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07-21-2006, 09:28 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 10
| Predizone and long term use. Hello everyone, I am new here. I wish I had found this site sooner. It looks like a wonderful place. I don't know why I need to post this but, I am feeling sad and lost. My 12 year old girl has had gut problems (diarrhea and vomiting) all of her life. Early on we tried the standard medications and they would work temporaily. I had to finally give in to using the steroid Predizone. I was against the use of steroids. Well, my little girl has now been on Predizone for a long time and it has finally caught up with her. This medicine helped give her quality life and now this medicine is killing her. We recently gave her a sonogram and it showed an enlarged liver (we knew this with an xray), bone deteriation, and a kidney stone. She also is losing weight and hair. She is getting boney and my vet told me yesterday she is "wasting". I asked how long she had and he said it would depend on how fast she would waste but, about 6 months. This is all due to the Predizone. I just can't believe this is happening and I fear that she will deteriate quickly and suffer. I don't want her to suffer. She also has hearing loss, cataracts and she is still getting diarrhea (mostly in the evenings). She licks the floor alot and I would assume it is because her belly does not feel well. On the up side, she has a great appetite (may also be due to the steroids) and she still tries to play with me and her toys each day for a few minutes at a time. She has all of her teeth and we have never had any problems in that area. I have been told she may have good teeth genetics. Her face is thinner but she still has her puppy face (also possibly due to the steroids) and her hair color is still good. Although she has been sick most of her life you would have never guessed it by looking at her. She has always looked and acted like a puppy most of her life. People are still amazed she is 12 years old. Well at least before I had her hair cut short. Now that it is short, her deterioration shows more. Her skin is wrinkled from the wasting. Like I said I don't know why I feel the need to post this. Advice or support would be helpful. I am not sure what I can do for her now. Yesterday after receiving the bad news I couldn't keep my attention off of her. She got lots of extra attention. And now today I am having difficulty being close to her because I start to cry and she doesn't like it when I cry. She gets upset. Thanks for listening. js |
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07-21-2006, 09:35 AM | #2 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| Thanks for the warning and telling your girls story. I am very sorry. My Chachi was on prednisone for a short bit for skin problems. I didnt know it was a steriod untill reading about it and the problems it caused another yorkie on this forum. I was glad when Chachi was taken off of it.
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
07-21-2006, 11:57 AM | #3 |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| Your story made me very sad for both of you. What an awful situation. Do you think a 2nd opinion at this time would be helpfull? I will keep you in my prayers and hope things get better for both of you. You came to the right place. People on this site are full of advise and support. |
07-21-2006, 12:31 PM | #4 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: El Paso, Texas
Posts: 3,065
| I am so sorry. Prednisone is sometimes a necessary evil. Did your pup have skin allergies or addison's disease? I have never heard of a dog being put on prednisone for digestive disorders. I know it is dangerous to abruptly stop prednisone as the dog will get addison's disease, but maybe she can be weaned off of it. If your vet can no longer do anything for her with traditional medication, maybe you can seek the opinion of a holistic vet. I know they are having good success with natural herbs for improving liver function. Many of us have went through losing our babies, so we are here for you. My Lacy passed away from Cushing's disease at 13. I'll say a prayer for you and your baby. What's her name? |
07-21-2006, 12:40 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,693
| I'm so sorry you are going through this. I just can't imagine your heartbreak. Prednisone is an awful drug for pets and humans. It almost killed my own mother as well. She was put on it to help her lungs and remained on it for 4 years. Anyway, I know the drug and it's downfalls. I pray that you can find a solution. ((hugs))
__________________ Steph, Mama to 6 skin babies and beautiful yorkies! |
07-21-2006, 12:51 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,643
| when do you decide to end the misery? After reading your posting......it made me think.... I remember as a teen, we had to make the decision to end the life of our poodle, who had been in our family for 12 years......with sickness and injury, he got struck by a car. I remember going to vet and sitting with him......and as a family it was decided no to make him suffer anymore.....Of course, I cried my eyes out ......and walked away being selfish for wanting him to stay alive for me...... Whatever you decide, remember the Yorkie.....and then make a decision based on "quality of life" I am sorry for your pain, I talk quality of life all day long in my job....... what is hard, is when you really have to take action, and not just think about it. Best wishes to you and your little Yorkie....I pray that you both will find comfort. |
07-21-2006, 12:58 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Alabama
Posts: 17,674
| Welcome! Welcome to YorkieTalk. This is an incredible site with a wealth of information! My first Yorkie, Laciebug, had a very rare brain disorder and was on a daily dose of Predizone for the rest of her life (as it turned out right at three years) and did very well. According to my vet, dogs are not as sensitive to the side effects of the steroid as humans are. Good luck! |
07-21-2006, 05:00 PM | #8 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: usa
Posts: 2,150
| I am so sorry that your little baby is having these problems. I know firsthand the damage that Prednisone can do, as I have bone damage from being on and off Pred for years due to Crohn's Disease. Some of the problems you describe are what I've had. I do hope your baby is feeling better soon. |
07-22-2006, 08:10 AM | #9 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 10
| Thank you all for your concern, replies and prayers. I will attempt to answer each question asked. I attempted to get a second opinion years ago. She has been to a specialist and an acurpunture vet with no luck. Her diet used to be changed alot due to food allergies and gut problems but, sometimes she would get worse just from the change. We also tried raw vegetables and flaxseed with no luck and I don't agree with it. I am not sure a second opinion would help at this point but thank you for the advice. She does not have skin allergies or addisson disease that I am aware but, like I mentioned above, she does have food allergies. Thank you all again. It helps to talk about it. js |
07-22-2006, 08:12 AM | #10 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 10
| Oh, her name is Teddi-Bear. |
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