Home > Pets > ITP > ITP Q&A > Seeking Natural Cures for Canine ITP

Seeking Natural Cures for Canine ITP

Posted By Julie (Rabun Gap, Ga) on 03/06/2016

Hi, I have a lab/collie dog that is 12 years old. She recently had an eye problem and then her nose was real stuffy and the mucus was a dark green. We took her to the vet and they prescribed amoxicillin. That wasn't working, she must have built up a resistance and then they started her on another drug and after she was on that drug for two days, she started bleeding from her nose and I believe her gums. We took her to another vet and the story goes on. She's now on prednisone, vitamin k, cephalexin and aminocaproic acid. The vets didn't believe it was her immune system until they couldn't find anything and I said I thought she had been having problems with her immune system because of symptoms I've read online. That's when they prescribed the prednisone. She's been improving very little and this has been going on since last Sunday, 7 days now. She just started bleeding a little from the nose and gums again yesterday and I've been doing some cold compresses on the nose. She has been urinating and it's a light yellow. She's very weak. Will lap up pedialyte, about a liter a day and some water and started eating again a few days ago. Really prefers rotisserie chicken.

Does any one know whether I should have her on probiotics. I've read wheatgrass helps with platelets and I purchased some tablets yesterday but after reading on the internet, not sure if I should give those to her. What about Milk Thistle? I also have "Digestive Enzymes & Probiotics" but not sure if I should give her that at this time. Would appreciate some feedback.

Thank you,

Julie in Rabun Gap

Replied by Theresa

Donate

(Mpls., Mn) on 03/07/2016

Theresa

The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.

About Theresa

Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.

Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.

Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.

-----------------------------

How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation

If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.

http://www.piperslegacy.org/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal

http://ted.earthclinic.com

Hello Julie,

Probiotics *shouldn't* cause any problems, but you may wish to hold off dosing them until your dog is no longer on antibiotics.

If your girl is eating rotisserie chicken, hooray! You might consider switching over to home cooked or RAW. A pet vitamin is in order, and you might also consider supplementing with home cooked calves liver; bake it and put it in the blender and see if your girl will take it that way.

Avoid hard things to avoid causing the gums to bleed further.

Consider supplementing melatonin to increase platelets :

http://www.dovelewis.org/pdf/events/Immune_Mediated_Thrombocytopenia.pdf

If your girl is super weak a blood transfusion may be in order.

The prognosis is very good for dogs afflicted with this condition. Keep your girl comfy, keep her warm if she needs it and keep her well hydrated - which it sounds as if you are doing a good job.

The only other thing that comes to mind is colloidal silver, which helps combat viral infections as well as having antimicrobial properties.

Replied by Julie (Rabun Gap, Ga) on 03/06/2016

I forgot to mention that Maggie's blood platelets are very low. I had read that wheat grass is good for raising the blood platelets and that's why I purchased but didn't realize til I read that night it was the liquid and I purchased the tablets. I didn't give to her because I was concerned about her already taking a steroid and antibiotic. Does anyone know if it's ok to take a probiotic while taking prednisone and antibiotics? I've read that you should not on some websites and then on others that you should.

Replied by Theresa

Donate

(Mpls., Mn) on 03/07/2016

Theresa

The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.

About Theresa

Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.

Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.

Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.

-----------------------------

How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation

If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.

http://www.piperslegacy.org/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal

http://ted.earthclinic.com

Hello Julie,

You certainly CAN take a probiotic along with an antibiotic, but consider if taken at the same time the antibiotic will eliminate the probiotics. You could put them on a schedule and dose each product several hours apart. Or you could just wait on using the probiotics until you are done with the antibiotics.

You might try putting your dissolving your wheatgrass pill in a small amount of water and adding that to the liquid you are giving your dog. Also consider melatonin to increase platelet count.

Replied by Mila Alzate (Manila Philippines) on 12/15/2017

My poodle suspected for trombocytopenia very low platelet count the vet give him 2 shots of vit k. Is it safe since after the shots he dont like to eat or drink.

Back to ITP Q&A