Was this death from shots?

How common is it for a healthy cat of 10 years to have a reaction to the normal yearly shots that she has gotten every year and die?

Please explain this to me.

5yo Vizsla with pemphigus foliaceus. Want to avoid steroids

My 5-yr old Vizsla was diagnosed w/ pemphigus foliaceus in July. I suspect it was drug-induced from multiple antibiotic dosages for a foxtail. I am desperate to avoid the dreaded steroid treatment. Can you recommend an alternative treatment for him? I've switched him to a raw food diet (Stella & Chewy) and have been giving him vitamins (Animal Essentials), fish oil pills, flax seed oil and sterols (Moducare). Also gave him probiotics (Pet Dophilus) for the first month. I just ordered some Sterol 117.

He's not getting worse, but isn't getting better either. Can you help me??

Thank you so much.

Borderline Cushings being treated. Want help with side effects on dog

My dog Lucy has become very bloated and lethargic. She seems to have lost almost all of ver vision and her coat has black spots on it. The vets have said she has borderline cushings disease, and sards for her eyes and she is currently on antibiotics. We have changed her diet to raw foods, but we are wondering if this is the correct path to take or if there is an alternative treatment that may bring back her sight and heal her back to the normal vibrant, energetic dog we know and love.

Please help!!

Thanks

Unidentified liver problem and a seizure. Related?

My girlfriend's dog has been battling an unidentified liver problem for at least nine months now. The vet has said that he has elevated enzyme levels. He cannot get his kennel cough or distemper boosters. He is on vitamin E, milk thistle, and one other over the counter med. His liver levels have not improved, and yesterday he had a seizure and had to be taken to the vet. We are waiting for a diagnosis. Could they be related?

Do you know potential help for the liver or seizure problem?

Thank you.

Mystified on why vet prescribed this medicine. Help!

On August 1 I took my 12 lb miniature poodle mix to my vet to get his shots and to get a new prescription of heartworm preventative. They took 2 fecals and they said it came back with something wrong . The vet prescribed CHPC 250 mg tablets 3 times a day for 21 days. I looked up the pills online and found was shocked by what I saw they were used to treat: hypertrophic osteodystrophy. I talked to my dog's foster mother and she also said that they were used to treat for worms, one problem they didn't say one thing about worms and no they didn't deworm him...because why?...oh yeah he didn't have any worms. I was told by the vet tech that answered the phone the Monday after I took him a long name instead of worms and that it was very contagious to humans, but I haven't seen worms in his poo and I haven't seen worms on my furniture and I sure don't have any unexplained sores on me. The vet tech also told me that they did not put the "diagnosis" on the receipt. When I told my dogs foster mother she said that because it was not a real diagnosis. Please explain to me why they would prescribe CHPC 250 mg pills to a dog that is not even close to the size to have HOD which is only found in large breed dogs (yes I know that it is a bone disease in only large breed dogs) and why they said that they found something wrong with his fecal. BTW I was in the room the whole time with them and my dog and didn't leave for any reason.

Thanks

Need swelling relief for cat w/feline leukemia and heartworm positive

I have a 3-4 year old neutered male cat who has been diagnosed both feline leukemia and heartworm positive. He is currently on enalapril, prednisone, and lasix daily, and also takes Interferon 4 days on, 3 days off each week, as well as taking transdermal aspirin at a 5mg 2 times per week dosing (1/16th of an 81mg aspirin b.I.d.). The lasix and enalapril and prednisone was started about a month ago when the cat was showing signs of edema in his extremities. He has a good appetite and is in relatively good spirits, but the swelling shifts daily, sometimes his elbows his hind legs, his chin, he has a 'pouch' under his belly at times, his back feet are probably the most consistently swollen, looking so big they seem about to pop. It was determined that based on his weight loss that he has glomural (sp?) nephritis, in addition to everything else, which is what apparently is causing the swelling.

just yesterday I noticed an open sore on his front leg, which then happened to be the only limb NOT swollen, and everywhere he lay he left a wet spot behind. My vet confirmed it was due to his skin literally just having 'split', and added orbax to his daily regimen for a week to ward off infection (which, being leukemia positive puts him more at risk for infection)

is there ANYTHING else possible to do to relieve the swelling? especially since he is NOT building up fluids in his lungs affecting his breathing, just the edema...I can't help but wonder if a needle prick here and there would have an effect like popping a water balloon. I realize that it is a symptom of a 'condition', but would massage help? I'm open to anything at this point!

while he DOES have periodic bouts of lethargy, when his appetite is nil, but a round of antibiotics usually corrects this and then he is back to his usual self, with a pretty hefty appetite. Currently he is eating Hills Prescription g/d both dry and canned and seem to like it pretty well.

please advise!

Thank You

13 y/o cat with sphincter problems

I have a Persian female, Tasha, 13 years of age. We have battled a "lazy sphincter" muscle in the bladder for the past 10 years. The drip is well contained with an herbal product called "Leaks No More" but we have still had quite a few serious bladder infections. These seem to come on quickly and really get her down. Also there is an esophageal spincter problem that has been treated somewhat successfully with Prednisone (intermittent vomiting) and she does have Arthritis badly in one shoulder. These have also responded well to herbal remedies (Digestive Upsets and Joint Relief, all 3 made by Homeopets). Otherwise she has been healthy. She has always been on premium food, either Innova or Natural Balance and has regular well checks. This past few months has included a divorce and move and has been stressful on her. She has mostly been lethargic, appetite good, and urine fecal output seemed normal. I have attributed it mostly to stress... She has had an increase in vomiting and lethargy the past few days so I took her in for a check up with blood panel. The panel shows the following out of range items:

• BUN .... 35 mg/dL (16. - 36)
  slightly elevated but not yet out of normal range
• Creatinine .... 2.9 mg/dL (.08 - 2.4)
  just slightly elevated out of normal range
• PHOS .... 2.9 mg/dL (3.1 - 7.5)
  slightly low
• MCHC .... 39.2 g/dL (29.0 - 37.5)
  elevated
• WBC .... 2.82 K/uL (5.5 - 19.50)
  very low
• NEU .... 1.44 K/uL (2.50 - 12.50)
  low

the following are almost out of range:

• LYM .... 0.45 K/uL (0.40 - 6.80)
• MCV .... 42.0 fL (41.0 - 58.0)

Her Dr. seems concerned over the WBC but offered no explanation. Her diagnosis is "kidney problems", not CRF. She sent us home with Lasix 12.5 mg x 2 day (to increase her urine output) but the first day Tasha staggered as if coming out of anesthesia. I called the following morning and told the Dr. that I believe she may be having a reaction of sorts to the dosage of the Lasix, and possibly might have another bladder infection due to the quick fade/lethargy and loss of appetite. She has lowered the Lasix dose by 1/2 per day and given her Orbax just in case...

I have been through hyperthyroid/renal failure with one of my boys in 2002 and know that approximately 75% of the kidney function is gone by the time anything shows up in blood work-ups. I am hopeful because Tasha's seems to be in earlier stages but am confused about the other out of range values. I was told to keep her on the Lasix and bring her back in 2 weeks for another check. My gut feeling is that there is more going on than is first apparent. My boy's kidneys were going fast and my (other) vet would not address that because of the Thyroid issue. By the time I got him to listen the counts were through the roof and fluid collecting on his lungs. He lived 11 days past finding the kidney trouble. I should have been more adamant that the kidneys be addressed but sadly wasn't.

What tests, etc., can you suggest I have done? Is there anything I should be watching for? I feel the WBC and other values are a real issue but don't know where to go next. I am not comfortable with a "wait and see" approach. From past experience I know how quickly these things can deteriorate and if there are other issues I wish to address them as soon as possible.

Today, Tasha is eating well but seems really depressed and lethargic. I can tell she doesn't feel well and don't know what to do for her. Any help/advice will be most appreciated.

Thank you so much!