Next chapter - Billy's home

The boy seems ok this morning.  Good night there is a TON of medicine and it doesn't help that the one big steroid is not one pill but three (two 100's and a 50) AND those are some of those pills that are "separately sealed" in triple sealed blister packs so I can't prepare them ahead of time like I can the rest.  but at least I got stuff sorted into those little snap-lidded daily/weekly pill compartments so I don't have to mess with eight bottles all at the same time.  And I got the Cyclosporin separated into 250 mg batches in daily ziplock bags.
 
Sandra, ALL he's taking is incredibly horribly awfully hard on the stomach.  The only thing Billy's got going for him is that he's truly a little piggie.  He eats even tho he doesn't feel terrific -- so the presence of food HELPS protect the stomach.
 
I'm also doing 'more' than they told me to -- I'm giving him slippery elm in with his food AND in between (plus the Pepcid and the Sucrylfate they have him on).  I know it's benign and it won't hurt and it WILL help to protect the stomach and intestinal tract.
 
I don't know how to survive trying to dish all that out morning and night from individual bottles.  Picture this -- 3 dogs all wanting FED and then all wanting the treat of the ricotta cheese that comes with Billy's pills.  The third bottle you open, somebuddy jumps on you and they all go flying!! *gulp* nope --my nerves can't handle it *grin*.
 
But I knew I had to reduce my OWN stress level so I wasn't all wigged out trying to do this.  I'm always convinced that when most folks have trouble giving pills a good share of it is that the owner/guardian is nervous about the enormity of the task so of course the dog is.
 
The one that remains the "big nasty" is taking his temp.  but like I promised, I'm learning and I discovered last night you can't just put KY on the thermometer - you gotta put some on the "entrance" too -- phew Mom GETTA CLUE!!!
 
You also need to put Luna OUT first (there are just things NOSEY sisters do not need to be involved in!!!).  And I've decided this is a three Newman's own task!  He gets one for coming to me and jumping up on the futon  despite knowing that I've got the thermometer and KY **there** (no way am I gonna whip that out like it's a secret -- t'ain't fair for that one to be a surprise/gotcha!!).
 
So he gets the treat just for being a darned good sport.  Then dab on the stuff, shove the thermometer end into the KY tube (thanks to those folks for making the little hole in the top big enough to accept the thermometer!!! *grin*) and then I park a treat just so it's reachable (and break it in pieces) so he eats that while I 'do the deed'.    THEN the third treat is thermometer out, jump down RAH IT'S OVER.
 
I don't mean to be too graphic -- but if *I* am totally daunted by this whole "deal" then I'd hate to think of an inexperienced guardian trying to deal with this.  So if I tell you guys how I'm doing it, JUST MAYBE someone lurking will remember it if they ever have to do anything similar.  IF Billy'n I have to go thru this, then somebuddy might as well benefit!!  Sheesh!!
 
His temp is holding steady and his respiration is much more to my liking this morning.  Last night he was doing a bit of fast/heavy breathing which I think was just because he was exhausted and over-done from the journey home (we were side by side with a BAD 3 truck accident just before we got home and it was a miracle we weren't involved).
 
I did take him to get his blood drawn this morning and it'd down some.  From 30 it's down to 26 this morning.  That's not a good sign, but it's not dire if it will hold there.  I actually saw the vet this morning (not Billy's regular vet but someone he's seen before and he's a friend of my vet's.).  Dr. Susla explained that when they give them a transfusion it's expected that the blood will fall after a few days BECAUSE the red blood cells themselves die.  Not from the body 'killing" them (that would happen fast) but just because red blood cells only live a few days and the body has to make more. 
 
But Billy's "solids" value is 6.4 today which is almost exactly what it was yesterday -- THAT means the body is producing new cells. 
 
However, this drop also means we gotta take him to the emergency vet tomorrow to have a blood draw done.  (THAT one won't be $12 *sigh*).  But if it's another sharp drop then I'll have to take him somewhere on Monday to be transfused again.  I just hope it doesn't mean a trip to Gainesville.  *sigh*. 
 
I'm not discouraged -- that value scared me to death but I understand what the vet says.
 
Billy also has a urinary tract infection -- but we can't give him anything for it because of the dicey nature of the immune system.  So he told me to give him both some cranberry and tomato juice.  I mixed cranberry with his slippery elm and yogurt this afternoon and I'll put tomato juice in his dinner (he's gonna LOVE that one -- Billy's decided food IS medicinal anyway and thinks this is all GREAT!!). 
 
so day by day -- but so far, not too bad

Last week a lady on dogster PMed me and said she had read Hunter's story, and that she had lost her JRT just a couple of months ago to AIHA and had found this one forum where everyone has either lost a dog to it, has a dog fighting it, or has a dog in remission.  I went there and found a couple of posts that kinda scared me.  First, one in Calf. said her vet told her he is now seeing 3-4 cases a week of it.  THAT is a LOT of cases.  Another reported that her vet told her he is also seeing a lot more cases.
 
When I had Buck in for his physical three weeks ago, my vet told me he had lost a golden to it two weeks before and he is seeing more of it.  He also said he belives a lot of it is vaccine connected, dogs are being over vaxed.  He has gone to the 3 year schedule and we are trying to get our town to go to 3 years rabies (states says three years, but county and city say every year.  City overrides county, county overrides city.
 
Have you ever hear of the Meisha story?  She went into remission and stayed for several years, like about 7 or 8 I am thinking.  Her owner set up a fund with the Morris Animal Foundation  and all donations go ONLY for research on causes and cures for AIHA.  I dontate about 2-3 times a year.
 
I guess Hunter was a picky eater.  I had not problem getting him to eat his dog food, but he just took his good sweet time--eat, go play, eat, got play.  He didn't like most dog treats except the ones I made and he would not eat things like popcorn, chips, candy, etc that got dropped on the floor.  would sniff it and walk away.  But he did eat the boiled chicken I took him three times a day while in ICU...except for  that last day.  He woldn't eat anything, he was so sick.  Had just got started on the cyclosporine the night before. 
 
You take care of yourself.  You don't need to get sick also, Billy needs you. 

Yeah, we battled Billy's "bulge" for the first year and a half he was here and then when the low thyroid was diagnosed he slimmed right down without me having to STARVE him. 
 
I'm feeding him a wee bit less AT mealtimes but I'm keeping a wee bit of food coming VERY often to help counter the effects of the steroids and keep the gut protected.  The fact that he's a little piglet, Heaven help him, is a GOOD thing right now.  He's one of those dogs who has the mindset "If I eat I'll FEEL better".  Not all do -- and never in my life have I been so glad of a piggie pup before LOL.
 
I wound up calling the University because drop in his blood.  And I talked to my own vet too.  Interesting thing I learned -- when you transfuse blood like that it *does* die!!!  Apparently red blood cells only have a lifetime of like 2-4 days -- so what he was transfused with Tuesday nite is gonna die!  The big deal is that his body has to keep making them faster than the immune system can destroy them.  But they actually *expected* this to happen.  I sure wish they would have told me!
 
I kinda thot that the steroids would *immediately* make the immune system 'stop' destroying blood cells but that's not the case -- that builds as the steroid use goes on.  So she said she'd be happy if Billy even stayed "in the 20's" for a few days and they're really not wanting to transfuse him again (because a sudden influx of blood can "turn on" the bad immune reaction again). 
 
So I was looking for it to stay at 30 and keep rising.  And that's apparently not 'reality' .... I keep learning as I go on with this.  They say it's really significant that the "solids" in the blood are holding and that his temp isn't spiking high.
 
Like I said before -- I'm sure some people are tired of the specifics I'm giving, BUT like you say Sandra, this stuff IS on the rise and if I can help someone else be prepared for IMHA maybe more dogs will survive it.  And now Billy says it IS time for Rockin Raspberry again!!!

I was at the AIHA group and one who just lost her dog (in England) was talking to her vet who is doing a study and a report on AIHA and the vet said the day Nel died, a doxie came in with AIHA.  They got the PCV (isn't that the same as HCT) up to 41 and holding, but the owners have decided they don't want to deal with it and asked the vet to put their doxie to sleep.  Can you believe that!  I would have given my right arm to have had Hunter's HCT go above 20 and to stay there and to be able to still have him, and these people don't want to deal with it.   Wonder what they would do it it had been a child?  But not everyone loves their dogs the way we here do.
 
 

I am glad Billy is home, I just read your other thread today from beginning to end and I am so glad for the both of you.  Here is sending you some good vibes.

My guess, Sandra, is it was more than a little monetary and convenience.  Cyclosporin is incredibly expensive -- and knowing you have to take the dog to the vet periodically to have blood drawn and give it medicine daily -- some people just can't handle it.  I'm consistently amazed at the number of people who just can't mentally handle giving a dog a pill. 
 
Now I'm with you -- the day Billy's blood breaks 40 I'm gonna have a BIG party!!! 
 
And heck -- just call your local welfare department and ask how many kids currently need foster homes.  You'll find people aren't much more concerned about kids than they are a dog.  Some people just don't have room in their hearts for anything but themselves.
 
(Oooh, Callie VENT for the day!!!)
 
Olinda, thank you also for your kind thoughts!!

I've been following your posts about Billy also, and I just want to give you and Billy my best wishes. I really hope he is ok.

Yeah Billy! Glad you are home and doing so well.  We are keeping our fingers and paws crossed up here that things continue to improve. 
 
Yesterday I spent the day at Petsmart helping a local rescue group with adoptions.  They have graciously allowed me to bring my basset foster up there for viewing even though its a private foster situation.  Thank God for rescues that don't limit themselves to just their program dogs!  Anyway - the point is - I met Buffy, a buff senior cocker looking for a home.  She and I had a long discussion and belly rub session and I told her all about you Billy!  She looked at me for a long time and I believe she was telling me you are going to get better while I was telling her she would find a great home that loved seniors!  So now you have even more people and dogs pulling for you than you did when you were visiting Gainsville!!!!!
 
Take care of each other and prayers are continued for all of you.
 
 

My Hunter, that I lost to AIHA almost 3 years ago also is rooting for Billy.  If you had known my Hunter and his gentle, loving way towards people and the other dogs when they were not normal (knee surgeries for his littermate sister, heartworms for adopted Honey) you know without a doubt how much this eternally 4 year 2 month old golden would be rooting for Billy, cheering him on.

Billy really is a special dog. He is taking all of this so very well. You are doing a wonderful job and I know Billy loves you for it even though you have to do the thermometer thing.. [:'(] 
 
I'm very glad to read that he is doing so much better! Keep up the good work!

I can't say enough what a great "try-er" he is.  He is trying SO hard.  Trying to pull the blood every day is tough -- on him and me -- it went down again today, but somehow the vets DID expect that.  His spirits are up, he's still eating like a little piggy and he went to the office with me today (so I could make up some of what I missed Friday) and was as good as gold. 
 
It was funny -- this is a ONE time thing.  And when we got upstairs I told him "Every morning when I tell you I'm "going to work" -- THIS is where I come!"
 
He sniffed around and it was hysterical -- you could just see the mental gears turning "dang ... this smells like HER ALL OVER!!!" and I said again "Yep, this is WORK for Mom, Billy." he looked up at me with full comprehension - he has made that mental leap that now that word has 'meaning' other than "she's gonna be gone all day". 
 
But *grin* after the afternoon I know his honest opinion was "B-O-R-I-N-G-G-G-G-G-G-G!!!!"  Just an office and all he had to 'do' was lay there while I typed.  LOL

Ahhh...I think that's pretty special that Billie got to see where mommy goes everyday when she leaves.  As you said, I'm sure he thought "well this is pretty darn boring" .  Probably wonders why you wouldn't just want to stay home with him - and wouldn't we all love that????  I'm glad to hear that Billie's hanging in there and hoping the blood count doesn't continue to drop in the next few days.  You've told him we worry, right?  []

The blood did drop more (not a ton but 2 more points) Sunday.  He and I are going to get it pulled now and then if it's acceptable I will bring him back here for the day.  If it's not, off to Gainesville we'll go again. 
 
If the blood's 'ok' then I suspect the meds are beginning to take a huge toll on the tummy -- he's still eating but there's beginning to be some reluctance to take the meds.  I may have to further separate the meds from food -- because he can NOT stop eating on me.

Still in my thoughts.  You hang on for your mom, Billy.
 
 

Again I started a new thread -- this changes SO darned much.  But I had to take him back up to Gainesville -- and of course Billy thinks he's on a new 'adventure'.  I've never seen a dog with such a good attitude.