PetFinder.my - Autoimmune disorder in cats

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Re: Autoimmune disorder in cats - advice needed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynielime (Post 54483)

sounds good!
well you're right that the steroids work.. she definitely has responded to them. i suppose if she's only taking them whenever she has a system breakdown she should be fine right.. so far she only has taken them for a week at a time, half a steroid tablet once a day, and one antibiotic tablet twice a day. after each week is over we bring her back to the vet for a checkup and she has shown some improvement. when this current breakdown is over, we will stop. i suppose, then i can maintain her health and strengthen her body with vitamins and immune boosters.

thanks so much for the advice from everyone. i do feel better and i hope coco will soon too.

You mentioned that Coco is on antibiotics and steroid?
It is essential to find out which one of the drug is making her feel better.
If antibiotics, then it is bacterial ... If steroids, it can be autoimmune.

Should it be autoimmune, then, no immune boosters as condition may be caused by over-active immune reaction! Preds (or steroid) suppress the immune and inflammation.

Steroid should be tapered slowly, otherwise it can cause a withdrawal complications! :) It should not be taken off completely at one go ...

Re: Autoimmune disorder in cats - advice needed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillylupie (Post 54488)

Owhh yeah..in my understanding, antibiotic is to make the defend immune system stronger and as I said earlier I watch my intake of antibiotic as it is meant to kill the bacteria. Steroid, on the other hand, will try to slow down the over-active immune whereas antibiotic is meant to strengthening the immune system...

Please do correct me if I am wrong...

I am not a vet nor a doc..but that was what came across my mind when I read about sillylupie response...

Re: Autoimmune disorder in cats - advice needed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nurkasih (Post 54490)

Depending on whether you have "bacteria" or not in your system, I guess antiobiotic is like a "backup team" on a "suppressed" immune system.

So, normally, if a person with diagnosed autoimmune falls sick (really sick like kidney leaking protein, low WBC, platelet), the doc will think it is either a flare or infection.

If, the person has high WBC, fever, it can be an indication of infection and also a flare, therefore, very likely, the doc will use antibiotic with steroid.

However, if, the doc thinks it is a flare, then, steroid alone will most be used.
Still, if, you have flare symptoms of LOW WBC, fever - the doctor will probably pump you up with steroid AND antibiotic - why? Because, if you are low in WBC, you'd probably can't fight off infection on "suppressed" immune system.

Sometimes, after all the antibiotic and steroid, it left them wondering what it was all about! :)