AIHA or IMHA

We were told and I have read that you have to be carefully giving sucrylfate around the same time as cyclosporin because of absorption issues.

GratefulDawg

But its interesting that you Callie think sucrylfate is better protecting than Pepcid AC. 

Not better, just different.  and that particular vet must have thot "better" to have moved Eli from Pepcid to Sucrylfate.  It is the typical drug doctors and vets reach for when there is something irritating the stomach -- Sucralfate has been around a LONG time, and the OTC drugs like Pepcid, Zantac and even Tagament have only been "OTC" for a few years actually. 

One of the places they lose dogs in this is during those times when the 'crit is still really low and they feel sick to their stomach and don't eat much.  THEN they can't take the meds ... which lowers the chance of survival enormously.  So I have to *wonder* if they start on sucrylfate to try to keep them eating (by protecting the stomach the best way they know).  No clue, that's just a "wonderment".

 

 Cerberusdog must be from the south because she says "cyclospoin" when I read it in my head it sounds like people who say "in" instead of "ing" at the end of words.

 But Cerberusdog is right, my med student told me the exact same thing.  Pepcid AC is good with Cyclosporine.  Sucralfate messes up the Cyclosporine.  He made sure to say that my home vet was right to give Sucralfate with the Prednisone because its fine with that one.

 Callie you confused me you said to Mike that they moved Eli to Sucralfate but they moved him from that to Pepcid AC.

OK so here is the great news, in a few hours we are going to pick Eli up and bring him home!  On monday we will get another blood test and fax the results in to CSU and they will be directing how to do the medications.  Woooooooooo!  

So we are going to spoil him all weekend and give him meat

 

 

That is good news! Eli will be so glad to see you!

 

ElisHope

 Callie you confused me you said to Mike that they moved Eli to Sucralfate but they moved him from that to Pepcid AC.

That what happens when you read posts from bottom to top (*not to mention being older than dirt??* LOL) -- My bad!!

ElisHope

So we are going to spoil him all weekend and give him meat

See if your folks can find a grocery store to sell you some beef heart -- HE WILL LOVE IT!!! (just cut in cubes and saute it -- should be cheap, easy and a GREAT source of iron -- but then you've read all 65 pages -- YOU KNEW THAT, right??? *grin*)

ElisHope

OK so here is the great news, in a few hours we are going to pick Eli up and bring him home! 

HEY ELI -- s'meeeeeeeeeeeee BILLY -- you're COMING HOME????  That ROCKS dude!!  Hey -- we gots ta make frends.  My bestest frend in the WHOLE world was a herder (named Foxy the MOstlie Sheltie) so I kinda miss it when nobuddy tracks my butt all thru the house!!!

Mom sez YOU gots a student too?? That's awesome -- mine's was Eric ... he was a GOOD guy.  When Mom wood send me emails and posts an faxes Eric wood sit next ta my crate and READ em 2 me.  It helped me get bedder!!

YOU are gonna get bedder Eli.  this posting stuff?  It HELPS.  Helps everbuddy. 

Nope ya don't unnerstand all the words -- but when U hear "ELI" -- it makes ya wag all over doesn't it???  Hearin yur name -- it's a GOOD thing.

Your Judah is a good one -- that is SO kewel that Judah knowed you wasn't feelin good cos you didn't play.  MY family knowed I wasn't feelin good cos I didn't wag my almost-not-there-tail fast. 

GET BEDDER, ELI!!!!!!!! whoooooooo hoooooooooo comin home is GOOD!!

Billy the Venturin English cocker

span YELL

Sorry I have been MIA! Here was Cooper's last CBC from last Thursday not yesterday. His PCV was 38.9. His RBC was 5.47 which has been his highest so far. His liver enzymes have lowered and that is the first time that's happened. The liver tox screen showed one level as normal and the other 3 are not there yet. We began lowering the Pred by 2.5mg now. So he takes 5mg in the morning and 2.5mg in the PM. In 2 more weeks we will get another CBC and if things look good still, we lower the Pred to 2.5 in the morning too! Things are looking really good here. Cooper is active, happy, and jumping on the couch still. Welcome Judah and Eli! I am so happy you have been such a great support for your dog! I know some of you asked about the aspirin. Cooper takes 5mg a day with his evening meal. It is a capsule that I get from a compound pharmacy. I pay $20 for 30 capsules. So that is a month's worth. I get it from Tiger Drug (thanks Mike) which is the same place I get Cooper's Cyclosporine.

Coopbay

Sorry I have been MIA! Here was Cooper's last CBC from last Thursday not yesterday. His PCV was 38.9. His RBC was 5.47 which has been his highest so far. His liver enzymes have lowered and that is the first time that's happened. The liver tox screen showed one level as normal and the other 3 are not there yet. We began lowering the Pred by 2.5mg now. So he takes 5mg in the morning and 2.5mg in the PM. In 2 more weeks we will get another CBC and if things look good still, we lower the Pred to 2.5 in the morning too! Things are looking really good here. Cooper is active, happy, and jumping on the couch still. Welcome Judah and Eli! I am so happy you have been such a great support for your dog! I know some of you asked about the aspirin. Cooper takes 5mg a day with his evening meal. It is a capsule that I get from a compound pharmacy. I pay $20 for 30 capsules. So that is a month's worth. I get it from Tiger Drug (thanks Mike) which is the same place I get Cooper's Cyclosporine.

 

Glad to hear the good news!!

Coopah, dahling, that's wonderful! And Eli's coming home, too. My Friday evening happiness level had dramatically increased :)

I'll come back and post more later.  Right now I want to thank Val, Cerber, Meg, Callie&Billy, Kate&Frisby and everyone for thinking of Eli.

Val, Eli is going to be on 10mg per day.

I wonder if liquid would be cheaper way to go.

His meds right now are 20mg Prednisolone twice a day (notice that its not Prednisone, I guess this version is better for the liver)

125mg Cyclosporine twice a day

10mg Famotidine (Pepcid AC) twice a day

His PCV today was 19.9, the vet said that it is holding steady.  3 different PCV's and all 3 in the 19's.  

Unless things go bad then we just keep him on this schedule until Monday and then do another PCV.  

He is not himself but he likes to eat and he doesn't look as sad as he did on Tuesday.  He is just camped out watching TV in the living room.

Thanks again everyone!

Callie I have the food under control, I've got a list so I don't forget the good foods and the milk thistle.  Our bill was 750 dollars.  Dad didn't seem to be too upset about it.  He likes Eli he just doesn't show it that much I don't think.  He is nicer to him when he doesn't think anyone is looking.  

Mike, you're the man - thats all I'm going to say about that!  Thanks for staying up and IM'ing with me on MSN last night.  I don't know why you don't have kids with your wife but you'd be a good dad.  

THANKS EVERYONE!!  Soooo Happy about Eli right now!

 Oh I hope I don't come off as self centered because I am glad to hear all the good news about Cooper and Frisby and all the other dogs too.  I know there are a lot more dogs here than just Eli.  I feel bad if I leave someone out, I hope everyone just knows we are all going through the same thing and I don't mean to be selfish with Eli.

 

ElisHope

Oh I hope I don't come off as self centered because I am glad to hear all the good news about Cooper and Frisby and all the other dogs too.  I know there are a lot more dogs here than just Eli.  I feel bad if I leave someone out, I hope everyone just knows we are all going through the same thing and I don't mean to be selfish with Eli.

You aren't being selfish -- that's part of what the "support" here is all about.  It goes up and down ... and we all know those hurdles and how hard we work sometimes just to get that pcv up a *little*.

It's been 3 years and I *still* hold my breath sometimes.  It helps so much having others who know what's going on.  And honestly?  I think part of it is that when you let us know how YOU feel, it lessens that load for someone else who feels scared too. 

There are a LOT of people who read this and never post.  Either they are shy, or on dial-up or a lot of things (maybe just don't feel that computer-comfortable) -- and they really get a lot of good out of this.    Trust me when I say we're enjoying your posts Judah!! 

 

We are so happy to read about Eli going home and Cooper doing so well!  Keep up the good work, doggie moms and dads!!!  These dogs are so very lucky to have all of you.

Lori

I am glad Eli's home with you! And, I know you must be glad to have him back. Frisby rested a lot when she first came home. She needed a lot of healing sleep.  And, I think she was exhausted by all that was going on around her in the hospital--a lot to watch, even when you feel crummy! Each day she seems to feel a bit better-she doesn't play with her toys yet (she lost her hearing so she can't hear them squeak anymore--that could be why!), but she follows me everywhere in the house now. She's even started watching for our neighbor's dog. That's her old self, for sure! 

I'll find the price I paid for the aspirin suspension--I think the hospital may have prepared it there, but I'm not positive. I have to refill this week, so I'll make sure I ask.

Do let us know how Eli does this weekend.

Coopbay

Sorry I have been MIA! Here was Cooper's last CBC from last Thursday not yesterday. His PCV was 38.9. His RBC was 5.47 which has been his highest so far. His liver enzymes have lowered and that is the first time that's happened. The liver tox screen showed one level as normal and the other 3 are not there yet. We began lowering the Pred by 2.5mg now. So he takes 5mg in the morning and 2.5mg in the PM. In 2 more weeks we will get another CBC and if things look good still, we lower the Pred to 2.5 in the morning too! Things are looking really good here. Cooper is active, happy, and jumping on the couch still. Welcome Judah and Eli! I am so happy you have been such a great support for your dog! I know some of you asked about the aspirin. Cooper takes 5mg a day with his evening meal. It is a capsule that I get from a compound pharmacy. I pay $20 for 30 capsules. So that is a month's worth. I get it from Tiger Drug (thanks Mike) which is the same place I get Cooper's Cyclosporine.

Way to go, Cooper!