snoopy

[Sheena]

Sorry & thank you Vally! – typing at the same time – bloomin’ tablet thingy makes me type S L O W L Y .

[Vally]

Jill, I use tablets for which the dosage is 3 tablets daily for adults. Using Dr Dodds calculation, I have Bingo, who is about 7.3 kg (about 16 pounds) one-third of a tablet twice a day, being approximately 20% of the dosage.

I understand Dr Dodds used percentage calculations because the amount of Silybum marianum in different tablets varies. Some contain more and less.

Yes, those tablet thingy’s are a pain to type on. I wanted a tablet so I didn’t have the laptop sitting on my lap (funny, that’s what they’re made for) because it’s heavy and gets hot, but the tablet pretend keyboard turns me back into a 2 finger typist.

Vally & Bingo

[Sheena]

2 finger typist on the tablet? You are a true professional then! Only one finger typing for me as Worzel’s head leans on my other arm! Spoilt boy he is.

[jill]

Hi everyone, how are you? Snoopy weighs 22 kilos so I should be able to wok out the amount on chart you have put on here, thankyou xx Would it be ok if I can still have the Tylan powder and I will do what you said Sheena, keep it till after Snoopy has finished the metronidazole, Snoopys poo is soft lumpy , not runs like before but not perfectly formed either, the vet said that dogs can suffer tummy upsets when they are anemic and is waiting to see when his blood levels comeup if it will make a difference? I have to let him know if direah returns after metron,i did ask him if he could have a GI problem, and he said hes waiting till we get the blood level up and taking it from there.i was a bit disappointed about him not taking the time to read the information on Tylon powder, I might e mail it to him and just suggest he takes alook when he can? He was actually bit better to talk to yesterday, I must admit they are so busy there, I asked him if I could have the results printed he said he will e mail them to us.Thankyou for all yourhelp guys , love and hugs Jill and Snoopy xxx

[Sheena]

Hiya Jill

Don’t worry – sending you Tylan tomorrow. If I can get some more capsules, I will send you a month’s worth. The dose for Snoopy is the same as Worzel had, so no problem! I used the chart on here:
http://www.epi4dogs.com/sidsibo.htm

& I also checked the dose with Dr Jean Dodds. She also told me an eighth of a teaspoon, so I am certain I have double checked everything for you, as Snoopy is almost exactly he same weight. I always like to double check everything!

I only have enough capsules (30) for 15 days here – Phil has just done them for you. You give 1 capsule twice per day WITH FOOD. Will let you know when I get home later this afternoon if I can get more capsules at one of the local pharmacies, so can send you more – a month’s worth is better – he should be on it for a month minimum, or longer if needed, maybe even 45 days. Then you may stop it or reduce the dose by half for a month if the diarrhoea returns. The nice thing is that he can take it at a lower maintenance dose if he needs to. But let’s hope he doesn’t need to.

Love Sheena xxxxx

[jill]

Hi all, thankyou so much Sheena, im really grateful, its good to know I will have the Tylan powder as back up if needed once Snoopy is off the metronidazole. The Vet has rang us with Snoopys results , he said its good news, Snoopys blood is up to 42% normal range? he said he wants to talk to us about starting to reduce Snoopys meds? The liver test has come back as slightly elevated, which he said is pretty normal considering the amount of meds Snoopy is on.I now have him on the Milk Thistle, also the pancreatic test has come back slightly elevated which he thinks is pretty normal again, with the meds ect, and do we want to do further test or wait to see what happens when we start weaning Snoopy off meds? We are pleased with the blood levels, but im worried if its to soon to start waening Snoopy off the meds? and how much do you lower them to? How much did your vet start to lower the amount of the steroids and azthioporine by ? any advice? The vet is ringing us today to talk about it. love Jill & Snoopy xx

[jill]

Ps. Snoopy is on these meds : Predonizolone 25mg twice a day, Azothioprine 50mg 1 a day, Omeprazole 20mg 1 a day, Sam e 200mg twice a day and today last dose of metronidazole 200mg twice a day, then I also give him the milk thistle .

[Sheena]

Hi Jill

Congratulations on such a good PCV. Let’s hope he sends those tests through quickly so we can see what’s happening elsewhere. Please start the milk thistle immediately, Jill. He needs it to stop those liver enzymes increasing any more. I wish your vet was more open minded, then we could have nipped this in the bud with starting the milk thistle earlier. Never mind. No use worrying now.

Snoopy is on exactly the same doses as Worzel was.

You can read carefully about pred weaning here:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/prednisone-dose-reduction/

Basically, to avoid a relapse, the golden rules for weaning are:

1. Never reduce anything until Snoopy has been stable within normal levels for roughly a month.

2. Always start by reducing the prednisone/prednisolone by 25-33%, then do a PCV test after a week to check it’s OK (sooner if your suspect he looks paler). If all is well, leave him at that dose for at least another week, then reduce 25/33% again, followed by a PCV to make sure he hasn’t dropped too much & so on. We will guide you through this. DO NOT let your vet reduce any quicker, please, please, please. We find some vets go too quick because other diseases can be reduced quicker – NOT IMHA. When Snoopy is completely off the pred (or very rarely for some dogs, on the lowest possible dose), you can start reducing the azathioprine. Do not reduce it until then.

3. NEVER EVER reduce 2 drugs at the same time – this is very important.

4. The azathioprine can be dropped by one tablet per week EVERY MONTH unless it is cuasing him problems of course. Again, need to see the blood tests.

There are many people on here whose vets told them to wean too quickly & their dogs have relapsed. Linda & Vally have experienced this – we all want to avoid Snoopy having any problems at all. If your vet “disagrees” we can back this up with clinical veterinary evidence. Let’s hope he’ll follow the golden rules!

Jill, you are doing such a GREAT job. Hold your ground & Snoopy will soon be back to his usual self. I suspect he will naturally have a high PCV, like Worzel & Ollie do, being very similar “breed”!

Checked the Tylan parcel – it’s on the train from Bordeaux, so should be in Blighty very soon. Will check again tomorrow & let you know.

Loads of love & huge hugs
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx