Sunny

[admin]

Hi Maura. Hope, that’s a great suggestion about the cottage cheese. My vet actually suggested that for Sadie, but the dairy (as so many other things) got to her tummy and added to the runny poos. I do use the pill pockets, but I use the allergenic (duck) and buy the larger (capsule size) and then use as little as possible to just cover the pill. Of course, there is not much Sadie won’t eat since on the prednisone – so that’s not been one of her problems. Hence, little tubby girl here.

I am sorry her tummy is gurgling. I remember just watching her sleep at night, as she went through many nights of moving around, not being able to get comfortable. We were both hitting the walls the next day – exhausted.

As Vally said, the medications make them thirsty and what goes in, must come out, so they go out a lot. Not fun for either pup or fur mom/dad. But as I remember, Sadie did get better. She went through a spell where she could not hold water for more than two hours during the day. I could not go anywhere for longer or there was a mess, right next to the front door. I felt so badly for her. Now, with the reductions, she’s doing great again, 8 hours sometimes (which I only did once – and again, felt horrible).

I keep thinking of all our dogs that were and are so very ill and all that the folks here have gone through. I just don’t remember dogs or cats getting ill like this decades ago (yep, I’m older than dirt). My prior cocker spaniel, Apple, ate these horrible cellophane wrapped Gaines Burgers. I’m sure the nutrition was minimal. But she lived to be 18! Goodness – maybe ignorance was bliss.

Good luck with the blood work and going to the vet tomorrow. I do and will continue to think of you. Please let us know.

Love and hugs, Linda and Sadie

[maura]

Everyone
Sunny seems in a lot of pain. I just do not know what is going on.
It is 1217am. This disease has made Sunny so ill and it seems to be making me mentally ill. I want to think , ök just upset tummy…but because I feel like I over vaccinated her, I no longer trust my judgement.
And I agree I do not remember dogs getting sick like this. As a kid we had a lovely old english sheep dog who ate so much stuff/junk and she lived to be 13. I ask myself WHY. I blame myself even though I read the bridge and know there are many variables. I hate nights.
–Love.
Maura and Sunny

[admin]

Dear Maura,
it is a proven fact that if people are in physical pain it is worst at night. Well….. you have pain in your heart about Sunny’s illness and her not feeling well, so no wonder it is worst at night. Please stop blaming yourself for anything you did or did not do to Sunny, it is not productive or helping the situation. All you did or did not do is water under the bridge. You did the best you could with the knowledge you had. We all know you would never in a million years hurt Sunny.
Dogs with this disease are usually not in pain, just weak and very tired. This is caused by the low red blood cells that carry the oxygen to the rest of the body. That said and the way you describe it, Sunny seems to be in pain. You know her best and I trust your judgement that she is not just tired any more. My first thought was that she suffers from pancreatitis. This happens quite a bit as a side effect of the prednisone or azathioprene. If this is the case you should take her in to the vet tomorrow morning as soon as possible. Until then I would not force Sunny to eat but make sure she still drinks as much as possible. If she feels like eating, chances are it is not pancratitis. Look up pancratitis in the AIHA terms. Make sure to give her very lean foods.
Thinking of you and your Sunshine girl, with best wishes,
Brigitte

[Hope]

Hi Maura,

I’m sorry you’re having another bad night — nights are absolutely the worst with this. It’s like all of the fears come out and weigh you down.. We’ve all been there and are with you now.
What is sunny doing to show she’s in pain? I’m just asking bc it’s totally “normal” for a pup early in treatment to have a hard time getting comfortable, as terrible as that is. Steve would moan and get up and move and move some more, pass out and drool all over the bed, wee on himself and me, pant, breathe heavily or sometimes it looked not at all. I slept with my hands resting on him for 2 months (!!) because his sleeping freaked me out. And I stayed up for several weeks to watch him sleep, only sleeping during the day when my hubs could watch him.
I know it’s super impossible but you should really try to rest tonight.. You can’t let yourself get worked up with it being your fault. You did what we are all told to do and thought you were doing what was best for her because you’re a wonderful mom. You couldn’t have known — I don’t know about you but I had never heard of this disease until Steve was diagnosed. Please try not to judge yourself too harshly — Sunny needs your positive vibes and you have to stay healthy to care for your girl!

Hugs!
Hope and Steve

[Tamara]

Hi Maura, I’m so sorry you’re having such an awful night. I can relate completely, I have been such a basket case with this disease, it is just awful. This past week when Ashki’s numbers dropped I really came apart.

When you can, let us know how you and Sunny are doing, we are with you. I agree with Brigitte about the possibility of pancreatitis, it is a side effect of the azathioprine and it seems like many dogs on aza end up with pancreas problems. Will she eat at all? If she will, give only low fat foods.

I just want to echo what Brigitte and Hope have said about blaming yourself — I know, it’s so hard not to torture yourself with “what ifs” and “if onlys.” I feel horrible because for the month before Ashki was diagnosed he was ill and I thought it was just GI problems. But all of us on here do our very best to take care of our beloved babes, and like Hope said we had no idea about IMHA. You’re doing such a great job taking care of Sunny, your devotion and love is so evident.

We’re here for you, post as much as you need. Sending much love and many hugs —
tamara and ashki xoxoxo

[Vally]

Maura, what makes you think Sunny is in pain? Can you describe what she’s doing to make you think that. Can you take her temperature? Between from about 100-102.5 degrees is normal.

If she does have tummy pain, it may be pancreatitis as the others have said. It is a possible effect of the Azathioprine. If so, I wouldn’t try to feed her anything for now, just syringe some water to keep her hydrated. She may need to go to a low fat diet to help with this.

I agree with the others, you really really mustn’t blame yourself for anything – even the silly mistakes we ALL still and will still make. There is no doubt how much you love Sunny. You would never do anything to hurt her and therefore, there is nothing to be guilty about.

Yes we are all a bit crazy now, all paranoid. That’s the scar we all carry, most likely forever. Our dogs and cats let us do the worrying for them.

Lots of love Vally

[admin]

Hi Maura

I agree with the others – you need to check with the vet to see if this is pancreatitis – it will show up in a blood test & the vets will be able to tell you. If the azathioprine causes this, it is usually in the early stages of taking it. My Specialist told me to stop all food & take Worzel straight to the vets if I suspected it. Sunny would be stretching out & maybe arching her back with the pain. You have done nothing wrong whatsoever. Let us know how she is.

Thinking of you
Sheena xxxx

[admin]

Hi Maura – it’s night now where you are, so I hope everything is all right. I know exactly what you mean by all the guilt – I know we shouldn’t feel it (yes, we all do everything we possibly can for our dogs), but it is inevitable: and you will go on feeling it (I still feel guilty nearly every day….). But for now you must put all your energies into helping Sunny – guilt will drain your energies and you need to put everything into thinking about her. I agree with the others, pain isn’t usually a symptom of AIHA/IMHA, so it is likely something else, and you need urgent veterinary advice.

Come on Sunny – keep fighting for your mum!

love

Lynda