Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Allergies or chronic ear infections prior to imha

Grasping at straws here but has any of our little IMHA babies had chronic ear infections or allaergies prior to the onset of IMHA?

Evelyn So Jersey

Hi Evelyn, No, Lindy never had an ear infection or allergies prior to her diagnosis. The only thing she did have was Rimadyl, but we will never know for sure if this is what caused it or not. I am guessing it did. Sorry I could not be of some help concerning the ear and allergy problems. Nancy and Lindy

Nancy CO

Dear Evelyn, Kent had ear infections on and off before he developed AIHA. He also has a history of allergies and skin issues - schnauzer bumps -. I don't think these contributed to the development of the disease though. He was vaccinated dec 1 06, given heartguard+ and frontline+, then neutered dec 12 06. He was never the same after that. He started dropping, literally, in january - his back legs would go out, then he was diagnosed with epilepsy and given drugs for that. He eventually collapsed last february and diagnosed with AIHA then. Every time i have given him frontline since he gets weak and i don't give it anymore. He also doesnt get heartguard anymore. I wish i could be of more help, Christine and Kent

Christine Florida

Evelyn, I don't know if this information will be of any help to you. My Miniature Schnauzer, Gus, didn't have allergies or ear infections before his diagnosis in late June 2007. However, in December 2006 he developed a 'hot spot' on his face. This is the first one he ever had. I felt a dry area while I was petting him, and the next day it seemed to have doubled in size. We took him to the vet, and some pills and a topical spray were given. Also around this time, between December and February, I noticed that some of his toe nails began breaking. I also noticed a strange area on one of his front paw pads - sort of like an overgrowth of skin. Gus was vaccinated with booster vaccines in February 2007. I mentioned his paw to the vet tech, and she laughed it off, and said that he had "old man feet." He was only 7-1/2 years old - I don't think he was old. I now wish that I would have insisted that the vet seriously look at it. I've since read that the hot spot, and possibly the area on his paw and breaking toe nails, might have had something to do with his immune system. If this is true, then I'm sure that the vaccines didn't help. I wish I would have known about the dangers of vaccines at the time. I had given Gus HeartGard Plus one week before he was diagnosed with IMHA. Sue

Sue PA

Yes, our dog, Stokley who died from IMHA a few months ago (11-15-07) had terrible ear infections when we took him in as a neighborhood stray in October of 2005. It took months and months of treatment by our vet to finally clear this up. He even had to be sedated at one point to get the "final junk" off his eardrum so that it might finally heal. He was a beagle/cocker mix (a blonde beagle) with those floppy ears, so we figured this was why he was prone to the ear infections. He was always cold-natured as well, seeking warmth when possible around the house.

Cathy Terre Haute

Our Silky Terrier, Simon, had many ear infections and had been treated for allergies since he was 6 months old. He was actually on a low dose of Atopica for his allergies for over 2 years before being diagnosed with IMHA. He's 4 now. His Internist at Angell Memorial in Boston thinks there is a link between his allergies and IMHA because they are both immune responses.

Rachel Massachusetts

Rachel I'm really beginning to believe that there is a connection between the allergies/ear infections and IMHA. My Daisy, a 8.8 year old Maltese never had any illnesses other than allergies/ear infections until ther diagnosis in 01/08 with IMHA. I really think there needs to be some research into this possible connection. Thanks for responding.

Evelyn So Jersey

My Calamity has had an ear infection on and off for the past year... couldn't seem to get rid of it completely. She was diagnosed with IMHA this past Monday.

Allie Virginia

My cocker spaniel Lucy always had ear infections prior to be diagosed with IMHA. I believe after reading everyone's responses that it may definitely be a tie to the IMHA. All of Lucy's relapases have been due to infection...either on her tail, on her feet or something else. They are all such strong immune responses it has to be. I wonder if there is any research in this area.

Crissy Kansas

This thread was discussed between 28/02/2008 and 21/03/2008

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