Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 3:30 pm Post subject: Snowie's latest update
Snowie saw some of her specialists mid-October. I had a message off one of my children (I suspect it was my second son) a week or so later to say her blood tests were ok. But what he failed to pass on, was that some of them weren't ok . (I called in to my vets today to ask for a copy of the report as they hadn't told me they'd had it.)
The ok results were her titres for distemper, parvo and adenovirus, so she has no problems with them as she can't have any annual vaccinations. But her B12 and folate are very low again, which has implications for the juggling of drugs for her multiple problems.
She can simply have these given to her, but it would be better to know the cause first. Her diet was changed as Royal Canin changed the formulation of their Sensitivity Control, so at that point, with vet approval, I put her on the Arden Grange Sensitive seeing as she couldn't stay on the RC one. This could be the cause. Her Prednisolone was reduced about the same time, and they would like to reduce it further. This could have allowed a relapse in her Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This could be the cause. She needs the injections of B12 smartish, and folic acid tablets in her dinners.
One of my current worries is that the Immune-mediated Polyarthritis (and meningitis) was most likely a direct result of the IBD, and I don't want her back to square one with those. Thankfully she seems ok at the moment, but I watch her like a hawk. The other worry is that the vets are concerned about her seemingly developing neuropathy which could be a result of her Prednisolone therapy or an early degenerative myelopathy/cauda-equina syndrome (to quote the report). This is not good news.
Nothing with Snowie is good news medical-wise. However, she is being kept painfree and is happy and enjoying life. The report refers to our aim being to keep her maintained for as long as we can though we may not expect her to be able to survive happily to the older age that healthier labradors might reach. This prediction takes into account her advanced degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis also.
For those who are interested in her problems in particular, the report posts these diagnoses at the top:
Immune-mediated polyarthropathy.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Inflammatory skin disease, aetiology uncertain, resolved.
Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism.
Advanced osteoarthritis, elbows and hips.
Neuropathy, may be related to Prednisolone therapy or could be early degenerative myelopathy/cauda-equina syndrome.
I think she forgot the advanced degenerative joint disease (hip dysplasia) refered to elsewhere in the report .
I have always known since her initial diagnoses last summer, that Snowie had a shortened life expectation, but seeing it written with 6 diagnoses on this particular report has hit me hard. She will of course remain a much-loved member of my brood for as long as we can keep her happy and painfree.
Oh bless you Shirley,I can't understand most of that...I have no idea how you get it all. BUT as you say,she is happy and leading a wonderful life with you and your girlies. That is the main thing. She couldn't live with a more caring person so she is a very lucky lady,even with all her ailments.
Take care and big hug to you.Hope to see you before Christmas xxx
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for you, hope she continues to be a happy girl for sometime to come.
