02/15/14 - Reo has been having some new issues lately, so wanted to share with everyone. :-/ This is the time of year when Reo always struggles with something. We are about a month away from her SARDS-versary when she was diagnosed. She has a presentation of estrogen spike in a new way each year, which is a little frustrating! (You might remember Levin's assertion that spring is a natural increase in adrenal activity in mammals - us too!, and because many of our dogs can't make cortisol, this results in an estrogen spike, which can manifest in different ways in different dogs.)
About 2 weeks ago, Reo had a seizure, followed by another one 4 days later. I wasn't home for either, but my husband was (and was terrified, poor guy!). We suspect the stress of me traveling, coupled by -20 degree temperatures was enough stress to put her over the edge (her second seizure happened when she went out to go potty, poor girl!).
This week, we went in for a check up to the vet - she is neurologically great, whew! Since her last blood chemistry done in January looked great on the liver enzyme side, but showed a little uptick in kidney values, I asked my vet to run a renal panel just to check. Sure enough, she had further increases in kidney values and was now abnormal for BUN, creatinine, sodium, and potassium all elevated (but nothing off the charts). We are not sure if this is "true" renal issues, or if it's changes from post-seizure activity.
So, we will monitor, and do another renal panel in a month. I will also make a slight change to her diet, and phase out the very high protein Stella & Chewy's patties (45% min protein), and replace with a high-quality canned food (~8% protein) as a topper for the ZiwiPeak dehydrated raw (34% min protein), to see if slightly less protein will ease the load on her kidneys. I refuse to put her on any sort of prescription diet!
We were also in the process of making some changes to her thyroid dosage (we think she is getting too much thyroid replacement, since her metabolism is super fast and I cannot keep weight on her, even with the high protein/fat food), so we'll have to see how she does with less. Reo was close to 10 lbs when she was diagnosed with SARDS, so we have been treating her at the 10 lb dose for Medrol and thyroid, since it was most convenient. But, she now weighs only 6.5 lbs, so it's possible she's getting more than she needs of both, and we need to find the best dose for her.
And, just for fun, she has also developed a heart murmur! My vet put it at grade 1-2, so not incredibly serious. When we took x-rays, we saw a slightly enlarged heart, and also a little bit of collapsing trachea. It's hard to know what caused what, or what is just a normal part of aging (she is 13, after all!). We are not doing anything for the heart at this time, and will just monitor.
I don't want to change too many things at once because we won't know what's made a difference. But, I feel fortunate that my vet loves Reo, is open to new ideas and possibilities, and is willing to do whatever is recommended by Caroline. So, I remain optimistic and grateful! :)
Showing posts with label stressors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stressors. Show all posts
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Headed overseas
06/12/13 - Tomorrow, Sean and I are headed to Europe for 3 weeks, sans dogs! My brother is watching over our house and pack, which means I'll be separated from Reo for the first time in quite a while!! We will have my brother pulse her Medrol dose for the first week we're gone, to hopefully help mitigate her stress.
She has been doing pretty well lately, but allergies are bugging her. I have her on Claritin based on my vet's recommendation, though I don't think it's helping her. She has an itchy/watery right eye, that has been bugging her for over a month. The vet's looked at it, did fluorescin testing, and even gave her some NP Dex eyedrops to try for a week (which didn't help). So, I think we'll go to the ophthalmologist when we get back, just to be on the safe side.
Anyway, fingers crossed all goes well and there are no issues with little miss high-maintenance. :)
À bientôt, fair readers!
She has been doing pretty well lately, but allergies are bugging her. I have her on Claritin based on my vet's recommendation, though I don't think it's helping her. She has an itchy/watery right eye, that has been bugging her for over a month. The vet's looked at it, did fluorescin testing, and even gave her some NP Dex eyedrops to try for a week (which didn't help). So, I think we'll go to the ophthalmologist when we get back, just to be on the safe side.
Anyway, fingers crossed all goes well and there are no issues with little miss high-maintenance. :)
À bientôt, fair readers!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
2 year anniversary
03/05/13 - Today marks 2 years since Reo lost her vision (though we're a little ahead of her actual diagnosis)! It seems like it's been far longer than that, to be honest! We have learned so much in the past 2 years. Every day, I am thankful that Reo is still with us, and healthy! I'm so proud of this little dog, I tell you.
This is a busy time of year for SARDS diagnoses, and I've noticed that Reo has some allergy symptoms (itchy eye, some sneezing). We've had an unusually mild winter in Denver, and I think that there are already some allergens in the air. I'm pulsing her Medrol dose this week to try and help her overcome this.
This is a busy time of year for SARDS diagnoses, and I've noticed that Reo has some allergy symptoms (itchy eye, some sneezing). We've had an unusually mild winter in Denver, and I think that there are already some allergens in the air. I'm pulsing her Medrol dose this week to try and help her overcome this.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Fall is around the corner!
09/05/12 - It is hard to believe it's September already - everyone in our household is looking forward to the cooler temperatures of fall! The past few mornings have been quite chilly, and the dogs love it! It's a great opportunity for them to lounge around in the warm morning sun, while the air is still chilly. We're hoping to sneak in one last camping trip this year - we'll see how it goes!
For the past 10 days, we've been watching two of our friends' dogs. I anticipated that this would be stressful on Reo, so I pulsed her Medrol for a week. She seemed to do fine, well, other than one of the dogs not understanding Reo's mostly-blindness. If Reo walked into her, the other dog would snap and growl. Fortunately, I was home all the time and could correct the other dog before things got out of hand. Overall, everything went relatively smoothly, but all of us were pretty happy to get down to our normal routine with just three dogs!
Sean and I will be making our final decision in the next week or so, concerning what to do regarding Reo's supplements. I will post an update once we decide!
For the past 10 days, we've been watching two of our friends' dogs. I anticipated that this would be stressful on Reo, so I pulsed her Medrol for a week. She seemed to do fine, well, other than one of the dogs not understanding Reo's mostly-blindness. If Reo walked into her, the other dog would snap and growl. Fortunately, I was home all the time and could correct the other dog before things got out of hand. Overall, everything went relatively smoothly, but all of us were pretty happy to get down to our normal routine with just three dogs!
Sean and I will be making our final decision in the next week or so, concerning what to do regarding Reo's supplements. I will post an update once we decide!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Endocrine-Immune Disruption Syndrome
06/14/12 - I found this article in one of my web searches, and wanted to share. It's written by Dr. Michael Fox, former Vice President of the Humane Society, veterinarian, author (and whatever else is designated by all of those letters after his name!).
His perspective gives more credit to Dr. Plechner's theories. The original article (plus references) appears here on his website: http://drfoxvet.com/info/Endocrine-Immune-Disruption-Syndrome
Food for thought!
ENDOCRINE-IMMUNE DISRUPTION SYNDROME
by Michael W. Fox, B. Vet. Med., Ph.D., D.Sc., M.R.C.V.S.
Chemical compounds called endocrine disruptors may play a significant role in various chronic diseases in both companion and other animals and also humans. These diseases include allergies, chronic skin diseases, recurrent ear, urinary tract, and other infections, digestive system disorders such as chronic colitis, diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease frequently associated with immune system impairment, and metabolic and hormonal disturbances expressed in a variety of symptoms from obesity to thyroid and other endocrine disorders especially of the pancreas and adrenal glands.
Veterinarian Dr. Alfred J. Plechner’s clinical findings that link elevated serum estrogen levels , thyroid dysfunction and impaired synthesis of cortisol with a variety of health problems in animals warrant careful consideration, and more detailed research and randomized clinical trials. His claimed benefits of very low doses of cortisone, often in combination with thyroid hormone replacement, may hold true for some patients suffering from what I term the Endocrine- Immune Disruption Syndrome (EIDS) . But long term cortisone treatment may aggravate the syndrome, especially in the absence of a holistic approach to improving the animal’s immune system and overall physical and psychological well being.
Adverse reactions to vaccinations, anti-flea and tick medications and other veterinary drugs, and hypersensitivity to various foods and dietary additives, may be consequential and contributory elements in what I interpret as a widespread and not yet well recognized Endocrine-Immune Disruption Syndrome. I receive many letters from readers of my syndicated newspaper column Animal Doctor,concerning dogs and cats with the kinds of chronic, complex, multiple health problems that conventional veterinary treatments have at best only temporarily alleviated.
The primary cause of these hormonal imbalances and associated neuro- endocrine and immune system dysfunctions is most probably environmental in origin, specifically the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC’s) in animals’ food and water. Through bioaccumulation these compounds become concentrated in various internal organs of companion animals, in farmed animals raised for human consumption, including aquatic species, and also in wildlife and humans at the top of the food chain.. Since many EDC’s are lipophilic, they especially accumulate in animals’ fatty tissues, brains, mammary glands and milk.
While I would agree with Dr. Plechner that animals’ genetic background and stress are also contributing factors to an animal developing what I believe to be endocrine disrupting compound toxicosis, I do not accept his contention that "this disturbance appears to be largely genetic." On the contrary, certain breeds and lines of domestic animals, and domestic animals in general who develop often multiple symptoms of EIDS are like the proverbial canaries down in the coal mines, signaling environmental conditions also hazardous to humans.
An internet search and review of the existing literature and ongoing research in the field of environmental toxicology will reveal the ubiquitous presence of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC’s) in the environment especially from industrial pollutants, (from power plants and municipal incinerators to paper mills and chemically dependent industrial agriculture), and from untreated and inadequately treated sewage water (some 850 billion gallons of which are dumped annual into US waters). EDC’s are also being identified in a host of household and medical products especially plastics, in clothing, floor materials, and lining of food cans, ( notably phthalates and Bisphenol A ) and in the food and water we share with our companion animals, and give to farmed animals.
New EDC’s are being identified, detected in human breast milk, infant umbilical cord blood, and in ’signal’ wildlife species, from alligators to Artic seals. Researchers with the US Geological Survey, (USGS) Contamination Biology Program have found that PCB treated fish have lower resting plasma cortical titers and disrupted stress responses, impaired immune responses and reduced disease resistance. PCBs disrupt glucocorticoid responsiveness of neuronal cells involved in the negative feedback regulation of circulating cortical levels. I link these and other research findings on EDC’s with Plechner’s findings of low serum cortical levels in his patients, exposed undoubtedly to a number of EDC’s that can have enhanced toxicity through synergism. But his contention that dysfunctional adrenal glands are the cause of elevated estrogen levels is questionable considering the high level of "background" estrogen mimicking EDCs in every animal’s environment. DDE for example is one EDC that is known to accumulate in the adrenal cortex and impair cortical production. Ironically the USGS has found human birth control estrogens in river waters.
EDC’s not only disrupt endocrine signaling systems (estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, glucocorticoid, retinoid etc) and immune system functions, they can also cause profound behavioral, neurological and developmental disturbances. They may play a role in obesity and in animals’ adverse reactions to vaccines, other biologics and pharmaceutical products.
With regard to the health and welfare of companion animals---and the education and consumer habits of their owner/care givers, calls for much more than the immediate drug-correctives suggested by Dr. Plechner that could have harmful long-term consequences without adequate and reliable blood serum monitoring of thyroid, adrenal, and immune system (immunoglbulins) function.
There is an urgent need for the veterinary profession to address this Endocrine-Immune Disruption Syndrome, and to consider it when treating a variety of chronic diseases in animal patients. For a start, all veterinary practitioners should encourage animal care givers to provide sick, (and healthy animals as part of holistic health maintenance) with pure water, organically certified food, including diets with animal fat and protein derived from young animals fed and raised organically, not exposed to herbicides, insecticides and other agricultural chemicals, and veterinary pesticides and other drugs. ( Even synthetic pyrethrins are powerful endocrine disruptors). Sea foods in the diets especially of cats, should preclude species high on the food chain like tuna and salmon. Also livestock that is organically certified should not be fed fish meal because of the bioaccumulation of EDC’s. Many commercial dog and cat foods are high in soy/soya bean/ vegetable protein. Since soy products are high in plant estrogens, (those from genetically engineered soy being potentially extremely problematic in this matter), it would be advisable to take all animals suspected of suffering from EIDS off all foods containing phytoestrogen laden plant proteins, and for healthy cats not to be fed any diet that relies on soy as the main source of protein. Healthy dogs, who are more omnivorous than cats (who are obligate carnivores) may not be at such risk.
The use of so called xenobiotic detoxification enzyme and other therapeutic nutrient supplement treatment, as detailed by Dr. Sherry A. Rogers and Dr. Roger V. Kendall, is worth consideration for chronically ill animals that may have EIDS. These include essential fatty acids, as in flax seed oil, digestive enzymes (e.g. papain and bromeliad) and vitamins A, B complex, C and E, alpha-lipoic acid, L-carnitine, L-glutamine, taurine, glutathione, dimethylglycine, CoQ10, bioflavinoids, selenium, copper, magnesium and zinc (with caution as per breed susceptibility to toxicity).
Homeopathic practitioners use Nux vomica and Sulfur to help detoxify a patient.
Detoxification can also include a bland, whole food, natural diet for 3-5 days (individual food-hypersensitivity being considered), including steamed carrots, sweet potato and other vegetables, cooked barley or rolled oats, and a little organic chicken or egg, plus a sprinkling of kelp (powdered seaweed), alfalfa or wheat grass sprouts, and milk thistle. A 3-4 day course of treatment with psyllium husks, activated charcoal and aloe vera liquid extract can also help cleanse and heal the digestive system. For cats, the amount of animal protein should be at least two-thirds of the diet, while one-third is sufficient for dogs. After this cleansing diet, a whole food , home-prepared balanced diet is advisable. In some cases, fasting for 24 hours may also be beneficial prior to giving the detox. diet, but caution is called for since this could put some cats at risk.
The use of lawn and garden pesticides and other household chemicals, especially petroleum-based products, that could be endocrine disruptors should be avoided, and also plastic and water food containers for all family members, human and non-human. New carpets, plastic chew-toys and stain-resistant fabrics and upholstery may also be potential hazards
The medical and veterinary evidence of an emerging EIDS epidemic is arguably being suppressed for politico-economic reasons, as witness the US government’s foot-dragging from one administration after another to take effective action to phase out hazardous agricultural chemicals and industrial pollution to protect consumers from dioxins, PCB’s and PBB’s---all potent EDC’s. These compounds in particular, contaminate, through bioaccumulation, foods of animal origin, the discarded and condemned parts of which are recycled into pet foods and livestock feed.
Postscript:
Recent research into the epigenetics of disease has shown for example, that the offspring of rats exposed during pregnancy to pesticides were more prone to breast and prostate cancer, immune system dysfunction and other health problems. These rat offspring, even when fed a diet free of such agrichemicals, passed these health problems on to their offspring, and thus on to subsequent generations. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, especially phthalates in the plastic of food and beverage containers and liners, play a major role in epigenetic diseases.
His perspective gives more credit to Dr. Plechner's theories. The original article (plus references) appears here on his website: http://drfoxvet.com/info/Endocrine-Immune-Disruption-Syndrome
Food for thought!
ENDOCRINE-IMMUNE DISRUPTION SYNDROME
by Michael W. Fox, B. Vet. Med., Ph.D., D.Sc., M.R.C.V.S.
Chemical compounds called endocrine disruptors may play a significant role in various chronic diseases in both companion and other animals and also humans. These diseases include allergies, chronic skin diseases, recurrent ear, urinary tract, and other infections, digestive system disorders such as chronic colitis, diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease frequently associated with immune system impairment, and metabolic and hormonal disturbances expressed in a variety of symptoms from obesity to thyroid and other endocrine disorders especially of the pancreas and adrenal glands.
Veterinarian Dr. Alfred J. Plechner’s clinical findings that link elevated serum estrogen levels , thyroid dysfunction and impaired synthesis of cortisol with a variety of health problems in animals warrant careful consideration, and more detailed research and randomized clinical trials. His claimed benefits of very low doses of cortisone, often in combination with thyroid hormone replacement, may hold true for some patients suffering from what I term the Endocrine- Immune Disruption Syndrome (EIDS) . But long term cortisone treatment may aggravate the syndrome, especially in the absence of a holistic approach to improving the animal’s immune system and overall physical and psychological well being.
Adverse reactions to vaccinations, anti-flea and tick medications and other veterinary drugs, and hypersensitivity to various foods and dietary additives, may be consequential and contributory elements in what I interpret as a widespread and not yet well recognized Endocrine-Immune Disruption Syndrome. I receive many letters from readers of my syndicated newspaper column Animal Doctor,concerning dogs and cats with the kinds of chronic, complex, multiple health problems that conventional veterinary treatments have at best only temporarily alleviated.
The primary cause of these hormonal imbalances and associated neuro- endocrine and immune system dysfunctions is most probably environmental in origin, specifically the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC’s) in animals’ food and water. Through bioaccumulation these compounds become concentrated in various internal organs of companion animals, in farmed animals raised for human consumption, including aquatic species, and also in wildlife and humans at the top of the food chain.. Since many EDC’s are lipophilic, they especially accumulate in animals’ fatty tissues, brains, mammary glands and milk.
While I would agree with Dr. Plechner that animals’ genetic background and stress are also contributing factors to an animal developing what I believe to be endocrine disrupting compound toxicosis, I do not accept his contention that "this disturbance appears to be largely genetic." On the contrary, certain breeds and lines of domestic animals, and domestic animals in general who develop often multiple symptoms of EIDS are like the proverbial canaries down in the coal mines, signaling environmental conditions also hazardous to humans.
An internet search and review of the existing literature and ongoing research in the field of environmental toxicology will reveal the ubiquitous presence of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC’s) in the environment especially from industrial pollutants, (from power plants and municipal incinerators to paper mills and chemically dependent industrial agriculture), and from untreated and inadequately treated sewage water (some 850 billion gallons of which are dumped annual into US waters). EDC’s are also being identified in a host of household and medical products especially plastics, in clothing, floor materials, and lining of food cans, ( notably phthalates and Bisphenol A ) and in the food and water we share with our companion animals, and give to farmed animals.
New EDC’s are being identified, detected in human breast milk, infant umbilical cord blood, and in ’signal’ wildlife species, from alligators to Artic seals. Researchers with the US Geological Survey, (USGS) Contamination Biology Program have found that PCB treated fish have lower resting plasma cortical titers and disrupted stress responses, impaired immune responses and reduced disease resistance. PCBs disrupt glucocorticoid responsiveness of neuronal cells involved in the negative feedback regulation of circulating cortical levels. I link these and other research findings on EDC’s with Plechner’s findings of low serum cortical levels in his patients, exposed undoubtedly to a number of EDC’s that can have enhanced toxicity through synergism. But his contention that dysfunctional adrenal glands are the cause of elevated estrogen levels is questionable considering the high level of "background" estrogen mimicking EDCs in every animal’s environment. DDE for example is one EDC that is known to accumulate in the adrenal cortex and impair cortical production. Ironically the USGS has found human birth control estrogens in river waters.
EDC’s not only disrupt endocrine signaling systems (estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, glucocorticoid, retinoid etc) and immune system functions, they can also cause profound behavioral, neurological and developmental disturbances. They may play a role in obesity and in animals’ adverse reactions to vaccines, other biologics and pharmaceutical products.
With regard to the health and welfare of companion animals---and the education and consumer habits of their owner/care givers, calls for much more than the immediate drug-correctives suggested by Dr. Plechner that could have harmful long-term consequences without adequate and reliable blood serum monitoring of thyroid, adrenal, and immune system (immunoglbulins) function.
There is an urgent need for the veterinary profession to address this Endocrine-Immune Disruption Syndrome, and to consider it when treating a variety of chronic diseases in animal patients. For a start, all veterinary practitioners should encourage animal care givers to provide sick, (and healthy animals as part of holistic health maintenance) with pure water, organically certified food, including diets with animal fat and protein derived from young animals fed and raised organically, not exposed to herbicides, insecticides and other agricultural chemicals, and veterinary pesticides and other drugs. ( Even synthetic pyrethrins are powerful endocrine disruptors). Sea foods in the diets especially of cats, should preclude species high on the food chain like tuna and salmon. Also livestock that is organically certified should not be fed fish meal because of the bioaccumulation of EDC’s. Many commercial dog and cat foods are high in soy/soya bean/ vegetable protein. Since soy products are high in plant estrogens, (those from genetically engineered soy being potentially extremely problematic in this matter), it would be advisable to take all animals suspected of suffering from EIDS off all foods containing phytoestrogen laden plant proteins, and for healthy cats not to be fed any diet that relies on soy as the main source of protein. Healthy dogs, who are more omnivorous than cats (who are obligate carnivores) may not be at such risk.
The use of so called xenobiotic detoxification enzyme and other therapeutic nutrient supplement treatment, as detailed by Dr. Sherry A. Rogers and Dr. Roger V. Kendall, is worth consideration for chronically ill animals that may have EIDS. These include essential fatty acids, as in flax seed oil, digestive enzymes (e.g. papain and bromeliad) and vitamins A, B complex, C and E, alpha-lipoic acid, L-carnitine, L-glutamine, taurine, glutathione, dimethylglycine, CoQ10, bioflavinoids, selenium, copper, magnesium and zinc (with caution as per breed susceptibility to toxicity).
Homeopathic practitioners use Nux vomica and Sulfur to help detoxify a patient.
Detoxification can also include a bland, whole food, natural diet for 3-5 days (individual food-hypersensitivity being considered), including steamed carrots, sweet potato and other vegetables, cooked barley or rolled oats, and a little organic chicken or egg, plus a sprinkling of kelp (powdered seaweed), alfalfa or wheat grass sprouts, and milk thistle. A 3-4 day course of treatment with psyllium husks, activated charcoal and aloe vera liquid extract can also help cleanse and heal the digestive system. For cats, the amount of animal protein should be at least two-thirds of the diet, while one-third is sufficient for dogs. After this cleansing diet, a whole food , home-prepared balanced diet is advisable. In some cases, fasting for 24 hours may also be beneficial prior to giving the detox. diet, but caution is called for since this could put some cats at risk.
The use of lawn and garden pesticides and other household chemicals, especially petroleum-based products, that could be endocrine disruptors should be avoided, and also plastic and water food containers for all family members, human and non-human. New carpets, plastic chew-toys and stain-resistant fabrics and upholstery may also be potential hazards
The medical and veterinary evidence of an emerging EIDS epidemic is arguably being suppressed for politico-economic reasons, as witness the US government’s foot-dragging from one administration after another to take effective action to phase out hazardous agricultural chemicals and industrial pollution to protect consumers from dioxins, PCB’s and PBB’s---all potent EDC’s. These compounds in particular, contaminate, through bioaccumulation, foods of animal origin, the discarded and condemned parts of which are recycled into pet foods and livestock feed.
Postscript:
Recent research into the epigenetics of disease has shown for example, that the offspring of rats exposed during pregnancy to pesticides were more prone to breast and prostate cancer, immune system dysfunction and other health problems. These rat offspring, even when fed a diet free of such agrichemicals, passed these health problems on to their offspring, and thus on to subsequent generations. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, especially phthalates in the plastic of food and beverage containers and liners, play a major role in epigenetic diseases.
Monday, April 9, 2012
More DepoMedrol
04/09/12 - Hope everyone had a nice weekend!
Reo is doing well lately! She had a DepoMedrol injection on March 24, and did not display any PD/PU/PP (increased thirst/urination/hunger) afterwards. This caused me, along with my vet, to conclude that Reo "needed" the injection, and did not have an excess of cortisol (which would cause those symptoms). This proved to us that as a result of all of the stress (emotional and environmental) over the past couple of months, Reo's estrogen had likely spiked.
Therefore, we agreed to give Reo another injection at the same dosage, which she had on Thursday the 5th. It's been 4 days, and no symptoms, which has surprised me a little bit - I was expecting to see them with this injection. Even though there have been no excess cortisol symptoms, I'm not sure if we will have an additional injection after this one, but I need to speak with Dr. Plechner and see what he would suggest in this case.
Otherwise, no changes, really. Her mood is fantastic, she looks wonderful, and still some light/dark perception. There have been a few moments where I was sure she was sighted again, only to have her bump something shortly thereafter. I have to remind myself that this was how it started last year - little glimpses here and there of vision returning. I remain optimistic. :)
**Edit** spoke to Dr. Plechner and he suggested that we go back to oral Medrol and not do another injection, so this is what we'll plan on!
Reo is doing well lately! She had a DepoMedrol injection on March 24, and did not display any PD/PU/PP (increased thirst/urination/hunger) afterwards. This caused me, along with my vet, to conclude that Reo "needed" the injection, and did not have an excess of cortisol (which would cause those symptoms). This proved to us that as a result of all of the stress (emotional and environmental) over the past couple of months, Reo's estrogen had likely spiked.
Therefore, we agreed to give Reo another injection at the same dosage, which she had on Thursday the 5th. It's been 4 days, and no symptoms, which has surprised me a little bit - I was expecting to see them with this injection. Even though there have been no excess cortisol symptoms, I'm not sure if we will have an additional injection after this one, but I need to speak with Dr. Plechner and see what he would suggest in this case.
Otherwise, no changes, really. Her mood is fantastic, she looks wonderful, and still some light/dark perception. There have been a few moments where I was sure she was sighted again, only to have her bump something shortly thereafter. I have to remind myself that this was how it started last year - little glimpses here and there of vision returning. I remain optimistic. :)
**Edit** spoke to Dr. Plechner and he suggested that we go back to oral Medrol and not do another injection, so this is what we'll plan on!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Vet success!
03/24/12 - Today we had an appointment with a vet in our neighborhood. I came prepared with all of Reo's history, bloodwork, and treatment specifications. I picked this vet's profile out of those in the office because she was pretty young, has a molecular biology background (like me!), and said she was interested in geriatric medicine and internal medicine.
She (I will call her Dr. V) was fantastic! She was super friendly, looked over all of Reo's bloodwork, was shocked that her liver values were so high surrounding SARDS diagnosis, and then came down so drastically post injection - and have stayed that way with long-term Medrol usage, agreed that Reo was in excellent health, and said she'd have no problem continuing with Reo's treatment, as long as I understood the potential risks.
Dr. V was also interested to read more about Caroline Levin's and Dr. Plechner's work, and so I let her photocopy a big stack of papers from Reo's folder. I will be interested to get her take on it.
HOORAY!!!! :)
So, we have a new vet about 2 miles from our house, who is interested in Reo's story and success, and is committed to helping me continue her treatment. I made sure that she understood that the hormone injections were not a regular occurrence, and it had been about a year since we'd last done them, and my opinion was that it was only due to extended stressful situations that she might need "boosters".
After Reo's exam, we gave her another injection of DepoMedrol - 25 mg this time. I decided to do another injection based on the fact that Reo is still in the throes of a lot of stress at the house (construction), the fact that it's spring, and the fact that pollen levels right now are 5 times their normal levels. Even my other two dogs are scratching and have watery eyes.
It was the biggest RELIEF to find a vet who didn't think I was crazy, and was willing to help, on our very first try. Reo and I are lucky-loos!
We'll see how Reo reacts to this injection, and if she has any ill-effects like PU/PD/PP. We may consider to do another in 10 days, as we did with her first injection series in May 2011, to give her the support of an overlapping series to curb the estrogen spike.
She (I will call her Dr. V) was fantastic! She was super friendly, looked over all of Reo's bloodwork, was shocked that her liver values were so high surrounding SARDS diagnosis, and then came down so drastically post injection - and have stayed that way with long-term Medrol usage, agreed that Reo was in excellent health, and said she'd have no problem continuing with Reo's treatment, as long as I understood the potential risks.
Dr. V was also interested to read more about Caroline Levin's and Dr. Plechner's work, and so I let her photocopy a big stack of papers from Reo's folder. I will be interested to get her take on it.
HOORAY!!!! :)
So, we have a new vet about 2 miles from our house, who is interested in Reo's story and success, and is committed to helping me continue her treatment. I made sure that she understood that the hormone injections were not a regular occurrence, and it had been about a year since we'd last done them, and my opinion was that it was only due to extended stressful situations that she might need "boosters".
After Reo's exam, we gave her another injection of DepoMedrol - 25 mg this time. I decided to do another injection based on the fact that Reo is still in the throes of a lot of stress at the house (construction), the fact that it's spring, and the fact that pollen levels right now are 5 times their normal levels. Even my other two dogs are scratching and have watery eyes.
It was the biggest RELIEF to find a vet who didn't think I was crazy, and was willing to help, on our very first try. Reo and I are lucky-loos!
We'll see how Reo reacts to this injection, and if she has any ill-effects like PU/PD/PP. We may consider to do another in 10 days, as we did with her first injection series in May 2011, to give her the support of an overlapping series to curb the estrogen spike.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Steady on
02/24/12 - It's been one week since Reo's DepoMedrol injection, and we have noticed no increased symptoms as we experienced last spring when she got her injection series. Granted, we used a lower dosage, but I was expecting some increased thirst (at least). Maybe some restlessness, increased hunger, etc. But so far, she's doing great, despite the massive amount of packing and changes going on in the house (removed furniture, new boxes everywhere, etc.).
No major changes on the vision side, either. It's transient - sometimes she does great and walks around new things no problem, can follow a cotton ball from more than 12 inches away, etc. And other times, she can't find her way back up the steps from the yard. Sean and I sort of feel that for Reo, she needs to willingly "engage" her vision sense. Like, if she's focused and paying attention, she can see and navigate well. If she's distracted and smelling something, or if she is napping/dozing and opens her eyes, she doesn't have much vision. Sometimes we can snap her out of it and get her to engage by talking to her. I find this interesting, and I wish I knew more about what could be going on in her eyeballs!
I think that Reo has lost a little bit of weight - she's looking more ribby lately. It's a fine line to balance diet and exercise in a small dog. I'm constantly giving a little more or a little less food, depending on how much exercise we've gotten.
At this time next week, we'll be somewhere in Kansas, en route home to Colorado. We are really excited, and I hope that Reo is not too stressed out. Anything could happen in a car with 2 people, 3 dogs, and 2 cats. Fun times, yes? :)
No major changes on the vision side, either. It's transient - sometimes she does great and walks around new things no problem, can follow a cotton ball from more than 12 inches away, etc. And other times, she can't find her way back up the steps from the yard. Sean and I sort of feel that for Reo, she needs to willingly "engage" her vision sense. Like, if she's focused and paying attention, she can see and navigate well. If she's distracted and smelling something, or if she is napping/dozing and opens her eyes, she doesn't have much vision. Sometimes we can snap her out of it and get her to engage by talking to her. I find this interesting, and I wish I knew more about what could be going on in her eyeballs!
I think that Reo has lost a little bit of weight - she's looking more ribby lately. It's a fine line to balance diet and exercise in a small dog. I'm constantly giving a little more or a little less food, depending on how much exercise we've gotten.
At this time next week, we'll be somewhere in Kansas, en route home to Colorado. We are really excited, and I hope that Reo is not too stressed out. Anything could happen in a car with 2 people, 3 dogs, and 2 cats. Fun times, yes? :)
Saturday, February 18, 2012
"Booster" shot, and a happy liver
02/18/12 - Went to our vet yesterday for Reo. I had to stock up on her meds, since we are in the midst of a cross-country move.
I also wanted to get a CBC and thyroid test to see how she was doing (it has been about 6 months since her last CBC, which was normal). Reading other lists and groups makes me a little paranoid sometimes, like Reo's liver is going to fail for being on Medrol long-term (been almost a year). I've also heard people complain that the NVDS blood lab that I use for Reo is "inaccurate, particularly in thyroid testing".
It's no secret that the treatment we pursued for Reo is controversial - and some people have had extremely averse reactions to her success. Because I read a lot of views/treatments/theories about SARDS, I do question myself sometimes, even though Reo is healthy and she regained her sight.
As our vet says "the proof is in the pudding!" - kind of hard to argue with that!
Anyway, our vet does the basic blood testing right in his office, so it didn't take very long to find out her status. I'm very pleased to report that Reo's thyroid is normal (confirmed NVDS normal result), and all of her liver and kidney values are normal, and her blood glucose is normal! :)
If her dose of Medrol was a therapeutic dose (as many people and vets feel is the case) - there is definitely concern that there can be long term liver or kidney problems, and high blood sugar. In my mind, this proves that Reo is not on a therapeutic dose of Medrol - her daily dose is only replacing what her body cannot produce naturally (again, making her like an atypical Addison's dog).
Because she has had a decline in vision the past 2 weeks (stress of me being gone on a trip, coupled with stress of the house packing/chaos), I had contacted Caroline Levin and Dr. Plechner to see what they suggest. They both suggested a "booster" shot of cortisol hormone.
Caroline cites her experience in that spring and fall are natural periods of enhanced adrenal activity in pets and people (allergies, anyone?), and so sometimes dogs with adrenal exhaustion have challenges during this time. Take this, coupled with stress, and it can have an effect - it seems to have had an effect on Reo.
So, I talked about a "booster" with our vet, and agreed on a dosage. We went with 15 mg DepoMedrol, which was less than Dr. P suggested to me, but a dose with which my vet and I felt comfortable. I am interested to see how this helps with Reo's stress, and if her vision will improve again.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
NOT phasing out PS
02/12/12 - As I mentioned in my previous post, I dropped Reo's dosage from 100 mg/day to 50 mg/day last week. That same day, even before her first PS dose
in her breakfast, we noticed some decline in her vision - thinking there was no
possible way it could have been from the reduced dosage (since she got 50 mg that
morning as she always does, just not the other 50 in her evening meal). We also noticed some watery discharge from
Reo's eyes, which is new.
We went the whole week with Reo at 50 mg/day of PS, and
didn't notice any chance in disposition, clarity/confusion, etc., but her
vision seems to be poor lately. I truly
don't know if it's a result of PS (since the onset of declining vision seemed
to overlap with the drop in dosage, and it seems unlikely to me that PS would
have such a direct effect on vision?), but I bumped her back up to 100 mg/day
on Saturday (so there was 5 days of a decreased dosage), just in case.
Her watery eyes continue, as well as greatly decreased
vision lately, unresponsive PLRs to normal light (flashlight), but do respond
in sunlight. I'm not sure if she has
allergies, or really what is going on at the moment, but this seems to be a
long period (for Reo) of struggling with sight.
Otherwise, she's doing great in terms of disposition, etc.
Hopefully it's just another "blip"
like we've encountered before, but gets better soon. This seems to be the longest period of time
she's gone with diminished vision, so I'm a little concerned. We're also in the midst of packing up our
house for a cross-country move - I'm sure this could be a stressful situation
for her, too, even though she is navigating the house just fine and not bumping
into things/getting lost (which makes me wonder if her vision is really
diminished or if she's faking!!).
We had an hour-long walk today, and she did really great,
but it was the first time in over a week that the dogs got a walk because it's
been pretty cold!
Anyway, I won't be tinkering around with the supplement
dosages any time for the foreseeable. We're in unchartered territory, but we need to stick to what we know has worked for Reo! Additionally, after speaking with Caroline Levin, I am considering pulsing her Medrol dosage, to help her get through this time of stress for the move.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Milestone
01/29/11 - Last week, I was on a work trip and gone the entire week. Previously, when I traveled, Reo always seemed to have some sort of setback. Despite Sean's best efforts, there was always something that developed - maybe a little melancholy, maybe a little weight gain, maybe she got into the cat food, maybe she drank a little too much. It was always something that I attributed to the "stress" of me being gone, because Sean follows her meal and dosing instructions to the letter (literally - because I write it all down!). We even tried pulsing her Medrol dosage to see if it would mitigate this stress. Because of this, I always had a lot of guilt about leaving her and stressing her out.
This past week was the first time since Reo's SARDS diagnosis that she didn't have any noticeable stress or increase in symptoms when I was gone! Sean reported that Reo was in a great mood all week - playing and killing her toys. Indeed, when I got home late Friday night, she looked great! And yesterday, we went for a walk and she was displaying her show dog hackney action and feeling fine!
This is definitely a milestone for us, and I hope it is yet another indication that Reo is healthier than ever!
This past week was the first time since Reo's SARDS diagnosis that she didn't have any noticeable stress or increase in symptoms when I was gone! Sean reported that Reo was in a great mood all week - playing and killing her toys. Indeed, when I got home late Friday night, she looked great! And yesterday, we went for a walk and she was displaying her show dog hackney action and feeling fine!
This is definitely a milestone for us, and I hope it is yet another indication that Reo is healthier than ever!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Home sweet home!
12/09/11 - After a ridiculously long and complicated journey yesterday, I made it back from Germany safe and sound! It is always such a happy homecoming to three wagging nubbins! The unconditional love of a dog is a beautiful thing.
Reo did well when I was away. We didn't pulse her Medrol dosage, but Sean reported that she did have some slight PD/PU at about the 3rd day I was gone. I asked him to give her a bump up the next morning, so maybe we'll try pulsing her every 3rd day next time I am out of town. I feel slightly guilty that my absence gives her stress, and I always worry that she's still not stable with respect to her hormones. Time will tell - we'll get another blood panel at the end of this month.
In other news, we have a mouse in the house! A little grey mouse made his/her appearance known this afternoon. Tula and I noticed right away, and she tore into the kitchen in pursuit. Reo was soon after, and I think the mouse went under the stove, because Reo focused her enhanced sniffer there. I suspect the mouse came up from the unfinished basement through a hole in the floor from an old gas line. This is definitely exciting, and I feel sorry for the mouse who decided to share space with three pinschers and two kitties. Poor mouse! ;)
Reo did well when I was away. We didn't pulse her Medrol dosage, but Sean reported that she did have some slight PD/PU at about the 3rd day I was gone. I asked him to give her a bump up the next morning, so maybe we'll try pulsing her every 3rd day next time I am out of town. I feel slightly guilty that my absence gives her stress, and I always worry that she's still not stable with respect to her hormones. Time will tell - we'll get another blood panel at the end of this month.
In other news, we have a mouse in the house! A little grey mouse made his/her appearance known this afternoon. Tula and I noticed right away, and she tore into the kitchen in pursuit. Reo was soon after, and I think the mouse went under the stove, because Reo focused her enhanced sniffer there. I suspect the mouse came up from the unfinished basement through a hole in the floor from an old gas line. This is definitely exciting, and I feel sorry for the mouse who decided to share space with three pinschers and two kitties. Poor mouse! ;)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
In hindsight - SARDs stressors
Thinking back over the months leading up to Reo's SARDS diagnosis, there were may signs that gave us clues about what was going on in Reo's body. Unfortunately, we didn't pick up on those clues until later when we could piece them all together.
early 12/10: I was gone on a trip for 10 days (me gone = doggie stress, even though Sean is home)
12/10: Reo's annual wellness exam with Dr. N. She got her leptospirosis vaccine, and was diagnosed with an ear infection. Culture revealed it was bacterial - Baytril was prescribed.
12/17/10: We added a new dog, Tula the Doberman, to our household (new dog = STRESS!)
late 12/10: Noticed some behavior we attributed to Reo "acting out" - inappropriate urination in the house, general disobedience, lethargy, reluctance to go on walks/dog park (this we attributed to Reo's hatred of cold weather).
01/25/11 - Ear recheck showed the bacteria was gone, but it was now a fungal infection (treated with oral Ketaconazole - I learned later that this medication can suppress hormone production!)
02/03/11 - Ear recheck showed the fungus was gone, now back to bacterial. Dr. N was a little puzzled at the ferocity of this ear infection
02/14/11 - Reo got her bordatella vaccination
late 02/11 - Reo fell out of bed twice (this has never happened previously!)
late 02/11 - noticed Reo was very restless at night; panting every night, wanted to get up for water (I attributed this to the fact that I'm a hot sleeper)
late 02/11 - Reo began getting into the cat food (naughty!), and seemed to bloat up with weight. She lost her waist.
early 03/11 - I was out of town, and Sean reported that Reo was bumping into things (very strange). I came home March 4th, and noticed this myself. Reo was indeed bumping into things, and was reluctant to climb stairs, etc. I made a vet appointment with Dr. N right away for the next day - we were very worried at this point!
What I believe to be the key stressors for Reo: change in schedule/routine, environmental stressors (new dog, maybe cold weather), two vaccinations close together.
Again in hindsight, Caroline Levin thinks that Reo's ear infection was her expression of the hormonal imbalances. Some dogs will have allergies, rashes, skin infections, etc. For Reo, it was a nasty ear infection.
Key symptoms: inappropriate urination, lethargy, panting/heat intolerance, excessive thirst (polydypsia - PD), excessive hunger (polyphagia - PP), restlessness
early 12/10: I was gone on a trip for 10 days (me gone = doggie stress, even though Sean is home)
12/10: Reo's annual wellness exam with Dr. N. She got her leptospirosis vaccine, and was diagnosed with an ear infection. Culture revealed it was bacterial - Baytril was prescribed.
12/17/10: We added a new dog, Tula the Doberman, to our household (new dog = STRESS!)
late 12/10: Noticed some behavior we attributed to Reo "acting out" - inappropriate urination in the house, general disobedience, lethargy, reluctance to go on walks/dog park (this we attributed to Reo's hatred of cold weather).
01/25/11 - Ear recheck showed the bacteria was gone, but it was now a fungal infection (treated with oral Ketaconazole - I learned later that this medication can suppress hormone production!)
02/03/11 - Ear recheck showed the fungus was gone, now back to bacterial. Dr. N was a little puzzled at the ferocity of this ear infection
02/14/11 - Reo got her bordatella vaccination
late 02/11 - Reo fell out of bed twice (this has never happened previously!)
late 02/11 - noticed Reo was very restless at night; panting every night, wanted to get up for water (I attributed this to the fact that I'm a hot sleeper)
late 02/11 - Reo began getting into the cat food (naughty!), and seemed to bloat up with weight. She lost her waist.
early 03/11 - I was out of town, and Sean reported that Reo was bumping into things (very strange). I came home March 4th, and noticed this myself. Reo was indeed bumping into things, and was reluctant to climb stairs, etc. I made a vet appointment with Dr. N right away for the next day - we were very worried at this point!
What I believe to be the key stressors for Reo: change in schedule/routine, environmental stressors (new dog, maybe cold weather), two vaccinations close together.
Again in hindsight, Caroline Levin thinks that Reo's ear infection was her expression of the hormonal imbalances. Some dogs will have allergies, rashes, skin infections, etc. For Reo, it was a nasty ear infection.
Key symptoms: inappropriate urination, lethargy, panting/heat intolerance, excessive thirst (polydypsia - PD), excessive hunger (polyphagia - PP), restlessness
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