Forum Replies Created
Hi JLS & Gidget (great name by the way!)
Couldn’t agree more about going more SLOWLY with the pred reduction – Linda has had a very hard time with poor Sadie’s relapse & she is trying to tell everyone so it doesn’t happen to their dog. Linda, Vally & Laurie have given you some fantastic advice.
I am glad they have added the azathioprine in, although the preferred drug is cyclosporine for most vets. Aza takes a week to 10 days to to get the T-lymphocytes (the things that are responsible for destroying the body’s own blood cells in error) under control, so stay as you are for a while until the azathioprine has a chance to work.
I’m really pleased you’ve found us – we can certainly look at the blood tests if you would like to upload them on the urgent advice link. I see our lovely Vally has put all the links on for you.
My dog Worzel responded really well on aza with no side effects – luckily – you need to keep an eye for for pancreatitis symptoms though as some dogs (usually the smaller ones) don’t tolerate it sometimes. The symptoms are extreme tummy ache, vomiting & diarrhoea – in which case stop the aza immediately & go back to the vet. If this happens, it’s no big deal, but it needs to be treated & then you’d just change to cyclosporine instead. You can read about aza here:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/azathioprine/
and pancreatitis here:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/pancreatitis/
I’d like to re-iterate about the tummy protection – sucralfate is wonderful – the best in my opinion. Gidget needs this to prevent ulceration – very important. It is also important to check if there is any clotting risk – if they have done a blood smear (I hope they have), I can tell you straight away. I know standard poodles often have low platelet problems with IMHA too – we can look at the blood tests for you with pleasure.
Worzel also became skin & bone, even though we fed him a huge amount of food compared to his usual meals! He could pee for France as well – they are so thirsty with the pred & need to drink loads to stay hydrated. That is just the way it is with this disease & we all have to get through this stage as well as we can – it will pass & Gidget will gradually regain muscle, I promise. I was amazed how quickly Worzel looked more normal when we reduced the pred. But you cannot reduce the pred until they have been stable for a while – too risky. Please trust us on this – the last thing we want is for any of our babies to suffer a relapse as it prolongs the treatment greatly.
Don’t ever feel alone – one of us is usually around as we a world wide. If you are worried about anything or have any questions, don’t hesitate to put a message on here.
I know I have repeated some of the things the others have said – I just wanted to re-iterate how important these things are. There are many ups & downs for all of us with this disease!
All my best wishes & a big hug to you both
Sheena, Worzel (diagnosed Dec 2012, in remission) & his friend Ollie xxxxx
Hi Pam
Poor Emily and poor you. This is a horrible situation for you both. Did Emily eat or have any water immediately after the pred? I’m wondering if it may have become stuck in her oesophagus if not, which is quite common in cats, and whether this could have caused the foamy vomiting. When Molly was very sick and having 3x5mg pred tablets, I gave a ml or so of water from a syringe after each pill, to help it go down.
This site is about cats with CRF but there is some excellent information about various cat issues which I find very useful. Here is a page about pilling and alternatives:
http://www.felinecrf.org/medicating_your_cat.htm
I agree with Vally and Sheena about seeing a vet you trust, but I know this is not easy at the moment. I am very much hoping the infectious disease results will be in soon and give you some idea about what to do next. Exploratory surgery doesn’t sit well with me for the time being. It feels like the most invasive of all the options and is a lot for Emily to go through.
The site above also mentions transdermal preparations and I think you might be right that this could be a good option. I know there are issues with absorption, but you and Emily can’t keep going through this battle every day. Apparently there are also flavoured gel caps for cats, but I appreciate your concern that Emily’s stomach may be irritated, and I think that’s very possible. Molly also did not have stomach protection and if I could go back in time, that’s something I would change. She never had the voracious appetite so often associated with prednisolone, and I wonder if this is why. Are you able to ask if she can have something? I know on the anemia list people were talking about sucralfate, which is apparently excellent.
Hoping that you and Emily have had a better night.
Mary and Mable x
Hi Pam
I can see you are at your wits end – dealing with Emily’s fear & her hiding under the bed must be so hard & I have no experience with cats like this – I’m so sorry, Pam – I wish I could suggest something miraculous. Poor little girl must be really freaked out with all this. I presume you can’t even get her out from under the bed very easily? I do think the transdermal pred is a good idea in the circumstances and – yes- it could be her GI tract is irritated with the drugs – pred tablets should be given with food to minimise the damaging effects, but even so, it can cause ulceration.
I agree with Vally – go to the vet you trust & tell them exactly how you feel – you need help here. I prefer a vet with gut instinct who looks at symptoms & assesses the best course of action, as well as lab results – action is the operative word! I am also not enamoured with your specialists as they don’t seem to have any plan apart from “exploratory surgery” or much idea about IMHA – well, being honest, we know they are in fact sadly lacking on knowledge, putting it politely.
In my opinion, surgery is not an option at this point, could be harmful, as well as pointless, as Emily’s neutrophils are low & her bloods are not in normal range – I would consider taking a leap of faith & start higher dose pred & chlorambucil as if it were definitely IMHA (or lymphoma – so what’s to lose?) if I were in your position, but I’m not a vet of course. Remember many of the drugs we use for IMHA are in fact chemotherapy & anti-rejection drugs – they have many uses. Then if she shows any signs of infection – and you need to watch her like a hawk as this is when it might rear it’s head – immediately get her started on high dose antibiotics (doxycycline preferred) for a few WEEKS.
You must be frustrated beyond belief – stuck in limbo for weeks with no-one helping you & Emily. I think someone has to make a decision here, otherwise this will drag on & on.
Love Sheena xxxxx
Hi Laurie & Audrey
Glad you found us & that things are going well on the PCV front. I agree with Brigitte & Vally that she is suffering from pred side effects & that dose is a bit high -some vets use a high dose to start with, but it should be reduced after the initial crisis & a decent PCV. I like Brigitte’s idea of going down to 60mg for a few weeks, see how she goes & then you can reduce further if all is well.
Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx
Hi Marla
So LOVELY to hear from you & glad all is well – I bet Dewey enjoyed his birthday treats!
Are you changing from cyclosporine for cost reasons? I can completely understand that, but prefer you continue with the cyclosporine if you possibly can as he is responding so well to it without problems. Imuran (azathioprine) has more side effects & smaller dogs don’t always tolerate it very well – it can also increase the risk of pancreatitis, so you need to be vigilant for diarrhoea/vomiting. If this happens, stop it immediately & go to the vets. So all I’m saying is that if it were me, I would continue with the cyclosporine at the “normal” dose (not the high dose he was on).
Worzel responded very well, without problems, to imuran but he’s a bigger chap, so it’s not that I don’t think it will work. It’s just not the number one choice.
Speak soon & take good care of yourself & sweet Dewey
Loads of love
Sheena & the boys xxxxx
![bingo-14-5_1200x775](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/bingo-14-5_1200x775.jpg "Vally\'s Bingo \\"Smile\\"")
![Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4](https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/wp-content/gallery/aiha-dogs_2/Brigitte_Cleo_Ripley_Enzo_4.jpg "Brigitte\'s Cleo, Ripley, Enzo and Guest \\"Rockin\\"")
