Any info. on auto immune defiency in dogs please!

[Beth Va]

I want to thank everyone for the replies, prayers, links, suggestions, explanations and the encouraging thougths. Casey is making good progress she is looking much better her color has returned! I see areas which were pale white now pink! She's still drinking and urinating a lot but she's still on the prednisone.

Its odd though I keep reading about dogs being jaundiced with this but Casey never did get jaundiced. I am so glad she didn't. She regurgitated a small amount of kibble and water this morning but hasn't done anything since. She's keeping the water down so far and everything else. She eagerly ate a few treats and is much more alert. Her appetite is very good.

I do have another question.

What is safe to use indoors for fleas? I've discovered we have several in our unfinished basement when they attached themselves to my ankles this other evening. I really don't want to use a flea bomb. Any other ideas would be appreciated. None of our animals are going to our basement until this is taken care of. I've had one suggestion to put oil of cedar on some newpaper. I haven't tried this yet. Are fleas attracted to cedar? I don't quite understand this possible treatment.

[Traci]

Essential oils are worthless at repelling fleas, despite all the nonsense you hear on the net. You should also never use these products or other citrus oils, essential oils around cats, as they are highly toxic to cats. Dermal exposure to both dogs and cats have caused significant illness and deaths.

Vaccum frequently, including pet bedding, rugs, furniture and dispose of the vaccum bag immediately after use. Your vet may be able to recommend a home treatment he recommends to his clients.

[Traci]

Unfortunately, Davet, the anti-vaccination evangelists propogate the opposite.

[Beth Va]

Good News!


Casey is doing much better! Her PVC count is almost back to normal. She started off at 17 a couple of weeks ago, last week she progressed to 28, this week she's up to 38. Normal is 40.

Our vet let us cut back on her prednisone so now she only gets one a day. I am hoping they can completely wean her off of it. She gets retested next thursday(July 14) at her next vet visit. Thank you for continued prayers for her!

[Guest]

Good News!


Casey is doing much better! Her PVC count is almost back to normal. She started off at 17 a couple of weeks ago, last week she progressed to 28, this week she's up to 38. Normal is 40.

Our vet let us cut back on her prednisone so now she only gets one a day. I am hoping they can completely wean her off of it. She gets retested next thursday(July 14) at her next vet visit. Thank you for continued prayers for her!

Good Grief I meant to say her PCV!

[CrystalsMom]

This is wonderful news, Beth!! I am so glad to hear that she is recovering by leaps and bounds.
You must be very relieved to see her acting more energetic and seeing her lab results improve. Did they ever give you an idea of what caused it?

[Beth Va]

This is wonderful news, Beth!! I am so glad to hear that she is recovering by leaps and bounds.
You must be very relieved to see her acting more energetic and seeing her lab results improve. Did they ever give you an idea of what caused it?

No they didn't.

Our vet leaned towards wild onions that come up in the spring, but then she also said it could have been any number of things. There's a chance Casey may have got into wild onions chopped up and mixed in with other grass clippings this spring when my brother came over to check and feed our pets.

That frustrates me because I don't know what to try to avoid. Our other two older dogs are fine, so are our cats. I don't think it was something from inside the house unless one of us wore something in. I do wonder if it was related to the fleas she had for a short time. I had put Advantage on her not long before she got sick. They tested her for parasites but found none. It hit our youngest pet in our household and affected no one else. I hope and pray it never happens again. That is my only worry now that she might relapse since we don't know what may have triggered this.

[Ash]

I'm glad to hear Casey is doing better!

As for the fleas in your basement, I believe the Frontline spray is safe both on the animals and on surfaces like carpets, cushions, floors, small corners etc.

[Traci]

I don't recommend that, Ash, as you can't risk either the dogs or the cats ingesting the product on surfaces (licking, etc).

Beth, unless it was a very heavy flea infestation, it is doubtful the fleas caused the anemia. The wild onions may be suspicious, and you might want to consider getting rid of them in your yard somehow. Also, if you allow your cats outdoors, please acclimate them strictly indoors only.

I'm still wondering, was tick disease ever tested for and ruled out?

[Beth Va]

I'm still wondering, was tick disease ever tested for and ruled out?

I don't know for certain. Our vet said she was considering several different possibilities. I've never seen a tick on any of our pets, but then I do realize that anything is possible. Our girls are all house dogs they go out side for a short time but don't stay out long. Guess they were out long enough to help bring in fleas though.