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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - 11 months - AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA?
| Our little Lhasa Apso, Gizmo suddenly became lethargic and wouldn't stand or walk. We took her into the emergency hospital on Sept. 1, 2007. It was a heart breaking battle of hospitalization and a life saving blood transfusion the first night as her blood count was down to 9. There were ups and downs for the first few days, then weeks of her blood going to 23, then down to 17, and so on. For a wile she was quite bloated and even had an enlarged liver. Ultrasounds, x-rays, etc. Yes it costs a bloody fortune, wish we had had insurance, but there was no option. She is loved very much. My husband tavels a great deal and I suffered a back injury and can no longer work. She is my best friend! She was put on prednisone and our vet even did prednisone flushes. He monitored her daily in the beginning, testing her blood regularily and urine for kidney damage. It has been a struggle, but here we are 11 months along and she is on 1/2 prednisone every other day. All of her blood work is within normal ranges! She is eating far less now, like she use to just nibbles and leaves the rest for latter instead of ravenious eating due to the prednisone. She is now drinking normal amounts of water! She has gained weight but already 1/2# of the 2# gained has come off. She is on Pet-Tinic vitamins 2X a day. She will turn 6 years old this month and we thought we were going to loose her. am relaying this to encourage you all that with a good, qualified vet who has successfully treated this disease monitoring your "baby" there is hope. We were given a 50/50 chance that first night as she was severly jaundiced and very low blood count. It broke our hearts to see her that way and fear we would loose her. Just this past week she is playing a lot more and even nibbling my husband's nose. LOL Mary-Anne, Gizmo's mom |
| mary-Anne San Francisco Bay Area |
| that is a fantastic success story, thanks for sharing |
| josh california |
| Yes........thanks for sharing!! We all need to keep hearing the success stories and it makes all the heartache and waiting worthwhile. |
| sharon pa |
| Mary-Anne, Always enjoy hearing positive stories. Hugs to you and Gizmo. |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
| PS Last night I brought one of Gizmo's "used to be" favourite toys and squeeked it, she grabbed it played and shook it fiercely just like she use to do!!!!! I am nervous as we taper off the prednisone, but our vet checks her blood, etc. monthly. Yes it is expensive but so worth it. We stopped counting when we hit $7000 and I could never admit that to our children. LOL Gizmo is so worth it all. Remember I am in the San Francisco Bay Area so vet and hospital costs are far more than many places. |
| shantihhh shantihhh@sbcglobal.net |
| awesome! little things mean so much. I am right at this minute very excited because Brandy who is just 2 wks into treatment and still on high dose meds, just asked to go out on the deck!! she hasn't been out there in forever. Labs tomorrow, so I am hoping the trip to the vet and the stress don't set her back again like last week. Go Gizmo!!! |
| sharon pa |
This thread was discussed between 05/08/2008 and 06/08/2008
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