Minnie's Update

[Diflower]

She had a bad weekend, starting with getting excited when youngest arrived. I was holding her and talking to her, it's not that she rushed across the room or anything, but inside excitement, and she just doesn't have the energy for it.
It may be coincidence but Saturday and Sunday she was worse than she'd been during the week.

This morning she was definitely a bit more with-it, it's not very significant but still.
Vet appointment was at 9.10. She's concerned as there appears to be what she described as bagginess/sagginess around Minnie's chest and upper front legs. This could be a sign that not enough protein is getting into her system/is leeching out (I think that's right). She took enough blood for a full test, apparently they will get an idea from that but if it's the case she will have to send that blood off.
Depending on that we may have to stop the Imuran, plus we need to try and get more protein into her - not easy when she has the dodgy tum anyway. But I had some chicken livers in the freezer so am thawing those, will cook them later and try her with a little.

Also, even if the red blood count is the same or has risen, they also check the white cell count. This is because the Imuran can affect the bone marrow and slow white cell production. So it's all a balancing act, and an anxious wait for the test results, some of which will take a few days.

[Kaz]

Oh Di - what a worry!!!! Come on Minnie, so many people are rooting for you! xxxxxxx

[Ally]

Oh Di - what a worry!!!! Come on Minnie, so many people are rooting for you! xxxxxxx

I'm one of them...come on Minnie. xxx

[JoM]

Come on Minnie (((((Di and Minnie)))))

xxx

[meriad]

Oh what a worry - hopefully the blood tests give some conclusive answers.

As a matter of interest, I was googling high protein foods and came across this: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/be ... spirulina/ maybe something to try?

[debih]

Oh Di - its such a rollercoaster isn't it. Poor little Minnie.

Keeping everything crossed for her. xxxxxxxxxxx

[Lozzles]

Poor little girl. Gentle hugs for Minnie x

[Diflower]

Meriad great minds think alike, I already have a little note here that says bio algae/spirulina. Bb's expecting to come home before going out again, if he's here long enough we'll go down to the pet shop and the health shop to see what we can find.
We need to try and do something to get her system working.

The vet has rung. The blood count has gone up, to 30, BUT the rest of the blood doesn't look so good.
There is no evidence of either new red or white blood cells. This is worrying because, while the Imuran can cause damage to the bone marrow/white blood cells, that shouldn't have happened yet. And odd that the count's gone up, but no new red cells to be seen.
However, this was only the vet's own rudimentary test. She's spoken to the lab, they need to see it for themselves as they have more sophisticated testing, so it's going off. She hopes to have the results Wednesday and will ring as soon as she knows.
Also she said the protein levels look low, again the lab will get actual readings.

Meanwhile we're to stop the Imuran, and go down from 30 to 25mg of the steroids twice a day. It shouldn't be enough of a drop to do any harm, but she doesn't want to be doing more harm than good - as said, it's a tricky balancing act.
There's nothing else we can be doing for now, which is a worry as she's obviously getting weaker, despite the blood count

Back to the algae/spirulina, it is supposed to help with the bone marrow and immune system, so will try and get some.

[JoM]

Oh Di...what an awful worry
I do hope you can get some algae/spirulina into her to give her system a boost.

Thinking of you all xxxxx

[Kaz]

Oh Di...what an awful worry
I do hope you can get some algae/spirulina into her to give her system a boost.

Thinking of you all xxxxx

Absolutely ((((((((((((((Minnie)))))))))))))))) xx