Sadie – Relapse….again.

[Trish]

Good job, Sadie! (And Linda)… :)

[Brigitte]

Hi Linda,
awesome results! I hope Sadie is feeling good and almost back to her own self? I am so happy her body has fought this rotten disease again. She is so lucky to have you Linda!
Love Brigitte

[admin]

Hi Linda & Sadie Baby

This such wonderful news – she’s a little fighter & so are you. You know you are both very dear to our hearts & we ALL want to send you massive congratulatory hugs & doggie licks. I like plans. Plans do work – you’ve proved that!

Love Sheena, Phil, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[Linda]

Hi all. Sadie is doing very well. 😊But I did want to post this on case anyone has this happens, because this is a first fir her, even through the relapses: incontinrnce.

In the past, especially upon onset in 2013, Sadie did have the occasional accident. I remember going out for a while and coming home to her being so ashamed, bowing her head and walking me over to where ‘it’ happened. I just cleaned it up, telling her it was okay and that I was the one that is so sorry she is going through this. I think she understood. My precious little girl – it broke my heart.

But, this was occasional (maybe 10 times total through the entire onset/relapses). Now, it’s simply when lying down – she just has no control. It has happened three times since yesterday. And last night, she went all over our bed (she sleeps with us). Thank goodness I have a thin waterproof cover over the mattress. And all, cover, sheets, blanket and coverlet are all in the wash. Cleaning day. 😉

I am sure it is the prednisone. Her UTI seems to be under control now – two more days on the antibiotics, so the course has almost run, so quite sure it’s not the UTI. I don’t know how she’ll feel about doggie diapers…….

Just wondering if anyone has dealt with this? I imagine I will start weaning the prednisone in the near future. She is 28% PCV. WE’ll wait until around 32-34% PCV. She is on 45mg prednisone and 75mg Atopica, daily.

Love and hugs, Linda and Leaky

[admin]

Oh Linda, this is really super news! Happy dances all round!

I know this has been very tough for you and Sadie and has been a particularly scary relapse, as if they aren’t scary enough in the first place. Sadie – that’s enough now girl. You just keep on going up now, understand?

Really thrilled to read this Linda. Well done you, and of course, Miss Sadie.

Lots of love,

Mary and Mable x

[admin]

Hi again Linda

Sorry I didn’t see your latest post before sent the last reply. I’m not sure how much help I can be, but I expect you are right about the pred being the culprit here. Was she incontinent when she had the UTI? And is it just urine incontinence? Molly suffered idiopathic cystitis, which we learned can be quite a problem in cats. She was also very very clean but when she had this she just couldn’t stop peeing, and I knew there was a problem when she peed on a towel at the vets (she could go 2 days without peeing before this – stubborn little madam). Idiopathic cystitis like this is not infectious, and whilst I’m not suggesting this is what Sadie has, I’m just wondering if the bad UTI she had has irritated her urinary system so that her control isn’t so good at the moment? With the big dose of pred too making her pee more often.
I hope this sorts itself out soon. It is heartbreaking, I know.
Mx

[Brigitte]

Hi Linda,
poor leaky Sadie girl and sorry you have to deal with this. At least Sadie is a little girl, I remember people going through this with big dogs and it is not a nice thing. You think she would tolerate diapers? I know that some dogs don’t care, some hate them and you might not want to do this to her. I am pretty sure you are right it is the prednisone and I think over the last couple of years with her relapses, all those muscles became weaker to start with. 45mg prednisone for a little dog like her seems like a very high dose to me, but I guess that came from Dr. Dodds? I think I would want to lower that as soon as you are sure she is stable, that would certainly help. And then we go again…. lowering the dose, you probably don’t even want to think about this now.
Best wishes & love Brigitte

[Linda]

Thanks all. Mary, Sheena thinks too, that it’s not the prednisone too. And that makes since. She also said (you’re SO smart Sheena, dear friend), that this may go on for a while. She did have a hum-digger UTI. SO, Mary, right on, you got that too.

I had been reading several articles about how long term, high dose prednisone can do this. So, I am sure You and Sheena are right, and maybe the high dose is not helping either? But, I do know,this for sure, she is embarrassed. 😔

No, Brigitte, the high dose was not Dr. Dodds but the vet at Blue Pearl. However, Dr. Dodds was aware of the doses and said it was fine. It is high, but the Blue Pearl, vet said she was doing loading doses on both the prednisone and cyclosporine. She also said, she did this because of the very low PCV, her relapse history and past good responcse to Atopica. Also, that once stable, we’d regroup.

Sheena reminded me too, that before weaning (when she’s back up), before that, when she’s at a stable PCV, I need to lower the cyclosporine to a ‘regular’ dose, first. So, of course, will do that (again, Sheena keeping me straight. Vally has to help with that too – it’s a big job!!).

Yes, you’re right Brigitte, here we go again. But actually, glad to be able to do it. Like birthdays, think of the alternative……. And the diapers, oh, I will give it a try, but I kind of think – no. I’m going to get some of those lovely blus waterproof thingies they use underneath at hospitals. Lovely.

You all sure did a great job willing Sadie to this point – can you keep those thoughts!!?? ❤️

Sending our love, Linda and Sadie (aka Leaky)