Sunny

[Vally]

Maura, I don’t think I’ve ever say thank goodness for maths homework.

I’m sorry you didn’t get some good news, but you MUST remember, unfortunately, the drugs need time. I know you’ve been waiting and waiting, but the cyclosporine was only started not long ago and also the thyroxine. All of those help, but need a bit of time. I found that until I was giving the thyroxine without food, it wasn’t really doing anything.

A PCV of 18 is not life threatening. What does Sunny normally eat? Try and keep it low fat high protein as much as possible to help her tummy. Sheena has just finished a glossary item on pancreatitis
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/pancreatitis/

Lots of love Vally & Bingo

[maura]

Hi Vally,
Sunny loves grilled chicken and her S/D food . She was eating a lot of c/d in the past few years due to her bladder stones that came when she was 3. Also she was obsessed with cheese-any time we were eating any kid she would BEG and maybe I’d give her a smidgen. She also from time to time would get that brand ceasar -the grilled chicken kind.
She will be on a low fat diet from now on.
I know 18 is a number not low enough for transfusion but it was at 25.
She just had a bm and seems less uncomfortable. Dr said to add canned pumpkin to help.
She will need her atopica tonight on an empty stomach.
Love,
Maura and sunny

[Vally]

Maura, just make sure it’s canned pumpkin (contains pumpkin only), not the pie pumpkin? I think that contains other stuff. Pumpkin is great stuff as it’s a good filler for the dogs who need to watch their weight, but also very good for constipation and diarrhea. It also has lots of vitamins and low carb.

Also remember that after a transfusion, the body thinks it’s got enough blood, so it slows it’s production naturally. It’s not unusual for a drop in blood after a transfusion.

Love Vally & Bingo

[Tamara]

Hi Maura, I’m so sorry Sunny had such a big dip, that is so difficult and so disappointing. Ashki was in the teens for almost 10 weeks after diagnosis with just a few times in the 20s. He did ok — he was definitely low energy and not feeling great, but he did ok. It just took him such a long time to respond to the drugs. And even now, as you know, I’m still having scares. This disease is a monster, and it really is a marathon. I wish it wasn’t — we all wish our dogs would just recover overnight.

I’m so glad she is feeling better after her bm, constipation can be very uncomfortable. I’m sure the pumpkin will help.

Sending you and your family and sweet Sunshine love and hugs —
tamara and ashki xoxox

[admin]

Hi Maura

No wonder she was unhappy – constipation is horrible & can be pretty painful. I’m sure the pumpkin will help a lot.

Patrice has added some great information & a picture onto the pancreatitis article on our site here – have another look. Your vet can also get a Spec cPL test done if they are worried about her pancreas:
https://www.idexx.com/pdf/en_us/smallanimal/reference-laboratories/spec-cpl-client-brochure.pdf

Keep being positive & patient – the lower fat diet will really help her too. We are all with you – let us know how she’s doing today (I hope you are all getting some sleep at the time of writing this!)

Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[maura]

To Everyone,
How many transfusions did each of you get for your pups? I am facing the prospect of a 3rd one and I am not giving up hope but the last one was so traumatic. Sunny’s appetite and spunk are vvery low. she seems sad. I hand fed her her favorite home cooked chicken (boneless skinless).
Love,
Maura and Sunny

[admin]

Glad to hear she is eating her favourite food! We ended up having 8 or 9 transfusions for Honey; as you probably know, she lost the battle in the end (DIC), but I have also heard of other IAHA dogs who have had many more transfusions and finally begun to regenerate red blood cells. Sometimes we found she responded really well, but other times, she seemed to react quite badly to the transfusion. Try to make sure the blood they use is as fresh as possible.

Keep fighting, Sunny and Maura: we are behind you every step of the way

Lynda
xx

[admin]

Oh Maura – I am so sorry you are going through this with your precious, beautiful Sunny. Each time I open your post and see her little face – it makes me smile. I know this is so taxing on you.

One of the best (among the multitudes!) pieces of advice I got from this forum in Sadie’s early days after diagnosis of AIHA (it was then, another forum, but same folks), was to try, as hard as it might be, to be positive around Sadie. I had not thought of that. And it was hard to do, but I did. I swear our fur children pick up on the slightest angst, just as our human children do.

And Jill, 13 is a hard enough age. This is tough on her, her own love for Sunny, coupled with seeing her mother that she loves dearly too, deal daily with Sunny. Bottom line, we adults have to be the strong ones, right?! For the human children and the fur children. Being an adult really stinks sometimes doesn’t it?! Trust me, I know about the dilemma of dealing with children and their delicate hearts – we have SEVEN between us! What is that saying I saw everywhere in England, “Stay calm and carry on?” Easier said than done, but soon, when Sunny is well, you’ll be the one giving this advice here and you’ll know then that you did it. Because you can.

I am thinking of you, Sunny and your beautiful family (hubby too, glad he was able to be with you at the vets), with love, Linda (and Sadie)