Another great year!

Hi friends! It's been another great year for me, although I still go to the doctor a lot, and I don't like that at all! My daddies say that I'm just as fit as a fiddle for a girl of almost 10 years! Isn't that great? Woof-woof!!!

I had a mild inflammation in my liver this year, so I'm on medications again. I have to have my blood tested every six weeks. But I never felt sick! The good news is that my medications have been reduced, and in a couple more months I should be off them completely. That will make me happy. Now if only my daddies wouldn't drive me to that place ever again! (I get so nervous when I go there that I have to poop immediately! Do you ever have that feeling???)

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that things are going great for me! I even love my little brother, although I promised myself that would never happen! Oh, well, he's just so much fun to be around. He keeps me young!

Love,
Samantha

P.S. I'm still the fastest runner on the block, and those squirrels in the front yard better watch out!

Today's My Birthday!

Hi Everyone!

Today's my birthday! I'm 8 years old. For a while, it didn't seem like I was going to get this old, but I'm doing just GREAT! My blood is still normal, and although I have to be careful with my yearly vaccinations, otherwise I'm just a normal dog again! I'm also losing some of the weight I gained from the steroid medications, and that makes me happy too. I have a new little brother, and he can be pesky at times, but I really do love him. He likes to play, and he keeps me company when my daddies are away from home.

All in all, I'm a happy girl!

Love,
Samantha

Medical update!

It's been a while since I've posted a diary entry, but I wanted you all to know that I'm doing really well! In the 3 months since my last entry, my prenisone dosage is now down to just once a week! I take one prednisone pill on Tuesdays, and I still take my azathioprine on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I take the pill in some soft canned food that I think is just yummy! I want the food every day, even if I don't have to take any pills! Sometimes my daddy gives some to me, but I always get a cookie in the morning!

I'm so happy that my health continues to be good. The doctor is very pleased! In about six weeks, I'll go back for another set of blood tests. I don't like going to the doctor, but I always go like a good girl! If the next set of blood tests are good, then I won't have to take any more prednisone! That would be so wonderful!

The doctor says that I can stay on azathioprine for as long as I need. It seems to be doing what it should to keep me on the right track. I'm so glad for my wonderful doctors and helpers at the hospital. They have done such a great job taking care of me and making sure I was well!

Thanks to all my friends on Dogster for keeping up with me and wishing me good luck! You are wonderful!

My new medicine

I've been on a new medicine for a few weeks now. The brand name is Imuran, although I'm just taking the generic. This pill will help keep my immune system from attacking my red blood cells, and that's a good thing!

When I was only on prednisone and the doctor lowered my dosage, my blood cell count dropped as well. My daddies were really worried about me then! So the doctor suggested we try this new medicine and see if it would help me get off the prednisone. Of course, the new drug has its own side effects, so we needed to do a test run.

For three weeks, I was on both the Imuran (3 days a week) and the prednisone (7 days a week). On Monday, May 9, I went for another blood test, and the doctor said that the Imuran didn't cause any bad problems. Hooray! So now I take the Imuran the same 3 days per week, but I only take the prednisone the other days. I really notice a difference too. The days that I take the prednisone, I don't feel as happy as the days when I only take the Imuran. I like those days better.

I go back to the doctor in 3 weeks for another round of tests. Hopefully my red blood cell count will remain stable, so that my prednisone dosage can be lowered again. Then I'll REALLY have the energy to chase those squirrels in the back yard!

I'm so appreciative of everyone who has sent good thoughts and wishes to me while I've been sick. You all have helped me and my daddies so much!

Current medications: Azathioprine (generic for Imuran): 25 mg, Monday, Wednesday & Friday; Prednisone: 10 mg, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

3 months later

I first came down with AIHA (auto-immune hemolytic anemia) in January. My daddies didn't know what was wrong with me, but I was really tired and didn't want to do anything but sleep. They took me to the doctor, and I got really nervous when the technician tried to take me. I squatted on the floor and peed, and it looked like pure blood! The doctor admitted me, and for about a week, I was a very sick little pup.

I've been taking a lot of drugs since then. During that first week, I also had one transfusion of Oxyglobin, which gave my body some much-needed oxygen so that I could recover. I'm currently on Prednisone therapy, and my doctor is starting me on Azothioprine (Imuran) this week to see if I can be weaned off the Prednisone. The last time my Pred dosage dropped down to every other day, my red blood cell count started dropping. Hopefully the Azothioprine will prevent that from happening this time. Today I'm at 45%, so keep your paws crossed that I stay that way!

I'm glad that these drugs are helping me, because my daddies were so sad when I first got sick. I like it better when they're happy, so I'm going to do all I can to stay healthy! (Special doggie kisses to all my friends at the Village East Animal Hospital, who have taken such good care of me so far!)