Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - and another falls ill

My sis-in-law called me this morning. Her brother has an 18 month old staffordshire terrier, Mika. She said when her bro was telling her about the dog's symptoms she thought of what we had gone through with Toqua. So, she went and found the email I sent her, when this all started, where I had told her about Toqua's troubles and symptoms. She said it was like deja vu. Everything to a tee matched. There was nothing different. She said her bro had taken the dog to the vet, and they had put her on "antibiotics". She had just been in a kennel, and came home tired. I asked if she had been recently vaccinated. She said possibly. I told her that he needed to get her back into the vet, yesterday, and get blood work done. That would tell them if they were dealing with IMHA or possibly something else. He needed to get her on an immuno-supressant now. I reiterated a couple times during the convo how important it was to get her back to vet, hours can make a difference here. I told her that this dog is in serious trouble. I told her that her bro could call me, and I really want to let him know about this forum. I can feel that knot in my stomach thinking back to the beginning, and how scary it was. How he must be feeling right now. Say a prayer for Mika tonight! Jessi & Toqua

Jessi BC

Jessi, I hope it's nothing serious. You're right....vet asap when dealing with these symptoms. Time is always an issue when treating this disease! Please do keep us posted. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Crap! What are the chances that someone you know would have a dog come down with this? You gave really good advice... I hope they take you seriously and that it's not the evil disease IMHA. Mika's in our prayers tonight...

Jennifer

Lets hope it isnt IMHA, but good advice nevertheless - I guess that is what we are supposed to do with this knowledge, pass it on. Lots of prayers and healing white light from Oz to Mike - way too young - then again they are ALL too young, no matter what the age. PS. I have to say again, I find it difficult to visit, as when I see a new diagnosis, everything gets tied up in knots. :(

Silka Melbourne Australia

I was thinking the same thing. What are the chances someone I know would have a dog fall ill. It has taken me back to the day Toqua fell ill. I have been thinking of them all day. I just hope that my urgency was conveyed to them and they are not waiting - you know too see if the "antibiotics" make her better. If it is, heaven forbid, imha, or something similar to Toqua's fate waiting will do nothing to help her. I haven't heard anything from them since the initial phone call. I hope sweet Mika is fairing well!

Jessi BC

Jessi, I hope it is just the paranoia we all develop from learning of this disease and that it turns out to be something minor. Please keep us posted.

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Dear Jessi, I am sorry to hear about Mika... So so very scary for your in-laws. I hope that it is not IMHA - or something else nasty causing IMHA. Like Penny, I hope you are just being paranoid, but better to be on the safe side. Sam & Millie.

Samantha Geelong Australia

I spoke with my sis-in-law yesterday (Mon, May 17). Yesterday was day 5 of the pup not eating, and day 2 of the "new antibiotics". Doesn't sound too good. She said her and her mom were really pushing him to get a 2nd opinion and blood tests, but he is being strange about the whole thing. Like he doesn't want to admit some serious might be wrong. I again reiterated how terribly important it was to get her back into the vet. I told her to look at the pup's gums, if they are pale it is a sign of an anemic episode. Without help for this, immuno-supressants, her organs would start to shut down before much longer and she would go to sleep. At this point I think it sounds like he needs to be scared into action. I just hope something gets done fast for this young dog, too young to leave this world.

Jessi BC

I'm so sorry they haven't taken action!! How scary! I really feel for this pup.

Jennifer

You know, another auto-immune disease with the same symptoms, is Addisons Disease. Unfortunately, I have had a dog with that condition as well. Symptoms are lethargy, off food, etc. Like IMHA it comes on suddenly and is "deadly". It is also highly "underdiagnosed". (They call Addisons Disease "the great pretender", as it has very vague and varied symptoms.) When my dog came down with it she was lethargic and off her food. It was very hot weather at the time and I thought it was just the heat. Kalli was always a good eater though, so I decided to take her in to the vet and have her checked out anyway. We drew blood and she had "low normal" sodium levels, but her potassium was high as was the BUN----but nothing really definitive. There was a history of Addisons Disease in her bloodlines, so I had further testing done. We did an ACTH test (the only test that can confirm Addisons,) and it was positive! By this time, only a couple of days had passed but Kalli was in "crisis" and she almost died!!! She spent several days in the vet clinic plugged in to an IV and it took about a month before she was fully recovered. I'm happy to say that we still have Kalli. She will be on medication for the rest of her life, but she is pretty much back to her old self. She leads a normal life---competes in agility etc. However, if I had not taken her in to the vet when I did, she probably would not be here today. Please talk to your brother again and encourage him to take his dog to the vet. A dog that is lethargic and off his food has definately got something going on! Maureen and Mercedes

Maureen BC Canada

Hmmm, does he just not care? Do you know this guy at all? Talk to him? I'd go right to him and convince him to get blood work done. It could be an array of things that could cause this but bloodwork would be a good first step possible followed up by ultrasounds or xrays...in case there's a blockage maybe. I'm wondering what the antibiotics are for. Please do go kick this guy in the A$$ and tell him to get to the vet. It would suck if the dog died due to an irresponsible owner. Keep us posted K. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

This thread was discussed between 15/05/2010 and 18/05/2010

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