Di - how is Minnie getting on?

[debih]

Just wondering how she is.

[Diflower]

Don't know really Debih. She's always hungry because of the steroids, so at the moment food's no problem but it's very hard when she keeps asking for food, especially the half hour between having the anti-sickness and getting a meal!

She's still doing nothing except sleep, although the last day or so she's been awake more and looking alert - some of the time.
She goes outside when she has to, but also lurches to her feet and goes to the door, but when I let her out she gets a step or two outside and lies down.

I'm hoping we'll hear from the vet today, I'm not at all sure we should be stopping the Imuran or reducing the steroids, from what I've read they can take quite a long time to make any real improvement. The fact that her blood count had gone up must be a sign that they are working.

[Kaz]

Oh being more alert must be a good sign Di! I do hope so! (((((((Minnie))))))) xxxx

[Diflower]

So do I Kaz - it's only a tiny improvement but it can take weeks to get anywhere.

The vet phoned and we had quite a long chat
She had had quite a chat with the lab. Their view is that the increase in blood count to 26 is an extremely good sign
The lab could see evidence of new red blood cell production, which is really good news, and the white cell count is 'high'. The Imuran can suppress white cell production, so even if it does, Minnie has at present a high count, so that's good.

No-one wants dogs to have Imuran for any longer than necessary, because of the side effects, but since Minnie has had a response, she's going back on it, 1 tablet a day instead of 2.
She's staying on the slightly reduced dose of steroids (25mg instead of 30, twice a day).

There is the problem of leeching protein, so we're to try and get concentrated protein into her. The chicken livers have gone, I saw beef heart recommended somewhere but the local butcher doesn't stock it. He can get it but they're enormous and cost about £12 he thinks. Also he thought it would be fatty, which is not good.
Ox liver is a possibility but again he'd have to order it, and I'd have to have a whole one so I'm going to do a bit more research as to what would be best. The vet also suggested boiled eggs, up to 2 a day, so I've just cooked some and will add to her food.
Another potential side effect of the disease/drugs is an enlarged spleen, which would be a worry, and would also cause the thickness around the chest etc.

Oh and she didn't know what spirulina was but has since googled and can't give a professional opinion but agrees it's worth a try.
I think that's all. She was careful to warn me we're not out of the woods by any means, the lab results are encouraging but the side effects are as big a danger as the disease, so it's still a case of do whatever we can and hope for the best.

[JoM]

Di, that does sound encouraging - well done to Minnie for doing so well with her blood count!
Good girl Minnie, give her a gentle fuss from me (((((Di)))))

[Kaz]

That's good news Di - I know there is still a long way to go, but she's doing so so well (((((((((x))))))))

[debih]

That does sound really encouraging Di. And step forward, no matter how small, is a positive.

(((((((((((((((Minnie)))))))))))))

[meriad]

Di, do you have a larger supermarket near you. Not sure if this link will work, but I went to the Tesco website and put in liver and it came up with various things. I then clicked on the 'rest of shelf' of one of the meat items and came up with this lot:

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/ ... 4294770949

they seem to sell heart and liver in smaller portions?

[Diflower]

Thank you all again
Meriad I was going to get some lambs liver from Tesco but had no idea they might do heart or ox liver. The one about 5 miles away is pretty big, so will go and have a look, thank you x

Had a bit of a panic earlier. You know the vet had mentioned this 'bagginess' and told us to check it and keep an eye on it. Well when she was standing up I stroked her chest and found an actual sort of 'pouch', a handful-size, that felt as if it was filled with fluid.
I phoned the vet, the one we've been seeing was off this afternoon but the other one spoke to me. She said it sounded just the same as what Alison had noted, so I think we just hadn't felt in quite the right place
Also I got it wrong about the white blood cells, high is not so good, but not to worry for now, it should go down in time.

You don't realise how much it's taking out of you, just the worrying, I had to have a kip this afternoon!

[Kaz]

((((((Di))))))) No wonder! xxxx