holly

[christina]

Hi there
Its christina and holly.
Remember i posted last year holly got immune mediated disease and was very ill,vet thought suspected lyme/ meningitis may have caused it
Well she survived but had to have regular flagyl for colitis
And still low dose steroid
Now she got kennel cough 4 weeks ago
Got over it
But now,her temoerature 103.5
Doubling steroid to 5 mg ( had lowered a month ago to 2.5)
Back on flagyl
Im very worried shes fevery lethargic whiney just unwell
Vet said if she doesnt improve soon need take bloods
Im worried she got lyme disease afecting her
As could have been that before
Vet said kennel cough could have afected her immune mediated disease
Shes,been through so much already
Is curled up not herself
Cx

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Christina

I'm sorry Holly  is not well.  I do think your vet should take bloods.  Yes Kennel cough could have triggered her AI disease.  If your vet think it is a relapse then putting her back on immunosuppressive doses of steroids should do the trick.

Good luck.

Jo

[christina]

I know,vet said bring her back in a week or sooner if really ill
Well shes realy burning up again!:-(
Would they put her on 37.5 mg immediately or would they work up to it?
Is it common several months later for dog to relapse?
Im.so worried about her
Thanks jo
:-( x

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

If she has a temperature you ought to take her back to the vets.  Yes unfortunately it's quite common for dogs to relapse several months after they come off the medication..

[christina]

Thanks penel
Yes i took holly back yesterday morning
Really not well in the night
Vet took bloods but not same as last year when red,white bloods ,platelets went low
This,time red cells up a bit
And another thing related to white cells up a bit
Sorry i was upset,it a phone call n i stupidly didnt write it down
So they not overly concerned re bloods
Keeping her on 5 mg pred
She had never been off pred but was weaned to 2.5 mg
Now,keep on 5 mg
Giving flagyl and ronaxin antibiotics too
See how she copes
I think it her auto immunity as the fever,sore abdomen,lethargy the same
Vet reluctant to up steroid to immunosuppressant dose unless last resort
Another thing i am concerned about
Could the use af amoxycillan cause her system to get ill if she allergic?
Last year before she got this
She had amoxycillan for hormone season caused infections
Now,she had amoxycillan for kennel cough
Im wary completely of it
Or is,it more likely that the infections triggered the auto immune disease

[christina]

Another thing is obviously she has never had a season since being on pred
But she,was reduced to 2.5 mg only for 5 weeks
Almost immediately she caught kennel cough
She has been given the all clear now for that
But now she coughs a diferent cough since getting ill like this,now and again
Well im wondering if the lower dose pred was too little
And possibly her hormones were coming back,
Kicking in auto immune disease?
Well taking it a day at a time
But shes,not happy at all :-(
Have apointment for thurs
When would you suggest her bloods be done again?
I reminded vet that when she first got ill the first blood test was healthy even though she was sick
But 5 days or a week later her blood cells dangerously low
And she was critical
Poor holly she was doing so well
X

[christina]

You know,
Holly even managed at christmas time to go n holiday with me to a friends in the outer hebrides
Im thinking now how wonderful it was every day taking her to a different beach and being a springer she squealed with excitement ,so happy,eyes shining,had a big football,air let down a bit so she could carry it in her mouth and she had a wonderful time dancing around,fascinated by the highland cattle and the sheep!!
Last year i never thought shed get such an experience but she did
Im thinking of these times now as shes unwell again,but she pulled through before x

[Indiana]

So sorry to hear about your Holly, and hope you get her back on track soon. My boy just diagnosed with SLE developed a cough as one of his symptoms, which turned out to be pleuritis. Don't know if that could be the case with your girl's cough or not. I am totally inexperienced with all of this, but picked up on your mention of the cough. Hope she starts to feel better soon. Have you thought of getting her referred to a specialist?

[Jo CIMDA]

Thanks penel
Yes i took holly back yesterday morning
Really not well in the night
Vet took bloods but not same as last year when red,white bloods ,platelets went low
This,time red cells up a bit
And another thing related to white cells up a bit
Sorry i was upset,it a phone call n i stupidly didnt write it down
So they not overly concerned re bloods
Keeping her on 5 mg pred
She had never been off pred but was weaned to 2.5 mg
Now,keep on 5 mg
Giving flagyl and ronaxin antibiotics too
See how she copes
I think it her auto immunity as the fever,sore abdomen,lethargy the same
Vet reluctant to up steroid to immunosuppressant dose unless last resort
Another thing i am concerned about
Could the use af amoxycillan cause her system to get ill if she allergic?
Last year before she got this
She had amoxycillan for hormone season caused infections
Now,she had amoxycillan for kennel cough
Im wary completely of it
Or is,it more likely that the infections triggered the auto immune disease

Hi Christina

Personally I think it is more likely to be the bacterial infection that triggers AI disease.  Amoxycillin is a very useful antibiotic and I wouldn't want you not to used it in future if it is necessary.   

If this is a relapse then the steroids will have to be raised to 1mg/kg/12hrs and weaned down as per the protocol.  If Holly continues to be poorly, especially if her temperature is very high,  please don't leave it too long before you talk to your vet again about using an immunosuppressive dose of steroids.  I can understand the reluctance to put her back on high doses of steroids but if she need it then you must.  It is the only way to bring her back into remission.  When she is in remission and off steroids or on a very low every other day dose, she will probably come into season again.

I hope she feels better soon.

Jo

[christina]

Thank you indiana
She doesnt cough too often just now and again
I dont have the money for a specialist im afraid
Its really hard when your dog is ill isnt it !
X

[christina]

Jo
I do believe its her auto immune disease
Vet say wont put up steroids unless a sign.re bloods that her cells afected
But
With her history how long would you leave it until upping the pred?
You wouldnt wait for a sign with the bloods?
Can it be common at start of relapse that the bloods not afected yet?
Shes worse at night like before
Tum burning up like before :-(
But bloods not show it..yet
I think the vet believes holly can never be off the pred
As even 2.5 mg was too low every day
Poor girl x

[christina]

We dont realy want her in season again jo
As that was what happened before she got ill
And she had urinary infection,vaginal infection
Season for a month
Then false pregnancy
Then 6 weeks later collapsed with immune breakdown
Thats why i was wondering if at the 2.5 mg dose of pred if her body was becoming hormonal
wondered if that caused this again
But more lukely to be the kennel.cough triggering it isnt it :-(x

[christina]

Indiana how is,your boy doing ?x

[Indiana]

Hi Christina
So sorry to hear your problems with Holly, it is such a worry.  My boy  has just started his first reduction of the prednisolone. Has responded well so far, though of course it is very early days. I am so lucky my boy was insured, so I asked for a referral before it was diagnosed when he had quickly become very ill,  because I honestly don't think my vets would have had a clue. In fairness though, I understand SLE is very hard to pin down and they don't see it very often, just sorry that we happen to be one of them...
Good luck again, especially with getting your vet to take action before she gets any worse.   

[christina]

Hi indiana
Lovely name!
Very glad your boy responding well so far,yes its hugely stressful!
I feel ill when holly is really unwell,breaks my heart.
You know what its like! Being their mama you want to make everything ok and you cant wave a magic wand,its awful
But we do do our best!
Glad you are insured!
Best wishes to your boy
Christina x