CIMDA

Hi Penel,

I have lost your email addie...can you email me at luvbeardies@hotmail.com

Thanks, Joanne

Just a short note tonight...I am so tired.  We saw Matt yesterday and again today.  They took blood and the labs today tell us that the platelets have come up into the acceptable range.  The reticulocytes...oh, my spelling...have also come up!  In fact, heartily!  However, the RBC's have not changed yet but we are expecting them to improve.  I kept Aria on 20 mg a day of pred. until Tuesday when I saw Matt and though I voiced an opinion to go up to 40 mg but he thought that was a huge amount and so we settled on 30 a day in three tens.  We have increased her Immune tabs to two daily and also her Chinese herbs.  She had acupuncture today and will return to him on Monday for labs and another acupuncture.
I am reminded about how caring this vet is.  I know he is worried about the effects of the pred on this girl.  He knows that CeeCee, Aria's aunt, had two ACL surgeries as a result of the huge amounts of pred.  Her dosage was high and for a long time.  He asked me twice about any side effects I saw in AR.  We also discussed the possibility of keeping her on a small continuing amount of pred for life as this episode is a relapse for her.  That decision will be made later.
I am hoping that we will have Aria back to her normal soon as we leave for the UK on June 24th.  We will be in Scotland with Colm's breeders for a few days, then to Cumbria for Woolfest, and then to the York coast for a few days.  A fast trip...  Jo, will you be around?  Penel?  Anyone else?

Jo,

I was thinking the dose is too low, too.  I am horrible with dosages though...  Can you tell me the pred dose for a 40ish pound dog?  I need it in the America version...sorry.  Also, how long on it? 

I don't feel that she is responding the way I would like to see her do.

Oh, my gosh!  Don't worry.  She is on prednisone 10 mg twice a day for three days.  Then 10 mg once a day for up to 10 days.  I will get her on the Pepcid too.  Had forgotten about that as it's been so long since we've had to use the pred. 

Actually, AR's gums look much better this morning...much more pink.

It's her PCV that I was talking about, at 29.  This is much lower than she has shown recently and I want to see that coming up.  Matt does, too.

I am very positive about her response.

Thanks for the input.

it's been some time and Aria has done well with her AIHA and Polyarthritis.  She's been in remission for quite awhile but this week I noticed a very slight limp in the left rear and difficulty getting up and down.  I don't mess around with this girl so I examined her carefully and found a pale belly and lips that looked pale as well.  Marty took her into Matt yesterday as I was out of town and he thought there was some arthritis.  She's 10 now.  However, the blood work came back this morning and the RBC's were down to 29 with platelets a bit low.  Her T4 thyroid was .7 and it has been steady at 1 until now.  Matt and I agreed that she was going into AIHA and Poly. again.  He has started her on pred at 10 twice a day for three days and then down to 10 once a day for ten more days.  Does that sound right?  I am watching her closely and will get her in if I think she is failing.  Blood tests to follow in 10 days.

It is a merry-go-round with these dogs.  I am disappointed as we had done so well for so long.  But at least we caught it before she crashed with very low numbers.

She is also on a ton of herbs, supplements, and those have been good, but are probably not enough on their own.

Hoping everyone else has dogs who are prospering.

Hi Gail,

We are certainly thinking of you in all this cold!  We are at 20ishF in Oregon and we're cold.  Real wuzzzes.

I so hope this new boy works out for you.  You deserve him...and he deserves you.

Best, Joanne

Thanks, Jo!  There is so much to learn in this AI disease business and it was important to me that we have as much knowledge as possible to defeat our dogs' diseases.  Yes, good vets, good care, lots of love, extensive financial sources, and certainly this forum's input helped me with Cee's issues and later, Aria's.  We were fortunate.  So many owners work just as hard and lose their babies...it tears me apart to hear about it.  No one who has not lived with a dog who has these problems can ever know how devastating they can be, not only for the dog but for those assisting the dog to survive.  It makes me want even more to defeat these diseases, but it cannot happen unless we own these diseases and stop breeding them.  That would certainly be a beginning. 

I am very off topic here.  Please excuse me for that.  Sometimes my heart leads, and my brain kicks in later.  It is still painful to think about what our special dogs and people suffer and my wish is that in our lifetime we would not see that misery anymore.  Here's to a future without AI disease in our dogs.

So sorry to hear about your girl.  You did absolutely the right thing in getting her treatment that is appropriate.  Our beardie, CeeCee, experienced the same disease, plus several others, and fortunately our local vet got us to the specialist immediately.  Cee was diagnosed at 3 yrs old, survived her diseases, and is now 13 and a half and doing well for an old lady beardie. 

What drugs is your girl on?  How often are you blood testing?  It is important to do that often so you know if the levels are coming up or not.  Defeating this disease takes time, sometimes months and months.  It is not an easy one, but they can survive. 

Ask questions...there are many here who know this disease and can help guide you.  This forum was a life saver for me when Cee was in crisis.

I'd like to weigh in on this topic as my CeeCee who has lots of AI diseases including Evans Syndrome and Polyarthritis occurring at different times in her life.  She seemed to get sick after stress related situations.  For instance, we had a six week project adding onto the house and she came down with the Evans after that.  Once we got her well we limited ANYTHING that seemed stressful to her.  She had daily routines, everything expected and nothing unexpected.  You will probably laugh but I wanted her to get out so we would pack her into the van and drive to a coffee kiosk every morning.  There she was greeted by the barista and greeted him back before getting her dog cookie.  She loved it!  That happened for years!  I'm happy to say all the precautions worked for Cee...she's now 13 and a half and a very happy old lady beardie.

Hi Cynthia,

I have had a dog with AIHA named CeeCee, a bearded collie.  Jo's information is very helpful and I would add that it is important not to push exercise too much with a dog in this condition.  They need time to bring those RBC's up and it is important to maintain a quiet and calm atmosphere.  Too much moving around robs their system of the needed oxygen for the body to refuel.

Best of luck with your baby.

Also, great to see you at CIMDA, Sarah...you have been in this spot and you know how hard it is.

Joanne

Hello Cimda Friends,

I was lost but hopefully not forgotten!  We had to get a new computer and with it came Windows 8 and the loss of most of my contacts.  It's been a frustrating...and labor intense ... experience!

Just to let you know that CeeCee is still with me at 13 and a half now.  She has slowed a bit but is still trying to keep up with the other beardies.  She is seeing Matt every month or so for acupuncture and VOM treatments.  Last month she came up lame in the right rear leg after taking a bad fall and she had laser treatments for 5 days along with a bit more pred.  The good news was that the plate was not disturbed in the fall and she responded beautifully to the treatment.  In fact, I asked if they shared the laser with mere humans...could use it for my knee!

On the down side, we put our Rosie to rest on June 5th.  She was 15 and a half and the dog matriarch here.  It was hard, but she was ready and I could not let her lose the dignity that she has always had.  She was my character always and I miss her.

Aria and Dizzy continue at status quo...such a good thing!  Amazing how these guys battle their diseases and seem to win.

Hoping all of you are great.  I have missed you!

Thanks to all our friends here for their well wishes for CeeCee's birthday.  You are very important in our lives and though I don't check in as often as I used to, I hold the CIMDA folks in high regard.  After all, we have been through many health issues together.  It is a bond that is not taken lightly.  The best to each of you and your marvelous dogs.  Special people, special furballs.

Hi Nicole,

We have lots of experience with Evans Syndrome.  My CeeCee was diagnosed with it at age 3 and is surviving today at age 13.  Hang in there!  They are horrible diseases but they are beatable with the right meds, the right vets, and the power of knowledge about what you are fighting.  Be sure to read the info provided on this forum.  I am glad your vets did a transfusion right away...that buys time for the meds to begin their work.  Though Cee did not need a transfusion, she was on prednisone and still is from the very beginning.  We started with massive doses to jolt her system into not attacking itself.  That med was accompanied by Imuran (aza) in case the pred did not work.  Pred is faster acting.  I have a written story of Cee's struggles and all we did if you would want to read it.  Contact me at:  luvbeardies@hotmail.com
The other thing is that as Buddy feels better he will be more active.  That is always good to see but be careful not to let him overdo the activity.  He needs to save that energy and it takes a long while to get them back to "normal."
Wishing you both the best,

Dear Gail,

Tonight is the first I have read of your loss of Lola.  She has meant so much to so many of us.  You are always the wonderful model I have held up as I worked to treat my CeeCee.  Know that you have given so much to so many of us through your love and care of Lola.  My heart goes out to you.  Lola will always be with you in spirit...she is that special one, the Forever Dog.

With love and caring,

Joanne

Hello CIMDA Friends,

It has been a long time since I have checked in with you all, but I wanted to let the old-timers know that Cee reached the grand old age of 13 on March 1st.  After having Evan's Syndrome (AIHA and Thrombocytopenia) and AI Polyarthritis starting at age one, she has reached a mile post and is doing so well.  She spent her special day being groomed and bathed and going to the doggie specialty shop for a treat.  She also had her mile long daily walk.  After two ACL surguries, she still runs with my others, albeit a lot slower!  She still barks at every living thing and she loves life.  I can ask for no more than that.  We have been so lucky to have the right vets, the right treatments, and all of our CIMDA friends to keep us going through the darkest times.  I sooo love this dog!  I love her beauty, but most of all I love her brave outlook on life.

I have a current picture of her but have no idea how to put it on this forum.  Penel, help! 

With thanks to all!