Intestinal Lymphangiectasia: A Protein-Losing Enteropathy (PLE)

[specialklm]

Good news about Holly! Seeing our babies happy makes us happy.
Yorkies are such fighters, so resilient!! Love is a great medicine.

My vet never mentioned giving Ja B-12 shots... Is it difficult to give them to her? I'm in NY, NY -- one would (mistakenly?) think the best vets are here... where do you live?

Thanks for your sweet words about JaJa and the contest.
I'll pray for excellent blood test results for Holly & JaJa,
Karen

[Nikeann07]

I give Holly the B-12 injections ...only because the vet showed me how ...he did not charge me in teaching me how...and how much in each dose...he made me give her a shot while he watched....he gave me all the syringes I will need...I am to put them in a plastic bag after each weeks injection and return them to the Vet for proper disposal...The injection goes into the back of Holly's neck...It is quick and simple and it is a very fine small needle...Holly does not even feel it. The B-12 prescription does not have to be refrigerated.... I live in California..it is an animal hospital that I go to. He gave her the first 3 shots...and I think it was only that she was doing so well on it...that he lets me do it now. The cost now is something I can handle.

I just paid the Visa bill on all this and it came to $975.00 ( 2 months of treatment....medications...vet appointments....change of food to Vet food...x-rays....bloodwork...and tests...and the big one...He did save her life
...which I am so grateful for....and all the Yorkie talk friends who said prayers for Holly.

Bless all of you for caring about Holly..I have hope now that she will continue to improve.

Please ask your Vet about B-12 injections for this condition

Nikeann07

[specialklm]

Hi,
How is Holly?
I'm taking JaJa to the vet on Fri. - time for her annual check-up... but have to say that since I had her groomed 2 weeks ago it really looks like she's lost weight ( can feel every inch of her spine and ribs) - I know this is not the best sign...
Do you have any suggestions re: things I should discuss with the vet? I was hoping to get her off prednisone after 11 months... just hope her blood tests are good etc.
thanks,
Karen

[Nikeann07]

I know what you mean about the ribs and spine showing...I think b-12 shots would help ..please ask your Vet on Friday when you go in for JaJa.
I pray her tests come back as improved. My prayer to you always.

B-12 is about $36.00 here in Ca. I gave Holly one weekly injection today...she does not even feel it. She is still on the steroid every other day. I go off the fragal this week..which she was getting twice daily.

I have added freeze dried chicken 97% fat-free. I crush a couple of small pieces over her food like sawdust. She gets 1 half can of Hill's W/d formula vet food total daily only...spread out over the day in 4 mini meals...because as you know, the steroid makes them sooooo hungry. Some days she eat all of the half can...and some days less.

I take her out for excercise or some play time twice daily to keep her from thinking of eating...it works. It makes me happy to see her eager to eat each day.

She still likes to lay out in the morning sun.

Karen I hope your Vet just gives JaJa more food allowance. Please let me know how the trip to the Vet goes for I am very interested in hearing how you and JaJa are doing.


Holly had a boney look to her..and now after 3 weeks of a once a week injection ...she has filled out...it gave her another 1/2 lb to her frame...to look at her she appears healthy. and not so breakable.

[specialklm]

Hi,
I took JaJa to the vet today. She has lost approx. 1/2 lb - down to 6.8 lbs. The vet took 3 vials of blood - I'll have most, if not all, the results tomorrow afternoon. I discussed the B-12 injections (thank you) so he's testing her B-12 levels too. His guess is that even though I'm feeding her more and she's still losing weight it probably means that her body isn't absorbing nutrients ( especially protein). He suspects that 1/4 tab of prednisone every other day is not enough. The blood tests will show if she has major abnormalities because of the prednisone. He reiterated that this is a life long illness that can't be cured but can be managed.
We also discussed the vaccines that she's due for and mutually decided NOT to give her the distemper one - one of the blood tests is to see if she still has antibodies against rabies.
She also may need a broken tooth pulled because of a significant cavity...
So, I'll know more tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll accept that she may be on prednisone forever....
Thanks for your well wishes & prayers.
Hope you, Holly and your other Yorkies are doing well.
best,
Karen

[Nikeann07]

Thank you for getting back to me about JaJa

I hope the bloodwork comes back showing much improvement.
I am thinking about you and JaJa. all day.

Holly is off the fragal now...she seems to be doing okay...still very hungry.
she just gets the steroid ....one whole pill...every other day...and the B-12 shot once a week...a very low dose...like a few drops.

What do you feed JaJa?

I think your Vet may be right in thinking the steroid dose is to low for JaJa...
My Vet's goal is to get Holly on 1 half pill every other day for life.

Keep me posted when you can.

In my thoughts and prayers always,
Nikeann07

[katelin]

Wishing you both success in dealing with this tragic disease. So glad you found each other and that you can help and support each other.

Best wishes.

[eroar2]

Karen and Nikeann,

Thanks for all your posts on this disease. Just a few days ago Annie was diagnose with LPE and your posts have helped me understand we have in store for us. (Actually before we got the diagonosis I had a good idea of what she had from your posts based on her blood results) We had taken her in to the ER vet when she started panting heavily and shaking. Which we were told were seizures and a hard time breathing. Prior to this she really didn't show any symptoms except for random boughts of diarhea which we just blamed on us giving her something or her getting into something... She is almost 4 years old and tomorrow we are to get back her biopsy results to see how far the disease has progressed. For the most part she acts like her normal self. The vet has started her on prednizone twice a day and the prescription hills r/d diet which I am not to found of...

The news was a bit devastating at first, but we are taking it one day at a time I suppose.

Shivani

[Nikeann07]

I am so sorry to hear this!

I understand oh so much what you are feeling and going through at this point.
My prayers are with you also. It saddens me that someone else will have this going on with their Yorkie too. I hope the bloodwork comes back that it is not too serious a case..please keep us posted.

Good that you are taking it one day at a time...because it will be hard at first with the new feeding and constant watch over anything your baby will or might get into. The prednisone will make your Yorkie so very hungry remember. I found that keeping Holly on a regular strict eating schedule and play, walks...etc...calms this down.

Your pet will notice your distress and tears...so try and relax at the vet and at home ..be calm.
( this is hard I know)

Feel free to ask us any questions you may have. Our Yorkies are at different levels of recovery maintenance.

also...feel free to talk about it all here...it helped me to know I had the support of others...and the opinions of other Vets in treating this disease.

my prayers and support alway,

Nikeann07


hug:

[specialklm]

Hi Nikeann (& others with PLE babies).
I took JaJa to the vet on Fri. She was almost due for her annual
exam but I pushed it up because after she was groomed a couple of weeks ago & I really noticed that she had lost weight - could feel her spine & ribs.

Long story shorter, she's lost a bit more than 1/2 lb.-- supposedly though I've been feeding her more and despite her constant ravenous appetite - she's not absorbing nutrients well ... and her blood tests showed that her albumin & total protein counts have dropped (but not nearly as low
as when she was 1st diagnosed with Intestinal Lymphangiectasia June '07). Her kidneys, liver etc. are fine and show no signs of Prednisone damage. Her thyroid is borderline low but her vet doesn't want
to treat that because it might make her lose more weight and complicate the main condition.

So, we're upping the Prednisone to 1/4 tab every day (as opposed to the current every other day - she initially was on a full pill 2x/day).

I can feed her up to 20% more food. I've been feeding her Natural Balance duck & potato- canned & dry for the past 2 yrs. because overuse of antibiotics made her have serious gastro problems for 5 months. I now also add some powder from Cranactin capsules (due to her recent urinary tract infection (UTI) - prednisone can make dogs more suseptible to infections). Every so often I give her a 3V Skin Cap (supposedly essential fatty acids are helpful but will double check if this is the best formula). I also give her bits of broccoli & sweet potato from my dinner.

We're going back to the vet in 3 weeks to weigh her and get albumin & protein blood tests. I'll know this week the results of her B-12 test and if she still has immunity from rabies. We decided Not to give her a booster shot for distemper.

Our vet reiterated that this is a life long illness that can't be cured but
hopefully can be managed. Ja will almost definitely be on Prednisone forever... Her huge appetite and constant peeing is a bit trying at times... as I'm sure you can relate to. Otherwise, Ja appears healthy & happy and normal in all other ways.

The news could've been much worse, so I am thankful. Please keep sweet JaJa in your thoughts & prayers.

I will continue to have the most positive thoughts for the health of your sweet Yorkies.

Please let me know how Holly & you are doing and if you have any questions you'd like me to ask our vet.
best,
Karen

[Nikeann07]

Thank you for keeping me and others posted on JaJa.

Did the Vet pull JaJa's tooth?

My Holly is due next visit on the 21st for a Rabies shot plus a revaluation of her condition (and weight loss or gain)...current Rabies shot required to renew her dog license here in Ca.

He did take her off Heartguard ..I am wondering what's next??

I pray the b-12 shot each week is all JaJa needs.

Right now ....as I write this...Holly is begging for a snack...she seems more hungry on the day she does not get the steroid pill.

Her poops are normal yesterday and today without the flagal twice daily.

I know Karen the daily effort involved in monitoring JaJa..and I know all to well we both love our Yorkie babies to much to do it any other way.

I pray for all of us who are fighting this to give our Yorkies a good possible life.

Nikeann07

[specialklm]

Thank you once again for your kind & thoughtful note.

Just a couple of days on 1/4 prednisone Every day, Ja's appetite is totally out of control - she's constantly crying for more & more food. Being as smart as she is, like most Yorkies, she has, in the past "played" me for food - but I keep on giving her snacks because of her delicate condition.

Did Holly have a Rabies Antibodies blood test? it's expensive (in NYC $136...) but last year she showed immunity to rabies so I didn't give her the shot. It's the law here, too, but if the blood test shows immunity I think it's ok....

Ja's vet thought I should give her Interceptor (anti-heartworm) for 6 months - 1 pill every 60 days- in case I travel out of manhattan or she can get something from another dog on the street. He said its "safe"-- why did your vet say Not to give Holly the heartworm med.? (btw, as a kid I had a mini schanuzer who actually was infested with heartworm and needed surgery.....).

As I've mentioned, I'll know Ja's B-12 levels in a day or so -- the vet said that B-12 usually increases hunger & weight loss...

Glad to hear Holly's poops are normal - Ja was on liquid Flagyl for months -- supposedly it's very safe so would add that again if necessary.

When I was at the vet, I gave Ja treats & he looked to see if she was chewing on the side of her bad tooth - she was-- so he said we can just watch it for now.

One more thing, I think the the "specialty" vet at the animal hospital that was giving Ja ultrasounds & adjusting the prednisone probably made an error. Her last visit w/ him was in Feb. and she was doing well, so he dropped the prednisone to 1/4 every other day & said Ja needed to be checked by our reg. vet in 3-4 months . Obviously, the drop in prednisone was not a good idea - he should have suggested a check-up sooner...

My prayers and thoughts that Holly's check up on the 21st shows improvement or at least stability.
I'll let you know about the B-12 & rabies tests.
Until then-- let's be as positive as possible. wishing great health to you , your family and all yorkies!!!!!

Best,
Karen & JaJa

[Nikeann07]

Hi...I am wondering how you and JaJa are doing now...any new information from the Vet about the B-12 test?

Nikeann

[Nikeann07]

[COLOR="DarkSlateGray"]

Holly will be in for a Vet check on thursday this week. Her dog license is due for renewal...but she needs a Rabies shot for this...and the Vet told me over the phone that he will NOT give her one and he will write a waver for the City's dog licencing program for me to send in. (it's to read Holly has too many health issues.)

Holly has been doing fine...except she now appears to have a bit of a pot-belly in the evenings...this concerns me.[/COLOR]

I will keep you informed as to what the Vet says about this...and her upcoming blood work on thursday.

Nikeann07

[specialklm]

Hi,
How was Holly's vet appt. and her blood tests?

Last weekend, JaJa was peeing blood again (v.scary)... so phoned the vet on Mon. , then collected a urine sample (I can tell you how to do this if you don't know) and brought it to the vet.

Well, Ja had elevated WBCs and bacteria, but no blood, in her urine- the vet said she needed to go on antibiotics AGAIN 2x/day for 2 weeks. I really don't like her on antibiotics but the vet said it had to be treated. I'm also giving her FortiFlora to prevent stomach problems.
So now, I have to give Ja 3 pills/day - 1/4 prednisone & 2 antibiotics.
Ja's B-12 tests were normal - vet said when she comes in for her next check up in 2 weeks we'll see if she's gained weight before deciding on the B-12.

Still haven't got Ja's Rabies immunity tests back - good that your vet will write a letter about this. I didn't give Ja her DHP-PV booster shots and don't want to give her a rabies shot. Am giving her Interceptor for heartworm and Frontline, though.

JaJa SEEMS happy and healthy. (of course, v. hungry and peeing alot still).
I pray for more normal blood tests, that she's gaining and maintaining weight & no more UTI's.

Please let me know how you & Holly are doing and if you have any new info.
Hugs,
Karen & JaJa