sassy is relapsing. – Page 16 – Second Chance AIHA Dogs

Linda

Guest

Hi Allysa. I apologize, I am not on here much these days (caring for a 100 year old father, 88 year old mother-in-law and still not out of the woods, Sadie girl) as my days seem to be gone before they get here. Sigh.

But, your post about cooking and all the ingredients sounds exactly like what I have been doing for Sadie for almost seven months now. At onset of this #3 relapse with Sadie, and taking her to emergency, Blue Pearl, she was immediately put on Hills ID. Sadie did well on it, but I too detested the content (corn, and not organic, along with all the other junk, yuck!!!). But it worked. But me, in my infinite wisdom, started cooking for her, as I said, almost identical to your ingredients and method (boil, wash, etc.), but I use turkey.

And then, as Brigitte said, about a month ago, a blood test in the middle of the day vet visit (we were testing due to Sadie loosing way too much weight, in spite of the high doses of prednisone (45mg) and Atopica (50mg), at the time. She has lost 13 pounds (going from 39 pounds to 26 pounds). Pancreatitis was suspected. And sure enough, as with Enzo, Sadie’s test results showed higher results. So, we started really, really watching the fat content, not that it was ever very high to begin with, but even more diligent. We tested just recently, and all was much better. I tell you all this because, as Brigitte and Sheena have said, it is very important to fast a good time (8 hours, but 10 hours is even better). On the first blood test (showing high results), Sadie had a huge breakfast at around 7:30AM and we tested at 2PM. She had also had treats (dog food, don’t tell her, she thinks they’re treats, Orijen Six Fish and/or Nutrisca Chicken – I don’t feed either as food, just treats). But on the second test, she literally fasted for 10 hours. The same as Enzo, the 2nd one was better.

I am currently sending all Sadie’s history; illness, food, supplements, etc., to University of Penn to the Canine Nutrition Department for a consultation to put together a “complete and balanced” home cooked recipe(s). As it sounds like Sassy and Sadie currently have some of the same things going on and we seem to like to cook their food (Sadie has NEVER had raw, although great, she has been too ill to take the chance of contamination, so it’s all cooked), I will let you know the results. Now, remember, this diet will be specifically formulated for Sadie, but it will give us all a guideline to help any of our dogs with AIHA and especially, pancreatitis questions.

Also, as Sheena said, for many reasons, I would not give Sassy the canned fruit anymore. Try to follow Dr. Dodds liver cleansing diet, as suggested here by others. It’s awesome and you are basically using it anyway. I have recently (because Sadie had some kidney and UTI issues too, poor sweet girl), added a cranberry/blueberry ‘compote’ mixture to her food. I just boil about 20 cranberries and 20 blueberries in about a half cup of water, skim off the film that forms, cool and put into ice cube trays, freeze and put in Rubbermaid container with parchment paper separating the layers of the cubes. That way I can add a cube (about half filled) to each meal. I also have recently added small pieces of Apple – she loves them. I chop it up very tiny.

Now, in this infinite wisdom of mine, I think I may have done more harm than good with the cooking. I am quite sure Sadie is lacking some much needed supplements, i.e., vitamins and minerals. THIS is why I have brought in a nutritionist. I need a precise supplement list for her home cooked meals.

The Core Wellness you use is good. I too have been using some canned (low fat, Lotus chicken, Weruva Chicken stews) to add the vitamins and minerals that she may have been missing. But the nutritionalist may tell me to stop all this – what the heck do I know. The Orijen Six Fish, I love, but Sadie’s tummy does not, unless just a few pieces a day, but great kibble, as kibble go. I also use Lotus Senior small bites, lower in fat, when I need to supplement and Nutrisca chicken, but as the Orijen, not so low in fat. It’s really a conundrum. Crazy.

I hope ALL this has not confused you more. I stay confused!

I am so glad to read that Sassy is jumping on the couch and acting more like herself, wanting to play. This makes our days, doesn’t it?!! :)

Sending love and keep up the great, wonderful care you’re giving Sassy. She is a very lucky little gal.

Linda and Sadie

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Sheena

Guest

Hi Alyssa

Sounding GOOD! I fed Worzel mostly fish when he was ill – it’s really, really good for them – low fat, but has good oils as you say. Sardines are really good for their joints & coat too. He didn’t get on with chicken, but was OK with turkey.

Oh, yes please, let’s hope it is only tummy ache – we need to be sure of course so let’s see what the tests say. Worzel had horrendous tummy ache with the doxycyline – he would lay stretched out, huffing & puffing, & I lay on the floor rubbing his tummy – he was really uncomfortable & needed reassurance. Doxy is bad for giving some dogs & people bad tummies & acid reflux type symptoms – others are perfectly fine. Just wondering if the amoxicillin could be the culprit? Did you stop it? But poor Worzie absolutely had to have the doxycyline for a long time to kill that damn ehrlichiosis – we had to be 100% sure it was gone, otherwise he would probably have relapsed. I started to give him Sucralfate 2 hours after each doxy dose (have to leave 2 hrs as you know) & last thing at night – it really, helped him. So could it be tummy ache? Maybe, but the way you described her hard tummy & her pain was not nice to hear about. Or you cutting out everything fatty & giving her stomach or pancreas a bit of a rest has done something to help. Either way, she’s better & we can only guess for now. Well done Miss Sassy.

One day, we should do some kind of little survey. How many dogs have relapsed when the reduction protocol has been followed properly & how many have relapsed when the drugs have ben dropped too quickly & not in the right order. I will place my bet now. Very few who followed the rules implicitly will have relapsed. Loads who were told to reduce too quickly will relapse – I can honestly say just about everyone I know on here who’s dog has relapsed didn’t follow the boring but right reduction protocol! It was never, ever their fault – no one should feel guilty as it’s always done this way on the advice of a vet. In my opinion, they use a reduction protocol for far less serious, non-life threatening diseases (skin conditions, ordinary anaemia etc) which are not suitable for this serious disease. It is only a case of lack of IMHA experience, lack of knowledge or ocassionally God Syndrome. So it’s not done with malice in most cases – just ignorance or because they have never seen this disease before in their career. There is nothing we can do about the God Syndrome ones, except tell THEM that this what we are going to do for reductions, whether they like it or not, Our dogs are more important than their ego. So there! We will keep spreading the word.

We do try to tell everyone on here to take things slowly, as you know – the tricky bit is getting people to trust what we say & that we really do know more than their vet does sometimes (not always, obviously). The more people tell other owners on here about their experiences with the reductions, the more we can prove to folks that they must do things properly. Rant over.

Have a peaceful day with your girl – good luck with the tests

Love Sheena xxxxx

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