Split: Split: For Hope and Steve

[Hope]

Hiya Sheena –
Thank you very much for going back and looking at Worzel’s records -hopefully Steve will have the same luck when we start weaning down his MMF. But it does totally make sense that it would slow down anyway.
Reductions make me such a wreck (or more of a wreck lol).. we definitely do every other day visits for at least a week with that. This is seriously the longest I’ve ever gone without going in — I’m slightly proud of myself, but more so of Steve of course, that we’ve gone this long without going in.
He’s been on flagyl now for about 2 weeks for the diarrhea and odd colored bowel movements. they’ve gotten better definitely but every now and again there’s the odd color again (pale yellow I guess?) and sometimes the soft serve. I ordered some probiotics online.. hoping that’ll help get things better again. Though I will say his poopsies have always been a little “lighter” in color than most dogs – I think because his prescription dog food is a light light tan color. It’s nasty.
O Jeffrey and his rotten bootie– I don’t know what we’re going to do with him. I’m cleaning out his tail pocket and booty area 2x a day now. I think he actually is starting to like it funny enough. He splays out on the bed while I do it and hubs says he closes his eyes.
I’ll keep y’all posted on monday’s visits — fingers, paws, tails, arms, legs crossed!!

Hugs to you and your boys!
xoxo Hope and the stinkers

[Hope]

Hey guys!
Super Steve went in for a 2 week check up today — I can’t believe we made it 2 without me running him in — and his PCV is 44%, up from 42% last time.
Apparently (I was in class) hubs didn’t see the vet today and we are going back in 2 weeks for another checkup. I would like full Bloodwork – chemistry, CBC, etc. How often did everyone’s pups do those when they were in treatment? I feel like once a month is a long time between but I don’t know.
He wants to discontinue the sucralfate which makes me nervous bc Steve’s stomach issues have just started looking better.. I’m going to go to the famous slippery elm cocktail maybe. Thoughts on that?
Thanks all!! Hugs to everyone!
xoxo hope and the stinkers

[Hope]

Ooo also forgot — very (most important) — the vet wants another Pred reduction from 15mg –> 10mg. The last one was about a month ago so at least were slowing down but that’s a 33% decrease. Should I ask to do 12.5mg instead?

Thanks everyone!!!

[admin]

Hi Hope,
from what I remember we stuck with the sucralfate as long as we gave prednisone, even the smaller doses. I have heard the slippery elm cocktail works really well, I never tried it though, never heard of it at the time. Maybe you could do a bit of both for a while and then fade the sucralfate out? It would be interesting to check what actually is IN sucralfate, maybe it is slippery elm:) I would ask the vet why he wants to discontinue the sucralfate, if in doubt I would continue since it really does not have any side effects.
About the reduction I think you would be safe to reduce 33% at this point. It has been 4 weeks since the last reduction I think? I know it is always scary, but eventually you want Steve on a minimal dose or even off completely. I think for your peace of mind checking every 2 weeks is reasonable, I don’t think I ever made it longer than 3 weeks. How about a full CBC then in 2 weeks just the in house PCV and an other 2 weeks later again a full CBC and so on. You could then always do a reduction after the CBC.
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[Vally]

Hope, my vet wanted to stop the sucralfate when we got down to about 10mg pred (from memory – which is not trustworthy). I resisted and we bargained it down from 3 times a day (in the beginning), to twice a day and then once a day. It was stopped completely when we got down to lower doses still though. I believe it’s because of the aluminum in the drug, although it is considered a “safe” drug to use, even long term.

Love Vally & Bingo

[Hope]

Hey Brigitte and Vally!

Brigitte – I had actually looked up the sucralfate ingredients because I was wondering the same thing lol — no slippery elm. Slippery elm is like an herbal supplement and sucralfate is a synthetic aluminum something or other lol (chemistry is not my strong point at all!!). I do like the idea of using both for a bit and then transitioning to just slippery elm. I also LOVE the idea of the every 2 weeks rotation — I thought it was understood he would do everything today since it’s been a month since full panel but when hubby got home he said they just did PCV and physical. Since were doing a pred reduction tomorrow, I’m going to go for PCV check in a week (or sooner if I feel the need lol) and then in 2 weeks, PCV, thyroid recheck for dr dodds, CBC. And like you said, rotating it seems good to me! All very good lol

Vally – thank you! I like sucralfate… Steve, not so much but I think we can suck up once a day. We never did three times bc it was literally impossible with his schedule but I don’t see the need to chance more GI issues. Plus we just had a whole months refill done like a week ago! Lol

Thanks guys!!
Xoxo hope and Steve

[Hope]

Hi all! I don’t know if this sell this eberywhere but I figured I would ask.. Is Adams Flea and Tick shampoo safe for IMHA babes? I’ve always used it on Steve but didn’t know if that’s a no no now.

These are the ingredients: Active Ingredients: (S)-Methoprene (CAS #65733-16-6): 0.10%, Pyrethrins (CAS #8003-34-7): 0.15%, Piperonyl Butoxide (CAS #51-03-6): 1.

Thanks guys!!
Xoxo hope and Steve

[Hope]

Hi Mary and Ms. Mable!!

I ended up going with the Pred reduction — just watching him super close — and I’m keeping him on the sucralfate at least once a day. He seems to be doing well with that but I may add back one more just to be super safe. He just seems to be getting over his GI issues and I don’t want to mess with that again if we can help it.

So in all of the crazy of Steve’s IMHA diagnosis in early June, I stopped giving him heartworm medicine, which is really a must where I live. I had given him Comfortis exactly one week before he got sick and I was also worried that maybe that had triggered this. When Steve went in for a PCV check on Monday – we asked what to put him back on. They just called (guess they forgot?) and said to put him on medication and then come back in 6 months for a heartworm test. My question is.. Shouldn’t he get one BEFORE he starts medication? And the tech who called said it doesn’t matter what brand.. Well that’s not right, right?! Is the combo Sentinel better or should I just do heartworm pill by itself and flea treatment alone as well?

Miss y’all much! Hugs to you and your sassy lady!
Xoxo hope and the stinkers