Forum Replies Created
Hi Marla
Lovely to hear the news! He is doing great & I’m so pleased for you. I’ve not come across the smelly ears myself, but maybe someone else has. If the vet has checked them, that’s fine. Just keep an eye & take him in if anything looks irritated or inflamed.
Worzel always smelled sweet & “wheaty” – when he was on the pred he didn’t smell like that any more – then when we weaned him off, he started smelling sweet again, so maybe it is the meds? Don’t know. What’s a smelly ear between friends anyway! As long as Dewey is fine & his PCV is improving, that’s OK.
Love Sheena, Sweet Smelling Worzel & Stinky Breath Ollie
xxxxx
Hi Cindy
I am so relieved Abby is getting the help she needs. I know it’s horrible having to leave Abby at the vets, but it really is the best place for her & she will be feeling much better with some oxygen, fluids & a transfusion. I am thinking about you every moment. It is not unusual for the PCV to fall a little bit after transfusions, so do not worry if this happens. Transfusions are life savers & make our dogs feel more comfortable – sometimes they need more than one before things settle down.
Sending love, hugs & all the positive thoughts in the world for your little sweetheart.
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx
Hi Cindy
I am very concerned. Abby needs to be hospitalised right now in my opinion – she’s not coping well at this low PCV. I’m sorry to have to say this. I don’t like what’s happening with her breathing either. It is vital that she drinks plenty & she must have food with the azathioprine to prevent/lower pancreatitis risk. And she must have her medication, especially the cyclosporine. She is a very sick girl & needs 24hr care, I believe. I know you have confidence in your vets, so that is GOOD. They may need to rehydrate her with a drip & can investigate things fully to find out why her breathing is so poor – and give her some oxygen when necessary.
Let us know as soon as you can what’s happening. I’m so sorry Cindy – this is a horrible stage to have to go through, but I know you will keep fighting to get her back on track.
Much Love & hugs
Sheena xxxxx
Hi all & Cindy & Abby
Cindy e-mailed me to say Abby’s PCV has dropped to 14 – she took her in to the vets as Abby became very weak. The vets want to hold fire on a transfusion for now.
Cindy – can you get the vets to check out Abby’s chest because of the heavy breathing? An x-ray or ultrasound would confirm or deny if she has any fluid build up around her lungs. A diuretic will help if she has any fluid. The heavy breathing could be because she is so anaemic & is struggling to get oxygen around her system though. Oxygen therapy would help her in that case. The pred also makes them puff & pant.
I do feel a SMALL transfusion would help her, Cindy, if she’s struggling this badly. It must be heartbreaking seeing her so weak. Many of us have had to hold our dogs up for them to pee & poo when they were at their weakest point & a decision has to made to help them with a transfusion when this gets too bad. All dogs are different & some cope better at a low PCV than others. There is no hard & fast rule on numbers really. I reiterate that transfusions are wonderful things that help our dogs get through the really rough stages. If she drops any more, you need to do something for sure.
Did you manage to get any blood test results? If so, send them on & I’ll try to keep my cross eyes straight this time!!!!!
Thinking about you
Love Sheena & the boys xxxxx
Oh Pam, this is crazy for you. I’m so sorry. I did not consult Dr Holland – my specialist & local vets here in France treated Worzel for Ehrlichiosis because we all thought his symptoms pointed strongly to that – we only had one blood test & it was negative – but I was already pretty sure that was what he had from my own research. I like a vet who uses their instinct & gets on with treatment quickly. The specialist told me that 4 out of 5 blood tests for Ehrlichia come back negative in his experience, so we could not afford to mess around & we immediately started antibiotic treatment – 5 weeks of high dose doxycycline. All the symptoms disappeared of course & you already know his bone marrow started producing baby reds after about 10-14 days on the azathioprine. I believe azathioprine is toxic to cats, so that’s no good to you – the chlorambucil looks like the best alternative.
I think Patrice suggested Dr Holland as Dr Dodds has worked with her & she is an infectious disease expert – I think she has a good reputation & I would contact her & just ask her advice as to what to do next. PCR test requests are specific I believe, so you would need to ask which diseases to look for. If they all come back negative, you can then assume this is “idiopathic” i.e. we just don’t know what triggered it with today’s science. Mary has been keeping us updated of course, bless her. I expect she’s passed our ideas on to you.
I’m glad to hear Emily is coping without her spleen & the Mirtazapine is helping. I am taking a guess that any infection would get worse without a spleen – but that is based on human experience & I can’t be 100% sure of this. I am strongly of the opinion that you should start the chlorambucil – you have to try something as she can’t stay at a PCV of 22 – it’s worth doing, I think. How do you feel about pushing your vet to start it? I would if I were you.
I really feel for you Pam. So frustrating for you. We have a lot of “idiopathic” cases on here you know. The treatment is the same, regardless.
Love Sheena xxxxx
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