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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - 25.2 and holding
| Aiyana had an in house CBC this morning, her PCV is at 25.2 still, did not go up, but did not go down either. Our Vet wants to stay on the same course of treatment, and I am to bring her back in a week or two for another CBC. I brought up Azathioprine, or cyclo, he did not want to go that route yet. He did mention spleenectomy, but just in that if I took her to a specialist they would probably want to do that. There is no way at her advanced age, we would have one done. I am afraid the surgery would kill her... I am grateful, she did not drop anymore, but still bummed that it did not go up either....We are trying so hard to fight this. She is acting OK, yes a bit weak, but she is 12.5 years old LOL. That thump tail is still going, she walks around with her baby in her mouth and wants to eat all the time. So we continue with the liver cleansing diet, SAMe, Milk thistle, 20 mg. prednisone 2 X a day and ranitiodine for her tummy. We will keep loving her and praying... you are all in our prayers, Julie and Aiyana |
| Julie IL |
| I am glad her PCV did not drop, that is good news. I am surprised your vet did not want to begin another drug. When Ginger was initially diagnosised in Sept of 2007 after two weeks of being on pred alone and no PCV increase my vet added the Azathioprine and in about four weeks her PCV began to rise. Did she have an ultrasound done and they saw a mass or something that they are concerned about and that is why they are mentioning that Aiyana have her spleen removed? Perhaps you can contact Dr Dodds as I think she would recommend adding another drug at this point. I also would try to get her to a specialist if at all possible. Hugs to Aiyana, Cheryl & Ginger |
| Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA |
| Thanks Cheryl and Ginger, When Aiyana first got sick and no one knew what was wrong (vomiting blood, bloody diahrrea), they did an abdominal X-ray. Everything looked fine, but her spleen was slightly irregular, no mass or anything. At that time the Vet really did not think it was anything to be concerned about, considering her age and symptoms at that time. When we got back the second set of blood work my Vet was positive it was AIHA. The reason he wants to stay this route right now is because of her liver, she is an old girl, she had been on meloxicam when this presented and it may have taxed her liver. So we are staying with the lower prednisone dose in hopes she will go up again. When we first started her on prednisone she was only on 20 mg. and her PCV raised 2.5 percent in two weeks. Then the last time she dropped so her prednisone was increased to 40 mg, which she has been on for 2 weeks now. He does not want to increase it from the 40 mg. unless absolutely necessary, same with adding the other drugs - we are very concerned about that old liver. I am seriously considering contacting Dr. Dodds, I will see what the next week brings. thanks again, Julie |
| Julie IL |
| Hi Julie, I think staying at 25 is a good sign, I mentioned on one of your other posts I have an 11 year old diagnosed in April. Regarding the liver, I had had her on the liver cleansing diet and milk thistle and sam e (but was later removed because of complications ) and saw no difference in her liver values. It was prednisone. when she was first diagnosed her ALT and ALK were in the normal range of like 30-150. After 2 weeks of prednizone, 30 mg for a 50# they skyrocketed ALT to 650 and ALK over 700. When she was taken off those number went right back down. I think the diet, milk thistle and sam e are good, but not sure if they bring the number down or just protect the liver. Ask your vet about pet tinic. Its high in vitamin B and iron which is what the liver needs now(but not fatty foods). I would also ask about the doubling the dose of the pred though, that sounds like a lot since her values havent dropped. My vet put Wylie on Azithiropene with her relapse a few weeks ago and I was nervous because of her age and she did have the splenectomy too because of a growth they found but turned out benign. I would send Dr Dodds she is a specialist in AIHA, an email, she has been great resource for people here and mabe she can give you some insight. For me it has been that she has for me pretty much confirmed my vet has been doing the right thing. Laurie |
| Laurielee CA |
| Julie, I can understand the Vets concern about Aiyana's liver but I think I would want to do PCV checks it least once a week and CBC's often too. It is great that it is staying stable but things change so rapidly with this disease it couldn't hurt. The fact that you are getting tail thumps and her playing is great news. Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
This thread was discussed between 25/11/2008 and 26/11/2008
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