Split: Split: For Hope and Steve

[admin]

Hi Hope. GREAT PCV Steve!!! Oh my – but I would be grueling mad too!!! I would say, the Sucralfate was a big mess up!! He needed to be on that. Now that you are tapering the prednisone, perhaps not much, but my goodness – they should NOT just try to blow this off, by saying, Oops – what are they NUTS?!?! The Flagyl – I am not sure, anyone?

You asked in a previous post about the other immune suppressant and if the weaning should be the same? I say, YES – the same SLOW. Go SLOW on any immune suppressant weaning, not only prednisone.

Personally, I weaned Sadie the same way, 20-25% for a month (I know, that’s a long time, but she had already relapsed and I overloaded on the “SLOW” thing). Sadie was on Prednisone and Atopica. We also did the intermittent weaning, starting the cycle with prednisone. As we got lower with the prednisone, we incorporated the Atopica weaning, weaning one drug at a time. But that is NOT the typical or promoted way to wean. What you’re doing, is.

I tested Sadie’s PCV every week at the beginning and then tapered, which sounds like this is where you are now. I tended to overdo that too with Sadie, every two-three days at first, but again, due to the relapse. She’s now on 3.5MG of prednisone (only, once in the AM) a day. I test her PCV every month now, unless I am suspect. She just tested at 48.3%. But I still, daily, mouth check!!! :)

I hope the urinary problems get better. Keep us posted. But overall, here’s to Steve’s continued health!!!

Love and hugs to you and your awesome boy, Linda and Sadie

[admin]

Hiya Hope

I don’t blame you for being really, really angry – so would I be. BUT …… Overall – think of the great news! Amazing PCV, Mr Steve! OK, so the flagyl (metronidazole) should have been stopped but some dogs are given low doses longer term – the high doses & long term medium doses can cause neurotoxic issues & I don’t think Steve has suffered anything like this has he? Have a look at at these and cheer yourself up – http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=31&A=532&S=0
http://www.vetcontact.com/en/art.php?a=572
These articles are a bit vague on dosage – when you have a “Word or two” with your vet (& I know you will), please mention these possible side effects & that perhaps a free check of ALL these possible side effects would be appropriate in the circumstances. Get a liver check with his next CBC (if they didn’t do one already?) to put your mind at rest about the toxicity aspect. There is nothing you can do to change things now but that doesn’t mean you should forgive & forget – I know you will make sure they know you are not a happy girl & can’t be pushed around.

I agree with Linda – keep the sucralfate going & wean nice & slowly. Please don’t worry too much – Steve is doing GREAT!

Loads of love & hugs, Sheena & the boys xxxx

[Patrice]

Well, long term use of Metrondiazole can have some side effects. Any drug that is metabolized by the liver has the potential to affect liver function (such as prednisone!) Another side effect that Metrondiazole with Long Term High Dose use are some neurological symptoms.

Does this happen every time? No. In fact, I had Chance on long term low dose treatment with the approval of my vet for SIBO.

There are circumstances where this drug may need to be used longer than a week. Have you seen any negative side effects from using it this long? Discuss this with your vet.
my best
patrice

[hope]

hey all!!

thank you so much for your quick responses! sorry for the rant — i felt bad bc i know i should be THRILLED beyond words about the PCV and i totally am but his techs have screwed up on several things now and i don’t get what the deal is. I love our vet but it’s just another thing and more money (about $75/month) on meds that apparently he wasn’t supposed to be on? In the human world, who the hell refills a prescription without checking to make sure it’s still supposed to be given, etc.? How did they “oops” for 2 months? Don’t worry.. a phone call is in to the vet and we’ll be discussing this. I’m going off like 2.5 hours a sleep/night the last 2 weeks (we have first exams next week) so I’m in a wonderful mood anyway.

Do y’all think I should give the Sucralfate 2x a day now or 3x a day? They told hubs that we could discontinue it but I’m checking with y’all because ..yea..

And for the last and most fun part — they want to taper his Pred from 10mg BID to 10mg every other day? I know we all talked about this with Ashley’s Lola.. that’s too much correct? It is kind of annoying that I can never go to appointments because I”d love to discuss this with them in person but no, we’re not doing that. Steve hasn’t had any side effects bad enough to warrant that kind of a decrease. I don’t understand why we don’t start working down the MMF.. that’s the one I’d really love to get him off of sooner.
As for side effects from the flagyl, I haven’t seen any of those, super thankfully. The only thing I notice is that he does seem kind of lethargic more than I would think he would be with a PCV within normal ranges. I don’t know if maybe that was from the flagyl or not. We did a CBC back on August 25 and all I was told was his liver enzymes were “fine.” But we’ll be discussing that as well lol.

Thanks! and much love and hugs to everyone!
xoxo Hope and Super Duper Steve

[hope]

hey again everyone!

quick question.. steve’s PCV was 48% and TS was 7.8. The latter is a little high right? I saw on some websites that it the upper level normal for that is like 7.4. Should I be concerned about that?

Thanks!
HOpe

[Patrice]

Total Solids (Total Protein or Plasma Protein) can vary depending on age and can be elevated if the patient was dehydrated when the blood was drawn and may even be slightly increased if the sample was lipemic (too much fat in blood from a recent meal.) A normal value can range from 6.5 – 8.0 gm/dl

Next time: properly fast for 10-12 hours to avoid lipemia, but plenty of fluids and find out if the sample was hemolyzed when drawn. The TS is evaluated in relationship with the PCV and not independently from it.
my best
patrice

[Vally]

Hope, congratulations the brilliant PCV.

Yes absolutely 10mg daily to 10mg every second day, IMHO, is too quick. Can you do 7.5mg daily?

Love Vally & Bingo

[hope]

Hey vally!

That’s exactly what I was going to offer to Steve’s vet as an idea … maybe like 7.5mg –> 5mg–> 2.5 mg. I need to see what his plans are with the mycophenolate. I’d prefer to start weaning off of that sooner.

I know all dogs are different and there’s different recovery periods but how long are most pups on the secondary immunosuppressants?

Thank ya!!
xoxo Hope and Steve