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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - 2 Deadly Diseases at Once!
| My dog, Clifford is a golden retriever that was taken to our vet a week ago for lethargy. He is prone to seizures and takes pheno twice a day. He is 8. The results were not good. His PVC was down to 12 and there was a mad rush for immediate transfusions. We are still at this time trying to stabilize him with the help of Prednisone (20 mg) and the PVC as of 2 days ago was 23. Yesterday they let Cliff come home to be with his twin brother, Curt. Another test was run for heartworms and unfortunately it came back positive. Our vet in Newnan, GA has never treated a dog with dual life-threatening diseases. She is not sure when to start Cliff on the medication for the heartworms and is hoping to get some input from other vets. What are we dealing with here?? I am taking him back for bloodtests again this morning but feel very uncomfortable due to the lack of experience. Does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone dealt with these 2 deadly diseases at once? Please help. Janice |
| Janice Newnan |
| Janice, With the complication of a postive heartworm test added to an AIHA diagnois it sounds like your vet needs to seek assistance from a veterinary internal medicine specialist or a veterinary teaching hospital. These professsionals deal with these sorts of complications and hopefully will be able to offer the sort of assistance your vet needs. Just as an added thought, it does sound like the prednsione dosage is low since the dosage of prednsione at the onset of AIHA/IMHA needs to be at least one mg per pound of the dog's weight per day divided into two doses one dose to be given in the AM and one dose to be given it the PM. It has always been my understanding that Golden Retrivers weigh more then 20 pounds, so if that is the case the pred dosage is low. Also most times, other drugs in additon to prednsione are needed to get a dog with AIHA/IMHA into remission.Please do have your vet consult with a specialst or even refer you to such a specialist ASAP. If you have not read my Web site on AIHA/IMHA as yet, you might want to do so. The URL is http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ Be assured both you and your dear Clifford are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days/ |
| Joanne MN |
| Thanks for your response. We just returned from our vet's office and his blood level is now 19, down from 23. She is going to take it again on Monday and if it goes down further she will up the dosage of prednisone. She did call UGA and they told her that she cannot start heartworm meds for at least 2 months, and in the meantime to give him a HeartGuard pill to kill off any small ones. Clifford is 75 pounds. His dosage of prednisone is 60 daily right now, 30 in the morning and 30 at night. So you are right in that it may be a little low. She did stress the need to raise and stabilize his blood to at least 25. She also stated that she feels his bone marrow is starting to develop red blood cells and that the prednisone is slowing down the disease because otherwise Clifford would be back down to 12 or lower by now. Another problem we are now encountering is Clifford has no bladder control, (prednisone?) and is urinating in his sleep. We wondering about doggie diapers?? His appetite is good, he is having bowel movements. Thanks again for any feedback. Janice |
| Janice Newna |
| Hi Janice: I lost my beautiful Pudge last Friday to this terrible disease. Unfortunately, I did not know anything about AIHA or IMHA and was so distraught that I completely believed her Vet knew what she was doing but looking back now, I have this horrible feeling my Vet wasn't aggressive enough. My husband and I rushed Pudge to Georgia Vet Specialists in Sandy Springs. They did all they could but it was too late as for my beautiful baby as she developed too may complications. I only wished I took her there sooner for I believe they may have saved her life and I would have her here with me now. I see you also live in Georgia and I strongly advise you to take Clifford to GVS ASAP. I wish Clifford the best. |
| Shirley Kelly McDonough |
| That Pred dose is way to low, I don't think your vet is being aggressive enough. My GSD puppy at 5 1/2 months old when she was diagnosed weighed 50 lbs. Her Pred dose was 50mg twice a day. This went on for over 6 weeks before we started to lower it, once her PCV levels hit 40% and stayed there. I think some vets are not sure what to dose at, so use a typical general dosage for weight that you might give a dog for itching or allergies. AIHA demands higher doses to get things going in the right direction and for much longer before tapering off the dosage. |
| Joanne Wyoming |
This thread was discussed between 26/06/2008 and 02/07/2008
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