Thrombocytopenia

[Alison68]

Hi jo, just an update on bella. Had her blood done this week and the platelets are fine and liver enzymes are still has high has they have been but the vet said albumin is low which indicates the liver might not be functioning properly.  Bella now weights 10.8 kg her appetite is good so she hasn't lost weight due to not eating. She's been on antibiotics for three weeks because she's had blood in the urine for more than a month and she had a scan 4 weeks ago on the bladder to see what is going on. The vet said that there was a small area in the bladder that had some thickness and it could be due to recurring infections so bella was put on six weeks antibiotics and urine test after ton see if the bloods gone. So I don't know what willhappen next or how much longer bella will be here. At the moment bella is fine in her self and it's just a worry for me because I don't know if she'll deteriorate quickly or if she has months before it gets worse

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi Alison

Thank for the update. I'm so please Bella is fine in herself so I* hope she will go on for a long time yet.

  Perhaps you can have a chat with your vet about giving her something natural that might help her liver and urine infections.  Here are a few ideas.

Have you ever given her Milk thistle to help her liver?  It has helped lots of dogs that have been on immunosuppressive treatment. The dose is:
'250 - 500mg twice a day for dogs depending on size and severity of the condition' (The Veterinarians Guide to Natural Remedies for Dogs by Martin Zucker)

  Also if you haven't already tried it you could give her Cranberry extract to help with he urine infections. Look at Cranimals link:  http://www.caninenaturalcures.co.uk/cranimals.html

Homoeopathic Cantharis is really good for urine infections.  I have known so many dogs (and humans) it has helped. The homoeopathic pharmacy Ainsworths are really good at giving consultations over the telephone and it might be worth giving them a call.   

Ainsworths

www.ainsworths.com

36 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8UF · ~8.1 mi

020 7935 5330

Good luck with Bella.  She is a fighter for sure and I don't think she will give up easily.

Jo

[Alison68]

Thanks jo, bella's been on samylin for months for liver support.  It's the weight loss that I don't like she's lost 2kg over the past few months . So she's looking a bit skinny now.  Her hips are showing and some of the spine so it's just a worry because I don't want her loosing anymore weight. She has these odd days when she's restless at night . It was just the vet saying something about albumin being low and it was worrying me really. Thing is she's been off steroids for months now and her platelets have been ok and I didn't think she would ever come off the steroids.  So the maddening thing is the thrombocytopenia is no longer the issue and the liver is the problem now.

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi

Could Bella have a problem with her digestion?  Gastrointestinal disease can cause weight loss and a decrease in albumin.   Liver enzymes can be raised by unrelated liver problems.

Usually if a dog has primary liver disease, other liver enzymes such as ALT, ALP, AST, bile acids etc.,  are raised. and the ALT has to be significantly raised before any true liver concerns.  Can your vet look into other causes for low albumin?  Also, you may have a better picture if you get a copy of the blood results.

Jo

[Alison68]

Bella has a few acquired liver shunts, she was scanned last October and the specialist scanner saw the shunts . Her liver enzymes have been high for roughly a year now and the vet put it down to the Iiver shunts.

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi

I'm sorry, I had forgotten Bella has liver shunts. It is not something I know much about. I'm sure you have done your research.  Could adding Milk thistle alongside samylin have any benefit?  Can homoeopathy help?

Jo

[Alison68]

Hi jo,  bella had bloods done this week.  Platets fine but liver getting worse , the vet suggested trying lactose because it can help . She lost a bit more weight she's 10.6kg. Bella's been a little quiet since last week,  vet wants to see her on 25th to see how she's getting on and to check her weight

[Catherine]

Could you feed smaller, more frequent meals to see if that helps her weight?

Did you get her thyroid tested? Not all dogs with thyroid problems are overweight, indeed some are thin and also sometimes being Hypothyroid can give elevated liver readings.

Do you think the prolonged use of antibiotics could have added to any of the problems?

Has Bella seen/ or could see a specialist about her problems?

[Alison68]

The vet was on about the albumin and ammonia levels and it's indicates her liver is deteriorating.

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi
I'm sorry Bella isn't doing so well at the moment.  Has your vet considered surgery for her shunt?  Is it possible for you to take her to see a specialist to discuss the possibility of surgery and perhaps a full cure.

One of my dogs had hepatic encephalitis and I know how difficult it is to control the toxins with diet etc., The liver is an amazing organ and it can regenerate really well if the root of the problem is taken away, probably within 3 months.  If Bella is insured then it might be worth considering surgery because the prognosis is much better than leaving it to diet and pills in an attempt to control the problem. Medical and dietary management is not a long term solution unfortunately. If you do think surgery is a consideration then don't wait until the 25th, have a chat about a referral now.

I'm sure you have had a look on the internet but just in case you have missed these articles have a look at these links:

http://yorkierescue.com/livershunt/research2.html
http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/shunt/management.php
http://www.abbey-vetgroup.co.uk/Dogs_Liver_Conditions.html

Wishing Bella well
Jo

[Alison68]

Suzie told me back last year that surgery couldn't be done on acquired shunts and could only be done with congenital shunts. I have have read up online about aquired shunts.

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi

I'm sorry to hear that.  I suppose you just have to optimise Bella's condition.  You have obviously done your homework.  Have you found anything 'alternative' or natural that can help?

Jo

[Alison68]

Hi Jo , I haven't posted in a very long time, Bella is still here and she's been doing ok for the past year. She been having her blood's done every three months and each time they come back the vet says the liver is getting worse but Bella is fine in her self,  this week her blood's came back and the protein level is low and albumin was 21.8 and her glucose was low . Bella is still enjoying life and isn't ill at all considering the liver doesn't work properly. She has a check up in a month to weight her

[Jo CIMDA]

Hi

When you look back on Bella's history - my goodness,  she is doing well!    You (and your vet) must be doing things right for her to be enjoying life like this.

Despite the ongoing problems with her liver, she is quite remarkable.  The liver is a marvellous organ and it just goes to show that in some cases perseverance is worth it. This is encouraging for others who may have similar problems with their dogs.

Thanks for the update.

Jo

[Alison68]

Hi jo, bella's fine in herself and she's gained weight this month and last month. On her blood results it's been showing damage to some blood cells and the vet said they're ferasite's i don't know if i spelt it correctly. Anyway the vet said sometimes it due to anemia but bella's not anemic and she thought it was from the blood being squeezed trough the arteries. Bella been to have blood done today and the vet was telling me that she been doing an online course with British Royal veterinary about hematology and mentioned bella and her liver problems and about ferasite's in the blood and royal veterinary said its impossible for bella to have this in her blood for 4 months and not be anemic and asked if a pathologist seen bella's blood, suzie said that more than one person in the lab would be checking the results. So today suzie will be sending bella's blood to a different lab and see what comes back. I said bella's a medical mistery, she's 6 yrs old next month.