holly

[christina]

Hi
Went to vet n she cleaned the wound out n gave me...
Manuka honey gel to speed healing!:-)X

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

  excellent!!!

[christina]

Hi
Wel im very happy to say to everyone that holly is doing well!;-)
Shes not 100% but is brighter n enjoying herself more!
Im very delighted to still have her in my life as shes just such a wonderful girl!:-)
The flagyl has been.helping the colitis thouth I am.concerned the vet is stopping it soon after three weeks
concerned as she still has mucus in her poo
And worried re it deteriating again,but on a diet for sensitive tum,n probiotic so will see how she goes
Holly still on doxycycline antibiotic incase it was lyme disease
On antepsin anti sickness med twice a day
And unfortunately still on high dose pred 37.5 mg split into two doses twice a day
We were hoping ro reduce pred n I see that should realy be on high for 28 days max
She was on 30 mg for ten days
And has been on 37.5mg since the 19 th July
Vet said cannot reduce pred yet as red blood cells 5.2
They should be 5.5
But have gone up from 4.3 so improving
So I have keep on high dose another two weeks n then get tested
Bit concerned with her being on steroids so high so long!
What does everyone think?
Platelets normal
White blood cells normal
Moving right direction but just want do right thing for my girl!
Thanks for listening
C n h x

[gschellinger]

So good to hear that Holly is improving. I wish I had the answer about the high dose of pred. Jo or Penel will let you know on that. I would be concerned about the length of time she has been on it too.  Have you tried slippery elm for her GI tract troubles? It is very good for firming up poop and ridding it of mucus. Of course you would want to check with your vet on that I suppose, and start slowly. But I have not had trouble using it for my dog at all. She also has a very sensitive GI.

[christina]

Thanks gail for being pleased to here about my girl
Iasked vet about slippery elm and physillium husk shed never heard of any of them!!
She told me not to give holly anything else as could interfere with absorbtion of meds
I read internet that this could happen so im wary of doing so
But I also believe she could have immine mediated inflamatory bowel as she in pain the moment she collapsed so concerned stoping meds as she was in bad pain until she went on them
And I find that intolerable
Do use probiotic
Organic yogurt
Mix camomile tea and oatbran in her dinner couple times a day to ease digestion,relax her,cleanse liver as on steroid n antibiotic
Thanks ,glad s elm helps your dog x

[gschellinger]

It's hard to make changes when you have a dog getting well, who was at deaths door before. Your Holly sounds so much better. That is what is important. I hope the trend continues for her and she can be a happy healthy dog. You are doing so well taking care of her. I know what it is like to be so connected to a sick dog. Every little improvement is so important! It's almost like it is you, yourself getting better  At least that is how I feel, when Lola feels better for a while.

Best wishes for continued improvement for Holly!

gail.

[christina]

Thanks gail
Yes I couldnot be happy at all if she isnt
Love so v much
Lola nice name,how is she doing?
Best wishes
C n h x

[Angela]

Hi Christina,
Can you get the last red blood count results from your vet; it will be listed as hct - haematocrit or pcv - packed cell volumn.  If Holly has been on pred since the beginning of July she really needs a reduction & it is not always necessary for a dog to be completely within range before reducing the meds; just on the way.

Hugs

[christina]

Thanks Angela
Vet said red blood cells should be 5.5
But are 5.2
But cant reduce till 5.5
Does this mean anything?
Up from 4.3
Which is good
But vet wont reduce until 5.5
Platelets ,white blood cells normal
X

[Angela]

Hi Christina,

The normal ranges for RBC (red blood cell count) are 5.5 - 8.5 here & most likely where you are based on your vets comment.  As she is just under the normal range you may find that reducing the pred may actually help Holly & her results; she has been on a high dose for to long I feel.

Reference range from: http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/caninebloodwork.htm
There should be a group file with explanations somewhere to

Hugs from Oz

[christina]

Thanks angela!:-)
Yes I agree however I do not know how much to reduce it by!
And will be doing it and not letting vet know if vet doesnt reduce soon but by how much I wonder what is a safe reduction.
Shes been high 37.5 mg since 19 th July
Shes 16 kg
X

[christina]

I already had to reduce to two doses a day without vet consent as vet didnt agree two doses
My lord if id left her with one dose shed stil be shaking for hours every day!!!
Vet good in other ways but maybe not much experiences im this,dont know x

[christina]

Hi there.
Have just reduced hollys dose a tiny bit from 37.5 mg to 33.5 mg
Was thinking 4 mg and leave it a week blood test next Thursday see what vet thinks then.
Fingers crossed her anaemia at 5.2 is up to 5.5 and vet will work with me to reduce pred.
As not happy her being high so long.
Hardly reduced as erring on side of caution but its a start in right direction.x

[christina]

Hi there again
Looking at mj protocal and think 4 mg not enough to reduce
Also as Jo n penel said before unsure why holly at 16 kg on 37.5 mg a day
When.mj protocal say 32mg
So thinking of reducing to 31mg starting tmoro
Reductions of 6.5 mg and see how her bloods are on 6 days time
Because yes the vet would continue keep high cos anaemia but at what cost?
Does this sound like a reasonable plan?
She does seem.very sleepy today
How do they react when meds reduced?
Another problem.im a bit concerned with is,that I was planning on taking her off flagyl bowel meds tmoro and wonder if to much alongside cutting pred
Vet wanted to cut bowel med a week ago but I feel she needs it
So stopping it6 days before go back vet to see how she goes
Maybe I should only cut pred by 4 my after all when takin of bowel meds,this week
Unsure x

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi christine

The steroids would normally be reduced at a minimum rate of 25% and each reduction 10-21 days apart.  Holly has been on a high dose for long enough and the M. J Day protocol is an excellent guide. Reducing the dose at the right time is a very important aspect of successful immunosuppressive treatment.

It is so difficult for the owner when the vet won't lower the drug at the right time.  It is very common though.

Jo