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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - 2 yr old diagnosed today
| Our 2 yr old Italian Greyhound was just diagnosed today with IAHA. The vet said his pcv was 15. This all came on so suddenly over the last 2 days. He is normally so energetic & eats everything in sight, so when he just laid around we knew something was not right. I have had so much thrown at me today that I'm afraid that I might be missing some important information. They are starting him on iv fluids, antibiotics and steroids. Is there something else we should be doing? If anyone has any information or suggestions it would greatly be appreciated. Also, our other IG (his brother Elvis) seems to know that something is not right. Does anyone have ideas on how to help him and my kids through this? Should I take hime to visit his brother in the hospital? Any help would be wonderful. I've dealt with this with my patients before, but never a pet. I've seen what they go through and i've been crying all afternoon for what my poor baby is going through. thanks so much! |
| Lisa Pleasantville |
| Lisa, I am so very sorry that your most beloved Italian Greyhound was diagnosed with AIHA today. 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 sure to follow the links on the first page to many other sites on AIHA/IMHA that will be very helpful to you and do read the SUCCESS STORIES pages. They will show you what has worked for other dogs in terms of treatment options as well as give you a lot of HOPE. I truly do know how hard this is so please be assured you and your dear IG are in my thoughts and prayers. |
| Joanne MN |
| Hi Lisa: First of all, we all sympathize 100%. Even though you are in shock, try to hang in there. You'll get alot of support from caring individuals on this board. Also know upfront - this is an ugly disease and recovery times vary. My dog was diagnosed three weeks ago and I remember the initial feelings of shock, panic and confusin. I know some of this is a little overwhelming right now, so so let me help shed some light as to what to expect. Every case is different, but for awhile, it may seem to jump between the extremes. One day, she may jump up three points. The next day, she may go down two. Then a couple of days later, she may jump back up seven points and so on. Since every dog is different (and will respond to the meds differently), it's unfortunately a case of wait-and-see. Here's a few tips I tried with my baby, Missy (she was diagnosed on April 7th and her blood values are normal now): 1) I kept her very still and ran the air conditioning so she wouldn't get too hot. 2) Kept her water bowls full at all times and also included plenty of ice in her water bowl - just to add some extra relief. 3)My vet told me to try and give Missy her med's on an EXACT set schedule. For instance, if I gave her the pred/aziathiaoprine at 8 pm the night before, I was religious about giving it to her at 8am the next morning. A few mins over/under won't matter, but do try to keep the meds as consistent as you can - on 12-hour intervals where possible. 4) Now that the weather is warming up, my vet advised me not to walk her outside in the hot sun. If they overheat, it can cause a relapse (this is helpful info for you for later - I know you can't walk her now) Anyway, my heart is with you. But please hang in there and try not to panic too soon. It has taken three weeks for me to see a good improvement in my baby - but I work with someone whose dog took several months to improve. But she hung in there and kept fighing. So try to stay strong and keep checking this board for advice. I've found this board to be a great source of info and full of truly compassionate folks. Best of luck to you and your baby |
| angel atlanta |
| I am so sorry to hear about your IG. This is a horrible disase--I lost my just turned 4 year ol golden retriever to it back on Oct. 16, 2003. I had never heard of it til he was diagnosed 8 days before his death. However, he not only had the AIHA, but his liver was dying in spots. Both of thewe reactions was brought on by adverse reaction to an injectable heartworm preventative. Had he only been battling one or the other, he could have whipped it. Never give up hope. Praying for the best for your little guy. |
| Sandra Texas |
This thread was discussed between 28/04/2008 and 29/04/2008
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