped me (still do!) so much with Sadie.

I have not updated Sadie’s story, but she has relapsed three times, total. This last one almost got her but she fought hard. It sounds like Izzy is fighting too, so please, don’t give up.

I am so glad that you are cooking for Izzy. I truly think that is what helped Sadie turn around in her health after her onset and last relapse. Some dogs do fine with commercial food. Sadie’s sister, Sophie (litter mate), does great. But with Sadie, I am now thinking that perhaps this was a problem from the beginning. Who knows. But I now cook and very careful as to the ingredients as she still has high liver values and is pre-renal. I also had Dr. Dodds’ Nutrascan done (thank you, Vally) and found out that I was feeding Sadie all wrong, as she is very intolerant to poultry. I was giving her chicken and turkey. So now she is on beef, pork and salmon, all high tolerance proteins. I add either (mushy, due to kidneys for her) rice or sweet potatoes, kale, green beans, peeled and cooked apples, a few blueberries and egg whites (a few yokes a week, she has to watch her protein, egg yokes are very high in protein). She gobbles it down and knock on wood, is doing well. But we still take it one day aat a time. With a smile.

Encouraging hugs, Linda and Sadie