We have a 6 year old female and has been spayed.
She is on prednisone and tagament until 1-1-02.
what can be expected then?
Her platelets are ok , but she has no constant energy, she eats a lot more and drinks a lot. Nver had an experience with this before, all of a sudden sge was reall ill. She has never liked the heat, likes ac in the house, and can't stand to ride in cars onlly a mile to the vet? thanks A REAL SMART DOG,

Thrombocytopenia is an immune mediated disease where by the immune system no longer recognises the blood platelets as being a part of your dog's own body and attacks and destroys the platelets as if they were foreign or a virus.Thrombocytopenia is an immune mediated disease where by the immune system no longer recognises the blood platelets as being a part of your dog's own body and attacks and destroys the platelets as if they were foreign or a virus.

Hello Guest!

I think this is one case when you have to have total confidence in your vet. These immune-mediated diseases can be highly complex and need specialist advice.

I can say, however, that the thirst and increased appetite are almost certainly a usual side-effect of the prednisolone, which is the usual treatment for this trouble. For goodness sake don't restrict her drinking, although she will obviously need to go outside more often.

Your vet may recommend a blood transfusion at some stage, and you should be prepared for the possibility.

Good luck, and keep us posted

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Apparently you don't have a lot of extended info on this, she drinks all the water a day she can have and goes at least once an hour, when out of the cage, she now sleeps 9 hours or so without begging to go out. She has had the transfusion, wondering what lies ahead? Triggering effects or genetics on this is what i was hoping you had a little info on?
She probably weighs 10 lbs more than she did, can barely get up and down the stairs do to energy lack, sleeps in stretch out position near the doors or on hard floor, when not in her pen

The best thing you could do is to message K9 genes with regard to the heritability. Send an e-mail to

LISTSERV@listserv.iupui.edu - you need to subcribe in the body of the message as follows
SUBSCRIBE K9GENES Firstname Lastname

I suppose that you could guess that as with other immune mediated problems such as hypothyroidism there may be a degree of heritability, and I would suspect that the fact that she is spayed may have aggrevated it - just my gut feeling.

You could also post on the Vetmed list at VETMED@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU - same method of subscription.

Both lists draw on a depth of knowledge.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I know there are problems associated with Cimetidine that may affect platelets although do not have any references for this info you could try searching on http://www.google.com or just go to http://www.itppeople.com/warnings.htm.
Thrombocyte is the correct name for platelets and thrombocytopenia simply means a less than normal level of platelets which can have a mulitude of causes.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenia ITP means reduction in platelet levels WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE and does not mean it is an auto-immune problem!! Although this could be A reason for ITP.

Thanks for the insights , will be doing a little readinfg it appears, appreciate your help!

Welcome to the forum Centerman.

Have a look at the following links:

Resistant Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia

Immune System & Disease Resistance

Living with a dog with any form of AI problems is like living on a permanent rollercoaster. You have high days and days that you would rather forget :-(

Can I ask if you are in the UK ?

Leigh

Thanks;
It is a real roller coaster, but that's life sometimes i guess, didn't know the bump was in the road and all of a sudden there it was. No i am in the USA. Will see what the next few months has in store for us.
Is it typical that the prednisone does end or is there the case of ongoing therapy? She is on it through this month then what? I read the one article with possible links of side effects from tagament, but she only started this along with the predisone for prevention of ulcers. thanks

What Is Thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia is a bleeding disorder in which the blood contains lower than normal levels of functional platelets. It can be a result of many diseases and is the most common cause of bleeding in cancer patients. Platelet levels may fall due to insufficient bone marrow production, increased consumption of platelets, or abnormal platelet removal from the blood by the spleen.
Substances that interfere with platelet production or function include: alcohol, histamine-2 blocking agents such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac) and sulfa drugs such as Bactrim.

In addition, a patient's own immune system may destroy the platelets in the blood. Patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura, mononucleosis, and some viral infections MAY suffer autoimmune platelet destruction. Some vaccinations may also result in autoimmune thrombocytopenia.

the above is taken from
http://www.telemedicine.arizona.edu/patient_info/benign_disorders/disorders/thrombocytopenia.html

Thrombocytopaenia is NOT always an AUTO-IMMUNE disease.
Cimetidine and related drugs are given for stomach ulcers and have been reported as a cause of low platelet counts ie Thrombocytopaenia!
Prednisone is given to increase platelet counts.