Reintroduction-it's been awhile..

 Welcome! We're neighbors There is actually a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine doctor in Savannah, Dr Pam Fandrich. For immune system issues, Chinese Medicine can be FANTASTIC *WITH* traditional veterinary treatment, NOT instead of. Poor little Eloise! That sounds awful! I doubt many vets are very experienced with such a diagnosis, but I hope you find the help you need, for her.

I most certainly remember you, but gosh I'm sorry it's taken such a nasty thing as this to bring you back.

There is a 150 page thread (yeah ... HUGE) that's evolved over the past year on here that is all about auto-immune stuff.  Mostly IMHA (immune-mediated hemolytic anemia) but we've got dogs on there with IMT (immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) and Pancytopenia and Evan's Syndrome (which is IMHA and IMT combined) -- but I'd urge you to jump in -- simply because so MUCH of the discussion is about side effects and protecting the body.

I would absolutely recommend TCVM ... and to be honest, you might actually want to email the Chi Institute -- http://www.tcvm.com -- there is a locator on the left that will help you find someone near you (I'm not familiar with Dr. Fandrich and she might be the nearest and best - particulalry since Jennie can vouch for her) -- but the Chi Institute is headquartered in Reddick, FL (near Gainesville) and often they do teaching seminars there and you can contact Barbara at the Institute and see if there is anything coming up that might be applicable to your dog and you MIGHT be able to get in as an "exam dog" (meaning they use your dog as a diagnostic/treatment tool during the seminar -- you get a free exam and a month's worth of free herbs as well)

My Billy is a 3 1/2 year survivor of IMHA -- and he's been on the HUGE immune suppressors like pred and cyclosporine and arthritis was one of the side effects.

Pred does this nasty nasty thing -- yes, they give it to suppress the immune sytem but they ALSO know that long term it does a BAD thing to cartilage -- it literally breaks the cartilage down MORE.

1.  has your vet thot to use another immune suppressor like cyclosporine?  Long term it can target the specific spot on the immune system as well as being less destructive to the body than pred.

2.  Do you know what triggered the auto-immune reaction initially?  If you know the cause then often it bodes better for getting them off the drugs. 

3.  What are you doing to protect the body -- not just some milk thistle -- TONS OF IT -- but also with pred, in particular, stomach bleeding is a HUGE concern, so protecting the stomach is a big deal.

4.  Is the vet doing regular bloodwork?  Not just a small bit of in-house bloodwork, but a full panel every couple of months?  You have to watch SO carefully for liver and kidney involvement.  With pred you also need a urinalysis -- because things like diabetes are SUCH a huge possible with pred.

5. Are you doing easy stuff for the arthritis -- like Knox Nutura Joint and even stuff for pain like essential oil blend to reduce the inflammation topically rather than ALL internally.

You're welcome to email me (across from my name click "contact" and EMAIL me rather than pm -- usually it's a faster way to get me).  I'm happy to help you any way I can -- and unfortunately I'm way way way too aware of these drugs.

 

Jennie-Thanks for the vet suggestion, I'll look her up. Callie- My vet has never mentioned any other immune suppressors. I had no idea that prednisone affected cartilage. Eloise has not actually been to the vet since November. In the beginning she was having blood work and joint fluid analysis done constantly. However, once he got the pred to a dosage he felt comfortable with that stabilized her he stopped doing the tests. I think he said he would do a 6 month work up. So, she has been getting one pill every other day (I cant remember the dosage) since then. I have no idea what triggered the auto-immune reaction. She was perfectly healthy and then she woke up one day with some respiratory issues, a fever, and joint pain. The first vet diagnosed her as having a respiratory infection and gave antibiotics. Those didn't work. I didn't like him so I took her somewhere else and he said he had no idea...could be cancer, from a tick, he really didn't know...he just prescribed an anti-inflammatory which she was on forever. I gave up on him and took her to the third vet who finally after doing x-rays, bloodwork, and joint fluid analysis determined that it was autoimmune. She takes famotidine for her stomach and ark naturals joint supplement.

 Another thing.... I would never, ever vaccinate her for anything, again. Ever. Stimulating her immune system, like that is asking for trouble. DO talk to your vets about it, find out about getting a health exemption for the rabies vaccine. She absolutely, positively, DOES NOT need to be vaccinated.

Welcome back, sending your sweet girl healthy vibe!

What she says about NO vaccines **ever** is absolutely on target. 

And no -- truly you can't just do prednisone forever with no bloodwork.  You honestly can't just do pred long long term even at a low dose.  Thats a short ticket to huge huge problems

I can't believe he didn't do some tick testing -- that can masque as auto-immune.   Famotidine is fine -- but with pred you *MUST* do bloodwork every couple of months at the outside -- because it can all slip into diabetes and Cushings SO SO easily. 

Milk thistle is absolutely essential -- if she eats well, you can do bulk milk thistle (i.e., not in capsules -- just the herb which you can add to food - FAR cheaper). 

I'm glad to help you on the phone or in email -- whatever works for you.  Just let me know.

Ditto on everything that's been said so far--no vaccinations ever period. And, just in case you want the info, here's the contact info for the UGA vet school--it may be worth a visit, esp. if your vet is already consulting with them. They will be up-to-date on treatment protocols, etc.

Georgia

University of Georgia

College of Veterinary Medicine

Hospital: UGA Veterinary Small Animal Teaching Hospital

Athens, GA 30602

Phone: (800) 542-9294 or (706) 542-2895

http://www.vet.uga.edu/hospital/smallanimal/index.php

My dog Frisby has IMHA and she gets full blood work panels at least monthly (much more often earlier in the disease) to make sure the meds aren't completely messing up the rest of her body. She's still on pred and it has made her arthritic--the cold weather is especially difficult for her.

Sending lots of prayers and healing energy for Eloise so she can feel better! And, sending the same for you, too.

Sorry to hear your dog has immune mediated polyarthritis.  You've got some great advise above.

Like Callie was saying though....just jump right in to the other AIHA/IMHA thread.  We'll all help in any way we can.

My thoughts and prayers will be with Eloise.