Sadie – Relapse….again. – Page 2 – Second Chance AIHA Dogs

Linda

Guest

Hi all. Thank you so much. You are all so dear to me and I love you so much. You too Marla, but you concentrate on your sweet daughter and precious Dewey! Got that!!!

Sadie was having some weird thing going on with the urine for a while. In her last CBC, on July 3rd, prior to travel, I forgot to bring a urine sample. And she was all out of tee-tee when we went into the vet office, so we agreed I’d bring one when back. Well, then this happened. And ironically, we still have yet to do anything but a stick test, which is what showed (and we knew from the dark orange color) that her bilirubin was high. She squats SO low and is so fast, that you have to move REALLY fast to get a catch, and until this morning, have not been successful. But got it and taking to 9:30am visit for PCV re-check.

Vet suspects a urinary infection due to a foul smelling discharge and she is very swollen. Sorry to be so graphic and gross, but tis what it tis. Plus, nothing sacred about medicine, right?!?

Brigitte, thank you. All good advice. Sadie actually loves to travel and adores the children. I don’t THINK it was that. And as far as the spraying at my son’s house, now THAT could have been it. Actually, she was there when she relapsed last time too. Last month all their beautiful koi died in their (concrete) pond. They had been there for years. The house was built in 1926, so the pond had been there a long time and goodness knows about the koi. It as heartbreaking. Yes, I cried for them. This was last month. Now this. Also, my 2year old grandson was just in the hospital and on a breathing machine for two days. They are saying croup virus, but I am strongly questioning. This spraying is SO dangerous! We think that IS the trigger if Safue’s AIHA, the spraying in out (holding) pond for floating islands. They sprayed from the shore. By law, they had to give me a list of ‘active’ ingredients, which they did. Hugh concentrations of copper were listed, very toxic to digs. AND many, many fish died. It was like red-tide, the smell was horrible. Many people and digs were sick on our street that back up to the pond. So, dear friend, be aware of spraying. I use nothing now. But we still have very green, pretty weeds. 😉

Also, sorry Brigitte, I meant to put Sucrslfate. Yes, indeed, twice a day right now and more if needed. I am a very strong believer in it too!!! Agree 100%.

About the Tyroxine. Sadie’s thyroid levels ‘seen’ to be great. Her first bout, we (Dr. Dodd and my then vet, Dr. Hamilton) put her on .02 mg of Thyroxine and it shit get up the other direction, so we took her off. Now, that being said, I will, this week, be sending Dr. Dodds blood for a full panel thyroid check AND allergy testing. I should have done this long ago and have put it off.

We may chsnge the antibiotic, you are all right. But Sadie had been no where to have had a tick that I know of. Even my son’s yard, with the massive spraying, is doubtful. But, we will test the vet even mentioned that. Better safe than sorry. And if she’s going to be on an antibiotic, may as well cover all the ‘what if’s right? So, we’ll address that. I just had the Ciprofloxacin from her last urinary infection, which was not too many months ago. I actually took it to GA last time for ‘just in case’ as I now travel with that AND 20mg prednisone. Oh yes, found out the hard way on that one.

We definitely need to regroup and look at all Sadie’s medical history. What happened, when, where. But her PCV has been great and I really thought we were good.

But, Recently, even more than before, she is creaking REALLY loud. That needs to be addressed, as I am so concerned she is in pain. I have the GLM’s from Bew Zealand (they were awesome, Deep Blue), but bring as GLM’s can and often do cause loose stools, I have them stil, sitting on the shelf.

Another thing, she is doing the lip smacking again. The vet had mentioned Cushings (pred induced), so we’ll address that too. She actually started that days before relapse too. Not as bad as now, but started it.

And last, but not least, is the high cholesterol level. Sadie has always run high. Even with a high PCV (hematocrit was 49 on the 07/03/15 CBC), her cholesterol has run high. The vets have atributed that to the long term prednisone, which she has not been off in over two years. Sad.

So, she just jumped off the couch again, ran to the door barking at goodness knows what and almost collapsed at the door. I just carried her, telling her no-no, back and laid her on the couch, AGAIN. Geese!!!! 😜

Thank you all again, for your continued support, advice and loving words. It means so much. I love our forum. I hate why we’re here. But, at least we have each other, and that’s monumental.

We’re going to beat this yet one more time. 😍

Love and hugs,

Linda and Sadie

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D Jones

Guest

I just came across this forum while doing a search for rather loose stool while weaning my 8 yr old Cocker spaniel off the horrible [and expensive] meds, Cyclosporine and Pred. This whole AIHA thing bothers, confuses me and seems to be ‘ a diagnosis’ that is becoming far too popular and convenient for some vets. My four legged son Teddy was diagnosed with ‘auto-immune disease’ in March and like many of you experienced was given a dispensary full of meds which eventually were reduced to the continuance of Pred. and Atopica, which has now been 4 months. Personally I think Teddy has been diagnosed with something he DOESN”T have, and didn’t have and has been converted into a pill junky that i believe are doing more harm than good. His story began in Late Feb with a trip to the vet for skin allergies and was prescribed antibiotics [he has been on so many meds lately I cannot remember which it was but I believe it was Metro or Flag] 7 days later there was traces of blood in his stool so vet says to stop antibiotics, he needs a blood test. $300 later he had bloodwork and I got a call later in the day saying he had ‘Auto-Immune Disease’, and he needed Prednisone immediately with chances of survival being 50/50 after possibly a year or more of recovery. I rushed down for the Pred and the next day Teddy began vomitting massive pile of blood. After extreme panic I was told to rush him to the hospital, likely within hours of him passing. Being our countries premier pet cancer facility they pushed the ‘cancer’ scare on us and said it could very well be what it was. We were shown very little compassion and were quickly asked to give an $1,800 deposit. For the 1st 12 hours the bill was $1,950 and I was told for 3 days on IV and tests the bill would be about $5,000, plus if he had to see the cancer team, blood transfusions, bone marrow work etc it would be more. What happened to the auto-immune disease? In complete shock I began doing research and after about a half hour discovered that the NUMBER ONE cause for his symptoms was the anti-biotic he was given the previous week! When I confronted the doctor I was told that could absolutely be the case and I never heard the word cancer again, BUT he was put on an auto-immune disease regiment. I was told again by these so called ‘experts’ [?] that it was going to be a long recovery, if he pulls through as his blood was basically eliminated. 5 days after he came home he had his first check-up and his blood #’s were about 75% normal and at normal in about 1 month. Is this really auto -immune? The red and atomic have ruined his personality and life style as his body aches, he has gained many lbs, and is tired all the time. $7,500 later I am weaning him off on my own accord as I am not going to play the game any longer. I would rather not see him limp in discomfort for what has now become merely a few minute walk. When I suggested they are possibly treating him for something he may not have I got no denial or resistance, and also know I was lied to regarding other med related matters. His blood has been at normal counts for the past 3 months yet every 3 weeks he has blood tests and his dr wants to sell us more meds at $200.00 / mo for the next 6 months “Just to be safe”. Safe? What about the side effects, so aching joints and no immune system and now dealing with infections is deemed as the safe route? I wish there was a crystal ball that showed us what is killing our beloved pets, be it food related or environmental – or both? I hope I am not wrong with my own evaluation and the word ‘relapse’ frightens me. Can our high priced vets really be trusted and are they in our best interest or in it for theirs? Good luck and a big heart goes out to all of you that have four legged kids going through this. Regards, D Jones

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