lukasmom Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I went to a greyhound health seminar about 2 years ago put on by The Greyhound Sunburst Project. Great seminars. One thing that was covered was giving your greyhounds a 1/4 of a chewable low dose aspirin a day for stroke prevention. It helps to keep the platelets less sticky. I started my Luka on it that night and so did some of my friends who had older hounds. It was recommended to start at age 8. We were told not to stop even when having a dental. My Luka had a dental with no issues. On Wednesday I got a call from my brother while I was a work. He came home to what looked like a crime scene. Blood in two rooms, all over the couch, not just drops but small puddles. My brother is visually impaired and he could not tell where the blood was coming from. His back foot was covered in blood. I filled a bucket with warm water and put Luka's foot in it and washed his foot off. It was not coming from his foot. Then I noticed a wound on his upper leg. We think that was the source. I cleaned the wound, put veteracin on it and put a non-stick pad on it and wrapped it with vet wrap. I changed the bandage the next day and it was pretty clean. Today I get a call from my brother, Luka is bleeding again, all over the couch and Luka. Once again I came home but not before calling my vet for an appointment. I cleaned Luka up and could not find another wound. His bandage was soaked with blood. We got him to the vet right away. My vet was surprised that the wound which was a minor scrape would bleed that much. I told her about the aspirin. She said it could be the cause. She took a blood sample to check for clotting issues. Poor Luka it took three attempts on three legs to get a sample. My vet called the other vet at the practice (our adoption group vet who sees every hound that comes to our group and has tons of greyhound experience) to ask him about aspirins and stroke prevention. She also checked on line and could not find anything that supported the theory of aspirin for stroke prevention if the dog had not already had a stroke. Both vets agreed that Luka needed to be taken off the aspirin. Because his blood was so thin she could not get readings on some of the things she wanted to check. She wants me to have his blood checked again in two months after he is off the aspirin. Oh Luka you gave me two scares this week, Momma needs a break. Luka and his brother Carter got a McDonalds cheeseburger to ease his pain and suffering. Thank goodness my boss is a huge dog lover and totally gets me having to leave to take care of my boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I would be very curious to see the bloodwork results. I wonder if perhaps it was Amicar that your dog needed rather than the cause if aspirin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Not everything that's good for people is good for dogs. I hope his clotting factors will bounce back quickly. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Have never heard of it as a preventative in dogs...and I believe it's being questioned in preventative human usage. Poodle went on a low dose aspirin dosage after his first stroke then had another stroke 3 or 4 years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PiagetsMom Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Have never heard of it as a preventative in dogs...and I believe it's being questioned in preventative human usage. Poodle went on a low dose aspirin dosage after his first stroke then had another stroke 3 or 4 years later. My understanding is that if you don't have a family history of heart disease, or have not had a stroke or heart attack, it's no longer recommended to take a daily aspirin for preventative measures. I've also never heard of it used this way for dogs, but I hope Luka will be okay now that you've discontinued the aspirin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiRayMom Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Desi had a problem with clots last year. First clot settled in a tricep muscle, our first trip to OSU, it was fairly small & easily resolved. 3 months later, a larger one in his thigh, much more problematic, another trip to OSU and a weekend in ICU. It took him almost a month to regain use of that leg, and OSU recommended 1/2 of a low-dose aspirin daily to hopefully ward off further clots. Seems to have worked, we've had no further clot formation (knock on wood). Quote Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Bullitt took 1/2 of a baby aspirin daily but he was at risk for a stroke because of his high blood pressure and kidney disease. Joey has high blood pressure but doesn't get the aspirin because he tends to bleed easily. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lillypad Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 This preventative measure is suggested by Dr. Guillermo Couto. I attended a Greyhound Wellness Conference in August 2014. It was discussed there. I considered it, but have not (but only cause I am very lackadaisical about supplements) In the information booklet we were given it says "For thrombosis/stokes give aspirin dose 1/2 or 1 cardio aspirin (81mg) once a day. One of the other recommendations, (which I do take seriously,lol) is to have an annual CBC done. That way the vet will have a base line record to compare the dog's health progression. Your situation is a curious one. I hope you get it sorted out. Keep us informed. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest normaandburrell Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Some greyhounds have bleeding disorders. Maybe this is why Luka had such a problem. Glad he is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Have never heard of it as a preventative in dogs...and I believe it's being questioned in preventative human usage. Poodle went on a low dose aspirin dosage after his first stroke then had another stroke 3 or 4 years later. I think it's being questioned too. I am so sad when I remember how my mother died ... she was a nurse and a great believe in the 'aspirin a day keeps the heart attack at bay' thinking, so that's what she did. She died of a massive brain bleed. We'll never know whether the aspirin was the cause or if it would have happened anyway, but these days I'm skeptical of these 'health initiatives' without solid research backing them. Quote The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukasmom Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 My vet won't prescribe Amicar for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 In your case Amicar likely wouldn't do any good, and there may be some concern that it could make matters worse. Amicar keeps clots from dissolving. Aspirin keeps you from making clots. 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...
tbhounds Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 My question is--what was the origin of bleeding? Was the excessive bleeding related to the aspirin or was this one of our lovely gh bleeding syndrome cases? Still would love to see any available bloodwork results (CBC/clotting profile, VW..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Hope Luka is feeling better! Desi had a problem with clots last year. First clot settled in a tricep muscle, our first trip to OSU, it was fairly small & easily resolved. 3 months later, a larger one in his thigh, much more problematic, another trip to OSU and a weekend in ICU. It took him almost a month to regain use of that leg, and OSU recommended 1/2 of a low-dose aspirin daily to hopefully ward off further clots. Seems to have worked, we've had no further clot formation (knock on wood). That's wonderful that OSU was able to diagnose those clots! Do you remember how they found the first clot? Did they do an ultrasound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Sending ear scritches to Luka. I hope he thought the hamburger helped. Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Aquitaine was on 1/4 baby aspirin daily for her bp/PLN issues. She did get an abscess in a tooth which was complicated by the roots wrapping around a vein. I completely feel your pain on the crime scene visual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3greytjoys Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 A blanket recommendation for daily low dose aspirin for hounds who have never had a stroke is very surprising to me. I understand that every patient is different. We happen to have three excessive bleeder Greyhounds. One of the excessive bleeders had a TIA stroke several years ago, but even with that diagnosis, I couldn't imagine giving her blood-thinning aspirin daily. In contrast, she still requires Amicar (aka: aminocaproic acid) to prevent excessive bleeding during surgery/recovery. Rimadyl even causes her internal bleeding. Although there may be better topical products to treat hounds' minor skin wounds at home, we keep "Clotisol" on hand to help prevent minor cuts from becoming dangerous bleeds before we can get to a vet. (We do not use Quick Stop powder on skin tears.) Human doctors often warn pre-surgical patients to halt blood thinner supplements (like Vitamin E, Fish Oil, etc.) before surgery due to increased risk of bleeding. Like Pam, Silverfish and others mentioned, doctors are more carefully weighing humans' risks of low dose aspirin due to excessive bleeding. Please let us know how things go with Luka. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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