Shih Tzu Diagnosed With AIHA

[admin]

Hi Susie

It is a lonely journey with this disease – no-one’s ever heard of it & they are not usually very interested. But we are all here to help – you know that. The relief of finding other people who had experienced IMHA was huge for me too. You must tell us if you are worried about anything – a problem shared & all that! It’s really hard work looking after them – exhausting mentally & physically.

Emily sounds like a right little thief – that must have been a terrible experience with the ibuprofen – thank goodness you got her to the vets so quickly. Goodness, you need to keep a close eye on her, little monkey!

I am still worried about the Vitamin K (my personal opinion is that it should be stopped immediately) because I don’t know why she has been given it- it’s only meant to be used for the first few days of rodenticide poisoning until clotting time is back to normal. My big worry is that Emily will become at risk from clotting – we don’t want that as clots are life-threatening. Our dogs are very often at risk from abnormal clotting because of the IMHA & many actually need anti-clotting medications. Do you feel you could discuss this with your vet OK? I am quite happy to help you with that if there is something you don’t understand or maybe help with a list of questions for them? Let me know.

I know you said it was tricky, but we really need to know what is happening in her blood, so badly need the blood test/smear results. Sorry to be such an old nag – I do worry, you know! And you & Emily are very important to us all.

Sending love & hugs
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[admin]

Vally – chart looks superb – you are just too good – we need to check this Vit K problem out as soon as possible though.

Emily – did they not give you sucralfate? It’s a good tummy protector – again worth mentioning to your vet. It needs to be given at least 2 hours from any other drugs though. I found it brilliant, stopping Worzel’s terrible tummy ache very quickly. Dogs with tummy ache sometimes eat weird & horrible things to try & lessen the pain – I know she has “slight tendency” (!!!!) to steal stuff.

Love Sheena x

[Susie]

I am getting ready to call Emily’s ver. I am going to ask about taking her off the K, giving her Pepcid, Denamarin, and is there anything else?

[admin]

Hi Susie – sending every possible best wish for the visit.

Yes please – in addition to your great questions:

Blood test (s)/ any test result copies.

Sucralfate prescription.

Ask about the clotting risks.

Ask if they know the exact cause now.

Bossy old thing, aren’t I?

Love & a big hug, Sheena x

[Susie]

Oh goodness it’s been a crazy and busy morning here!!! So ooh much going on that I completely forgot to say Thank you Vally! You’re a sweetheart!

[Susie]

We have two vets treating Emily and I left a message to have the first vet contact me to ask her opinion on the K. It was the second vet that gave it to her. I thought that might be the easier way to approach this situation ;) I’m totally hearing you on the K, Sheena.
Also I was more clear about getting the blood work results.
I will ask for Sucralfate or would Pepcid suffice?Also, will ask for Denamarin or Sam-E, and changing to Cyclosporine.

[Linda]

Hi Susie. I hope good news with vet. Please, please ask about the Sucralfate (prescription only, sorry). The Pepcid is okay, but right now (am I right Sheena and Vally?), the Sucralfate is best. All I see mentioned here is the Pepcid and of course, this is better than nothing and you do not need a prescription. Just wondering – not trying to complicate things even more for you.

THE supplements:

Denamarin (Liver protection)
Sucralfate (Tummy protection)
Plavix or Clopidogrel (clotting protection)

And I use and swear by, as I’ve mentioned before, PetTinic:
Minerals:
Iron, 12.5mg
Copper, 0.2mg
Vitamins:
Thiamine, 2.0mg
Riboflavin, 1.0mg
Niacin 10.0mg
B6, 1mg
B12, 2.1mcg

Keep up the great work. We all know this is lonely and scary. But you have the right tools and you seem to have a vet that will listen (if not, keep pushing). It’s enough to try to figure all this out, and then to try to persuade your vet to ‘listen’ to you about additional ‘things’ is so complicated. But you have such a great grasp on all this, you really do. Keep up the great work. Emily is a very lucky (very cute) little girl. Love the denim, by the way! And her puppy sister is precious too.

Love and hang-in-there hugs, Linda

[admin]

Hi Susie

Yes – Linda is spot on – the two tummy protectors are needed – sensitive tummies need looking after. Sucralfate is amazing because it forms a protective coating – ulcers will actually heal because they are “covered”.

I am delighted you are going to cyclosporine – small dogs do much better on it.

Susie – you are a star – you are doing the best possible job for your little sweetheart.

Love Sheena xxxxx