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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Accupuncture?
| Just curious...has anyone here tried giving their dogs accunpuncu*ture? For now, I'm just trying to think of ways to make Raven more comfortable. She's into week 4 of this disease...PCV's still hanging out at low 20's while reducing he pred's, and the specialist says this is good news, although she just seems to be wasting away, and it's scary. Also curious if others of you have seen the same pattern...if your dog held "steady" with a fairly low PCV, but then went up in x week or x month? Finally, do you know the explanation of why she seems utterly exhausted one day but then sparks for a few hours back to herself every other day or so? Is this PCV's 'changing' or is it just part of the disease? Sharon |
| Sharon CT |
| HI Sharon, We've never tried any acupuncture, but I know of several holistic vets in our area, and I've certainly thought of the value this could hold in conjunction with 'traditional' medicine. Our challenge was that in Tiggs crisis, we didn't have any extra funds to try this. But, if it's in your means, I'd say go for it, I think there is a lot to be said about supplementing their care with holistic methods. I don't know the answers to your questions, but we've certainly seen Tiggs' energy levels all over the map. It took a few weeks for his PCV to get out of the danger zone. We did notice that during that time though, his energy was steadily increasing, though I wouldn't say he was energetic, simply that it was improving from basically ground zero. Even now that his PCV's are in the mid to upper 30's, I don't see his energy ever where it was before IMHA. But, I think that a lot of that currently has to do with feeling crappy on all those meds. I'm optimistic that as the meds are reduced, the energy will hopefully come back. Best of luck, we're thinking of you guys. melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
| Hi Sharon Ginger's PCV stayed in the upper 20's for a while (at least two months), however she acted just fine. The vet had to reduce her Predisnone but added the Cyclosporine and within 4 weeks of starting the Cyclosporine her PCV went up to 38 and has been in the normal range for about 2 1/2 months now. She still takes 100mg of Cyclosporine and 50mg of Azathioprine EOD. We recently dropped the predisone but I noticed her slowing down and just seem a little lethargic so I went back to giving her. 5 mg EOD and within a few days she was back to her old self again and his been a bundle of energy. I have had acupuncture done on her for arthritis but I did not really notice any difference so I stopped it. I am suprised your vet is reducing her meds when her PCV is not in the normal range, Ginger had to have to PCV's in the normal range before her vet began to very slowly reduce her meds and her relapse began in July and she is still on the meds listed above. I hope Raven is feeling better soon. |
| Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA |
| Millie the 2 year old Westie is still hanging in there! I just wondered if anyone has got through this and come out the other side bearing in mind this all started for us in June. She responded very well initially to 20mg pred and only crashed after it was reduced to 10mg. I took my eye of the ball (the credit crunch etc) and blame myself for not noticing her gums had gone much paler. It was then a nightmare - blood transfusion, diuretics for fluid retention etc etc. She's now back up on the pred and on Atopica. She has developed liver problems which the vet seems to suggest is pancreatitis. She's eating well however and seems a little happier. The vet said the prognosis was guarded to poor so I've been reluctant to go back in some ways just waiting and watching. Is there any more I could do? When this all started she was in season and had also been exposed to ticks but they did test for various things and she was put on antibiotics, she's also had numerous scans, x-rays and a bone marrow bioposy at the beginning. Clare and Millie and family (Oxon, UK) PS My husband has an autoimmune disease (AOSD) 10 years now so when this happened I really thought God was singling us out. I've come to terms with it a bit more now however having found this website. |
| Clare Fox Foxhens@aol.com |
| Hello to the "other" sharon. My Brandy was getting acupuncture tx for a year for her arthritis and it was helping a lot. In hindsight I am wondering if the arthritis was a precursor to AIHA. During her short AIHA crisis time she did receive tx and it seemed to relax her as always and give some relief. Make sure you see a vet experienced with acupuncture. If you can do it, I think you would see some benefit, although I am not sure they will agree to start something new in the midst of a crisis. I also started getting tx myself after losing Brandy and it was amazing. She put me in an extremely relaxed state and at least for a few hours I got relief from the unrelenting pain and grief. Whatever you choose, I wish you and Raven the best and send prayers and blessing to you all. Love each other as you are and know you do the best you can with what you know at the time. God Bless sharon and angel Brandy. |
| sharon pa |
This thread was discussed on 02/11/2008
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