Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Advice Wanted!

My Border Collie was just diagnosed with ITP which within 2 days also turned into Hemolytic Anemia, She has had a blood transfusion and is on 40 mg of prednisone and 50 mg of Azathioprine...is there anything else dietary wise or natural remedies that can also help the process. I have been feeding her liver and chicken and lean hamburger to keep her iron, protein and b12 vitamin up. I have also been give her 2 vitamin supplements with meals. She is 9 and I feel she wants to fight this but is very weak due to severe blood loss before the transfusion. Any help would be greatly apprecaited!

Pam milwaukee

Pam, I am so sorry to hear of your Border Collies illness. Do I understand that your dog has both ITP and AIHA/IMHA? If so she has a condition called Evans Syndrome, which is AIHA/IMHA and ITP at the same time. While having both illnesses at once can be difficult, dogs who have Evans Sndrome can and do recover as they do from AIHA/IMHA alone. 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. Several of these dogs have had Evans Syndrome. It should be note that it can take 5-7 days for prednsione to start to work and even longer for Azathioprine to "kick in". The Veterinary Drug handbook says it can take up to 6 weeks to see a clincal response with Azathioprine. We do see that drug start to work sooner it some dogs but in some dogs it does take the full 6 weeks to kick in. Blood transfusions are given to "buy time" until the medications do start to work. At this point I personally would be very cautious of giving any supplements unless they are advised by your vet. I truly do know how hard this is so be assured you and your dear canine companion are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days.

Joanne MN

My dog, Sierra, was diagnosed with AIHA & ITP in May 2003. She was 15 months old. It has not always been easy, and I have often resorted to running up bills on credit cards, but it's been worth it. If you feel that your dog wants to fight, I think it is worth it. Sierra is a Success Story on Joanne's website (April 2005) and is still and kicking it up in 2008. I think the most basic thing you can do is not lose hope. Love, good nutrition - nutrient dense food, a multi-vitamin if needed, experienced doctors, play/fun time - even if that means just talking to her or stroking her. Tiredness/weakness/lethargy is often part of process since her red blood cells aren't surviving as long as normal and/or she has fewer than she had before. Remember that this is not an anemia resulting from iron deficiency. Liver is a great food, but won't cure the anemia I'm not a fan of a lot of fatty foods in the diet, but if weakness is an issue, adding in a little bit of fat might help with her energy. Maybe instead of lean ground beef, regular ground beef for some of her meals... or leave the skin on the chicken occasionally (but I'd exercise caution if there your dog has had pancreatic issues in the past). Other things - a bit of salmon oil, maybe a pat or two of butter, fat off a steak ... I don't like vegetable oils generally as a way to add fat for dogs(too much omega 6 and besides, most of the 'vegetable oils' are soybean oil anyways ... dogs don't need soy products), but a little olive oil maybe (has a better profile than most oils). Because you asked about natural remedies .... (here goes ... a bit long ... and it's just my opinion/experience). And to preface this, I prefer holistic care, I utilize almost exclusively natural treatments for my pets ... except when it comes to Sierra. Since we believe my dog's case to have no triggering event, other than genetics (I know of two dogs related to her to have died from AIHA in the last few years), I have been advised by several holistic vets and others to NOT consider treatments/remedies designed specifically to boost the immune system. Those vets are: Dr. Nancy Scanlan (my dog's primary vet); Dr. Martin Goldstein; Dr. Stephen Blake as well as the Tilfords (Herbs for Pets). We have also seen Dr. Dodds, but I can no longer remember what she said specifically. Please note that my comments are in relation to specific substances/practices - herbs (like echinacea), homeopathics, accupuncture, etc... whose main function or purpose is to either boost the immune system or bring the body back to balance. This doesn't mean you can't ever use herbs or other substances/treatments, but I believe it is far riskier, and personally for these dogs, I wouldn't use anything without consulting with an expert in the field. Sierra has taken some Chinese Herbal Remedies for itching, but only because her vet is a recognized expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine and because Sierra's itching often led to skin infections which led to systemic infections which led to hospital time. She has also received accupuncture for gastro-intestinal problems, but it is very, very limited (only 3 points) and only rarely these days. She also takes a couple of different supplements - fish oil, kelp, vit E & vit C - all recommended/okayed by her vet and for specific purposes (itchiness and renal protection). The dosages she are not that high (imo) either. Regarding homeopathy, if this is something you are thinking about it, was best explained to me by Dr. Richard Palmquist (an integrative vet in Los Angeles, known locally for his skill with homeopathics) that the problem with homeopathics for Sierra is that working on a level to bring her body 'back into balance' means that 1) she would have to go off her medication and 2) there is a strong chance that the efforts would bring her to a crisis (the well known/talked about 'healing crisis' that often accompanies these things) from which she may not be able to pull through - given the nature of her AIHA/ITP. I prefer not push her into a "healing crisis". Even though when I met with him, I was not looking to resolve her AIHA/ITP, I was only looking for help with her dry eye syndrome. He could not have been more strong in his conviction that for Sierra, homeopathics was the absolute wrong choice. It's my understanding that traditionally, homeopathics are seldom used in conjunction with modern medications as the theory is that these substances inactivate or interfere with the effects of the homeopathic remedies. There are some good books on homeopathy (I've treated my cats succesfully with some homepathics). The understanding I've come to with Sierra's problem is that sometimes there just isn't a good way around conventional medicine in some cases. There are many differing opinions on the subject and this is just mine based on my experience with Sierra(and I'm not a vet or an expert on AIHA/ITP). Sorry this is so long. I will be keeping good thoughts for your Border Collie (what is her name? ) that she responds quickly and well to treatment. Don't give up hope.

Ronda So Cal

Ronda (and Joanne) Thanks for your input, My Border Collie's name is Jewel, she is 9 years old. Even though she tested negative for Ehrlichiosis, my vet and I feel this was the onset to both diseases. So after much research about that bacteria (and yes she did have her first 2 wood ticks in her whole life this May and June) I requested that we treat her as if she had this bacteria also and the vet put her on tetracycline 3x's a day 500mg. Along with her prednisone and azathioprine. And this morning I noticed conjunctivitis setting in her eyes and eyelids which is the last item of the list of clinical signs for this bacteria that she has acquired. This morning I am feeling a bit like I should have been a decent mother and just put her down, instead of making her fight so hard for her life. But since she has come this far we will give it a little bit more until I think she can bear no more or a mircale happens and she responds more favorably to her medications. Please keep her in your prayers we need all that that we can get! Thank you!

Pam milwaukee

Wow, great information from Ronda. I am going to a holistic vet who practices both traditional and eastern vet medicine, so this helps a lot. The tiredness, weakness and lethargy are the WORST to watch. Hang in there and keep blogging. I posted a note about some feeding tips on another thread on this site. best wishes from sharon and Brandy

sharon pa

Hi Sharon What vet do you use?

Cheryl Pineville PA

wishing the best for Jewel

josh california

Jewel will be in my prayers. That is a beautiful name btw.

Ronda So Cal

Hi Pam the site I posted some yummy recipes on is Baby Girl and Marti. just try different combinations to see what is palatable for your special friend. I have also found several organic treats at PetSmart. Cheryl, my vet is Dr. Kristen Edwards at Plains Animal Hospital in Plains, Pa. thoughts and prayers with you all as we go forward in this fight to help our best friends. A look or a tail wag are the best gifts they can give us back, so I treasure each and every one........one day at a time.

sharon pa

I work in a very progressive veterinary hospital and my 6 yr old doxie was just diagnosed with Evans Syndrome too. She has only been on meds since last Thurs. Her appetite is lousy and so is her general attitude (expected). She is on some heavy hitting meds, but so far is responding. Her poor spleen is the size of a Mack truck.

Courtney California

Hi Pam, My Kent was diagnosed with Evan's syndrome this last November, after coming down with AIHA the previous February. He was 9 years old, and is now 11 years old. His liver and spleen became very swollen, and his lab tests numbers were off the charts for his liver. On xrays, you could see his liver was more than 3 times its normal size. This was a side effect of the prednisone that he has to take. Kents GGT was over 240 at one point. Normal is 1-12. His Alk Phos was 990. All the liver numbers were crazy. Anyway, his last blood test showed a GGT of 6. !! and also normal other levels. Thanks to alot of helpful advice from members of this list, I added denamarin to his supplements.In addition to the denamarin everyday (kent is 33 lbs, gets Milk thistle 175 mg and 200mg SAME plus a multiBshot) he was prescribed ursodial to help his bile ducts. Something to keep in mind to talk to with your vet. Denamarin is essentially milk thistle and sAme. I first used the denamarin, but it is expensive and now buy the two seperately. I would suggest any dog taking prednisone take these supplements to help reduce the impact of the steroids on their bodies. Something worth thinking about or talking to your vet about. Keeping you in our thoughts, Christine

Christine FL

This thread was discussed between 02/08/2008 and 19/08/2008

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