[ SHOWGSD-L ] Good news
- From: Fran Henry <fhenry1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: showgsd <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:24:39 -0700
Thanks to all who responded to my Pigment question. The overwhelming
majority pegged it as "snow nose" and advised that panicking was
unnecessary. <G>
The dog in question is my Luke, who has been battling elevated liver enzyme=
s
for more than a year. Luke is immune compromised.
He began vomiting profusely two weeks after the Pueblo All-Breeds last
year, and CBP showed elevated liver enzymes, particularly the ALT. It shoul=
d
be between 12 and 116 [or thereabouts] and at the time, it was in the 500s.
At one point, it went as high as 1,650!!!!!! We could find NO OTHER reason
he should be exhibiting symptoms.
We tried flagyl, cephalexin, SAMe, ursodial, Hills LD, and finally,
cyclosporine. Mistakenly, I now realize, I resisted the cyclosporine becaus=
e
it is such a powerful drug and because Luke had such a violent reaction to
prednisone. By the time we put him on cyclosporine, a number of his liver
enzymes were elevated.
THE GOOD NEWS: Just before Christmas, ALL his liver enzymes tested entirely
normal. We're now in the process of gradually weaning him off the
cyclosporine. He's losing ALL his hair, something he also did after being
treated with Imuran for cutaneous histiocytosis. But his attitude is upbeat=
,
his appetite is great, stools are great, and coat is shiny, even though it'=
s
all falling out. <G>
Throughout all this, he has NEVER appeared to be sick. That's the real
zinger with liver disease. By the time they start showing symptoms, the
liver is usually damaged beyond repair. I'm just incredibly lucky that I'm
neurotic! <G>
I have no idea why he's immune compromised. I no longer vaccinate him;
haven't for a couple of years. But, he did NOT receive excess vaccinations.
Thanks to all listers who weighed in on the liver problems and later, on th=
e
pigment problems. Luke's a heart dog -- he makes my world go round. I'm so
grateful to have more time with him.
BY THE WAY: I found I could get Cyclosporine from Costco -- I paid $193 for
60 100-mg capsules. Doc Zoe asked me to tell the list that. I searched a
lot, and this is the cheapest I found it.
--=20
Fran Henry
Denver
Home of:
DeRousse=B9s Cool Hand Luke OFA, HIC, 11 points, both majors (Retired)
Quadrill=B9s Cinderella HIC, TC
Waiting at the Bridge: Henry=B9s Drummer Boy CDX, TD, SAR dog (1981),
Quadrill=B9s Shawnee, (1992), Judeen=B9s Citizen Kane (2000).
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