seeh2o Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 (edited) I so don't want to be posting here <sigh>. Yesterday morning I heard Doodles get up and felt her bump the bed pretty hard. I watched for her and she walked into the doorway of the bedroom and stopped. At first I thought she was stretching, but when she didn't move, I flew out of bed. She was standing in the doorway legs out like a doe looking unsteady and unsure of herself. At first I thought she had lost her sight, but she could track me. I went to the kitchen to get her soloxine in peanut butter and when she didn't follow me and I found her in the same position I KNEW something was wrong. I helped her walk around the house, she let me guide her, I took her to her bed and she finally settled. I called the emergency vet I trust (50 miles away in Orange County - think rush hour in LA, it took 2 hours) and took her down there. As we walked to the car she was listing to the left from time to time. My first thought (hope) that morning was vestibular, but her eyes weren't darting. They drew blood, did all the typical neuro tests, which she passed (no knuckling under at all) except for one. Her left eye, when the lid was pulled back, was a little lower than the right. She was doing a lot better by evening, less unsteady, sassy and demanding food. This morning she was quiet, but I think she was tired from the happenings the day before. I took her to her standing appointment for cold laser and acupuncture. The woman who saw her really thought it was a mild case of vestibular. She was much brighter when I brought her home, sassy with Flying Nun ears. I always know if the Flying Nun ears are up, she's feeling good. Flying Nun ears down is not a good sign. Got a call from the vet at the emergency hospital a little bit ago. Her super chem bloodwork was good, not indicative of underlying disease, phosphorus was a little low, but nothing to be worried about. Her coagulation panel was a different story. Her D-dimer was high and another value which I can't remember, was low. The neuro vet said this was very indicative of a clot as was the fact that she has recovered so quickly. She also said, that given her history of a spinal stroke last December and this event they want to put her on Plavix. Do a CBC in 2-3 months, then every 6 months. I asked about baby aspirin, she said their specialists felt better about Plavix, that it was more targeted to the blood cells (I AM paraphrasing). I don't have the bloodwork results from them yet, they will be sending them, and I will be able to post them here when I get them. I'm scared to death to put her on Plavix, knowing how our dogs can be bleeders. On the other hand, she's never had a bleeding problem, not when she had her spay surgery or her dental a few years ago. I also know that that can change on a dime and that a non-bleeding history doesn't necessarily indicate a non-bleeding future. I am going to contact Dr. Couto once I get the lab work into my possession, and send it along with her records from her FCE last December to see what he has to say and how he thinks we should proceed. Thoughts? Experience? Doodles is 12 years 8 months, is fed raw, has been successfully treated for being hypothyroid for years. Other than last year's FCE, she has been healthy as a little horse. Thanks in advance. Edited October 31, 2015 by seeh2o Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spottydog Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 No advice, just best wishes to you and your girlie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FordRacingRon Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 No experience so no knowledge here,,but I have a 12 1/2 year old. I think at this stage I would be more afraid of a clot then of her bleeding if she were cut. She doesn't do enough or get into any situations that she does ever get hurt and I could keep from any if I had to. By all means get a second opinion but if it were me and just MHO,,I would try it at the lowest acceptable dose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 No personal experience, I would do just what you are doing, send her blood work to Dr. C and see what he says. I do think, at her age, a clot is probably more likely to be a problem than bleeding out, but of course, there are no guarantees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 They can do really well on plavix-wasn't used a lot before because it was cost prohibitive but, now that's it's available as a generic it's used more often--with success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 No dog experience, just human. With a person, I'd be giving the Plavix as the lesser of evils. Sending hugs to you and the flying nun. 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...
seeh2o Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 (edited) Just got an email with preliminary treatment from Dr Couto, he said that in his experience greyhounds don't do well on Plavix, but do well on low dose aspirin. He said, on that regime, he's never had a greyhound experience bleeding issues and they can do well on it for years. I will send him her full history of both incidents (when I get Thursday's) and see what he says after a full review. I did not expect that answer! Edited October 31, 2015 by seeh2o Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I knew he would say that!!!! :-). I guess why not use a tried and true med? What's that saying??---"If it ain't broke don't fix it" :-) Hope she improves <3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 I'm going to the store and starting her on it today, I don't want to wait and take any chances while waiting for her records to come in, getting then to Dr Couto and for her follow up with her regular vet Tuesday. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 (edited) I knew he would say that!!!! :-). I guess why not use a tried and true med? What's that saying??---"If it ain't broke don't fix it" :-) Hope she improves <3 LOL, so true! I just heard back from him, he said as long as her regular vet is ok with it, start today. My vet is ok with it, per a phone call today, so I'm going to Costco and will pick it up there with some other items. I just can't bear waiting and not doing anything. Thanks for the good thoughts. Edited October 31, 2015 by seeh2o Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 <<I just can't bear waiting and not doing >> Yes, it always feels better to be active. Hugs to Miss Doodles -- hope she's continuing to show sassy. 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...
Newgreymom Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Did Dr. Couto recommend a half of 81mg? That dose use to be the one he used. Just curious if he's changed dosage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted November 2, 2015 Author Share Posted November 2, 2015 Did Dr. Couto recommend a half of 81mg? That dose use to be the one he used. Just curious if he's changed dosage. Yes, half of 81mg. I started her on it Saturday night. Did your pup have any issues or stomach upset with it? So far so good here. I'm still waiting on her records from last Thurs. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgreymom Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 We always give Pepcid AC or the generic Famotidine at night when on low dose aspirin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 Finally got the labs back. Here are the results that are out of the Antech reference range. Can anyone interpret them for me, please? I realized that Antech's range is not breed specific. Also, she was terribly stressed at the vet's office, this was about 2.5 - 3 hours after the "event". The emergency vet's office was very very busy, very loud and chaotic. She hadn't eaten, hadn't had anything to drink, was dehydrated a bit from the stress panting and hadn't pooped or peed since the night before (I couldn't get her to go before we left or while we were there). Total protein 7.5 (high Range = 5.0 - 7.4 AST 83 (high) Range = 15 - 66 Phosphorus 2.1 (low) Range = 2.5 - 6.0 Magnesium 3.0 (high Range = 1.5 - 2.5 RBC 11.0 (high Range = 4.8 - 9.3 HCT 63 (high) Range = 36 - 60 MCV 57 (low) Range = 58 - 79 CPK 1284 (high) Range 59 - 895 Fibrinogen Quant. 46 Range 150 - 400 D-Dimer >10000 Range <250 Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Looks like she was in a hypercoagulable state. Did they happen to check the AT (antithrombin) level--run a urinalysis?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 I'll check on the AT, no urinalysis. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I'll check on the AT, no urinalysis. Mucho important. If your hound is losing protein in her urine she is also losing AT by default. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 Is it APTT? If so, it was 18.7 reference range is 10.0 - 25.0 seconds. Prothrombin Time was 11.0, reference range is 6.0 - 12.0 second Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Is it APTT? If so, it was 18.7 reference range is 10.0 - 25.0 seconds. Prothrombin Time was 11.0, reference range is 6.0 - 12.0 second No--AT = Antithrombin 111 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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