Help! 5 yr old golden with ITP

jeanniemk

blood makes me nervous since a major GI hemorrhage is what rushed me to the emergency hospital with him when this all started

A tiny bit of fresh blood isn't tooo bad but if he starts pooping all blood then it's VERY serious.  Try getting creative with the foods you give....if he doesn't like boiled eggs try scrambled eggs, roast beef, steak, liver, beef heart, mashed veggies, etc.  Maybe put the food on a plate and sit at the table to make it look like it's for you...then spoon some to him.

jeanniemk

Where can I get a sucralfate? Also worried things are closed today

Yeah, things may be closed today.  Perhaps call around to see if somehting might be open....drug store?.  If you can find a health store you could pick up some slippery elm to use.  Here's a recipe for the slippery elm cocktail...

Slippery Elm Cocktail:

Combine and store in airtight container in the fridge.  Get a couple of those baby medicine syringes and give a full one twice a day about 1/2 hr (if possible) before eating.  Just put the tip of the syringe behind the canine tooth and squirt gently so they can swallow.   
1 -- half a cup of boiling water.

2 -- add 1 rounded tsp. of ground slippery elm

3 -- let cool totally

4 -- add 1/8 c. + 2 tablespoons of aloe juice

5 -- add 10 drops of liquid chlorophyll

6 -- Add 2-3 capsules (open the caps) of acidolpholus

jeanniemk

He just went outside and looked so nauseous

Johnny&Tessy

Have them take blood from the jugular next visit.  This usually yeilds higher platelet counts.

It is true the results are a bit more accurate.  BUT, I strongly caution against having anyone who is not an extremely experienced tech or the vet himself/herself do this.  This is not something just any tech should be attempting.  I

In fact, it worries me so much I'd probably say not to even go there.

 Willow always enjoyed licking the first or second stage meat baby foods right from the jars.  You could even dunk a milkbone in it!

willowchow

Johnny&Tessy

Have them take blood from the jugular next visit.  This usually yeilds higher platelet counts.

It is true the results are a bit more accurate.  BUT, I strongly caution against having anyone who is not an extremely experienced tech or the vet himself/herself do this.  This is not something just any tech should be attempting.  In fact, it worries me so much I'd probably say not to even go there.

jeanniemk

Where can I get a sucralfate?

Your vet can prescribe that -- also called "carafate".  The difference between Tagamet and Prilosec and Zantac is how long they last in the body -- Tagamet is the shortest duration -- you may need to give that more frequently.

If I recall correctly, your dog **does** have issues with red blood being destroyed as well, right?  I can't quite remember.

Nausea is not uncommon as a response to some of these meds but GENERALLY that will eventually subside.  So please don't give up because of something that is likely temporary!  He may be sick today, and it may take him some weeks to get back to feeling really well, but please don't just give up on him.

You mentioned above about not wanting to "put him through another transfusion" -- DON'T feel that way!!  Transfusions make them feel **almost instantly** better!!  A lot of what can make them lethargic and even queasy IS the low blood (both the red blood cells and the low platelets can do that), and a transfusion can make them feel SO much better! 

In the early days of IMHA my Billy had SIX transfusions.  It took his body over a month to fully kick in to respond to the immune-suppressors but every time he'd get blood he'd feel GREAT!  So please don't think a transfusion is something horrible for him - it's not!!  They put a catheter in to hook the blood up to and it's very comfortable for him.  So please don't think that's something awful -- it's not!  But with a second transfusion the vet will need to type & cross match the blood if more blood from that same donor isn't available. 

Feel free to holler if I can help.

jeanniemk

He's been back on his full dose of meds and then some for a couple days now and is still not right.

It will still take *days* for him being on the higher dose for it to be back to full immuno-suppression.   Pred acts quick in the body -- but cyclo does *not*.   

A couple of days would *not* make an instant difference with cyclo.  And you just started the azathiaprene, right?  That too takes a week or two (at least) to kick in).