The RBC is now 4.26 (normal 5.50-8.50)
HGB: 10.6 (normal is 12.0-18.0)
They did an additional test:
Reticulocyte 5.2%
Absolute Reticulocyte: 221,520/ul
Because it is greater than 150,000/ul the anemia is considered regenerative.
Vet said it is possibly from the IBD/lymphangiectasia and hoping that the anemia is short-term.
Yes, she is still on antibiotics. She was on Amoxicillin but it is difficult to get here so after the one week supply ran out they switched her to Clavamox tabs for another week. The tabs are 125mg tablets, 1 tablet by mouth every 12 hrs. She weighs around 10 lbs. They said they are suspecting that she has an infection.
Other meds she is on:
Prednisone: 7.5mg daily
Metronidazole (50mg tab): 1-1/2 tabs daily
Clavamox (mentioned above)
Vitamin B-12: 0.5 ml injected sub-q once a week for 5 weeks
plus her SM drugs.
No, she is not currently taking liver supplements. I asked about milk thistle and SAM-e, and while they were open to it and do use it for liver issues, they felt they had so much going on right now that they wanted to hold off on that for now. Sounded like they didn't want any more variables involved right now as they figured this out, but were certainly open to adding in the supplements soon.
White diet. They gave me a piece of paper and said I need to choose a protein source (choice of chicken, turkey, fish, low or non-fat cottage cheese, egg whites) and a carbohydrate (rice, potato, low fat plain pasta). Also calcium and vitamins should be added such as a Tum's per day and a dog multi-vitamin. Also recommends adding Fortiflora (probiotic supplement). When I look at the Fortiflora (sold at the vets) it comes in box full of little packets. Instructions just say to give a packet a day with no regard to size of dog. Seems wrong to me that I'd give the same amount of that and the Tum's to my 10 lb dog as to a 100 lb dog! Also, the multi-vitamin that I got (Canine Plus chews) has calcium in it, so not sure if that was taken into account or if I will end up giving her too much. Also, I was told to stay away from fish since that was the protein she was on when she first got sick, they wonder if she has a sensitivity to fish, and I should choose a protein that she has never had before. Maybe I'm just overthinking it, but she has come through so much I don't want to mess it up for her. They were hoping that I wouldn't have to switch to a home-cooked diet until she was stable as it is another new variable they will have to take into account if there are any more problems.
Yes, the vets are thinking that the liver disease isn't permanent yet and can be reversed once the cause is known. Possibly due to the Cyclosporin. Although they seem to stand by their initial diagnosis of Primary IBD and secondary intestinal lymphangiectasia. But we'll see how this all plays out. I am hopeful that her liver is turning around and will be normal or very close to normal in another week, and that the IBD and lymphangiectasia is stabilizing. Pat, I hope your nagging feeling is true and we get to the bottom of it soon!