Split: Split: For Hope and Steve

[admin]

Hope

Patrice has explained everything so very well. Be conservative & keep positive. I think I mentioned Worzel had a blood test the day before & 3 days after each & every reduction, & remember Worzel’s was redcuced way too fast for a dog with intravascular haemolysis like Steve. That was not a “normal” or advisable reduction – take it more slowly & carefully. I can also back up Patrice feeling rotten on pred reduction. I have done this a few times & I felt like someone had given me a good beating with a big stick! It’s horrible. If you’re worried about anything, we are here to help.

Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxx

[Hope]

Hello all!

patrice – your knowledge and depth on the basic science of this disease is AWESOMEEEE! Thank you for your super thorough but clear explanations. I definitely don’t wAnt to decrease his meds any faster than we are. Rather, I’m nervous bc Steve’s vet decided to start with a 40% pred reduction (keeping MMF the same) right off the bat.

 

Sheena – thank you also for your advice! I’m concerned about a fast reduction as well bc of the Intravascular hemolysis. Though that was a bit odd (though I’m thankful as all get out).. The vet said that it didn’t seem to “pan out.” After that one bloody urine he came back clean for both bilirubin and hct in his urine. He thought that his stones may have helped with the blood but i still really fear the Intravascular hemolysis.

I had to go in to the vet tonight to get Steve’s lovenox syringes filled — we wiped out the vets supply so I have to get it from my personal pharmacy and then bring it to the vet to put in little syringes. I was showing the tech that his gums still look kind of pale and he said they looked pretty much the same as yesterday so he looks okay to him. And Steve was running around and standing up at the counter but I still think for my sanity (need to hold together my neurons for school!) I’ll be doing PCV checks every few days. The vet said once a week but that’s not going to happen.

Heres a few questions that I wanted to ask y’all about —

– is it odd that his gums don’t match up from side to side? One always looks noticeably darker than the other one.

– his pee pee breaks have decreased in the last 2 days.. I think since the pred reduction started. He’s drinking less too …still a lot but not emptying the bowl multiple times a day. I’m watching his potty breaks super closely bc of the stones.. There’s no straining or blood but he’s just going less. Is that normal for a 50mg –> 30mg decrease?

– He’s still having odd moments of super hard breathing – not panting necessarily but his breathing is hard, particularly when he’s laying down.

Im trying to keep him calm and in his routine. I think he feels better bc he’s running around like a crazy dog and attacking the imaginary person at the front door again. But I’m trying to make him chill out.. Usually requires me pretty much laying on top of him in the bed but I guess that’s my burden! Lol!

Thank you all so much!!

Xoxo hope and steve

[Hope]

Note: Patrice – I meant the anatomy and physiology of the disease.. Basic science is wrong! lol! I reread that and it was bothering me

[admin]

Hope

Miss-matched gums? I’ve not heard that before! Had he been lying on one side? I think you’re right to keep him as calm as possible (not easy I know – Worzel is like a bullet from a gun when he takes off) at the moment – try not to let him run about too madly in case he hurts himself. Their muscles are atrophied & they can easily do some damage to ligaments & tendons.

The reduction in drinking & peeing is normal – the pred reduction definitely makes a huge difference in my experience. Keep an eye on that heavy breathing though – this should get better, not worse with the pred reduction. Let us know what’s happening if you are worried about anything at all – if he starts coughing or has very laboured breathing – that would be an immediate vet visit. There are risks with the pred reduction, as you know. Did you discuss the information I gave you about the clotting meds with the vet? (Don’t worry – there won’t be a test for you to do like med school!!!!!) Did you change anything on that score?

Yes – stick to you guns – once a week blood tests would not have been enough for me either at this point in treatment. You need to spot potential problems quicker than that.

I’m glad to hear someone else runs round with a torch looking at dog pee & poo – I’m sure our neighbours thought I was some kind of nutcase!

Keep up the great work Hope! Come on Steve – keep up a good PCV for your Mum

Love & cuddles, Sheena & the boyz xxxx

[admin]

Hi Hope

Glad to see things are still going well and that Steve’s PCV is 41% – awesome! Please don’t ever worry about us being upset with you. That just won’t happen. We’ll do our best to advise, but ultimately Steve is your dog and you call the shots! That’s how it should be :)

I’ve also not heard of gums being darker on one side and can only think, as Sheena said, perhaps he’s been lying on that side? Patrice’s information about the spleen and adrenal glands was great and I learnt a lot from it too.

I’d agree about not waiting a week for PCV checks. It seems a little long to me, especially with quite large reductions. I would expect him to start drinking and peeing a little less with the reduced dose too, but watch his breathing just in case.

As for Winston Churchill, he was a cat man too….

http://metro.co.uk/2014/03/10/ginger-jock-enjoys-his-finest-hour-cat-is-latest-tom-to-take-up-residence-at-winston-churchills-chartwell-home-4517312/

Keep up the great work Hope, and I do hope you are managing to get a little bit more rest. Remember to look after yourself too, ok?!

Mary & Mable x

[Hope]

Morning sheena!!

thank you for your quick response! It’s so strange — I look at one side of his mouth and I’m about ready to jump in the car and go. I look at the other and I’m like “oo well that looks okay.” When looking at his gums tho — he has a very small actual gum but quite sizeable lip that meets his gum. If you pull back and look it looks pale bc you see almost all lip. His little piece of gum doesn’t look too bad. I’ve been kind of going off the whole thing but should I be looking just at the gums? And can you tell anything from bottom gums?

He’s looking pale again this morning.. I don’t know that it’s worse than yesterday but it just doesn’t look great. It doesn’t reflect how he’s acting either but it’s scary.

When Steve last saw the vet I wasn’t there (but of course – class called).. Husband went but he said the vet is supposed to call us with urine culture results, etc so I was going to ask him then. He did tell husband tho that if he does well on this reduction we could probably stop the lovenox next time we go in. Id still like to keep him on the aspirin though.

The breathing isn’t getting worse but it’s definitely still there sometimes. I thought it should be going away but I’ll watch him closely.

And yes – the neighbors think I have gone mad. I was walking Steve the other night (I try to take him for short 5 minute walks a few times a day just to keep him moving a little) and our neighbor and his dog (who Steve loves) came up. I immediately backed up and kind of ran off. His dog is kind of sickly and had all kind of weird allergies and a skin condition but I felt bad. And last night neighbors I’ve never actually spoken with before definitely stopped their car and stared at me kneeling down with a flashlight right by Steve’s rear while he pooped. They were laughing :/ Good first impressions!

Hugs to all!

Hope and two-toned gingiva Steve

[Hope]

Mary!

Everyone on this board is so wonderful and brilliant — I’m so grateful to have found y’all!

I’m trying to hold off until tomorrow (Sunday) to take Steve in for another PCV. I last went Thursday (go 41%!) and feel like every 3rd day is reasonable. However I don’t love his gum color so I’m debating that. Though he did launch himself off the bed before I could catch him to bark at the mailman and when he came back his gums were definitely nicer looking! I immediately thought of Patrice’s wonderful posts — he told me to watch him, especially in times of stress bc she should have color come back if things are working properly.

I actually did sleep super soundly last night — I was gone to the world. I think my body shut off a little on me. I’ve been sleeping only a couple of hours a night since Steve came home bc I obsessively watch him sleep.

I will keep you all posted! Thanks do much again!

hope

[admin]

Hi Hope

I also think every 3 days is reasonable, providing Steve is well in himself. It is good to hear that his gum colour improved after the postman had been! My cat Mable’s gums also go paler when she is resting, but then pink up with activity. Recently my Mums little cat had to stay in for a couple of days after a fight with another cat. Well, I spent time rubbing his belly and making a fuss of him and then was terrified because his gums looked pale! Of course, it was because he wasn’t active. It is difficult though, especially when you are going through this reduction, and it’s great that you are so vigilant in keeping an eye on him. If you are still worried, get him checked. Always better to put your foot in your mouth. Yes, I’ve done it many times too!

I’m so glad you had a good nights sleep. It’s such an exhausting time for you, with college as well. Look after yourself!

Mary & Mable x