Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Any word from Karen about Darcy?

It seems like it's been a few weeks since Karen's posted anything about Darcy. Darcy seemed to be holding her own. Hope all is well.

Brenda VA

Brenda, Thanks so much for asking about Darcy. She is a little fighter and she's holding her own. We skipped the vet visit this past week, as she finished the round of anabolic steroid shots the week before. She's had Vitamin B12 shots three times in the acupuncture areas that promote blood building, but I don't know if that's working. Will probably ask the vet to give them again at the next visit. I took her off the Neoral a couple of weeks ago. She's still on 5 mg. Prednisone and 2 mg. twice a day of Soloxine and last night I added Doxycycline back in. She was on it for one week back in July when she was initially diagnosed, then I asked for her to be put back on it in September. Again, that was for only one week. Now I read that in order for it to work it should be taken for at least 30 days. I don't know if this will help, but I'm giving it a try and the holistic vet doesn't see any problems with giving it to her. Darcy is on a bunch of supplements and I am feeding her quality food. She's still a hungry little hound dog and she's wagging her tail and barking. Her gums are very pale and I have no idea what her PCV is. I'm doing everything I can to jump start her bone marrow so it will start producing those RBCs. Please continue to include Darcy in your prayers. I remember and pray for all of you and your dear little guys. Karen

Karen NC

Karen, Here is a B12 dosage chart that my vet gave me when I was giving them to Chance. I hope this will help you. Cobalamin (B12) is vital to the production of blood. It must be absorbed through the intestine walls with a special enzyme. If this process is faulty, B12 shots must be administered this way to ensure the body has enough. You can learn to give these shots sub-q very easily. patrice THERAPEUTIC DOSING AND ROUTE As cobalamin deficiency in companion animals is usually secondary to reduced cobalamin absorptive capacity, the use of dietary cobalamin supplementation is at best highly inefficient, and most likely ineffective, in the restoration of bodily cobalamin stores. The route of choice for cobalamin supplementation is by parenteral injection. Generic formulations of cobalamin are readily available and extremely cost effective. The doses we currently recommend for dogs and cats are given in table 1. The dose regime is typically one dose weekly for six weeks, one dose every two weeks for six weeks, then dose monthly. Remeasure serum cobalamin concentrations one month after last administration. Unless the intestinal disease is totally resolved, it is likely that the patient will continue to require regular cobalamin supplementation, the frequency necessary is assessed by regular measurement of serum cobalamin concentration. Table 1 : Recommended dosages of cobalamin for dogs and cats Animal Body weight Range Dose/injection cats, dogs up to 5 kg (10 lb) 250 µg dogs, 5-15kg (10-30 lb) 400 µg dogs, 15-30 kg (30-65 lb) 800 µg dogs, 30-45 kg (65-100 lb) 1200 µg dogs above 45 kg (100 lb) 1500 µg Most generic cobalamin preparations are 1mg/ml, i.e. 1000µg/ml. Multi-vitamin and B-complex injectable formulations contain very much lower concentrations of cobalamin, and often cause pain at the injection site, their use is not recommended.

Patrice NYS

Thanks so much for the update Karen, glad you guys are doing well. We think about you all the time! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Karen, Wagging tails and barking is always good. Hopefully the next blood check will give you a lift. I am keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Thanks for the update on Darcy. I too have been wondering how she was doing. Keep fighting and stay strong. Chris & Alex

Chris Pa

Hi Karen We are so glad to hear Dacy is not letting this disease get her down and contiues to be a happy girl. Give her a big hug from her friends in PA. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Karen -- thanks for the update. I hope you don't mind my inquiry; it's just that I have a special "thing" for beagles, and I'm so hoping that Darcy is a winner against this damned disease. It sounds like the two of you are still fighting hard, and that wagging tail and appetite are such good signs. Please take care and give that sweet little beagle a kiss and a cookie and tell her someone in Virginia is rooting for her!

Brenda VA

Thanks all for your kind words and prayers. Brenda, I do remember that you had a beagle and I thank you for being so concerned about Darcy. Beagles are special little dogs, just so loving and sweet natured. I never met one I didn't love. Did you happen to see the email picture that was going around about the beagle and the little fawn it brought home through the doggie door? They were snuggled together on the couch when the owners came home from work. So precious! Karen

Karen NC

Karen -- yes, I saw those pictures. My husband doesn't believe them -- thinks someone might have photoshopped the picture or something. But I'm just going to take it as it seems, because it is adorable. Yes, beagles are so special. There's something about them that brings a smile to your face. My very best to you and Darcy, who demonstrates another characteristic of the beagle -- toughness. Our sweet Wiley faced many health issues during her life, but she always bounced back, until IMHA hit. I'll continue to pray that your Darcy shows us how to make it. She's certainly got a determined dog parent to help her!

Brenda VA

A Stud of of mine has sired a puppy that at 5 months of age has been been tentatively diagnosed with Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia (I apologize if I spell or get the name wrong). He has survived his first crises with a transfusion and has a cocktail of medications he is taking since the Clinic is not sure if this is Auto-Immune based or not but there appear to be no toxins or virus infections and they are treating it as Auto Immune. The clinic has only treated a couple of puppies and their out come was not good, so the prognosis for this puppies survival is poor at best. The owners are devastated. Has anyone heard of or had any experience with this condition in dogs under a year of age?

Sandy WA

Sandy, Unfortunately it seems that more people have been posting lately with very young dogs. I am wondering if it is the results of their puppy shots? You might want to post a new thread so that more people see your post and by all means please refer the parents to this site. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

My maltese x shih tzu was 9 months old when he go gotIMHA it was non regenerative and he did not respond to meds and did not make it. There was no known cause except maybe stress when I went on a week's holidaiy. There was no vaccines or flea treatments that could have been involved. As a young pup he was not as active as I have seen other pups. I did not know his breed history as I bought him from a pet shop.

Julie Australia

This thread was discussed between 14/02/2009 and 28/02/2009

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