Jessie has pneumonia; final update

Johnny&Tessy

Sending some positive vibes to Jessie.  Glad to hear she's getting better.

Johnny & Tessy

  Thanks; I appreciate the good vibes. I hope your pup is doing okay; I haven't kept up with the IMHA thread for a few weeks.

Thanks, yeah Tessy is getting better clinically at least.  She's getting her energy back so that's good I guess.

This thread got me thinking now.....is it easy or possible for dogs to catch this from us.  I was wondering about the H1N1 specifically.  I'm scared to death Tessy might get this because of her compromised immune system.

Johnny & Tessy

Here's an article from MSNBC regarding H1N1 and transmission from human to pet:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33622253/ns/health-pet_health/

Janice - I hope that Jessie continues to improve and doesn't have any problems related to the prednisone.

Johnny&Tessy

I'm scared to death Tessy might get this because of her compromised immune system.

  Hopefully she won't be exposed to it. I'm glad she's doing better and hope she keeps making progress.

cakana

Janice - I hope that Jessie continues to improve and doesn't have any problems related to the prednisone.

  Thanks Cathy; she acts like she did before she got the pneumonia; I walked her for 90 minutes today. I think her lungs will be clear when we go back for a recheck next week. She's been getting acupuncture treatments for the bronchitis; if it's successful, she won't need prednisone.

  Hi everyone. Jessie's been doing great; I have a final update. Eight weeks ago she was checked at Purdue and the pneumonia was gone. Last week she had her final recheck and has been cleared to start steroids for the chronic bronchitis. I read about using inhaled steroids for dogs and cats and they don't have the side effects of oral steroids;

http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WSAVA2005&Category=&PID=11042&O=Generic  

 I asked the internist about using Flovent and she actually prefers this treatment but most of her clients opt for oral steroids because they're cheaper ( it will cost about $100 a month ). I've ordered the aerosol chamber that's necessary for Jessie to be able to use the inhaler;

http://www.trudellmed.com/Animal_Health/ah_aerodawg_cac.asp

 The internist is ordering a mask and will show me how to use the three together.  It will only take about 10 seconds once a day to treat her. I was really concerned about having to use prednisone and am so happy that there is another option. Many, many thanks again to all of you for your wonderful support when she was sick. Maybe I'll post a picture of her wearing the mask after we start treatment.

This is great news....so glad to hear it.

 great news Janice!  I need to see the picture LOL I can't imagine trying to do that to the ever patient Bugsy

Great news, Janice!!!

I've used the AeroKat chamber for one of our now deceased cats.  He started out on prednisone, but we switched over to Flovent & Albuterol after a few weeks of pred.  He did great, & the chamber is very easy to use.  I was thrilled that our vet presented inhaled steroids as an option.

Great Janice....it sounds like everything is pretty much under control!  I'm glad!

Oh, I'm so glad for you and Jessie!  I'm looking forward to those pictures! 

Lori

Wow, my heart sank when I saw the words "final update". I am soooooo glad that the update was good news for Jessie. It sounds like you've got an amazing team of dr's helping you thru this. Please do post a picture. I'd love to see how the mask works but mostly I'd just love to see a picture of Jessie :)

Janice, I'm so glad for this good update.

 Thanks everyone;

  Cathy, Maybe I should have chosen better words for the title; sorry to have worried you. We're very lucky to have access to a vet teaching hospital; I love our regular vet but he doesn't offer the option of using inhaled steroids.

 Amana, I love your avatar; what a sweet picture. Was it hard to get your cat to cooperate? I'm not expecting any problems with Jessie.

 Jessie sends gentle kisses and wants all of you to give your furbabies some lovin' because she knows how much they enjoy it.

Janice, that's great news to hear for Jessie!  Glad things are heading in the right direction.

Give Jessie a whole bundle of hugs from me and high paws from the gang.