Willow's platelets are low!

Good news Lori!!  Prayers are working.

Although she needs the preds once her auto-immune is under control I hope they continue to treat the Lyme, In my heart I think the bottom line and culprit is Lyme disease.  As a suffer of Lyme I can say it is one horrible diseases if not treated properly. Lyme is called the great mimicker because it symptoms mimic so many things especially Arthritis.

Keeping my finger crossed for good news tomorrow.

calliecritturs

(and Megan will tell you this happened with Pirate as well even as young as he is)

Yep - I had *no idea* why he was so stiff/sore until we spent $300 on x-rays to rule out an infection in his spinal chord and then they told me it was just a side-effect of the pred :/

I'm glad Willow's doing better and that you've got a diagnosis :)

About vaccines - I probably won't vax Pirate (except rabies) ever again either. He'll be titered for sure, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

luvmyswissy

In my heart I think the bottom line and culprit is Lyme disease. 

You could be right but both her regular vet and the one I took her too Tuesday night for the second opinion felt that if it was Lyme she would of responded with better numbers on just the Doxy and also that Lyme isn't one of the tick diseases that usually cause low platelets.  They tested her for all the other tick diseases, some of which can effect the platelets and she was negative.

Thanks everyone for all your posts!

luvmyswissy

she needs the preds once her auto-immune is under control I hope they continue to treat the Lyme,

Humm, this just made me wonder.  She never told me to stop the Doxy.  Now, I'm thinking of calling her and double checking. 

you are 100% correct in avoiding vaccines from here on out.  if the AIHA had not killd my Hunter, he would have never gotten another vaccine.  I think most, if not all, on the AIHA group I belong to do nt /will not ever give vaccines again.

GOOD NEWS!!! She's up to 98,000!!!!  Still low but no longer at risk for bleeding!!!

Yay - that is great news and reason to celebrate!!

 Way to go Willow!!!!!!!!!!!!! (doing happy dance). That's awesome news!!

Good for Willow!!

When it comes time to have to do titers -- let me tell you that you CAN get a waiver on rabies with your state.  My vet did it for Billy.  (His titer was sky high by the way)

Thanks guys. So, she's got to stay on the Prednisone and the Doxy and she'll be rechecked for platelet count in two weeks. 

She's hesitant to say go ahead and add anything that she hasn't eaten or had before as far as supplements because the last thing she needs is a bowel flare up right now.  She's not opposed to it later on though, when she's been stable for a bit.

I determined she's not even getting rabies next year--no way.  It's a little scary because she could bite but we'll just have to be super careful. 

I wouldn't want to tip the scales by trying to add anything new in either. Even if it didn't cause a problem, if something changed, you wouldn't know if that was the culprit or not. Better safe than sorry for right now.

That is so awesome Lori!  {{{{{{{{{Way to go Willow}}}}}}}}}}

but *when* they are on pred a long time like that, the pred messes with the consistency of the cartilage between the joints.  Now with a dog like Willow (and Billy) who already HAVE arthritis, this is difficult.  But Megan even saw it in Pirate.

Sometimes this forum really rocks.  Thank you so much for reminding us of that Callie!  I am on oral steroids every so often for asthma, and this is so totally true.  I hate going on that stuff and then I hate going off.  I never thought of trying to prevent it. 

She's eating all her meals, leaving nothing in the bowl for me to put away and bring out next time.  I've read about this in books but I've never actually had it happen. . .

Way to go Willow!!!

willowchow

GOOD NEWS!!! She's up to 98,000!!!!  Still low but no longer at risk for bleeding!!!

Things are looking up!  YAY Willow!