Please put Gretchen on your prayer or good thoughts list.

[DOTLDaddy]

Gretchen has not been feeling very well the last several days. Hardly eating, lethargic, and just not being herself. We took her in this morning to see her vet. Found out right away she had a fever of 104, and somewhat raspy sounding lungs. The vet recommended chest x-rays, which we did. There is a slightly suspicious looking area on one of her lungs, which our vet is 90% sure is nothing, but she wants an expert radiologist to look at the digital "films". There is a small possibility of the big "C", but our vet does not want to make that call yet. Like I said, she is pretty sure it is nothing . . . . The radiologist will look at them in the near future, but it might not be for a week or two. The radiologist travels around to a lot of different vet offices, looking at cases that require an experts knowledge. Our vet said the time lapse will have no bearing on the prognosis or treatment options, if it comes to that.

For the fever and whatever is causing it, we came home with Amoxicillin and Metronidazole. They also took blood for a CBC, and will let us know about that tomorrow.

[kokosfriend]

Have all 4 dogs walking with crossed toes.

Barb and the 4 chocolates

[CatandJim]

Hoping for success with the new plan!

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Big hugs and good thoughts for Gretchen!!

[sher9570]

Good thoughts for Gretchen...hoping it works!

Sher

[Toolguy5]

Sending good thoughts for Gretchen......Patty 🙂

[Code2High]

Everything is crossed....

[Wanderlost]

Cheering General Gretchen on.

[nabi]

Fingers crossed for Gretchen.

[magnusfide]

DOTLDaddy wrote:
For the last three weeks, we have successfully been able to get Gretchen down to just 5mg oral pred in the morning, and tacrolimus .03% eyedrops twice a day. :C

Starting today, we are going to try 5mg oral pred every other day, plus the tacrolimus .03% eyedrops twice a day. In other words, she did not get any pred this morning, just the eyedrops.

Wish us luck!!!🙂

Will do!

[DOTLDaddy]

For the last three weeks, we have successfully been able to get Gretchen down to just 5mg oral pred in the morning, and tacrolimus .03% eyedrops twice a day. :C

Starting today, we are going to try 5mg oral pred every other day, plus the tacrolimus .03% eyedrops twice a day. In other words, she did not get any pred this morning, just the eyedrops.

Wish us luck!!!🙂

[colliehauler]

What are the long term side effects from pred use?

[magnusfide]

Glad to hear you have a handle on the situation. Continued prayers for ya.

[CatandJim]

I'm glad to read your update too.

It sounds like you & your treatment team have come up with what she needs. It may not be your favorite medication but as long as it improves her symptoms & quality of life, then it's a good thing.

Let us know how your appointment goes on Friday!

[kokosfriend]

Thanks for the update

Barb and the 4 chocolates

[DOTLDaddy]

Gretchen seems to have stabilized at 20mg of pred a day (10 at breakfast, 10 at dinner), plus the eyedrops. A couple of days ago I tried to drop her to 10mg of pred a day. I could see that was not going to work before we even got through one day.

We have a follow up appointment on Friday with the Ophth vet.