CIMDA

Glad to hear she's doing well
Unfortunately my pip isn't responding too good and has been being sick alot and overall gastro side effects but already on 2 forms of stomach protections. He's back today to check if these side effects have improved.
But I discussed the future with the vet yesterday and he doesn't seem to be responding how we want to the steriods and cyclosporine as his pcv isn't going up to the levels we need. So I'm preparing myself for the huge decision to let him go if we see no improvement by next week. As he hasn't got a great quality of life at the minute with all this medication and because he's not increasing like we want, there is no way we can reduce is doeses yet!
He was 7.5 when he was taken in and the highest we got to was 21 then it dropped to 15. It has gone back up to 18 but still not to the levels we need
It's the hardest thing I'll have to do but I don't want to keep him going to go round in circles and get nowhere.

One more thing!!!!

I'm concerned also as his results throughout have shown kidney damage/disease and all this medication could effect his kidneys

After vets discussion with someone they suggested adding another medication but the less aggressive on Cyclosporine. One a day 1.1ml oral.
He's back tomorrow to check pcv again!
They said however this medication can take a few weeks to start showing results
I'm now worries the medications won't have time to start taking effect that another transfusion will be needed and then if we do that we still don't know if the medication is going to work!
One of the reasons the vet wanted to take some advice was that he was concerned we could be stopping production all together, I think that's why they chose the less aggressive one.
I obviously want to do anything we can but also don't want to put him through all this to get no where. Also I have pet insurance and I'm covered for up to 8k per condition and we are already over 4k and concerned this treatment is going to be such a long procedure that I'm going to run out of cover and I would struggle with vet costs such as these!
Pip has actually been quite perky this last week even when his result was 15.
He is getting terrible with licking everything and has a cough to. He also pooped in the house today which is very unusual for him and he's having very large amounts of poo and very soft!

Hi justvan update following vets visit to check pcv today and unfortunately it's dropped to 15 so not good! Vet wants to speak with the specialist before introducing another medication as concerned it could make some things worse and total stop production. He also has a kidney disease which can be made worse with medication he takes but catch 22 as he needs this medication to try and improve.
He is still perky but scared he's just going to drop and think if he has another transfusion he will just be back in same position next week

He is on antibiotic at the minute which run out in a couple of days and new vet said no need to continue them. The vet who has seen him before has gone in holiday.
I'm concerned how much exercise activity to allow him as don't want him to over do it.

Thank you
They have also said there is a kidney disease but not sure if that would effect all this and going to speak with vet again to question if he should be having any other treatment for the kidneys.
Can you advise if I should still be careful with his activities and keep him on the lead on walks. We're going to visit family tomorrow who live near beach and he loves to go and swim too but don't want him doing too much and is the sea water ok for him. He also has a heart murmur which has been more noticeable since all this

Had some test results back and vet has said it's either bone marrow has stopped producing the red blood cells or autoimmune but probably never know which but luckily the treatment is the same for both.
So his pcv was still at 21 yesterday and said to carry on with 50mg prednisone a day and said it could take a number of weeks forbthe bone marrow to respond and start to produce them again and hopefully if that happens we then reduce dose and so on.
I'm just so unsure with what to expect! What if it doesn't increase or drops even!! What life expectancy to expect

Yes he's on something to protect his stomach plus antibiotics.
What's the prognosis and life expectancy in such cases ?

Thank you I'll have a look at the info
What happens if his pcv doesn't increase and drops if they decrease the steroids

Hi our 11 year old springer spaniel was taken in on Friday following really bad anemia and his pcv was only 7.5%
He had a blood transfusion and bone marrow biopsy which the results should be back tomorrow. On Saturdays night we thought we were going to have to say goodnight as even with the high dose of steroids his pcv was dropping still after going up to 24 after the transfusion. We gave him a few more hours and at 9pm he seem to stabilise at 22. He came home last night on a huge does of steroids at 25mg twice a day. He's currently maintaining round 21 but not increasing as they hoped.
He's back at the vet tomorrow to check pcv again and hopefully have results back from bone marrow biopsy to pinpoint the cause
They think possible bone marrow cancer or still chance it's a auto immune disease.
Not sure how long he can continue on such a high dose of steroids and if his pcv could start to increase as nothing so far, just helping maintain it
Any advise would be great ?