Hi everyone. Overall, a good day. Many bouts of crying but the ground feels stable (if that makes sense). What I want to do is to give all of you a caution, a warning, a heads up regarding the use of steroids on your pups. Izzy was diagnosed with Immune mediated poly arthritis (IMPA) on August 9, 2014. This terrible affliction happens when the immune system goes into overdrive due to an underlying cause. The immune system attacked the fluid in a Izzys joints and removes the lubricating qualities of the synovial fluid. Basically, what used to be an oily fluid becomes water. This resulted in Izzy having severe joint pain, rendering her immobile. We took her to the surgical center in Pittsburgh (one of the most advanced in the Eastern US). Her joints were tapped and the diagnosis made. Complete blood work was done (No infection) and x-rays of her spine and hips (negative). I actually breathed a sigh of relief as we thought she might have some spinal issue. We were premature, to say the least, to think we were out of the woods. Izzy was placed on a medium to high dosage of steroids. She showed immediate improvement and walked out of the hospital under her own power. (She looked very pitiful with the hair shaved around her joints). I rode with her in the back of the jeep and held her until we got home. The nest day she was up and walking with no problems. She did have excessive thirst, huge hunger, and frequent potty breaks (all symptoms of steroids and she never had an accident in the house......good girl). Now heres the bad part, but we didnt know just how bad it could get. Steroids shut down the immune system. Think about that for a second. Dogs get into the most disgusting , bacterial filled stuff you can imagine. Dead animals, birds, rotting vegetation, tainted streams, ......you name it, our babies are in it. Especially outdoor, physical dogs like labs. On steroids, they are vulnerable to every infection imaginable. This is the hard part, where I need to realize things happen for a reason. After researching IMPA and steroids on line, I came to a critical piece of information. When Izzy was placed on the steroid prescription, she had a follow up visit on August 25, 16 days after the diagnosis. The routine and critical action the vet is to take at that time is to run a complete blood count to see if any infection has taken hold. Well, this wasnt done. I dont know why. Theres a chance, how high or low I dont know, that a blood count would have pointed to an infection in Izzy. Antibiotics would have been prescribed and perhaps even x-rays. This simple action may have saved Izzys life and I dont know why this was not done. It seems so logical, doesnt it? No immune system = high chance of infection. Is Izzy gone now due to a simple oversight??? Im not raging at fate on this, or even the vet. Our Izzy is gone and nothing will change that. I will follow up with the vet at a future time. Right now I want to offer what I learned from this horrific experience; 1. Steroids are a dangerous drug in anything higher than a minor dose. 2. If steroids are prescribed, be aggressive with the vet in understanding the threat. Should your dog be housebound while on steroids? If not, why not. Is it wise to let your dog out into the environment with NO IMMUNE SYSTEM? 3. Insist on a follow up check up and insist on a complete blood work check to detect any infection. 4. If infection is found, antibiotics must be prescribed and find out where that infection is coming from. Run a full check of your baby. x rays, enzymes, blood work, the works. Our Izzy came upon some horrible infection after being on steroids. Her only chance was to check for an infection at the follow up and this was missed. She showed no signs of an infection, but steroids can mask those infection symptoms (fast panting, lethargic, exercise intolerance - tires easier than normal). I hope this helps. I ask what if? over and over. She didnt need to leave so early. Bless Izzy. Keep her in your hearts.We love her and miss her. Keep your precious babies safe.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 01:03:33 +0000
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