AIHA or IMHA

I wonder if pumpkin would work the same as teh hummus?  I won't be out to town umtil mid next week so maybe I could try that.

What exactly is liverwurst....is it a raw meat or cooked?

It's a sausage made of liver, very finely ground with a soft consistency. 

Johnny&Tessy

What exactly is liverwurst....is it a raw meat or cooked?

liverwurst, braunschweiger, liver sausage = pretty much all the same thing

*smile* you're obviously not related to me (and I bet you aren't of germanic ancestry *chuckle*) because it was virtually a staple for me growing up in rural upstate NY.  I'm not laughing at you ... but it's one of those regional/ethnic things.  Like an Italian friend of mine who wouldn't eat pasta fazoli on a bet because she had too much of it growing up, or the kid from the South who either longs for grits and hard boiled eggs when he leaves home or who never wants to see it AGAIN in his life.

Typically when I think of a "sausage" I think of somethng you have to cook so I understand your confusion -- but this is already cooked and really is more the consistency of a pate (and I can't make the accent mark on that).  For human consumption you'd slice it and use it as sandwich meat (except it's soft & creamy - -not like sliced boiled ham for example)

Here's an interesting blurb I found on one online source --

"Is liverwurst (or more specifically, Braunschweiger) the poor man's pâté? I used to eat it as a kid, my wife and grandmother still love it. We regularly visit one of the area German meat markets to get all kinds of fantastic wursts." ...

"Liverwurst - The Poor Man's Pâté?
"There is surprisingly little information available on the web about liverwurst. Since it is a type of sausage, there is at least vicarious history online: Meat products and parts and other animal whatnottery (including organs and other things most packing-houses would throw away with disdain, or sell to southerners like me), ground into a paste with plenty of solid fat and hopefully some strong spices, have been stuffed into cleaned animal intestines and served as food probably for nearly as long as we’ve been cooking with fire. There’s truth behind the yarn, "law and sausage are the two things you don’t want to see being made."
"

Oscar Meyer is likely the most 'famous' brand in the States, with Kahn's running second (altho I prefer the Kahns for my own consumption *smile*) -- you'll find it in the deli meat section where you find the packaged deli meats.  Usually in a tube form -- the Kahn's is about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and probably 4-5" long, whereas the Oscar Meyer is probably only1 1/2" in diameter and probably 5" long.  You slice off little wheels of it and then cut those wheels in 1/4's or 1/8'ths. 

I generally keep the open package in a ziplock bag and keep the slices to either 1/4" or so, and throw away the plastic "skin" OR with the Oscar Meyer you can cut of a hunk as long as the pill and then make cuts across the diameter to make wedge pieces -- whatever works easy to push the pill in fast.   

There's enough fat in it to make it really slippery. 

For those of us reared on this stuff *smile* I think every individual has their own way "Mom used to make it" LOL -- if you're of Germanic stock you're likely reared on it because it was a way of getting liver into a kid that wasn't a hassle. 

Sorry, I gotta chuckle -- this is one of those things you either love or hate ... and often it boils down to an ultra strong preference for a brand -- like those folks who won't eat anything but Hellman's mayo vs. Kraft or *gasp shock horror* Salad dressing vs. mayo or even how you take your coffee.

But I promise -- this honestly makes giving pills EASY.  It stores easy and the iron in it makes it an easy choice. 

Don't get the "low fat" version if you see it -- it crumbles and defeats the whole purpose.  I don't know Canadian brands  ... sorry!!

Coopbay

If his nose is dry, is that a sign that he isn't drinking enough?

 The Cyclosporine is doing that to his nose.  The best remedy I have found is buying Vitamin E capsules.  Take a pin and poke a hole in the capsule and squeeze it on his nose and rub it in.  Apply it once a day.  Its better than any other moistuizer or vaseline because when he licks it (and he will) it is not going to hurt him.  It heals the nose and keeps it nice and moist.  

Coopbay, Tessy's nose is always dry and she drinks lots of water.  I think that all the drugs do this to the nose....not just the cyclosporine.  Tessy's nose is the same as it was before she was on the cyclo.  Vitamin E gel caps do work good.  I use them occasionally.  Just stick a needle in and squeez it out on to your finger.  You could also try Derma Cream.....I've heard of some who've had success with this.

Is Coop on prednisone?  High doses of prednisone creates a condition called Iatrogenic Cushing's Disease.  One of the side effects is a redistribution and change in the way the body handles fat and fluids. In addition it will alter muscle, "wasting" it for body metabolism.   Coops probably drinking and peeing more than normal now because his fluid balance is all screwed up.  The fat reservoirs are being shifted around and his metabolism is now on high speed.   Coops probably dry I bet because he has a hard time keeping fluid in his tissues and there isn't enough fat getting to his skin to lubricate it.

I've been told that once the drugs are reduced the symptoms will also.

That's great that Coopers PCV is up to 35.  I know that Dr. Dodds recommends reducing meds if a PCV remains stable for 2-4 weeks.  You'll have to check with her on this or with Coops regular vet.

Hope all is well.

Johnny & Tessy

Coopbay

I told him he couldn't pay me enough to try it.

I used to LOVE liverwurst when I was a kid. I dunno why my mother let me eat it - when I had it for Pirate it made me gag, ugh. So squishy!

sl2crmeg

I used to LOVE liverwurst when I was a kid. I dunno why my mother let me eat it

 Same with me Meg, Exactly.  I liked it when I was like 6 years old.  When I fed it to Clops I couldn't get the stink of it off my hands and it made me gag.  I'd wash my hands in very warm dish soap and even then they still stank.  

Coopbay

I just want him to get better but every time I think he is, I find something else to be worried about.

The quote above is IMHA/AIHA in a nutshell.  

The dry nose can be caused by just the Cyclo but Johnny is right, probably all the meds are taking their toll.

The Cushings syndrome and the redistribution of the body fat is very scary and I'm so thankful that my doctors at OSU discontinued the Pred within 4 weeks.  Best thing that ever happened.  I think that Pred has a place for short term emergency use at the start of IMHA but that anything longer than a month or two is just asking for trouble.  Who needs Cushings on top of all this?

 I don't think so.  I think just keep with the plan of getting him off the Pred as quickly as possible.  As you know, you have to do it very slowly (the longer the dog has been on it the slower you have to go).  So its just frustrating.  Just keep doing what you're doing and ask to lower the pred as fast as safety will allow.