Hitting a rough spot
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| What you are describing is auto immune hemolytic anemia, or AIHA.
I'm so sorry you are going through this, I don't have any advice to offer as it seems you are already doing everything medically. I would suggest speaking with your vet about pain medications for arthtritis as well as a food that may help her digestion system. There are many members with senior oes who will post soon I'm sure, hopefully they will have something else to offer. |
| Thank you Willowsprite. We discussed arthritis meds with the vet this morning, but due to the prednisone, they discouraged them. I will call about pain meds so thank you for that advice. ET is my first dog so this is especially difficult. She has been an incredible companion and wonderful friend and we just really wish there were more we could do for her now. |
| Hi,
Been there, sorry you are going through it. I remember our vet gave us something that started with a C for the stomach and it made a major improvement to his stomach comfort. When I remember it I will send it to you. Three other things that really seemed to help overall was for his liver levels because of the prednisone and they were Milk Thistle, fish or Salmon oil and Easter C. They can't hurt and are worth a try as well. We gave him these with mostly yogurt. These things cut the raising liver levels (whatever they are) by almost 75%. Best of luck! Zach |
| Hi again,
I am no Vet or Doc but in my heart I know that a lot of this crap our pets are coming up with has to do with the food, medication and treatment we give our pets. Stacey has placed Dr Dobbs recommendations in the Medical area and I believe that this new protocal is critical to the health and well being of our pets. It can't help much now with what you are going through but hopefully it will help you many others in the future. Please take time to read this. http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=7607 Zach |
| Dr Dodds - sorry |
| Thanks for the link Zach, great information especially as ET isn't our only furry family member. |
| Hi again,
Here is what my vet tried when we had similiar problems. Our boy was on steroids for 6 years straight. I am not saying to just give these items to your girl. I'm giving this info so you can discuss these items with your vet to see what he/she thinks. These drugs did help us alot. Cimetidine starting at 100 MGs twice a day and raising to 400 mgs twice a day for several days then returning to 100Mgs twice a day until the problem was resolved. In addition, Sucralfate was perscribed along with it giving him 1 gram but I can't remember if it was once or twice a day or for how long. These items were given along side the Salman Oil, Ester C and Milk Thistle. Check out this stuff with your vet. I hope this info helps!!! Zach |
| I have no experience with this, but I just wanted to welcome you to the forum. I'm sorry it has to be under such difficult circumstances.
I hope you'll find some information here that will be helpful to your boy. I know you'll find support here and that it is of immeasureable worth.  |
| Welcome! E.T. is such a cute name that I'm sure goes along with a very cute Sheepie.
We had good luck going the holistic approach in conjunction with regular vet care. Accupressure in particular helped with mobility. And glucosamine and chondroitin as well as nosodes. There were other things as well, I just don't remember particulars. Amazing what you can block out of your mind. But if you're open to a holistic approach they can advise you. Usually the vets know of who in town has that additional practice. Good luck on helping her. |
| I know nothing of this disorder, but wish you lots of luck! I hope you can find something to help E.T.
And Welcome!  |
| With the Imuran as well as the bleeding problems be careful to run everything you give him by your vet, especially the over the counter stuff. As far as pain from arthritis, the prednisone does wonders ( much people with severe arthritis or auti-immune diseases ), but if ET acts in pain ask for a pain med. To me anyone with arthritis LOOKS in pain, go by acts or expression. With the Imuran class drugs, tylenol or NSAID type drugs can cause liver failure. Most pain meds are combined with one of these, but there are drugs that can be used safely. Aspirin is a blood thinner as are many herbals and will worsen your blood disorder. Best wishes to you both.........Kathy |
| I wish I was aware of different holistic approaches when we were dealing with our boy. Rimedyl started his auto-immune desease and no one believed it at the time. I surely would have tried all of them. He spiked a 106 temp after a few months of use and they used prednisone to reduce it even thou they specically state not to mix the two. His temp went down but his rear right leg and back end became so badly swollen that he developed nerve damage in his back and leg as well as alergies. The mix took six years to finally kill him but it did.
His mother who had just turned nine at the time and who was also given Rimedyl for spin spurs developed a strong auto-immune reaction around the same time and was surgically expored specifically against our wishes at Georgia University Vet School, for cancer. She died 4 days later from a blood clot. Meg'n was our 1st OES and the direct relaion to all 7 we have now except 1. Zach |
Quote: We had good luck going the holistic approach in conjunction with regular vet care. Acupressure in particular helped with mobility. And glucosamine and chondroitin as well as nosodes. LVSL, I had tremendous results treating Ollie’s arthritis with holistic measures. He went down hill when I no longer had access to natural treatment and had to resort to Rimidyl. Quote: I am no Vet or Doc but in my heart I know that a lot of this crap our pets are coming up with has to do with the food, medication and treatment we give our pets.
Zach, I agree with you completely! After researching causes of Ollie’s fatal illness, I immediately changed both of my dogs to a high quality holistic food and have begun looking for a vet that will administer vaccinations according to the new guidelines. |
| Thank you everyone! ET, short for Eternity, had a much better night, no accidents and she was bouncing around and barking when I got home, happy to see me and hungry, whew!
Part of the problem seems to stem from the fact that her regular prescription food wasn't available last week, gotta love the holidays, and they gave us a different version, potato and duck as opposed to potato and venison, which was just too rich for her. We picked up her regular food last night and the vet upped her flagyll for the next few days and she seems to be doing oh so much better! Believe me, there won't be any changes in diet again any time soon!!!
I've read through some of the other posts and noticed that the hearing loss we've seen is not that unusual. The biggest problem with that is waking her up to use the bathroom in the morning. She doesn't hear us when we call and if we walk over and touch her it scares the bejesus out of her, not good. Anyhow, all in all, today looks much better. We know we'll have more bad days, and they keep coming closer together, but we're taking all the good ones we can. Nancy |
| Hi Nancy,
My previous OES Shaggy, had immune deficiency throbocytopenia which sounds like something your Eternity has or what Willowsprite stated above..kinda the same thing. I've written about this many times before as I was never a follower of holistic diets myself but changed my opinion after I saw the results in Shaggy. Shaggy was nearing the end of her life (she was 8 at the time) and very sick. Her platlete count was very low and she had numerous transfusions, was also on chemo, steroids and a host of other pills. Realizing I had nothing to lose and questioning the quality of her life I went to the library and read everything I could about natural immune boosters. Returning to the vets she said what transpired in Shaggy was a miracle and to keep doing what I was doing. That was making a daily amount of chicken broth, pieces of chicken, organ meat, and lots of beta carotene veggies as well as three natural immune booster vitamins. Shaggy's platlete count had gone from a low 13 (near death) to 185 which is a dogs regular count I believe. I would no way recommend you try this with your dog but always believe knowledge is power and the more you know about the disease the better equiped you are to know how to fight it. I was lucky and had Shaggy with me for another 6 1/2 years until she passed at 15 1/2. She would occasionally be on antibiotics but not long term as they not only kill the bad bacteria but the good as well. So kinda a vicious circle. Yogurt helps overcome this a bit. I'd think I'd try taking ET to a holistic vet perhaps and seeing if something can be done that method. Can't hurt and in my case it didn't hurt. I didn't have one in my area but asked a friends opinion whom was knowlegable about these things AFTER I had read up about them first , so I'd know what questions to ask. Some claim that beta carotene veggies help cancer patients as they are immune boosters and I did see the difference for myself. Sweet Potatoes, yams, spinach went into the broth. I should mention that Shaggy was taken off all traditional medicines, with the exeption of Medacam for arthritis (this is after Glucosamine was no longer effective) and remained on the holistic diet for the rest of her life. I wish you and Eternity the best of luck. My boys are sending sloppy sheepie kisses her way. Marianne and the boys |
| I'm so sorry you are faced with such a difficult time.
Have you asked your Vet about Glucosamine for the arthritis? I have a Sr. Sheepie (he is 11 as well) with stomach problems, we have had very good luck with Purina One Sensative Systems. It is a salmon food. |
| Great info Marianne,
Thanks for the info. Zach |
Quote: The biggest problem with that is waking her up to use the bathroom in the morning. She doesn't hear us when we call and if we walk over and touch her it scares the bejesus out of her, not good.
I'm sorry I can't offer any advice on ET's health challenges but as for hearing loss, you might try approaching her with heavy foot steps so she can feel the vibrations in the floor. You might also find more ideas at http://www.deafdogs.org or check with your local library for a wonderful book called "Living With a Deaf Dog" by Susan Cope-Becker. Good luck to you. Jaci |
| Thank you Jaci. ET's doing much better this week, but we definitely need the information on hearing loss. God love her and all her challenges, but she remains the sweetest most loving animal. She spent the weekend chasing the children and running around like crazy. Amazing how they bounce back time after time. |
| Nancy,
It is great to hear that ET is doing better. |
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