AIHA or IMHA

 I"m glad Leaves and Roots got that out quick -- the costs of this disease because of the medicine from the vets are huge.  But one of the things *for me* that was the toughest to deal with were the little "extras" to do that would "help" but which involved yet MORE trips to a new further-away store or something *MORE* or unplanned -- so hopefully that stuff will help ease the difficulty of the 'extras' (and you feel like it's those 'extras' that can make the difference sometimes).

Billy's coat turned several shades lighter all over -- and then DARKENED again after he got off the meds -- so part of that may be permanent, part of it might not be.  These meds DO age them -- and honestly, I"m not sure there is a specific list we can make **BUT** at the same time "coat changes" yes, probably is a big side-effect.  I can tell you *now* Billy's coat is lovely -- very soft (his coat got pretty hard for a while).  

 He also developed these asymetrical fat pads on his hips that worried my holistic vet HUGELY.  (all the vets really) They looked for all the world like huge tumors.  But nope -- just fatty tissue -- and they WENT AWAY months after he was off the meds.  Gradually ... yes, but Dr. D looked at him the other day and grinned -- those pads have finally TOTALLY gone away!! RAH!!!

GratefulDawg

Also.. after I wrote that last night about the vitamin E I figured it out that you cut the liquid gel cap open and squirt it on her nose!  

Lots of people do that for themselves and I never knew it.

Yeah -- you can just *** a gelcap with a pin (I think that's what I said but maybe that shorthand didn't make sense).  If you CUT it the oil all comes out but just using a needle or straight pin gives you *some* oil but not all -- then park it on a windowsill or in the butterkeeper in the fridge and you can use it several times.

When Willow was having the chapped lip issue I found the vitamin E stick at Whole Foods, it looks like a lipstick tube.  It was very easy to use.

 I'm not even sure how to ask this question.. I'll try to put it in the most sensitive terms possible.  Ever since we increased the Cyclosporine by 50mg per dose (may or may not have anything to do with it) - Cyclops has been having GAS.  I mean.. I'm not sure how to put it but its like a heavy bomb and it is very potent and fills the room.  Its been fairly constant too.  I've been using Liverwurst to give pills but it was happening with the Humus too. 

 She never had gas before she was sick and she never had gas until a couple weeks ago while she was sick.  Also when we walk and she goes.. you can literally smell it for 20 yards in all direction.  Now what in the world could cause this?  

 I hate to even bring it up but wow.. it has made my wife gag and choke. 

 Callie.. I got your package today.  I read Cyclops your letter and showed her the pictures you sent too.

I also showed her the medicines sent by Outdoorschik and yourself.  

I am so touched about getting what was left of Snickers' supplies.  I don't even know what to say.  

 You're all amazing with your support.

 RAH!! I'm glad you showed it to Snickers.  Billy LOVED getting his "mail".  He thot that was SOOOO Kewel!!!!

What could cause it?  Anything from the cyclosporine to the garlic that's in both hummus and liverwurst, to just a combination of all she's taking.  And trust me -- if YOU think it's bad, then you oughta be the dogs!!

I've told this story before -- back when Muffin the Intrepid was having his renal failure visits to the    specialist, one day I took him down to AVS and as I was  walking thru the grassy area between the parking lot and the door he was doing the typical cocker spaniel "nose to the ground" thing.   ALL OF A SUDDEN he *stopped* ... and literally backed up about 2 feet, and then he made a WIDE semi-circle around a pile of poop.  He stayed at LEAST three feet away from that pile and you would have thought he was drawing a circle around it as he gave it WIDE berth. 

EWWWW -- whatever that dog had Muffin wanted NO PART of it.  I'll never know if it's something he inately identified as dangerous ... or was it from the drugs the dog had been on or ?????????????????  But whatever it was it was absolutely HEINOUS and Muffin was going NOWHERE NEAR!!! Yuck-a-munga

Now I couldn't smell it -- not at all 

But if YOU are retched out of the room, imagine what poor Cloppy thinks.  

All antibiotics, etc. are always ultimately in the intestinal tract and anything can cause foul odor.

When Willow was taking Prednisone and the milk thistle and Denosyl and Marin she had really bad gas also.  It went away once everything was stopped. 

 Its really wierd she goes all day long with no problem but at night it really hits.  And the thing is that my other dog, Domingo is taking the same things except the milk thistle, the pepsid AC and the cyclosporine.  Same dog food, same treats (i have to give her the liverwurst too when i give cyclops some).  So it must be in the Milk Thistle, Cyclo or Pepsid. 

 You guys.. last night Cyclops went for a walk of 4/10 of a mile.  Its 2/10 from my house to the end of the street and we went to the end of the street and back.  She was ahead of me on the leash and pulled the entire time.  Her gums are the pinkest I've seen.  Her energy levels are higher than they've been.  I am trying to hold off until March 1st to get a CBC because everytime I complain about the price of the Cyclosporine to the doctor at OSU she says I could save so much money by just getting 1 CBC per month instead of 1 per week.  She's right.. But this is the first time I've felt ok not going ahead and getting one anyway.  I have a "feeling" that the count is going to be up next time.  

 I'm going to take some pics and post them so you can see how she's doing today.

Cyclops!  Yeah girl, keep pulling Dad around 'cause he loves it and we love hearing you are feeling so good!  Mike, I'm so happy to hear this and I am smiling like a fool right now over a dog I never met and probably never will.  LOL

 You don't have to do a full CBC to get a pack cell -- they shouldn't charge you more than $15 to just go in, have a tech pull a little blood and spin it.  Shouldn't need a 'vet visit' or anything.  Most any vet will do a pack cell if you ask them.

GratefulDawg

.. But this is the first time I've felt ok not going ahead and getting one anyway.  I have a "feeling" that the count is going to be up next time.  

 Awesome; keep it up Cyclops.

I'm glad she's feeling well and don't want to sound like a kill joy but I'd slow up on that walking even if she wants to go.  (just my experience)

willowchow

I'm glad she's feeling well and don't want to sound like a kill joy but I'd slow up on that walking even if she wants to go.  (just my experience)

I haven't read anywhere that IMHA can be re-triggered by exercise  - I can't take away something she gets sooo much pleasure from.  She just loves it and I have to think about her quality of life too.  If she is not getting any joy out of life then am I doing her any good?  Of course if something happens I'll probably think it was my fault for walking her - so don't get me wrong - I appreciate your cautionary advice.  Its one of those things where you'd have to be here and see her to know what I mean.  She already gets very upset when Domingo goes out to play frisbee and I won't let her do it because I don't want her jumping up and even trying to run after the thing.  Also these walks are at her pace.  Walk a little bit then stop and sniff and then stop and pee.. go on some more.. that type of thing.  Not like a power walk =)

I understand, believe me I do.  I didn't even believe Willow's diagnosis at first because she showed no symptoms at all.  We found her illness by accident. 

But, I do want to tell you that she is still on meds and if she is doing better that is AWESOME, don't get me wrong.  But, she still has a ways to go, she needs to be weaned off the meds, and hold her own.  You said "re-triggered".  She's not at "remission" yet. 

Again, I understand, because Willow wanted to do stuff too and I wanted to groom her and everything.