Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Harley's platelet count was down to 30,000 on Nov. 15 and he was started on 80 mg of Prednisone daily (he weighed 86 and was happy, running, no symptoms). Nov. 29 platelets went up to 56,000 so 50 mg of Azathioprine was added to the daily Prednisone. Dec. 3 when he began the Azathioprine his platelets were 65,000. that week he stopped jumping on the bed which was his prefered place to lay. He had lost 6 lbs after being on the Pred for 2 weeks and you could see he had already lost his muscle mass. Last Monday after being on the Azathioprine his platelets were 77,000, but the Prednisone side effects are really affecting him so that is being tapered -- he is now on 60 mg daily but is continuing the Azathioprine. Now he cannot even climb on the sofa and he just slipped and fell trying to get up. I know he cannot just stop the Prednisone but I think the Azathioprine is making him very weak. He had bloodwork again today and I am thinking even if the platelets are still low maybe at this point I should just pull him off the Azathioprine. If off that will he at least get his strength back? I know he probably will not regain muscle mass. I so regret trying to get the platelet count up. He was such a strong dog that he has no idea what is wrong.
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
It could be either drug causing the muscle weakness. Since his platelets counts have not increased appreciably I would also consider weaning off the pred and stopping the azathioprine. Typically pred alone really boosts the platelet count very quickly. It is possible that your dog does not have an immune disorder. Sometimes I give just one dose of IV vincristine (Oncovin) to increase platelet count.
If your dog has not had any clinical bleeding then he may not need any treatment even with a low count. After he is off of the meds you could consider a bone marrow aspirate to help determine if his body is able to produce any platelets. This does often involve sedation or anesthetic.
Pam
Thanks Pam. The oncologist thought it was auto immune, but when they did not go up I was beginning to think this was related to his cancer and was not auto immune. He really has done so well even with the lung tumors that I real awful putting him through this at this point in his life. Hopefully he will regain some strength.
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
So sorry to hear that Harley is having a hard time of it.
Cancer can trigger autoimmune reactions, so it can get really complicated trying to sort everything out.
You cannot blame yourself for doing the best that you can and following advice to try and boost Harley's platelets. I would have done the exact same thing. But sometimes treatments do not go as planned or expected, and you need to change course. YOU are not putting him through this, cancer is putting him through this. You are doing everything you can to help him, don't ever feel bad about that.
Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.
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