CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: Macky Boy on March 30, 2007, 05:13:57 PM
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Hi everyone,
Mac was at the vet today for a heart scan to see how he's doing on all his medication. He has been on vetmedin, frusemide and fortekor for about 7 months. He's also on soloxine to regulate his thyroid. The last scan in October showed a slight decrease in the size of the heart so I was crossing everything that it was going to be good news today.
Unfortunately the scan has shown that the heart has not changed in size, his tyroid levels have gone quite high so the dosage of soloxine is being altered to half a tablet of 0.2mg per day and his blood tests have shown that his liver levels are a bit high. This apparently could be because he's been on antibiotics and metacalm for a couple of weeks due to an infection in one of his toes. He's to go back in 3 to 4 weeks to run the bloods again to see if anything has changed/improved.
Apologies for the long post - I just wanted to share as I'm feeling a wee bit sorry for the boy (and for me as well I suppose). He's lying on the sofa sleeping after getting sedated earlier today for the scan and xray but seems as bright as a button otherwise. I know that I have to concentrate on making sure he's happy and comfortable. I'm just frustrated that it feels like one thing after the other - he also has cataracts and dry-eye syndrome so we have a rigid medication daily routine which he never complains about. I think that's what gets me sometimes - you'd never think there was anything wrong with him if you were to meet him. He was skipping through the daffodils this morning on our walk before heading to the vet :luv:
Anyway I'm crossing everything for his next test that the levels have improved. Hope you all have a good weekend. Thanks for letting me get this all off my chest :D
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Poor Mac and poor you, you must be worried about the poor boy. I hope his blood results improve for you next time, and he'll soon be back to skipping through the daffodills, :-* :-* for mac
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I just wanted to share as I'm feeling a wee bit sorry for the boy (and for me as well I suppose). He's lying on the sofa sleeping after getting sedated earlier today
With you totally on this one. Hope all goes well on your next visit. :-*
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To be honest, all those drugs he is on, I'd be very surprised if his liver enzymes weren't high. He sounds like he's coping very well though, which must be a relief to you.
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Poor Mac :-\
Hope the next tests are a bit better. :-* for Mac.
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There are herbal remedies that can help his liver, milk thistle is the main one and dandelion is another, you can get them from any health shop. I'm sorry he's having such a tough time, but he must be a little trooper considering all his ailments. I hope the levels have reduced for next time. ;)
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Get well soon Mac :luv:
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oh thanks so much everyone for your replies. they have cheered me up big time. :D
Mac has gone back to sleep but did wake up about an hour ago and has managed to eat his tea (and half a carrot) so he must be feeling ok ;)
My vet has suggested that I give him milk thistle so it's nice to know that they are thinking of herbal supplements as well for him.
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When Chloe was ill for all those years with her AIHA, I felt pretty much as you did. All the drugs and the fear of what they could do to her little body. Feeling sick with expectation at every blood test. Like Mac, she sailed through it all, never stopped wagging that beautiful tail and took her treatment like a little heroine. Apart from being overweight you never knew how sick she was. I know how you want to do something more, make it all stop, lighten the burden of being sick for them but you just can't. To be sat there feeling so sorry for Mac, worrying about him and taking pleasure in him eating his tea just shows what a caring parent you are to this special baby. I hope he improves at the next test and gives those daffs a good trampling.
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Poor Mac; hope he soon feels a little brighter & that his next blood tests are a bit more positive.
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Good Luck with the next visit to the vets. Loads of :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* to gorgeous Mac, think that he deserve it :luv:
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:'( Sorry to hear Mac isn't too well. :luv: I hope his next tests are better poor little boy :luv: :-* :-* :-* from Jann and Flo :-* :-* :-*
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Hi everyone - all your comments have helped so much. Its been a real comfort knowing that people understand and just "get it" when it comes to our little angels.
Well we were back at the vet tonight for a check up after Friday. Mac's sinus rhythm is good so that's a positive sign. He has the vet again on April 24 for more blood tests to see how the liver is coping and to check his thyroid levels.
He has been an absolute trouper and it just makes me love him more - nothing is getting him down and he's still my cheerful, happy boy who loves eating, sleeping and going for walks with his chums. Long may that continue :luv:
I'll let you know how he gets on in three weeks.
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He has been an absolute trouper and it just makes me love him more - nothing is getting him down and he's still my cheerful, happy boy who loves eating, sleeping and going for walks with his chums. Long may that continue :luv:
That's what's so great about dogs, most of the time they don't know they are ill and just take each day as it comes :D.
(Thinks: If only humans were a little more like them.....)
Fern sends healing cocker slurps to Mac :luv: :luv: :luv:
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:luv: I think you are a star as well for taking such care of your boy .. well done. :luv:
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Hiya
Mac had the vet at lunchtime to give blood for more tests for his liver and thyroid. Helen the vet has just called to say that the liver is still showing slightly high levels but its less than last time. His thyroid levels have gone slightly low but he's running around like a puppy so we're going to keep going with the levels of medication he's on at the moment. I'm smiling as Helen's really pleased with him - "if he's happy then I'm happy" she said :D
He's to go back in a couple of months to run the tests again so fingers crossed its going in the right direction.
Here's a pic of Mac looking very pathetic with his blue bandage :luv:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/Kazza2105/Macsbandage.jpg
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awww fingers crossed for your boy that his levels continue to go in the right direction :luv:
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awww macky boy, keep those levels improving :luv:
worth giving the milkthistle a go too i would think ;)
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hiya!
I took your advice and Mac is taking milk thistle daily, the vet thinks this is helping as well. So thanks SO much for telling me about this.
I know that I'm repeating what other people say in other threads but COL is like a god-send. It's been such a help/boost when you're feeling down and when I read stories of other people's cherubs who are enduring so much more than Mac, it makes me realise how lucky I am to share my life with him. :luv:
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I hope you little boy keeps on improving.
Saffie is currently having blood tests done and I think it is effecting me far more than her. She had a bad reaction to her booster and her liver enzymes where very high and i am awaiting results to find out if they have gone back to normal.
How much Milk Thistle do you give Mac as if she still has high levels i would rather give her something to help reduce levels while the vets decide what the best course of action is?
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Very positive news for Mac :D
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Love to the wee soldier :luv:
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I hope you little boy keeps on improving.
Saffie is currently having blood tests done and I think it is effecting me far more than her. She had a bad reaction to her booster and her liver enzymes where very high and i am awaiting results to find out if they have gone back to normal.
How much Milk Thistle do you give Mac as if she still has high levels i would rather give her something to help reduce levels while the vets decide what the best course of action is?
Mac is on 150mg a day - because he is on 8 tablets a day for various illnesses, this is split into one capsule at breakfast and two with his tea. My vet told me how much to give him - he's 14kg in weight. I think this is a low dosage but it seems to be working as the levels are dropping. I don't know if this is of any help to you - I hope Saffie gets better soon. I can totally sympathise with you about it affecting you more than Saffie!!! Lots of cocker cuddles from Mac :luv:
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Here's hoping that the improvement continues! :-*