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[marleydog]

I'm so glad Rudy seems to be doing better, and I'm sure you are doing the right thing by keeping the double dose if he was that bad. Obviously, he has improved so that's great news!!!

We found out all of our information first from our one vet, then I phoned my aunt and her dog (who recovered and is living) had blasto so she gave me advice to seek a holistic vet. I went to the holistic vet and she is the one who recommended all the extras that have been doing a world of difference. Then, the Purdue School of Vet got in on our case because they'd never seen blasto in a puppy so young so they gave us suggestions.

I got the Missing Link at Petco but im sure health food stores have it. I got the Wei Qi from my holistic vet but again you may be able to find it at petco or a health food store.

Sounds like you've had Rudy on a great eating plan too!!! I would do the same, keep giving choices until they indicate they are done. Maybe I have been wrong but my thought process has been well if she isn't going to eat tomorrow I want her to eat alot today...

Good luck to you and we will keep thinking of Rudy as well!!! Thanks for the support too!

[Rudy]

I've been calling around (health food stores, pet & natural pet food stores) & can only find one store that has the Missing Link.  None had the Wei Qi but there seems to be other immune boosters like Immuboost & Inmunol & I've found others- Liver Plus; Kidney Plus; & Lung Plus that might also be helpful.  We live in Canada so resources may be slightly different or harder to find re some products.   

I'll look for a holistic vet or pet therapist in town: they might have the products & hopefully would also know what is best for Rudy to enhance his recovery & that won't interfere with his meds.  We'll ask our regular vet on Wed too.

Rudy is doing well; he slept a lot this weekend but there's been a change to cooler weather and he may have exercised a little too much on Friday.  Paul is restricting Rudy's walk time more carefully now even when it seems that Rudy wants to stay out longer.  His breathing is good & he's eating better.  He's starting to look hungry at different times in the day; it's just a matter of finding that right food or treat that he'll accept.  We can offer him 5 or 6 choices before we figure it out; dried chicken strips seems to be a favorite, although today it was a warm carrot muffin from McDonalds that did the trick.
 
I hope Marley had a good day and that her sores are healing. And that you are having a good day too.

All our best to everyone on site,
Paul & Sheila

[Rudy]

Our vet was extremely happy & pleasantly surprised to see how much Rudy has improved over the last few weeks.  Her notes relating to this latest appt mentioned- “Rudy has been transformed”!  It’s wonderful to pause & take a moment to savour this miracle.   

We all had our doubts as to whether he’d make it considering how near death he was so many times.  If it wasn’t for everyone’s support, particularly on this message board, I think we would have given up because we wouldn’t have understood the nature of Blasto & how nasty it can be before it gets better. I’m so glad we kept going and hope that Rudy’s story will be useful & encourage others like many of yours did for us.

Everyone is so thrilled to see how well Rudy is doing- you can literally see the relief on their faces & their universal conclusion that he’s totally better now. But like many others on site, we still are a little paranoid knowing there are many faces to this extreme disease that can appear suddenly without warning.  We are ever-watchful of Rudy; we’ve been so involved in his care, we can almost sense every subtle change in his breathing, & energy etc & determine how he’s doing at any given moment. We know that it’s not over yet, that we’ll need to continue to assess & learn for this next stage towards complete recovery for quite some time but I think it’s best that these nitty-gritty details be more private now & basically shared with others on this site going through the same thing; and our vets.  I think our friends & neighbors deserve this break; they've been so involved up to now & took on the stresses with us- believing in his recovery & all their positive energy is greatly appreciated & what is most needed for us now and more importantly for them.

We’ll be starting Rudy on the immune booster, Wei Qi, tomorrow.  I’m preparing a summary report for a visit to a holistic vet/acupuncturist for additional/possible care options/treatments.  The vet mentioned that there would likely be some permanent health issues like possible lung tissue scarring due to the severity & how most of his body was systematically affected by Blasto. With this in mind, I’m striving to use all resources possible so that Rudy has the best chance not only to completely recover but to be restored to optimal health better than even before Blasto.

I’m so glad to hear that many others on site are making progress too.  It’s a blessing, that’s for sure.

Thanks again to everyone for sharing & your support and encouragement.

Love Sheila & Paul

PS  We got a copy of Rudy’s antigen results from July 3 which was about five weeks after he started showing symptoms & three weeks after he was diagnosed and started treatment and Itraconazole.  His number was 62.91!  I’m really glad we decided not to find out at the time: while I realized the vets needed to know in order to treat him properly, I knew he was bad but didn’t want to know how bad because I felt it would influence my attitude and affect the possible outcome of our decisions during those worst times. Does anyone know of others with such a high number that made it & what this could mean relating to treatment & recovery? 

Also, there was another report from a couple of experts of their analysis of Rudy’s x-rays that our vet sent them and both concluded that the mass in Rudy’s lungs was not receptive to treatment & that he was getting worse (his 2nd x-ray was far worse than the 1st).  Again, our vet didn’t share the specifics of this report until this last visit. She figured she’d take care of keeping this in mind re his care because she knew how important it was for us to have hope at those critical times. 

This experience is teaching us more about the power of faith & the grace of God & the graciousness of others; and how the timing of everything can affect the outcomes so drastically; it is astounding.

[evayola]

Sheila, Paul & Rudy,

I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am for you. Reading your post gave me the chills and brought tears to my eyes. It has been over 3 years since Marge got sick and stories like yours are what keeps me here. It makes me feel so good knowing that Marge's experience helped Rudy and other dogs that have visited here. Like you I am very greatful for the gift that God gave us in the form of Marge's survival. I applaud you for your dedication to getting Rudy well and of course the biggest round of applause, hugs, and kisses go to Rudy. He is the fighter and fought so hard to beat this dreaded disease. Way to go guys, you have done such a fantastic job. 

The supplements that Marge is on from the holistic vet have done wonders for her. Marge is not on an immune booster but rather herbs to help cool down the damp heat that she has going on inside of her from the blasto. Before the herbs Marge would not lay on carpet and would stay outside just long enough to do her business but when it was winter she would stay out there forever. The holistic vet has been great.

Marge's # was 43 and what we have experienced from having such a high # is scar tissue in her lungs. She gets very winded a heck of a lot faster than our other dog and it takes her longer to cool herself down. Just be mindful (which I am sure you are) of the fact that Rudy's lungs are going to be different so when you play with him or somebody plays with him, take it easy. Our friends don't see Marge as a sick dog so they never think to keep things chill with her. Congrats guys and keep up the amazing work!!!

Eva & Marge

[Rudy]

Thanks, Eva, for your wonderful post!   

You have expressed what I’ve been thinking but was unable to put into words. I am as thrilled with Rudy’s improvement as everyone but what I had been trying to explain to Paul & our friends that based on Rudy’s incredibly improved health & appearance, it is too easy to get a false sense that he’s back to normal when he really isn’t.  Just like Marge, we have to be extremely careful with Rudy especially when it comes to exercise and heat. I can now explain it better to everyone (thanks again to you) that he “gets winded a lot faster & takes a lot longer to cool down” & recuperate.  And even though it may not be obvious to most, it is very important (more than we all realize) to be ever-mindful & aware that his lungs are compromised (probably permanently) & to act on his behalf accordingly- meaning shorter periods of restricted exercise/activity; & making sure he stays cool as much as possible.

I am really interested in finding out about the herbs you give to Marge especially those that help cooling the heat inside- I think they would be very beneficial for Rudy too; he has been panting a lot more & for longer periods during this latest humidity/heat wave even when inside with a fan on. It has been a little worrisome. Do you give these herbs mostly in the summer or all year round? Any other herbs/treatments etc that you have found to be helpful?

A friend of ours will be going to someone out-of-town who works with herbs and was recommended by her holistic vet. She can pick up whatever supplies we need.  Apparently for $25, they’ll do an analysis from a hair sample to find out what is lacking in their systems. I figure it’s worth a try.  Not that we have to act on everything but I feel it’s worth learning as much where possible when the opportunities present themselves & then deciding if it would be useful to discuss with our vets to include some of it in Rudy’s treatment plan.

Anyway, thanks again, Eva, for all your input.  I look forward to your next post.

Sheila & Paul

PS  Interesting timing that an article in Dogs in Canada just arrived which features info on heat stroke & that mentions cooling vests.  I’ve quickly gone online & found some sites re cooling collars, vests & beds; plus a battery operated fan that might be good for the car.  Here are those sites to start with if you’re interested in checking it out: http://northcoastpets.com/cooling_products.htm & http://centhound.com/cooling-vest

[Rudy]

Update:  Rudy seems to be doing well. In many ways, he seems healthier than before his near-death encounters with Blasto. He’s more energetic than ever & continually wags his tail like never before-almost to say he’s thrilled to be alive & with us. We make every day with him a celebration. Yet, we feel far from finished with the repercussions of this illness & are wondering if you could advise us on what the next steps are?

The results of his cytology test showed that he was clear of all infections (viral, bacteria & fungal).  Our vet suggested lung x-rays as the next step but because Rudy has had over 14 x-rays this summer, I preferred the antigen test to start with. From what I understand, he has to be below #1 anyway to take him off Itraconazole, no matter the x-ray results.  His reading came back in the 40’s- still very high but better than the previous 62.9 in July.  (FYI: There’s been no satisfactory answer to why the cytology test came back negative when clearly he’s still infected.)

From your experiences, what do we do next?  What follow-up tests would you suggest i.e. liver enzymes test to make sure there’s no major damage happening from the meds? How often? Should other organs be tested since I read on site that even though they can recover from Blasto, there can be permanent organ damage? Are there things we can do to protect/promote/restore his health especially re. his lungs, liver and kidneys?  He runs like the wind without any difficulty but he does snore now & has a runny nose again- I’m not sure if that’s a concern. (We’ve been giving him milk thistle for his liver, & pro-biotics & vitamins to boost his immune system.)  Should the level of Itraconazole in his system be checked to make sure the dosage is enough to reduce the Blasto?  Or maybe a higher dosage would be more damaging since his general health/energy seems good?

Our vet has suggested that Rudy should be neutered; she figures he has Blasto throughout his entire body & this would remove some of it.  I’m not sure when she wanted this done but I’m thinking it’s way too soon to stress his body with surgery & anesthetics: he didn’t even get his rabies shots or heartworm pills this summer because the vets felt it would add more strain to his body.

Blasto is not commonly diagnosed in our area, so the vets haven’t had much experience with it.  Our vet has been great though: if it wasn’t for her immediate hunch re. diagnosis at Emerg, the consensus is that another day would have been too late. (It had already been a month of diagnostic tests etc with our regular vet without any idea of why Rudy was getting so sick.)  She does her research and has been consulting other vets/experts in the field to provide Rudy the best care possible. And while we appreciate all she has done, I feel her experience and ours is limited especially compared to all you on this site. 

We deeply value your experiences & consider you as our best resource and support.  If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have been as strong to make the decisions we did; we definitely wouldn’t have made it this far.  So any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you once again,
Sheila

 

[Wilson3]

YEAH! glad to hear Rudy is doing so well!
 
Hard to say what the next step is for us we x-rayed wilson every other month did CBC  pee tests came after he won the battle and we have done the pee test 3 x's back to back all giving waaaay different numbers so for us the pee test does not work but for many it has been  a god sent.
we went with the xrays as the finally say so for being blasto free and I watched him like a hawk (this may sound strange to you and many others but wilson and I are so connected I know his pains and happiness and he mine.) once he was blasto free he stayed on the meds for 6 more weeks
wilson had a chipped tooth top front the root needed to be removed we waited 6 months from the time he stopped treatment it is a very good idea to get rudy fixed but if it was me I would wait until treatment was over and he is good and strong
wilson3

[Rudy]

Thank you Wilson3.  You guys are so involved and dedicated- responding to all of us.  We are extremely grateful to all of you for your support and care especially so vital during that initial shock and bewilderment of diagnosis and giving advice and support to help us through the crises.  My concerns at this stage seem small in comparison; it is so kind of you to take the time to reply.  While Rudy’s recovery is a miracle to us, I know that this next stage of care is important too.  Until Rudy is Blasto-free (& I think even when he is), Blasto is still ever-present in our thoughts.  We still watch Rudy like a hawk & notice every little sign/symptom & wonder when we can finally not worry about Blasto.

We also feel more connected to Rudy since going through this extreme experience/battle w/ Blasto together.  In this last month or so, I noticed Rudy feels “spongy”. It’s only me who can feel it but it’s like a milder version of the emphysema he had during his worst.  And now your advice confirms it for other reasons, we will need to get more lung x-rays. I was worried about so much radiation in such a short time frame when he’s been so vulnerable/sick; if it didn’t make a difference in his treatment, why put him through it unnecessarily. But now I’m thinking it’ll give us a better idea of how he’s doing & if more needs to be done at this stage, plus hopefully relieve my concerns.

I hadn’t thought about keeping Rudy on Istraconazole for 6 weeks or so after he’s Blasto-free.  This extra precaution would give me more peace of mind; better than risking Blasto’s return.

I think Rudy will be on meds for awhile. Did you get Wilson3’s liver checked periodically?  Did you get other tests done to gauge possible damaging side-effects?

Thanks again for your time & input: I look forward to the day when Rudy is completely recovered.


Sheila

[Wilson3]

yes we did cbc/blood work every month to tell if his liver and kidneys where holding up
his last xray of his lungs we did 6 months after he stopped treatment I do listen to his lungs at home more often then I really want to own up to
so how much longer do they think Rudy will be on treatment?
Where are you guys from?
wilson3

[Rudy]

Thanks again. I've added cbc/blood work to my list to talk over with our vet. 

Just thinking if those in charge of the info/newsletter might think it would be a good idea whenever the newsletter is updated to add a paragraph about the the main aspects regarding the recovery stage i.e. regular cbc/blood work to make sure liver and kidneys holding up; consideration of continuing meds approx 6 weeks after Blasto-free including x-rays approx six months afterwards for those whose lungs had been severely compromised etc. I realize you all put in more hours on this site than I can possibly imagine providing vital support to us all  but if it is possible, I think there would be others who'd find the ongoing assessment/treatment info as valuable as I do.

Sheila
PS  We live in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada).

[evayola]

Rudy is so lucky to have you all! Yes the ongoing treatment and care is very important. Here are some of the things we did... continuation of meds for 6-8 weeks after a negative result. We were every day then every other day and then every two days. Its important to taper off of the medication just in case there is anything lingering about. We did blood work a little bit more frequently because we found that after Marge's battle she has decreased function in her kidneys. In my heart of hearts, I regret so deeply giving her the amp b treatment because I think that's what may have done it. I understand that antifungals (with the exception of amp b) get processed through the liver so that was another thing that we were constantly watching. We were doing Marges bloodwork every 30 days. When we noticed that Marges kidney values increased we went to see a holistic vet for her opinion on what to do. We also found out that Marge is in the pre stages of hypothyroidism. We are currently on meds to keep her thyroid stable and we have switched her to canned food with her dry food to help her kidneys out. Ocassionaly if the bloodwork shows Marge is dehydrated we will give her fluids at home. We did chest xrays every 6 months and so far so good except for the scar tissue. We too have developed this special bond with Marge. She is such a sensitive sweetie pie. If I dont cuddle with her in the morning and rub those chubby cheeks of hers, she is not herself for the rest of the day. She knows that we are leaving for work in the morning and she will plant her big butt at the far end of our property behind the trees where we cant see her so we have to stay home longer to get her in the house. I tell ya walking 100 yards to get her to come in can be frustrating but seeing how much she loves us makes it okay. Eventually you will stop seeing blasto everywhere. I get so nervous about Marge sniffing around the property because of blasto but I have to remember shes a dog and she needs to do doggy things and have fun like chasing our 15 year old neighbor on his dirtbike. 

Have you done a miravista test lately? How does Rudy seem to be doing?

Eva

[jiggasmom]

We did the Miravista test and also did a liver test to make sure Jigga's liver wasnt damaged from the Itra. It is scary even after being off meds for over a year the slightest limp I get concerned with him.  I am afraid to take him to the dog park where we believe he caught it from. Which makes me feel guilty about at times. I shouldn't lessen his joys cuz I am too afraid he'll get sick again. You'll get through it.  Glad Rudy is doing so well. It's good to read a happy story.

[Rudy]

Wow, more good advice to take to the vet’s.   Thanks Eva & Jiggasmom, I feel more confident now to know what to do next because of both of you and Wilson3. It’s wonderful to hear your success stories and reassuring to know you are there for all of us, no matter what.

Thanks so much,
Sheila

PS  The reading of Rudy's latest antigen test about one month ago was in the 40's- still very high but much better than 62.9 in July.  Is the antigen test the same as the Miravista test? We were surprized thinking it would be much lower because Rudy seems to be doing so well.

[apope43]

*bump* for our new members