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lataina · 02-05-2015, 08:16 PM

Ok so I will try to post this again. Here goes........

I brought Romeo home today. He hasn't really improved any. His breaths are the same. It seems at the hospital he was ranging 36-54 breaths per minute. He has mild to moderately harsh lung sounds. I will continue to give him Chloramphenicol and he has two new prescriptions for Mycophenolate and Clopidogrel.

The vets at the hospital suspect his respiratory issues are most likely secondary to his Vasculitis, either pleural effusion as a result of low albumin or PTE secondary to the disease or steroid treatment. I spoke with the vet dermatologist and I don't think putting him back on steroids is an option for him. Apparently, steroids can also cause embolisms. And since Romeo's Vasculitis is complicated and they suspect an embolism may have been what cause his breathing problems, I don't feel comfortable putting him on any steroids. After we had to stop the SulfaSalazine, the dermatologist put him on Dexamethasone, which is a stronger steroid than Prednisone. So I think it's safe to say he does not respond well to steroids.

For the moment, putting him back on Pentoxifylline isn't an option either. This med helps his red blood cells wiggle through the damaged vessels and since he will now be on Clopidogrel, a blood thinner, it might not be good.

His protein is low, but again it might just be another side effect of the Vasculitis. The vet gave me some Hills Prescription Diet a/d Critical Care canned food to help with this and his appetite. I am still trying to find some quality food to give him. I saw a thread about companies that send out samples and so far I contacted two of them and they will be sending me some. Hopefully he will like them.

As I was reading through his discharge report I found something that has me uneasy. I will quote it:

"There is overall diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern within the lung fields which may be in part related to superimposition from the pleural effusion. There are some ill-defined nodular opacities seen in the lungs which are difficult to define. Diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern within the lung fields with possible pulmonary nodules. Repeat imaging after removal of the pleural effusion may be helpful in this assessment if clinically feasible. Differential such as granulomatous or metastatic lung disease may be a consideration if pulmonary nodules are confirmed."

I don't like the way this sounds and I have to find a way of getting him another X-ray after we get over this current hump.

02-05-2015, 08:16 PM	#32
lataina Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 28	Tonight's update Ok so I will try to post this again. Here goes........ I brought Romeo home today. He hasn't really improved any. His breaths are the same. It seems at the hospital he was ranging 36-54 breaths per minute. He has mild to moderately harsh lung sounds. I will continue to give him Chloramphenicol and he has two new prescriptions for Mycophenolate and Clopidogrel. The vets at the hospital suspect his respiratory issues are most likely secondary to his Vasculitis, either pleural effusion as a result of low albumin or PTE secondary to the disease or steroid treatment. I spoke with the vet dermatologist and I don't think putting him back on steroids is an option for him. Apparently, steroids can also cause embolisms. And since Romeo's Vasculitis is complicated and they suspect an embolism may have been what cause his breathing problems, I don't feel comfortable putting him on any steroids. After we had to stop the SulfaSalazine, the dermatologist put him on Dexamethasone, which is a stronger steroid than Prednisone. So I think it's safe to say he does not respond well to steroids. For the moment, putting him back on Pentoxifylline isn't an option either. This med helps his red blood cells wiggle through the damaged vessels and since he will now be on Clopidogrel, a blood thinner, it might not be good. His protein is low, but again it might just be another side effect of the Vasculitis. The vet gave me some Hills Prescription Diet a/d Critical Care canned food to help with this and his appetite. I am still trying to find some quality food to give him. I saw a thread about companies that send out samples and so far I contacted two of them and they will be sending me some. Hopefully he will like them. As I was reading through his discharge report I found something that has me uneasy. I will quote it: "There is overall diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern within the lung fields which may be in part related to superimposition from the pleural effusion. There are some ill-defined nodular opacities seen in the lungs which are difficult to define. Diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern within the lung fields with possible pulmonary nodules. Repeat imaging after removal of the pleural effusion may be helpful in this assessment if clinically feasible. Differential such as granulomatous or metastatic lung disease may be a consideration if pulmonary nodules are confirmed." I don't like the way this sounds and I have to find a way of getting him another X-ray after we get over this current hump.