http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-tv-rabiesvaccinationrestrictions,0,5632202.story
I always knew he'd one day get his fifteen minutes of fame. It couldn't be for a more worthy reason, either.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
California Rabies Bill Seeks Lifetime Quarantine for Sick Dogs
An amendment currently being considered by the California Legislature would force dog owners whose dogs are too sick to be vaccinated to either quarantine those dogs or vaccinate them, despite their illnesses. This would include dogs whose illnesses have been caused or aggravated by the rabies vaccine itself. For those dogs, and many others with chronic diseases, the amendment would effectively create either a requirement of lifetime quarantine or force the dog to receive a life-threatening vaccination.
Vaccine-induced illness, or vaccinosis, comes in a variety of forms and is usually autoimmune in nature. Typically, dogs that develop vaccinosis never fully recover, and it is usually recommended that they not be vaccinated again. They often receive a medical exemption in the form of a letter from a veterinarian advising against future vaccination. A medical exemption letter can be given for many reasons, if a veterinarian determines that a dog is too sick to tolerate further vaccination. In fact, the labeling instructions on vaccine products instruct veterinarians to vaccinate healthy dogs only.
In California, several changes to the rabies vaccination laws are currently under review, including this language:
“A dog exempt from the canine antirabies vaccination shall be kept quarantined as directed by the local health officer, until the dog's medical condition has resolved and the administration of the canine antirabies vaccine occurs.”
For those dogs that are exempt due to vaccinosis or other chronic conditions, this proposed amendment means owners must choose either lifetime quarantine or vaccinating unhealthy dogs against both veterinary and labeling advice. For some of these dogs, vaccination would be deadly.
What is the actual likelihood of rabies in California dogs? According to data published by the California Department of Health Services, Veterinary Public Health Section, bats and skunks are far more likely to carry rabies than dogs. During the past four years, only one rabid dog has been reported in the entire state of California. Of the six human cases reported during the period from 1997 to 2006, four are known to have contracted rabies outside of the United States. (http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/Pages/rabies.aspx).
Dr. Bonnie Sorensen, Chief Deputy of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), wrote in 2008: "Bats and skunks are the most common animals found to be rabid in California. Rabies is rare in dogs, cats, and other domestic animals in California due to vaccination programs and animal control efforts." (http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR2008-50.aspx).
In other words, the vaccination program that currently exists in California is already working.
According to Jean Dodds, world-renowned California veterinarian and Co-Trustee of the Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust*: “I am definitely alarmed about the negative impact this proposed legislation would have on the health and longevity of dogs legitimately deserving of rabies booster exemptions. The mandate of permanent quarantine as the alternative to forcing these dogs to receive rabies boosters would cause untold pain, suffering and hardship not only for the pet but also the pet owner.
“This proposed legislation is a significant setback to current advancements in standardizing rabies laws nationwide and providing uniform requirements for issuing exemptions, where appropriate, on a case-by-case basis. It would be ironic indeed, if the State of California, believed to be progressive, was to take a big step backwards and enact unwise and unjustified legislation!”
Laura Bates Sterner of Sacramento, the owner of Louie, a Chinese Crested with a long history of health problems related to the rabies vaccine, is worried that people will not understand what this law would mean for dogs like hers with chronic illness. “Another part of the same amendment defines and clarifies what qualifies as a medical exemption under the law, and that is a good thing,” she says, “but pet owners who fail to look more closely at the rest of the proposed legislation may not realize that it also contains this additional language that will force quarantines. Until now, dogs with medical exemptions have been allowed to simply live out their days. If the new language passes in its entirety, those animals deemed exempt under the law will have a far different future.”
Sterner, along with Cynthia Jeremica of Sacramento, is hoping to make other dog owners aware of the proposed change to bill AB2000. They support an alternative proposal written and endorsed by the co-trustees of the Rabies Challenge Fund which would eliminate the quarantine requirement, and make other important changes. For more information about what you need to do in order to speak out against this amendment (amendment 2 to bill AB2000), please visit http://savelouie.blogspot.com/2010/05/california-action-alert-proposed-ca.html .
*The Rabies Challenge Fund is in the third year of concurrent 5- and 7-year research trials to determine the long-term duration of immunity of the canine rabies vaccine with the goal of extending state mandated rabies boosters to 5, and then 7 years. The purpose would be to extend the interval required for rabies booster vaccination after the initial 2-dose series beyond the 3-year interval now followed. See www.rabieschallengefund.org for additional information.
(Above Photos L-R: Louie, before and after onset of his rabies vaccine-induced illness)
Additional background/resources:
• http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/ (background on the Rabies Challenge Fund)
• http://www.dogs4dogs.com/alerts (Breaking information about the pending amendment to AB2000)
• http://savelouie.blogspot.com/2009/07/part-5-rabies-vaccine-induced-ischemic.html (Story of “Louie’s” struggle with vaccinosis)
• http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog4dogs/2009/07/01/rabies-vaccine-skin-reaction-ischemic-dermatopathy/ (Story of “Peaches” struggle with vaccinosis)
• http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog4dogs/2009/10/28/vaccine-injection-site-tumors/ a dog with a vaccine induced fibrosarcoma at the injection site.
•
High-resolution images of vaccinosis:
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8GH-e9RG8Pdub9iYIumKokPj5CXX7DjKb7twUYnrpdDD3SFVW5ULrIM4-vWO6Op-pj_S1mEtnG10EJzhLbJQ5k_sH7Tid7jkvYBC4QL9SfVbvfVA1TkQlk9Cv_lHlRSWncw1cG8MiBQ/s1600-h/IMG_1220.JPG (Erosion of skin and open lesions on Louie’s ear, more than a year after his injection - image also attached)
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RpdZeK4pZlNMFK4kH898-s_SrC3cz_rvllZz1EuV8MudE2POfWl-cbLFr_gsqAr-J5OoqgMjXYpPBvLq1fl_HyXqS7JauIah37snpXHyI1rbPXa_Z0AxQtOZRrWVxhf962F-ttKGCTA/s1600-h/IMG_1218.JPG (Crusting and hyperpigmentation at Louie’s injection site, more than a year after his injection)
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwtckDLGhVTE3dFZ7TEeh6X_pFVmoUrkK72H4l5BhfdUu4KLpfSqZB-GGix7QWLU3Noye3GLU9RkjXOVgJ5kxhwUjjbqGZbURS1oJusPrepVmd8ZWKtVBdnWEYlL1uk7OWDDYHrW1Vro/s1600-h/Peaches+from+Feb.+08+to+Feb.+09+skin+changes+002.jpg (Peaches’ ischemic dermatopathy due to rabies vaccine)
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSwkZ1Hj6aG18MuU9ZPrp8skEKShrXgP7OH49RkL3H8KLe2Izsni-LQZUChg2QTLT5gwM4AOaujd4sENptNQyQMql2jcjiPeCRxTLVNvDFr6czfet-KvZy23LkHQFjSEB_GpCgk9WP_o/s1600-h/Peaches+from+Feb.+08+to+Feb.+09+skin+changes+007.jpg (Another image of Peaches showing the damage at the injection site – Image also attached)
• http://savelouie.com/images/IMG_0110.jpg (Louie before his illness)
• http://savelouie.com/images/IMG_1173-1.jpg (Louie with his illness)
An amendment currently being considered by the California Legislature would force dog owners whose dogs are too sick to be vaccinated to either quarantine those dogs or vaccinate them, despite their illnesses. This would include dogs whose illnesses have been caused or aggravated by the rabies vaccine itself. For those dogs, and many others with chronic diseases, the amendment would effectively create either a requirement of lifetime quarantine or force the dog to receive a life-threatening vaccination.
Vaccine-induced illness, or vaccinosis, comes in a variety of forms and is usually autoimmune in nature. Typically, dogs that develop vaccinosis never fully recover, and it is usually recommended that they not be vaccinated again. They often receive a medical exemption in the form of a letter from a veterinarian advising against future vaccination. A medical exemption letter can be given for many reasons, if a veterinarian determines that a dog is too sick to tolerate further vaccination. In fact, the labeling instructions on vaccine products instruct veterinarians to vaccinate healthy dogs only.
In California, several changes to the rabies vaccination laws are currently under review, including this language:
“A dog exempt from the canine antirabies vaccination shall be kept quarantined as directed by the local health officer, until the dog's medical condition has resolved and the administration of the canine antirabies vaccine occurs.”
For those dogs that are exempt due to vaccinosis or other chronic conditions, this proposed amendment means owners must choose either lifetime quarantine or vaccinating unhealthy dogs against both veterinary and labeling advice. For some of these dogs, vaccination would be deadly.
What is the actual likelihood of rabies in California dogs? According to data published by the California Department of Health Services, Veterinary Public Health Section, bats and skunks are far more likely to carry rabies than dogs. During the past four years, only one rabid dog has been reported in the entire state of California. Of the six human cases reported during the period from 1997 to 2006, four are known to have contracted rabies outside of the United States. (http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/Pages/rabies.aspx).
Dr. Bonnie Sorensen, Chief Deputy of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), wrote in 2008: "Bats and skunks are the most common animals found to be rabid in California. Rabies is rare in dogs, cats, and other domestic animals in California due to vaccination programs and animal control efforts." (http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR2008-50.aspx).
In other words, the vaccination program that currently exists in California is already working.
According to Jean Dodds, world-renowned California veterinarian and Co-Trustee of the Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust*: “I am definitely alarmed about the negative impact this proposed legislation would have on the health and longevity of dogs legitimately deserving of rabies booster exemptions. The mandate of permanent quarantine as the alternative to forcing these dogs to receive rabies boosters would cause untold pain, suffering and hardship not only for the pet but also the pet owner.
“This proposed legislation is a significant setback to current advancements in standardizing rabies laws nationwide and providing uniform requirements for issuing exemptions, where appropriate, on a case-by-case basis. It would be ironic indeed, if the State of California, believed to be progressive, was to take a big step backwards and enact unwise and unjustified legislation!”
Laura Bates Sterner of Sacramento, the owner of Louie, a Chinese Crested with a long history of health problems related to the rabies vaccine, is worried that people will not understand what this law would mean for dogs like hers with chronic illness. “Another part of the same amendment defines and clarifies what qualifies as a medical exemption under the law, and that is a good thing,” she says, “but pet owners who fail to look more closely at the rest of the proposed legislation may not realize that it also contains this additional language that will force quarantines. Until now, dogs with medical exemptions have been allowed to simply live out their days. If the new language passes in its entirety, those animals deemed exempt under the law will have a far different future.”
Sterner, along with Cynthia Jeremica of Sacramento, is hoping to make other dog owners aware of the proposed change to bill AB2000. They support an alternative proposal written and endorsed by the co-trustees of the Rabies Challenge Fund which would eliminate the quarantine requirement, and make other important changes. For more information about what you need to do in order to speak out against this amendment (amendment 2 to bill AB2000), please visit http://savelouie.blogspot.com/2010/05/california-action-alert-proposed-ca.html .
*The Rabies Challenge Fund is in the third year of concurrent 5- and 7-year research trials to determine the long-term duration of immunity of the canine rabies vaccine with the goal of extending state mandated rabies boosters to 5, and then 7 years. The purpose would be to extend the interval required for rabies booster vaccination after the initial 2-dose series beyond the 3-year interval now followed. See www.rabieschallengefund.org for additional information.
(Above Photos L-R: Louie, before and after onset of his rabies vaccine-induced illness)
Additional background/resources:
• http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/ (background on the Rabies Challenge Fund)
• http://www.dogs4dogs.com/alerts (Breaking information about the pending amendment to AB2000)
• http://savelouie.blogspot.com/2009/07/part-5-rabies-vaccine-induced-ischemic.html (Story of “Louie’s” struggle with vaccinosis)
• http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog4dogs/2009/07/01/rabies-vaccine-skin-reaction-ischemic-dermatopathy/ (Story of “Peaches” struggle with vaccinosis)
• http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog4dogs/2009/10/28/vaccine-injection-site-tumors/ a dog with a vaccine induced fibrosarcoma at the injection site.
•
High-resolution images of vaccinosis:
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8GH-e9RG8Pdub9iYIumKokPj5CXX7DjKb7twUYnrpdDD3SFVW5ULrIM4-vWO6Op-pj_S1mEtnG10EJzhLbJQ5k_sH7Tid7jkvYBC4QL9SfVbvfVA1TkQlk9Cv_lHlRSWncw1cG8MiBQ/s1600-h/IMG_1220.JPG (Erosion of skin and open lesions on Louie’s ear, more than a year after his injection - image also attached)
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RpdZeK4pZlNMFK4kH898-s_SrC3cz_rvllZz1EuV8MudE2POfWl-cbLFr_gsqAr-J5OoqgMjXYpPBvLq1fl_HyXqS7JauIah37snpXHyI1rbPXa_Z0AxQtOZRrWVxhf962F-ttKGCTA/s1600-h/IMG_1218.JPG (Crusting and hyperpigmentation at Louie’s injection site, more than a year after his injection)
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwtckDLGhVTE3dFZ7TEeh6X_pFVmoUrkK72H4l5BhfdUu4KLpfSqZB-GGix7QWLU3Noye3GLU9RkjXOVgJ5kxhwUjjbqGZbURS1oJusPrepVmd8ZWKtVBdnWEYlL1uk7OWDDYHrW1Vro/s1600-h/Peaches+from+Feb.+08+to+Feb.+09+skin+changes+002.jpg (Peaches’ ischemic dermatopathy due to rabies vaccine)
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSwkZ1Hj6aG18MuU9ZPrp8skEKShrXgP7OH49RkL3H8KLe2Izsni-LQZUChg2QTLT5gwM4AOaujd4sENptNQyQMql2jcjiPeCRxTLVNvDFr6czfet-KvZy23LkHQFjSEB_GpCgk9WP_o/s1600-h/Peaches+from+Feb.+08+to+Feb.+09+skin+changes+007.jpg (Another image of Peaches showing the damage at the injection site – Image also attached)
• http://savelouie.com/images/IMG_0110.jpg (Louie before his illness)
• http://savelouie.com/images/IMG_1173-1.jpg (Louie with his illness)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
CALIFORNIA ACTION ALERT: Proposed CA amendment will force quarantines of sick dogs
below: Louie before and after his vaccine-related illness. (Click image for larger view.)
Louie must never be vaccinated again. He will be directly affected by this legislation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR CALIFORNIANS -- IF YOU'RE NOT A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO FRIENDS IN CALIFORNIA AND POST ON DOG LISTS, BOARDS, AND FORUMS. ALERT DOG BREED GROUPS.On April 5, 2010, California legislators added amendment #2 to proposed bill AB2000: "In rabies areas, all of the following shall apply: A dog exempt from the canine antirabies vaccination shall be kept quarantined as directed by the local health officer, until the dog's medical condition has resolved and the administration of the canine antirabies vaccine occurs."
Every county in California has been declared a “rabies area.”
Kris Christine, Founder of the Rabies Challenge Fund, in consultation with Dr. Jean Dodds and others, faxed and e-mailed a letter to the sponsor of the bill, Senator Steinberg and the Rules Committee. Find her letter at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/AB2000
Arguments: I know that some people will say, who cares? Let's quarantine the dogs so I won't catch rabies. But only one dog has contracted rabies in CA since 2006. Only 6 humans cases of rabies were reported in California -- 4 from exposure that occurred outside of the US. The remaining 2 cases were associated with California bat variants.
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/data/statistics/Documents/rabies-episummary.pdf
Dogs all over CA and the US currently have exemptions and have for many years.
What about the impracticality and cost of quarantine? Where will dogs be quarantined? Who will pay? Who will handle their medical needs if they’re impounded? What about all the inevitable lawsuits from people whose dogs die from forced quarantine or vaccination? Read more about this at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/alerts “WHY IS QUARANTINE A BAD IDEA?”
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Please e-mail today and call on Monday the following people. And tell your friends, post on boards and lists, call your local media with a story. We’ll help in any way we can. And be sure to alert any vets have written medical exemptions. We must act now!
The phone number for the California Senate Rules Committee is (916) 651-4120
Chair of the Committee is Senator Darrell Steinberg e-mail: Senator.Steinberg@senate.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4006
Vice-chair Sam Aanestad Senator.Aanestad@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4004
Gilbert Cedillo Senator.Cedillo@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4022
Robert Dutton Senator.Dutton@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4031
Jenny Oropeza Senator.Oropeza@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4028
Bill Co-Sponsor Assembly Member Curt Hagman Assemblymember.Hagman@assembly.ca.gov (916) 319-2060
See www.dogs4dogs.com/alerts for more information. Familiarize yourself about the facts and then make impassioned pleas to the legislators. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. Once the committee approves Amendment #2 regarding quarantine it will be very hard to stop.
Important: At present, it is Amendment 2 we especially oppose.
PLEASE ACT NOW! EVEN IF YOUR OWN DOG ISN’T SICK, THIS BILL WILL SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.
Dogs4Dogs
PO Box 675446
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
92067
US
Sunday, May 9, 2010
What's working for us-- updated 9/6/2011
Here's our current recipe:
Dry ingredients:
3 cups of Honest Kitchen Preference
4 cups white potato flakes
1 teaspoon Honest Kitchen Perfect Form
3/4 to 1 teaspoon of powdered spirulina
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon probiotic
3 teaspoons bone meal
I mix the dry ingredients together. Then add 1 can of the Royal Canin Digestive Low Fat (you can substitute your own choice of low-fat meat or fish, based on your dog's own tolerances.
Add 6 or seven cups of warm water, mix thoroughly. Feed as is or add a little water at feeding to make the mixture easier to eat.
Yes, it's green! Louie loves it, and it keeps him going.
If you'd like to try this out on your own dog, but don't want to invest in all these expensive ingredients right away, please contact me at louiesmom@savelouie.com for details on how you can purchase a trial pack of the dry ingredients from me at cost.
Dry ingredients:
3 cups of Honest Kitchen Preference
4 cups white potato flakes
1 teaspoon Honest Kitchen Perfect Form
3/4 to 1 teaspoon of powdered spirulina
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon probiotic
3 teaspoons bone meal
I mix the dry ingredients together. Then add 1 can of the Royal Canin Digestive Low Fat (you can substitute your own choice of low-fat meat or fish, based on your dog's own tolerances.
Add 6 or seven cups of warm water, mix thoroughly. Feed as is or add a little water at feeding to make the mixture easier to eat.
Yes, it's green! Louie loves it, and it keeps him going.
If you'd like to try this out on your own dog, but don't want to invest in all these expensive ingredients right away, please contact me at louiesmom@savelouie.com for details on how you can purchase a trial pack of the dry ingredients from me at cost.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Length of time to diagnosis
I posted this tonight on the Canine Lymphangiectasia Support forum (http://www.savelouie.com/phpBB3 ) and thought I would put it here, too.
Just thinking here about the situation that I've seen in a number of dogs, both here and at the old Yahoo group, whose owners have had them repeatedly to vets who tried any number of things without success before finally doing an endoscopy or exploratory surgery and getting the answers.
Any number of papers I've read state that the lymphie dog's prognosis is tied to the dog's condition by the time the diagnosis is made. Some pull through, but others are too far gone. In our case, Louie was diagnosed with pancreatitis, hypothyroid, Cushing's disease, and possible lupus before I finally found a vet who recommended the endoscopy. Most of the vets looked at him and did not know what to say to me.
Bloodwork was done which showed low protein levels and anemia, but because he also had skin lesions there was a lot of wishful thinking that this was due to blood loss from those areas. No one put two and two together.
Now, when I look back on it, to me it is so clear. Vomiting, intermittent diarrhea, rapid and extreme weight loss, muscle wasting, lethargy and lack of energy, rumbling tummy, intestinal enlargement on ultrasound, low blood protein-- all warning signs of IL. Those things should have been red flags to someone, but no one knew enough to know this.
We were lucky, because for all we went through, we still managed to get a diagnosis fairly quickly, but he was still a very sick little guy when we finally got there.
My wish, and hope, is to find a way to increase awareness of this disease so that we get to a place at which it's no longer the diagnosis of last resort, but one of the things that vets think of at the same time they're thinking of IBD and pancreatitis and all of those other more common illnesses. Because, really, it's the wasted time that's killing many of these lymphangiectasia dogs.
Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.
Just thinking here about the situation that I've seen in a number of dogs, both here and at the old Yahoo group, whose owners have had them repeatedly to vets who tried any number of things without success before finally doing an endoscopy or exploratory surgery and getting the answers.
Any number of papers I've read state that the lymphie dog's prognosis is tied to the dog's condition by the time the diagnosis is made. Some pull through, but others are too far gone. In our case, Louie was diagnosed with pancreatitis, hypothyroid, Cushing's disease, and possible lupus before I finally found a vet who recommended the endoscopy. Most of the vets looked at him and did not know what to say to me.
Bloodwork was done which showed low protein levels and anemia, but because he also had skin lesions there was a lot of wishful thinking that this was due to blood loss from those areas. No one put two and two together.
Now, when I look back on it, to me it is so clear. Vomiting, intermittent diarrhea, rapid and extreme weight loss, muscle wasting, lethargy and lack of energy, rumbling tummy, intestinal enlargement on ultrasound, low blood protein-- all warning signs of IL. Those things should have been red flags to someone, but no one knew enough to know this.
We were lucky, because for all we went through, we still managed to get a diagnosis fairly quickly, but he was still a very sick little guy when we finally got there.
My wish, and hope, is to find a way to increase awareness of this disease so that we get to a place at which it's no longer the diagnosis of last resort, but one of the things that vets think of at the same time they're thinking of IBD and pancreatitis and all of those other more common illnesses. Because, really, it's the wasted time that's killing many of these lymphangiectasia dogs.
Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Peas update
Louie's still doing well with the added peas and I've also found a food that contains the same fish protein that he was getting in the prescription food before the formula change. I'm blending that in as well, and he's tolerating it all well right now.
He seems to do better with veggie proteins in general, so something to keep in mind if you are having trouble with protein sensitivity or are unable to stabilize your dog with a low fat diet alone.
He seems to do better with veggie proteins in general, so something to keep in mind if you are having trouble with protein sensitivity or are unable to stabilize your dog with a low fat diet alone.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Reminders of how lucky we are
I try to stay upbeat here, because I think that most people who manage to find their way to this blog need to hear the hopeful stuff. But some days it just gets to be difficult, when I hear of dogs who aren't doing well, who are diagnosed with protein losing enteropathies that have causes worse than lymphangiectasia, which carry more dire prognoses. It gets to me, sometimes, and there are days when I'd like to just shut down this blog, shut down the support forums and just move on with my life.
I realize I am lucky, so very lucky, that things have worked out well for Louie and me. Ours is a story with a rather happy ending (so far), but not everyone is so fortunate.
For those of us whose dogs are doing well, I offer a moment of silent gratitude.
I realize I am lucky, so very lucky, that things have worked out well for Louie and me. Ours is a story with a rather happy ending (so far), but not everyone is so fortunate.
For those of us whose dogs are doing well, I offer a moment of silent gratitude.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
New Canine Lymphangiectasia Support Forum!
A few months ago we started a support community in Yahoo Groups, which has steadily grown in size. Every day, more and more visitors come to this site, seeking information about this disease. We're finding Yahoo Groups to be too limiting for our needs, and so I am spending some time over this long weekend putting together a web-based forum for canine lymphangiectasia support. It is my hope that this format will be easier to use and provide a better way for us to keep information available and organized.
Thank you to all who have expressed interest in this venture. You can now visit the new forum at: http://www.savelouie.com/phpBB3 . We are still very much in the early stages, with much housekeeping to do, but please drop by.
Thank you to all who have expressed interest in this venture. You can now visit the new forum at: http://www.savelouie.com/phpBB3 . We are still very much in the early stages, with much housekeeping to do, but please drop by.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Peas!
The soy protein over the long term seems to be a little rough for Louie, though he's doing far better with it than he did with any of the meats or fish I tried. However, I have been giving him nothing but the canned Royal Canin Digestive Low Fat (pre-formula change stuff) for the past few weeks and he's looking far healthier since I stopped the tofu. So I am now on a quest for other protein sources that I can feed him.
Tonight we added peas to the Honest Kitchen mix in place of the tofu and gave him that mixed with the Royal Canin. Peas are high in protein, and very low in fat. I wanted to try them next, because he seems to do better with vegetable matter than with meat, in general.
So far he seems to be holding it all down well with no signs of gastrointestinal distress. We'll see how he does tomorrow.
I also have another food on order that I'm going to try, as well. Hopefully we can get him nutritionally strong again, and keep him that way for a while. Wish us luck!
Tonight we added peas to the Honest Kitchen mix in place of the tofu and gave him that mixed with the Royal Canin. Peas are high in protein, and very low in fat. I wanted to try them next, because he seems to do better with vegetable matter than with meat, in general.
So far he seems to be holding it all down well with no signs of gastrointestinal distress. We'll see how he does tomorrow.
I also have another food on order that I'm going to try, as well. Hopefully we can get him nutritionally strong again, and keep him that way for a while. Wish us luck!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Lymphangiectasia is NOT a death sentence
I've encountered several people over the past few months whose vets have told them, upon making a diagnosis of lymphangiectasia, that they need to be prepared for the inevitable likelihood of euthanasia. In some cases this may have been the kinder course, but in other cases, where the dogs are not that far gone, I am not so sure.
All I can say is, thank goodness my own vets did not give up or let me give up. I surely wanted to, a few times.
The truth is, there is just not a whole lot of information available about what works with this disease. In complicated cases, such as ours, there is even less.
But, there are many survivors, and it helps to keep all of this in mind when considering the best course in your own case.
I'm not saying that the vets are wrong in what they know or that you should not follow their advice. There are important components to treating this disease, and it is important for you to know that, if you have a vet who wants to throw in the towel, you should talk to another vet before making a decision.
All I can say is, thank goodness my own vets did not give up or let me give up. I surely wanted to, a few times.
The truth is, there is just not a whole lot of information available about what works with this disease. In complicated cases, such as ours, there is even less.
But, there are many survivors, and it helps to keep all of this in mind when considering the best course in your own case.
I'm not saying that the vets are wrong in what they know or that you should not follow their advice. There are important components to treating this disease, and it is important for you to know that, if you have a vet who wants to throw in the towel, you should talk to another vet before making a decision.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Another dog with RVI ID
Peaches is a little terrier owned by Judy Frison-Shor, of New Jersey. She was diagnosed with rabies vaccine induced ischemic dermatopathy, and has multiple skin lesions in most of the same areas Louie had them.
Here are some pictures of the damage to Peaches skin at the ears and near the injection site:
Peaches' owner was offered a settlement from the company which made the vaccine she was given. As a condition of the settlement, she was told she could not talk about the incident. Peaches' owner declined the offer.
Here are some pictures of the damage to Peaches skin at the ears and near the injection site:
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Soy Protein Powder
I went online a few months ago to compare the protein content of meats with that of tofu, in order to get an idea about how much tofu to add to Louie's meals. From what I could tell, meat has a larger percentage of protein, so the amount of tofu I need to give him would be greater than if I were feeding meat.
A few days ago I found a soy protein powder in the store and decided to buy it to use as a supplemental protein source when I prep his food. As with anything new I try for him, I started out with a small amount and observed him. Even though tofu is also soy protein, you never know what else might be in there that could trigger a reaction.
He did well with it, so I added it to the batch of food I just prepared for him. So far, so good!
A few days ago I found a soy protein powder in the store and decided to buy it to use as a supplemental protein source when I prep his food. As with anything new I try for him, I started out with a small amount and observed him. Even though tofu is also soy protein, you never know what else might be in there that could trigger a reaction.
He did well with it, so I added it to the batch of food I just prepared for him. So far, so good!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Happy Holidays
We've had a pretty good year, and this morning, before I arise to mess up the living room with wrapping paper, I thought I'd reflect just a little bit about just how good it has been.
Keeping to the main theme of this blog, we've managed to overcome a few hurdles and get Louie back in the game once again. This was no small feat, and required the help of many strangers and cyber-friends throughout the continent of North America. Thanks to their (your) efforts, I was able to purchase over 500 cans of a food that is no longer being made (at least not in the way it was made before) which was the only food we had found that Louie could eat.
Thanks to the time that bought us, we were able to do sufficient diet trials to find that Louie could eat tofu, and that we could mix tofu with a balanced, dehydrated base to create a protein rich, balanced meal for him. Mixing that with the food we have in storage will likely keep him going for the rest of his natural lifespan, if we're lucky enough to not encounter another major relapse in his lymphangiectasia.
So, we have received the best gift of all for this holiday season: The gift of life and love and the continuing companionship of my dearest and best friend. Louie has been with me through a lot; in 2006 I packed him up into my little Subaru with whatever else would fit in there, and together we crossed the continent to start a new life in Sacramento, California.
And what a new life it has been! I have met and married a wonderful man, begun a new career with the University of California, and managed to put some unfortunate baggage into the past. Our lives are not without stress, and far from perfect, but things are relatively stable and sane. Louie has been a big part of my life, all the difficulties that preceded the move (and the joyfulness before that, too, which seems distant, but is still remembered). He's been the one consistent thing in my life when everything else seemed to be falling apart. So it is a great delight to see him sitting here next to me on this fine, Sacramento Christmas morning, knowing that the worst, for him too, may actually be over.
From my heart to yours,
Happy Holidays!
Keeping to the main theme of this blog, we've managed to overcome a few hurdles and get Louie back in the game once again. This was no small feat, and required the help of many strangers and cyber-friends throughout the continent of North America. Thanks to their (your) efforts, I was able to purchase over 500 cans of a food that is no longer being made (at least not in the way it was made before) which was the only food we had found that Louie could eat.
Thanks to the time that bought us, we were able to do sufficient diet trials to find that Louie could eat tofu, and that we could mix tofu with a balanced, dehydrated base to create a protein rich, balanced meal for him. Mixing that with the food we have in storage will likely keep him going for the rest of his natural lifespan, if we're lucky enough to not encounter another major relapse in his lymphangiectasia.
So, we have received the best gift of all for this holiday season: The gift of life and love and the continuing companionship of my dearest and best friend. Louie has been with me through a lot; in 2006 I packed him up into my little Subaru with whatever else would fit in there, and together we crossed the continent to start a new life in Sacramento, California. And what a new life it has been! I have met and married a wonderful man, begun a new career with the University of California, and managed to put some unfortunate baggage into the past. Our lives are not without stress, and far from perfect, but things are relatively stable and sane. Louie has been a big part of my life, all the difficulties that preceded the move (and the joyfulness before that, too, which seems distant, but is still remembered). He's been the one consistent thing in my life when everything else seemed to be falling apart. So it is a great delight to see him sitting here next to me on this fine, Sacramento Christmas morning, knowing that the worst, for him too, may actually be over.
From my heart to yours,
Happy Holidays!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Protein Losing Diseases in Dogs
This article talks about Protein loss in soft coated wheaten terriers, one of the breeds known to be predisposed to these diseases.
http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/research/SCWT/ple.htm
http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/research/SCWT/ple.htm
Friday, November 20, 2009
Quick semi-update
We went to an area off the Pacific Coast, just outside of San Francisco, called Stinson Beach. From there we drove to Muir Woods and hiked in the Redwood forest, and then drove southward to Bolinas, which is a funky little beach town that is home to a rather reclusive artistic community. We walked along the beach and took some pictures, and had a lovely time. Upon our return I was very pleased to see the kids and they were all quite well. What a relief from a year ago.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Message for Scott, who e-mailed me
Hi Scott,
I've tried responding to your e-mail, but it bounced. If you would like to add me to your trusted users list, I'll try again.
thanks,
Louie's mom
I've tried responding to your e-mail, but it bounced. If you would like to add me to your trusted users list, I'll try again.
thanks,
Louie's mom
Monday, October 26, 2009
Calculating fat percentages in foods (and other important information)
This article is an extremely valuable resource in determining the true amount of fat in foods.
http://www.dogaware.com/wdjlowfatdiets.html
http://www.dogaware.com/wdjlowfatdiets.html
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Another Loss
This is for Parker, one of the beloved dogs belonging to a member of the lymphangiectasia support group.
Rest in peace, little one. You are free now.
Rest in peace, little one. You are free now.
Research Study at Cornell needs Yorkie participants
The researchers will examine blood samples from healthy Yorkies as well as from Yorkies with a verified diagnosis of PLE. They will send a kit for you to take to your veterinarian for collection of samples, along with a package for mailing the samples back to them.
If you have a healthy Yorkie or a Yorkie with a confirmed diagnosis of lymphangiectasia, you may be eligible to assist Cornell with their study. Eligible dogs must have a known pedigree of at least three generations.
A flyer is available here
This research is a collaboration between Dr. Nathan Sutter
PhD, Dr. Kenneth Simpson BVM&S, PhD, and Dr.
Melanie Craven BVM.
Please contact sutterlab@cornell.edu or 607-253-3592.
Please note that this is not an offer of free diagnostics. The research team will examine samples for genetic information and is not able to tell you if your dog has PLE. Please see your veterinarian if you suspect your dog has this disease.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Lymphangiectasia and eye disease?
None of the literature I have read has talked about eye disease in conjunction with lymphangiectasia in dogs. However, it seems to happen in humans with the disease.
Louie has eye problems and the ophthalmologist at UC Davis could not really tell us exactly what was wrong. He thought the problem is "autoimmune in nature" but could offer little more than this.
Interestingly, it appears that his eyesight may be improving alongside some of his other symptoms. I recently discontinued his cyclosporine for a few weeks, and started it again when he developed skin problems. His eyes also worsened while he was not on the drug, and have gotten a bit better since starting it again.
This disease, along with the vaccine induced disease, poses such mysteries. I would love to see some of these questions answered.
If you have a dog who has lymphangiectasia and eye problems, leave a comment, or drop me an e-mail.
Louie has eye problems and the ophthalmologist at UC Davis could not really tell us exactly what was wrong. He thought the problem is "autoimmune in nature" but could offer little more than this.
Interestingly, it appears that his eyesight may be improving alongside some of his other symptoms. I recently discontinued his cyclosporine for a few weeks, and started it again when he developed skin problems. His eyes also worsened while he was not on the drug, and have gotten a bit better since starting it again.
This disease, along with the vaccine induced disease, poses such mysteries. I would love to see some of these questions answered.
If you have a dog who has lymphangiectasia and eye problems, leave a comment, or drop me an e-mail.
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