To medicate or not?

Took Toby to the vet this morning as he's been limping for a few days and has a sore paw (He wouldn't let me look at it properly but of course the vet is allowed to do anything!) Anyway he couldn't see any 'injury' but has given us antibiotics.

Now for those who don't know Toby has Immune Mediated Heamolytic Anemia (IMHA/AIHA) and is on Prednisolone and Azathioprine. We've finally weaned him down to half a tablet (2.5mg) or pred every 4days and 1 (75mg) azathioprine every 3days.

The vet assures me that the antibiotics are fine for him to have with those but I'm not keen to give him them unless he really needs it, and to be honest i got the feeling he was just given them out as a routine precaution as he doesn't know whats wrong.

My main dilemma however is that he told me to increase his pred back to 1 tab a day for a few days then wean him back down again. This is the bit I'm really not happy about. I don't think I should be messing with those doses, its taken 6 months to get to this point and the IMHA is far more important than a sore foot (as far as I'm concerned! As usual these things happen at the weekend and i can't get hold of his specialist to get another opinion.

So..........what would you do?

Do I wait til monday and hope it a)gets better on its own or b)at least i can talk to his IMHA vet
Or do i go ahead and do what I've been told by the local vet?

I would wait until monday when you can discuss it with his IMHA vet - I do hope he will be OK {{{vibes}}} xx

Yes, I think I would prefer to wait unless it seems worse. I wish we had been able to see the vet who knows him. I know if I give him the meds it would clear the soreness up faster, but as long as it doesn't get worse I think I'd rather see if it will heal itself. Just feel guilty that I might be leaving him uncomfortable for longer. It doesn't appear to be hurting him, he's just grumpy because I'm making him wear a buster collar!

I should be doing what the professional says but it just feels like the wrong thing right now

I think what you've decided on to wait until Monday does make sense. You know you've got the meds if he suddenly gets worse tomorrow (hopefully that won't happen) and if he's not in undue discomfort (apart from his hurt pride at wearing a collar) it makes sense to wait. I hope Toby makes a really speedy recovery.

I'm going to buck the trend, i also have a dog with AIHA and i would give them, any sign of infection is a sign that the immune system is down, we were given AB when millie first went down, as the pred suppresses the immune system to stop it attacking the red blood cells, leaving them more prone to other infections

I had a problem with a new vet [now on maternity leave and I hope she is not coming back...] who not only did not know Pereg but also her knowledge of epilepsy could have been written on the back of a postage stamp.

You know your boy so if what the vet said feels wrong to you then it quite possibly is. I would stick with your gut feeling on this one.

I am suprised the vet gave antibiotics and not anti inflammatories, surely if there is no sign of a wound it is more likely to be a strain of some sort?

I would have him on strict rest until monday when you can talk to your specialist vet.