cleptogrey Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I'm chiming in since this is basically what I have been dealing with Felix. His history- healthy until Anaplasmosis was diagnosed last March. He has gone thru 2 rounds of antibiotics, since the middle of march. 4 or 5 weeks ago i brought him his for a check up since he was off- stiff, sore, spaced out, barking at night, pacing. My first knee jerk reaction was the anaplasmosis or dementia. He was 10 in march. so, he did run a positive for anaplasmosis, instead of doxy this time and for the life of me, i can't remember the exact name! it started w/ ch and was not to be handled by women of child bearing age/children but has excellent properties to kill off the anaplasmosis with out all of the side effects of doxy and is a second line of defense when doxy doesn't work. i'll figure out the name and post it. so, we have lethargy, spacey- not knowing how to get out of the house, no recall- (felix ALWAYS had a great recall) , in- appetite(which just strangely changed), limps(he is arthritic and on Metacam daily). this is in the same line as this post: http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/320736-has-your-hypothyroid-hound-had-neuro-symptoms/?hl=thyroid&do=findComment&comment=6009150 so a full thyroid panel was run(took us to the bank) BY ANTECH TEST RESULT T4 0.7 FREE T4 8 TSH 1.05 THYROGLOBUNIN ANTUTOANTIBODIES 7 CAN ANY OF YOU WHO UNDERSTAND THIS PLEASE TRANSLATE ? my vet will contact dr. couto,as per my request. i gave her the web site and portal info. i am going to Dewey next week and will bring a copy along to share w/ the vets from NGAP who are at the east coast events that we sell at. they did look at his last bloodwork up and comment. Unfortunately for me, my GH vet is no longer working! All of the associates that i have dealt with have retired!! The vet I am working with does have quite a few other GH clients and seems very knowledgeable re: meds and very thorough. her plan of action is : 2 months of .1mg solixcan, 2xs daily, then retest consider ACTH swim test for atypical Addison's disease or pursue a trial with Senelife. also we have started to give him tramadol at night. She felt that partial complaints on Felix's half could be due to pain. The tramadol and felix are NOT a good combination. But what I don't like is his general deterioration of muscle, posture, sound of bark/voice(he is very verbal- that she attributed to thyroid), decline. there was a full panel CBC run, the following had remarks- out of normal range: urea nitrogen- 34, creatine 2.3, Platelet count- 164, Eosinophils 1248. everything else came back in the "normal range" thanks in advance andrea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 (edited) Would be helpful to post the reference ranges of the thyroid test. Did your vet run a anaplasmosis pcr panel or just place your dog on antibiotics? (Btw the ab you where thinking of of chloramphenicol) If you ask the folks at NGAP no matter what the bloods show they will tell you to start the soloxine (bad idea imo) Finally, have you considered an mri? (Brain) Edited September 30, 2017 by tbhounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted September 30, 2017 Author Share Posted September 30, 2017 Thanks for the prompt reply. When I return home I'll post the comparative #s. As to a MRI we do not have insurance. So, the answer is no. I did mention brain tumor, the Gh vet who is retired mentioned that back in April. Felix has been winky in his endocrine functions for ever. He has shown signs of diabetes incipidus that would come and go. So, drinking, out of place vocalizations ,behavior have been on and off. I also wonder about the atypical Addison. I had a dog with Addison disease and I am not seeing symptoms (yet). And yes, that's the antibiotic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Easy enough to run an acth stim test but you may want to consider a ldds test (low dose dexamethasone test) instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted September 30, 2017 Author Share Posted September 30, 2017 Will mention that. Im5 pretty sure that is what my vet did with Velcro when he diagnosed him. It was like turning on a light. Velcro lived for 10 years with pred/florneiff/ salt suppliments. So, your interpretation of thyroid panel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Reference ranges? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted September 30, 2017 Author Share Posted September 30, 2017 felix reference range T4 0.7 0.8-3.5 ug/dL Free T4 8 8-40 pmol/L TSH 1.05 0-0.60 ng/mL Thyroglobulin Autoantibodies 7 <10%=negative 10%-25%= Equivocal >25%=Positive FELIX only had T4 tested in April, it was <0.5 reference range 0.8-3.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 With the elevated tsh I feel it warrants supplementation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted October 1, 2017 Author Share Posted October 1, 2017 thanks, just wanted to get one of the knowledgable GT voices opinions. obviously i hate to medicate and over medicate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Agree with tbhounds. Hope it helps him! 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...
cleptogrey Posted October 1, 2017 Author Share Posted October 1, 2017 he is getting retested in 6 weeks. how long does it usually take for the supplements to kick in? thanks for the input people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 If you're going to see a change it should be within 1-2 weeks. 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...
cleptogrey Posted October 1, 2017 Author Share Posted October 1, 2017 will keep you guys posted, thanks so very much. i'm just worried, i'm seeing some slipping in this rear right leg. these greyhounds make temperamental BMWs, Fiats and old fashion Land Rovers look reliable!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 is it possible that he seems "brighter" already??? no longer moaning, vocalizing and acting stupid at night. he is much more alert, before he was a door stop which definitely is NOT felix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Seems awful soon but, always watch the clinical signs not the numbers :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 that's what i thought, but felix seems to respond to the smallest dosages of drugs. 25mg of tramadol was more than enough. 50mg, he weighs 75# he was a zombie and lost all coordination. i will watch...i too agree with actions. but he's been quirky, sometimes acts and feels normal, sometimes a spaced out door stop. he was in and out of symptoms of diabetes incipidus. the 2 dosages of vasopressin tannet seemed to knock it out of his system for quite a while. he reminds me of my old peugeot 504 wagon, it often needed to have some wires crossed to start and often didn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Just for future reference if GTers search for thyroid info: Andrea: -how much does Felix weigh and what dose of the thyroid med? Tracy: -do Soloxican, Soloxine, or other thyroid meds work the same? Way back when I'd used Soloxine for one of my hounds there was some debate whether brand name or generic worked better. -prior to follow up testing, how long should a dog be off the thyroid med? -is it true that greyhounds (in my case it was an italian greyhound) require a lesser dose than other breeds? Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 Felix is 75.4#, the bottle is packed, will correct if wrong:0.1, 2xs daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted October 14, 2017 Author Share Posted October 14, 2017 2 weeks into meds and Felix carried an empty bottle of diet coke home, he hasn't recycled in quite a while. His walks are not exhausting him as much and the senseless complaining is reduced. He's just routinely asking for his nightly chewy!!! I'm pleased, let's see what happens at the 6 week mark.🤓 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 (edited) sounds good so far! Edited October 15, 2017 by EllenEveBaz 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...
cleptogrey Posted October 15, 2017 Author Share Posted October 15, 2017 It's good to see a rally,today at a GH picnic he was hooting and hollering with excitement at the bowling activity and sitting, barking, and begging at the peanut butter licking contest. btw, he came in first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruitycake Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Wonderful news. I hope his improvement continues! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaineysMom Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 wonderful!!! Quote Kim and Bruce - with Rick (Rick Roufus 6/30/16) and missing my sweet greyhound Angels Rainey (LG's Rainey 10/4/2000 - 3/8/2011), Anubis (RJ's Saint Nick 12/25/2001 - 9/12/12) and Zeke (Hey Who Whiz It 4/6/2009 - 7/20/2020) and Larry (PTL Laroach 2/24/2007 - 8/2/2020) -- and Chester (Lab) (8/31/1990 - 5/3/2005), Captain (Schipperke) (10/12/1992 - 6/13/2005) and Remy (GSP) (?/?/1998 - 1/6/2005) at the bridge"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." -- Ernest Hemmingway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgreymom Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Awesome news!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share Posted October 30, 2017 (edited) Felix is back to carrying sticks on walks!!! THAT'S FELIX, he stopped around 6-9 months ago.Just a question for the test savvy people, when we retest in November which T panel test can be omitted? I hate to sound cheap but the last comprehensive panel was a whopping $270!!! A friend who is a vet(but not practicing around here) thought T4 and call it a day. Edited October 30, 2017 by cleptogrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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