Guest SillyIzzysMom Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Well, I took Izzy to the small animal clinic at Texas A&M this morning (a three hour drive) and met with the vet for a lengthy history and then left my sweet baby for them to figure out what's been going on. (Some of you have read her saga:7 months of diarhea, weight loss, occasional loss of appetite etc. . .) It's histoplasmosis. On one hand I'm grateful to finally know WHAT IS GOING ON. . .yet at the same time. . .the vet I spoke to was very guarded regarding her prognosis. It's not only in her GI tract it's in her lungs, liver, spleen. . . Apparently her Ehrlichia left her a bit immuno suppressed and the histoplasmosis had time to really settle in everywhere. Then we've been treating the GI flare ups with Prenisone which has probably made it get worse even faster. I'm picking her up tomorrow afternoon, and we're going to get started on the treatment ASAP. I'm an optimist--she's young and I'm certainly willing to work at this. I think that now that we have the diagnosis, this can be handled locally with my vet which is good. But, on the phone just now, this vet's tone was very kind but definately had a "this is not good news" tone. Sigh. Anyway, I just wanted to post this since i have posted several "what could this be????" posts. Please keep us in your thoughts as we start fighting this battle!! Melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Take care Izzy, sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 thanks for the update. Izzy is in my thoughts, as are you Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest argolola Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I just put her on my prayer list. May God bless and heal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greyglo Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Adding my prayers and get well wishes for your Izzy - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patricia Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sending prayers and white light. Come on sweetie...you have to fight this demon. Quote Patti-Mommy of Lady Sophia 7-28-92 - 8-3-04... LaceyLaine 8-2-94-12-5-07... Flash Gordon 7-14-99 - 8-29-09... BrookLynne...Pavé Maria... and 18 Bridge Kids. WATCHING OVER US~SOPHIA~QUEENIE~LACEY LAINE~ CODY ANGELO~FLASH GORDON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvgreys Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sending prayers and wishes to your Izzy. It's good to have a diagnosis finally. What IS the treatment? Quote Jeanne with Remington & Scooter the cat....and Beloved Bridge Angels Sandee, Shari, Wells, Derby, Phoenix, Jerry Lee and Finnian.....If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heavenand bring you home again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SillyIzzysMom Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Here's the type of stuff I've found on the internet: "Itraconazole (10 mg/kg/day) is the treatment of choice for disseminated histoplasmosis in dogs and cats. Ketoconazole, 10-15 mg/kg, bid for 4-6 mo, may be effective in early or mild cases of histoplasmosis in dogs. For severe cases, concurrent treatment with amphotericin B or amphotericin B lipid complex is suggested." Doesn't mean much to me. What I hate is the stuff like what I've copied below about dogs with widespread infections. . .and that's my girl. "Presence of the fungus is determined by rectal scrapings in dogs with diarrhea or needle aspirations of the lymph nodes and lungs. The more acute and widespread the infection is, the less promising is any drug therapy, but with early diagnosis, antifungal drug therapy with ketoconazole may improve the outlook. Since Histoplasmosis is primarily a chronic diarrhea disease, the illness can progress so rapidly that not even the antifungal drug can help if treatment and diagnosis is delayed... For severe cases, concurrent treatment with amphotericin has been used with success. " I don't know if there's a less expensive way to test for this, but. . .whatever we could have done, I sure wish we'd done it earlier. All the months on Prednisone to treat the GI problems treated those symptoms but almost certainly spread this infection much worse than it was to start with (since pred is such an immunosuppressant). I just hate that. I'm giving her this medicine that's killing her. Jeeze. Although I know that Izzy qualifies as a dog with widespread infection, but she still has that sparkle. . .know what I mean? I think there's a really good chance we can beat this. Thanks so much for all the hugs and wishing well. We'll take it. m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Carla Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryz Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Izzy will be in my prayers as well. Quote Mary, mom to kitty Rebel.Always missing Sherri (SO DELICIOUS) (12/6/2005-8/29/2018) kitties Marley (4/2000-12/3/2015) and Beady (4/1998-2/24/2006) and Dalmatian Daisy (7/25/1984-5/13/1999). The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not - Thomas Jefferson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SillyIzzysMom Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Okay I'm going to stop researching this on the net. I just found a study that A&M did a couple years ago with 24 dogs with Histoplasmosis. Apparently they had to euthanize 17, then treated the other 7. Wanna know how many of these dogs survived? One. The article states an 80% morbidity. I hope I'm not understanding this study. . . I'm going to bed now. m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 {{{{{{{{{{IzzysMom}}}}}}}}}} I think you're hitting all the unfavorable references at once. As far as I know, histoplasmosis treatment has a higher success rate than that. It isn't a sure thing -- it's a very serious illness, and the meds can be hard on a pup -- but still. Keeping your girlie in my prayers. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sending lots of prayers! You have to do the treatment, so don't research anymore Talk with them extensively as what to watch for going forward, bad and good. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyBailey Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Knowing is half the battle right? So know you know and you can focus on making her feeling better. When Carrier was diagnosed with bone cancer, we knew that we were dealing with something that could not be cured but I'd be damned if I wasn't going to try my hardest for him. And it sounds like you are going to do the same. Don't torture yourself with the internet and statistics. Focus on new advances and look for people that have gone through it. There you will get the best advice. Have you joined Circle of Grey on Yahoo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytloves Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Melissa, Holding Izzy in our prayers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest suzq Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sending lots of prayers! You have to do the treatment, so don't research anymore Talk with them extensively as what to watch for going forward, bad and good. Ditto above! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MrsDooLittle Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 My husband had this about 13 years ago. It was discovered after doctors did a lung biopsy because they could not figure out what was wrong with him! He had to take a series of medication for several months and has been fine ever since. I know humans and animals are not the same, but now that you know what is wrong your vet can aggressively treat this and hopefully clear it all up once and for all. Just as a side note, my husband had been training for a marathon and doctors said that left his immune system suppressed; hence, he more than likely contracted histoplasmosis while out running and breathing in bird poop. He lived in Indiana at the time and they said it was fairly common in the region. ?!?!?! Healing thoughts to your Izzy...... Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Enna Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Lots of good thoughts and prayers going out for you and for Izzy. Remember, there is nothing that says that your hound won't be one of the ones that make up the successful percentage. If she still has her sparkle, she's doing her best to be one of the ones who recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetdogs Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I tend to over-research too & sometimes that's not so good. What is good is that you have a diagnosis & a treatment plan & sparkle. Many good wishes to you & Izzy! Quote Deirdre with Conor (Daring Pocobueno), Keeva (Kiowa Mimi Mona), & kittehs Gemma & robthomas. Our beloved angels Faolin & Liath, & kittehs Mona & Caesar. Remembering Bobby, Doc McCoy, & Chip McGrath. "He feeds you, pets you, adores you, collects your poop in a bag. There's only one explanation: you are a hairy little god." Nick Galifinakis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SillyIzzysMom Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Quick update. I'm not picking her up today. They're keeping her until the middle of next week so they can give her a round of IV meds to help treat this. Ideally, she would get these IV meds three times/week for 3 to 6 weeks, but given the distance from home, that might not be possible (apparently she'll need to spend the night after/during a treatment and there aren't any vets in my town who are staffed at night--except for our e-vet and they can be a bit of a mixed bag treatment wise apparently). But my vet will call and talk with them tomorrow and hopefully we'll work out something. Even if she only gets this one round of IV meds it will help jump start the treatment. Now I need advice on how to calm an annoyed husband who finally asked me what the grand total will be when I pick miss izzy up next week. I think he had to take several deeeep breaths not to fuss at me. Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg, expense wise. . .I think all the anti-fungals are pricey. Ah well. He'll get over it. I'll let you know if there's any news. . . thanks again for all the support melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytloves Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 send the DH to the next Tyler MnG....us girls will have a talk with him btw, A&M would be the best place I could imagine for Izzy to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 now that you know what you are dealing with, you can start treating. don't pay any attention to those studies, this is YOUR dog, and she is unique! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahicks51 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Now I need advice on how to calm an annoyed husband who finally asked me what the grand total will be when I pick miss izzy up next week. I think he had to take several deeeep breaths not to fuss at me. Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg, expense wise. . .I think all the anti-fungals are pricey. Ah well. He'll get over it. The good news is that Sporanox (itraconazole) is available as a generic; it came off-patent a few years back. Worst comes to worst, get a prescription filled elsewhere- don't be afraid to shop around. Similarly, amphotericin has been around forever- it's not expensive, but for best results it is used intravenously. Unfortunately, amphotericin has earned its nickname- "amphoterrible"- from its side-effects, which are almost certainly the reasons to hold your pup overnight. Moreover, it can sensitize the animal so subsequent treatments become riskier. It's tough on the liver, and hard on the kidneys. But for disseminated fungal infections, it can be the biggest hammer in the toolbox. Last I checked, amphotericin was administered as a liposomal complex, which reduces the side-effects. It's more expensive because many (all?) of these treatments are still on-patent, but they're presumably safer. Ask to make sure they're using a liposomal complex- probably something like Fungisome, made in India and less expensive than other brands. As a caver, I'm real familiar with histo; colloquially, we call it "guano-head." Just about every caver who crawls through guano gets it at some point in their lives; most get over it, but some can get it pretty bad. Quote Coco (Maze Cocodrillo) Minerva (Kid's Snipper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4greyhounds Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sending prayers for IZZY!!!!! and hugs for you. Quote Darlene Mom to: Aladdin, Sophie ,Pongo, Jasmine, Relic Forever in our Hearts Champ at the Rainbow Bridge. Let a greyhound race into your heart Adopt Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions INC. Naples/ Fort Myers Chapter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytlady94 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sending many prayers for Izzy. I agree with the post above, A & M is the best place for Izzy to be. And your DH....tell him you and he can discuss this later, but now is not the time. Quote Greyhound angels at the bridge- Casey, Charlie, Maggie, Molly, Renie, Lucy & Teddy. Beagle angels Peanut and Charlie. And to all the 4 legged Bridge souls who have touched my heart, thank you. When a greyhound looks into you eyes it seems they touch your very soul. "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more then he loves himself". Josh Billings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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