My Yorkie was diagnosed with PLE - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Mommy Jan · 05-29-2010, 08:24 AM

Help! My precious little guy was diagnosed with PLE on April 27, after weeks of on and off vomiting/diarrhea, trembling and a rounded belly. Our regular vet referred us to an Oncology/Internal Medicine Specialist. On our first visit she did blood work which showed extremely low protein levels, and immediately stated he had PLE. She was able to drain much of the liquid from his tummy and started him on Prednisone 5mg 2x daily. After one week we returned for more blood work, his counts were still too low so we continued the Prednisone. After two weeks we returned only to learn his levels still hadn't shown any improvement, so we increased the dosage to 1 1/2 2x daily. We returned this week only to find his levels hadn't increased at all. She felt that the Prednisone wasn't working and the next thing to try was the chemo drug Vincristine.....I consented because I just wanted my little guy to get better. How I wish I never would have allowed this treatment. I should tell you that he had been acting well, interested in life, being part of the family and no vomiting or other symptoms during the Prednisone therapy. Within hours of receiving .1 mg of Vincristine he began to vomit, explosive diarrhea and lost all interest in everything, including eating. We contacted the vet and she had us bring him in, his temp was 103, she did a CBC and his blood work was fairly normal. At this point she felt she had done all she could do for him and that he was just not going to get better, that he would be one of the 15% of Yorkies that do not respond to Prednisone therapy and would succumb to the disease. I refuse to believe that. Yesterday we contacted the vet and told her he was lethargic, but would still drink water, go outside and pee. She agreed to allow us to force feed him, Hills A/D and see if he would improve. He vomited a tiny bit the first 2 times after eating, but today has kept it down. I am encouraged by this small achievement and am hopeful that each day his strength will return to somewhat normal and he'll be able to enjoy whatever time he has left.

I'm sharing this long story to see if anyone else has had experience with this disease and treatment and how your baby did.

Thank you for allowing me to talk and share the heart wrenching experience.

Ringo1 · 05-29-2010, 11:03 AM

Oh, I hope that you are able to give him back some quality of life. I felt so sad reading your story.

I don't know anything about this disease but I imagine that someone will come along who does.

I pray for better days for you and your little one.

dwerten · 05-29-2010, 12:03 PM

PLE is a serious thing so diet is going to be key. I recommend a consult with Holistic Veterinarian Pet Nutritionist Holistic Pet Care susan davis she has helped alot of dogs with ple and some on deaths door so i am a believer in what she does works for ple dogs.

You can contact luvmysissy on here she has alot of experience with ple in dogs. I will pm her as well

also bleuboybarber on here her dog jill had a severe case of this and is doing great and is on the system that susan davis has as susan is a nutritionist

here is info

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/protein...ple/page1.aspx

pm jodi she will help you

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/member.php?u=9980

Mommy Jan · 09-26-2010, 04:48 PM

Hi again, it's been months since I posted about my lil man and his PLE diagnosis. Since May he has been through the ringer with a multitude of tests, treatments and he still is not well. He does have good days but lately more bad ones. He recently had an ultrasound that showed his liver was enlarged but the liver tests came back normal. His protein level was normal for a while but his last one was only 0.7. He is now on a strict rabbit/potato diet, budesonide and omega fatty acid. He is so lethargic, seems hungry all the time and has started trembling most of the time. I don't know what to do anymore, he looks so sad, his once beautiful coat is now brittle and sparse. He doesn't appear to be in pain but why is he trembling????? Can anyone help us?

MellyBelly Mom · 09-26-2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mommy Jan

Hi again, it's been months since I posted about my lil man and his PLE diagnosis. Since May he has been through the ringer with a multitude of tests, treatments and he still is not well. He does have good days but lately more bad ones. He recently had an ultrasound that showed his liver was enlarged but the liver tests came back normal. His protein level was normal for a while but his last one was only 0.7. He is now on a strict rabbit/potato diet, budesonide and omega fatty acid. He is so lethargic, seems hungry all the time and has started trembling most of the time. I don't know what to do anymore, he looks so sad, his once beautiful coat is now brittle and sparse. He doesn't appear to be in pain but why is he trembling????? Can anyone help us?

I can't really help, I don't know anything about this illness, but I do wish you and your little one the best and a healthier future. Hopefully someone here will be able to give you some information, I will send happy thoughts your way

lillymae · 09-26-2010, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mommy Jan

Hi again, it's been months since I posted about my lil man and his PLE diagnosis. Since May he has been through the ringer with a multitude of tests, treatments and he still is not well. He does have good days but lately more bad ones. He recently had an ultrasound that showed his liver was enlarged but the liver tests came back normal. His protein level was normal for a while but his last one was only 0.7. He is now on a strict rabbit/potato diet, budesonide and omega fatty acid. He is so lethargic, seems hungry all the time and has started trembling most of the time. I don't know what to do anymore, he looks so sad, his once beautiful coat is now brittle and sparse. He doesn't appear to be in pain but why is he trembling????? Can anyone help us?

Trembling is a sign of pain/discomfort. I would check all the little things first, anals, ears, teeth and toenails to be sure nothing is going on with any of those things. Then refer back to dwertens post. Did you contact Susan Davis ?

kjc · 09-27-2010, 03:13 AM

This link is a search of PLE postings on Yorkietalk. I think Susan Davis may be you best bet.

PLE - Google Search

05-29-2010, 08:24 AM	#1
Mommy Jan YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Apollo Beach FL Posts: 7	My Yorkie was diagnosed with PLE Help! My precious little guy was diagnosed with PLE on April 27, after weeks of on and off vomiting/diarrhea, trembling and a rounded belly. Our regular vet referred us to an Oncology/Internal Medicine Specialist. On our first visit she did blood work which showed extremely low protein levels, and immediately stated he had PLE. She was able to drain much of the liquid from his tummy and started him on Prednisone 5mg 2x daily. After one week we returned for more blood work, his counts were still too low so we continued the Prednisone. After two weeks we returned only to learn his levels still hadn't shown any improvement, so we increased the dosage to 1 1/2 2x daily. We returned this week only to find his levels hadn't increased at all. She felt that the Prednisone wasn't working and the next thing to try was the chemo drug Vincristine.....I consented because I just wanted my little guy to get better. How I wish I never would have allowed this treatment. I should tell you that he had been acting well, interested in life, being part of the family and no vomiting or other symptoms during the Prednisone therapy. Within hours of receiving .1 mg of Vincristine he began to vomit, explosive diarrhea and lost all interest in everything, including eating. We contacted the vet and she had us bring him in, his temp was 103, she did a CBC and his blood work was fairly normal. At this point she felt she had done all she could do for him and that he was just not going to get better, that he would be one of the 15% of Yorkies that do not respond to Prednisone therapy and would succumb to the disease. I refuse to believe that. Yesterday we contacted the vet and told her he was lethargic, but would still drink water, go outside and pee. She agreed to allow us to force feed him, Hills A/D and see if he would improve. He vomited a tiny bit the first 2 times after eating, but today has kept it down. I am encouraged by this small achievement and am hopeful that each day his strength will return to somewhat normal and he'll be able to enjoy whatever time he has left. I'm sharing this long story to see if anyone else has had experience with this disease and treatment and how your baby did. Thank you for allowing me to talk and share the heart wrenching experience.

05-29-2010, 12:03 PM	#3
dwerten BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 11,073	PLE is a serious thing so diet is going to be key. I recommend a consult with Holistic Veterinarian Pet Nutritionist Holistic Pet Care susan davis she has helped alot of dogs with ple and some on deaths door so i am a believer in what she does works for ple dogs. You can contact luvmysissy on here she has alot of experience with ple in dogs. I will pm her as well also bleuboybarber on here her dog jill had a severe case of this and is doing great and is on the system that susan davis has as susan is a nutritionist here is info http://www.petplace.com/dogs/protein...ple/page1.aspx pm jodi she will help you http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/member.php?u=9980 Last edited by dwerten; 05-29-2010 at 12:07 PM.

09-27-2010, 03:13 AM	#7
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,872	This link is a search of PLE postings on Yorkietalk. I think Susan Davis may be you best bet. PLE - Google Search __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

05-29-2010, 11:03 AM	#2
Ringo1 Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory Posts: 3,447	Oh, I hope that you are able to give him back some quality of life. I felt so sad reading your story. I don't know anything about this disease but I imagine that someone will come along who does. I pray for better days for you and your little one.

09-26-2010, 04:48 PM	#4
Mommy Jan YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Apollo Beach FL Posts: 7	Hi again, it's been months since I posted about my lil man and his PLE diagnosis. Since May he has been through the ringer with a multitude of tests, treatments and he still is not well. He does have good days but lately more bad ones. He recently had an ultrasound that showed his liver was enlarged but the liver tests came back normal. His protein level was normal for a while but his last one was only 0.7. He is now on a strict rabbit/potato diet, budesonide and omega fatty acid. He is so lethargic, seems hungry all the time and has started trembling most of the time. I don't know what to do anymore, he looks so sad, his once beautiful coat is now brittle and sparse. He doesn't appear to be in pain but why is he trembling????? Can anyone help us?