Canine Vasculitis and Pentoxifylline-need advice

[Jenna AK]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

It was just my understanding that it is important that they be treated for four weeks at least.
I would not test it myself, but that's just me. No, I don't think she will need it for the rest of her life. I just think it is very important that she be treated for the right length of time now so that it does not flare again. I cannot advise you on the length of time...only what I was told.

Well that's worrisome.
I have seen you be right too many times not to take notice of this. I will call them back tomorrow and discuss these concerns.
Do you think it will affect her overall recovery to have been on half the dose for these last two days?
She began the treatment on the 28th of March and only went two days on the .4 mls twice a day at the start. So she should be on the .8 mls all the way through the 28th of this month?

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Jenna AK

Well that's worrisome.
I have seen you be right too many times not to take notice of this. I will call them back tomorrow and discuss these concerns.
Do you think it will affect her overall recovery to have been on half the dose for these last two days?
She began the treatment on the 28th of March and only went two days on the .4 mls twice a day at the start. So she should be on the .8 mls all the way through the 28th of this month?

Keep in mind that my foster was on prednisone as was my son's pup....could be that it is different with the pentoxifylline...just ask the vet to be certain. What I do know is that with my son's pup she was diagnosed incorrectly by the first vet and was luckily put on prednisone which helped BUT she was tapered off too soon and it came back quickly and was awful. She was then seen by my vet and put on the prednisone for another month. She is fine to this day.

[ladyjane]

Here is a link I just found about pentoxifylline that may be helpful:

What's new in dermatologic therapy? - Veterinary Medicine

[Jenna AK]

Well that's more than enough for me. I'll see about re-upping her dose tomorrow. Considering how few options we have from this point, I'm not about to risk a relapse.
Thank you for the info ladyjane.

[kimp5]

hoping all the best for Jenna...

[ladyjane]

Checking in on Jenna. Hope no news is good news.

[Jenna AK]

Sorry to be slow to update. Yes, she is doing well, barring a reduced appetite.
She looked like she was pinking up again on her belly and possibly the ears by the second day of the lowered dose of pentoxifylline, so I took her back up to the .8 mls and will keep her at that dose until we finish the bottle or until the 30th, whichever comes first. That way she's been on the proper dose for a month.
She's also back on her benadryl, which we had stopped due to how bitter it is and the fight she puts up over it, but she is still itchy so we've begun that again.
She is also still taking the sucralfate twice a day to ensure that her tummy doesn't feel bad.
Notified her vet but haven't heard back. He goes on hiatus this weekend for 5 days.
Thanks for asking about her.

[Jenna AK]

Well Jenna finished her meds today. She seems well in herself although she is back to scratching herself more and reverse sneezing. We are very dry up here right now with the snow melting off and then more falling...the weather is really weird. We're all chapped and uncomfortable as a result.
So now we have to look forward to her vet returning at the end of the month and finding out what is going on in her mouth. She's needed a dental and there may be a tooth reabsorbing. This is probably also the main reason why she's scratching at her throat and flapping her ears.
We have to soak her kibble for her to eat it, but now that we are her appetite has taken off again. So all in all she's doing okay.
Just hoping now her vasculitis doesn't return.

[kimp5]

I dont know if Jennas diet is really restricted totally but I inject benadryl into a small piece of watermelon. it absorbs it right up and the slight sugar in the watermelon masks the taste...

[ladyjane]

Well, I am glad that the cutaneous vasculitis is cleared up now! As for the other issues, yes it may be her teeth. I imagine she will feel better once her dental is done

[Jenna AK]

Thank you kimp5, yes she must only eat her vegan kibble. I suppose we'll explore that as well when her vet returns. I'm eager for him to get a look at her, she's worlds away from what she looked like the last time he saw her.

Ladyjane, yes she is definitely uncomfy in that mouth...and her 'dragon's breath' has never been worse. I hate dentals though...any time she has to go under GA I am worried sick. She always comes back so lethargic for the rest of the day and into the night. I often wonder if she is sensitive to the anesthesia or if they just dope her up too much.
We'll find out in the next week or so.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Jenna AK

Thank you kimp5, yes she must only eat her vegan kibble. I suppose we'll explore that as well when her vet returns. I'm eager for him to get a look at her, she's worlds away from what she looked like the last time he saw her.

Ladyjane, yes she is definitely uncomfy in that mouth...and her 'dragon's breath' has never been worse. I hate dentals though...any time she has to go under GA I am worried sick. She always comes back so lethargic for the rest of the day and into the night. I often wonder if she is sensitive to the anesthesia or if they just dope her up too much.
We'll find out in the next week or so.

Hopefully it won't be so bad this time.

[Jenna AK]

Jenna's vet called me to let me know he was back in town and to assess her progress. I was happy to hear from him as I had set myself a memo to call and see about an appointment.
She will go in on Saturday, the same day I have to take my house rabbit in to see about his teeth as well with another vet. He'll take a look at her overall condition and peek at her mouth to see what's going on in there. Not sure if they'll do a dental on the spot or reschedule her. We'll see what happens. We could use some vibes for a good outcome.
She will eat hard kibble occasionally (usually right before bed) but won't eat them any other time. I have to soften them for her. Funny bub.
Otherwise she's doing pretty well, exception being that she's working a hot spot on the crook of her upper right leg. She's been very shaky and nervous lately (there's a lot of discord going on between myself and my son at present and she doesn't like it when he gets belligerent...can't say I blame her) and I've also had to look after our other dog quite a bit while my OH is recovering from some brutal dental surgery of his own. Jenna gets anxious and jealous when the other dog is getting my attention. Luckily she doesn't take the other dog on, but she tends to take her agitation out on herself which is almost worse. (Our young pup is a corgi sized dog and would flatten Jenna in a thrice if she dared stand up to her, fortunately there is only a lot of sniffing and tail wagging with some odd ear posturing that tells me they still aren't sure of one another after a year and a half.)
I will be glad when our snow finally melts off (May 1 already...come on!) and I can put bigger doggie outside in her run instead of having her indoors, which is Jenna's territory. Both will be happier, and me too.
Not looking forward to the drive in. Hoping OH will be the chauffeur again as I hate driving. If only the snow would go away it would be one less worry. I think spring got canceled up here!

[kimp5]

How is Jenna doing?

[Jenna AK]

Thank you for asking, Jenna is still doing very well.
She went to her appointment and passed with flying colors. The vet was very happy with how she looked.
He is, however, worried about her teeth. He set us up with a May 9 dental, but we had too many conflicting appointments that day. She is now supposed to go in on May 16. He wants her to have an antibiotic injection before she goes under to protect her from any wild bacteria that may come loose. She will have to be intubated, which I don't like due to her reverse sneezing/coughing problem, but the alternative is to have the chemicals they spray in their mouths to dissolve the tartar be aspirated and that can apparently be fatal.
I don't know yet if she's going to lose teeth. Her molars are very badly caked. She still eats some hard kibbles before bed but moist ones the rest of the day.
Considering what she's been through for the last few months, I am actually very nervous about this procedure. I hope when the time comes we can get lots of YT vibes and prayers to be sure she comes through okay.