Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Barkley Brief

Hello again, Just a brief update on my Barkle boy... Seventh transfusion was on 8/18...PCV went from 9 to 16. Had complete labs done on 8/21. Retics present but vet would like to see them in greater numbers. White cells higher than desired for Dr. Dodds protocal...so will up the Pred to 40 mg twice per day (he weighs about 44 pounds). May change to dexamethasone if this does'nt help. Vet agrees with Josh so will begin Winstrol (anabolic steroid) rather than wait for consult with Dr. Dodds (all labs sent to Dr. Dodds for review but she will not be immediately available due to other commitments). PCV was at 14 (that is the slowest drop to date, since he was at 16 on 8/18 and 14 on 8/21). Have three units of packed red cells awaiting him if he keeps dropping but only do one at a time. Barkley's vet will be out of town until 8/30 but staff and substitute vet have been educated in case he needs more packed cells before then (he's been averaging a transfusion per week). He seems to be sliding slowly but is still eating and barkleying at the door and the cat so far...fatigues immediately after. Let me hold him in my lap for a while in the wee hours of the morning...cherished time with my lovable, furry cuddlebug. Best to all you brave warriors, Barkley and Cheryl

Cheryl Medford

Hang in Cheryl and hugs to both you and Barkley. Prayers for comfort and strength in this battle. Barkley is showing you how much he appreciates everything you are doing for him and how much you love him.

sharon pa

Cheryl, You are such an amazing mom! It sounds like a little gift when he 'barkles'. He sounds like a total character, and you two clearly have an amazing bond. I hope things improve for the both of you, we all know how it feels to cherish those little cuddle times. Rooting for you guys, melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Is Barkely on cyclosprine? Ginger has been on it for almost three weeks now and I really see a huge difference in her, she will be going back for blood work on 9/2, but I would be willing to bet her PCV is now in the normal range. She has had no side effects so far and she is on 100 mg 2x a day, she weighs around 75lbs. She is also on pred and Imruan EOD. She began playing with my other Goldens yesterday and that is the first time she has done that since July, I almost cried. We continue to keep Barkely in our prayers. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Cheryl, I am keeping you and Barkley in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully with the addition of the Winstrol things will turn around soon for Barkley. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Cheryl & Ginger, Yes, Barkley has been on cyclosporine (Atopica)100mg twice per day for some time. He recently was changed to Dr. Dodds protocal of 5 days on, 2 days off. Barkley licks to all for your continued support! Barkley & Cheryl

cheryl medford

How is Barkley after the transfusion and weekend?

Courtney SLO

cheryl- is there a reason u are putting her on Winstrol/STANOZOLOL instead of Nandrolone/Deca-Durabolin? sway is on Nandrolone, and that was what dr. dodds suggested we put her on last yr... i am just curious for my own information because i am gonna have to get a re-fill of it soon and was curious if some other form might also be of benefit to her. i am totally unfamiliar with Stanozolol is that what dr. dodds had you get or was that suggested by someone else? i really really really hope the shot helps barkley, wishing yall well...

josh california

To all who have given of their hope and their hearts, I am barely able to see the page to write this. Barkley was put to sleep this afternoon at about 3:30 Oregon time. There are no words for the agony. He threw up last night about an hour after receiving his nightly medication and then I noticed that his breathing had become more difficult and took him at 3:00 AM to the Emergency Veterinary Hospital. He was put on oxygen and his PCV was found to be 10 so I made the choice to take him to his regular veterinary office for his 8th transfusion when they opened at 8:30, calling to let them know that we were on the way. They had 3 units holding for him from Dr. Dodds and she had indicated that the packed cells were preferable to the whole blood, which was what he would have had at the Emergency Hospital. He had dry heaves once at home after he threw up and before we went to the Emergency Hospital and then again when we arrived at his vet's office. His vet was out of town but had alerted his substitute about Barkley (and she already had heard about him at the beginning of all of this from my petsitter, who works for this vet). She was wonderful and they were waiting for us. His breathing still seemed to be more labored than just his prednisone pant but that had been relieved before by a transfusion. His transfusion raised his PCV to 20...but he did not seem to rally and after some chest xrays and a tapping of his chest and abdomen the vet found that he had fluid in both. He had moments of seeming to have a little Barkley still in him but then he went out to pee and the diarrhea which had developed over the weekend just seemed to be much worse. His chest xray seemed to indicate pleural effusion or possible pneumonia. His breathing became increasingly more labored and his weakness more pronounced and his level of consciousness seemed to be declining. I just saw in his eyes that he just could not fight any longer. I had been sitting in his cage with him from 8:30 AM until that moment when I held him in my arms and with pain beyond imagining told him it was all right for him to go to permanent sleep. Everyone in the office was crying because they have all been through this struggle with him since mid-June. The vet was sobbing but everyone reassured me that it had been the right time for my final act of love for my precious punkin. I cannot imagine my life without him and I don't know how I am going to ease the pain for his doggie brother, Jake, my Afghan Hound. Barkley had been Jake's source of playfulness and joy as well. Our home and our lives will never be the same. I asked the vet if there was anything that could be done to permit Barkley to benefit other IMHA dogs by doing an autopsy or anything to further research. She talked with the Emergency vet who had been working with him and we all decided that she would do a biopsy of his spleen in case it might be able to provide useful research information. I hope my baby Barkley is the last dog who will ever have to be robbed of all that he was by this horrific agonizing disease. I would have given anything to save him...ANYTHING!...and yet the disease won in the end. And whatever I could have given would have been infinitessimally minute compared to what he added to my life in the two plus years I shared with him since I rescued him. To all of you who have cared so lovingly about my little guy...thank you. In memory of my Barkley. Cheryl

Cheryl Medford

Cheryl, I am so sorry to hear about Barkley. You did everything humanly possible for your boy. God bless you and rest in peace Barkley.

Leslie Oceanside

Cheryl, my utmost sympathy to you. I am so glad you were there with Barkley and knew his deepest desire. Letting go is the ultimate love gift and the hardest thing you have to do. YOu and Barkley were strong and brave and loved to the fullest. When all the treatments fail, only love is left and you will have that forever. My heart shares your pain. We all hate this disease and wish we never heard of it. You were so unselfish to think of others in researching a cause........Barkley is proud of everything you did. Love and immense hugs and prayers to comfort you in some small way, knowing that only those things can begin to touch the unbearable pain. love, sharon and angel Brandy who was waiting for Barkley to share tail wags at the Bridge.

sharon pa

Cheryl & Barkley I am so sorry for the loss of you beloved furbaby Barkley. We have all been fighting this battle with you and Barkely and we know that you did everything humanly possible for him and more. Barkley fought a courageous battle and his earth suit had a problem and that just could not be fixed down here so it was time to leave it behind. Barkley won't be far away though. He will be in a raindrop on your check or a sunbean coming through a window or a rainbow in the sky, Barkley will be all around you. He will be a happy memory, a laugh, a smile and would want you to only have eternal happiness-not grief. With deep sadness and tears in my eyes Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Cheryl, I am so sorry. You were such a good Mom to Barkley and I know how devasating it is to lose this fight. I hope in the coming days you will be able to find a smile when you think of all the funny good times you had with your boy. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Oh Cheryl, I was praying sooo hard that Barkley would make it.. I am crying my eyes out for you.... You were the best and did everything humanly possible.. For some sad reason, God needed him at this time, He will send you comfort... Prayers and Tears, AnnaMarie

AnnaMarie Illinois

Cheryl, My heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry you had to make that difficult decision, but you were strong and did what was best for Barkley. I am praying that God will send comfort and strength to you.

Karen North Carolina

Cheryl, I am so sorry to hear of your loss, the decision you made is the hardest one ever. Both my daughter and I went through the same thing with our rescued doggie, Trixie. I feel your pain and saddness, my heart goes out to you. Tricia x

Tricia UK

Cheryl, I am so sorry for your loss. I know you did everything possible & Barkley could not have had better care. Take care. Dave

Dave CO

Cheryl, I wanted to be sure and post this here too: I am so devastated tonight to read the news of the loss of both Barkley and Sunny. It's just almost too much to bear. I am so sorry Cheryl, and Leslie. It's unbearable to think they both left us in the last 48 hours since I checked the forum. What can any of us say, except to acknowledge the the amazing love and heroic fight that you gave for your furkids. Tonight, we will be sure to light some candles for our beloved friends and keep you in our thoughts. Much love and sympathy for Cheryl and Leslie, and I hope that Sunny and Barkley are having the most pain free, joyous times of their lives now. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Dear Cheryl -- I am so sorry to hear that you lost your dear Barkley to this horrible disease. My heart goes out to you, because I was in your shoes in May 2005, and I know the pain you are feeling. You did all that you could for Barkley, and your love for him helped you to have the strength to do what was right for him. You released him from his suffering, and the last moments of his life were in your arms as you told him you loved him. I am glad you could be with him at the end -- as my husband and I were with our dear Wiley -- because those moments will comfort you in the tough days ahead. As Penny says, we always know that our dear dogs will leave us, but it is never easy to say goodbye, especially when IMHA is the cause. I hope your memories of your wonderful loving life together, and your knowledge that you did all that you could for him, will comfort you. Please take care and let us know how you are doing. Your dear Barkley is in good company with so many of our dear dogs, and all of them are happy and healthy again.

Brenda VA

Cheryl - I am so sorry you had to say good-bye to Barkley. There are just no words to capture the sadness but you clearly did what was best for Barkley, even though it meant great pain and sadness for you. I've gone through that decision several times before and it's never easy, even when it's the best option. Barkley sounds like such a lovely dog and quite the personality - I hope happier memories bring you some comfort at this time. Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

cheryl... so sorry to hear about poor barkley, my thoughts are with you.

josh california

Cheryl: I have teasr as I read your ordeal. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am sending lots of love and bones to Barkley in his new pain free home.

Courtney SLO

Cheryl, Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time of loosing Barkley. It is so unfortunate that some of these babies cannot just fight hard enough to keep on going and Barkley was one of them. He knows you did everything in your power to try and save him, the cards were just stacked against him. Please remember all the joy he gave you over the last 2 years and know that he is happy and pain free again. Take care, Linda

Linda Sapphire

Cheryl, I'm so sorry to read about Barkley. Believe me, I know how you're feeling right now. I'm sending long-distance hugs to you and Jake; hang in there. Elizabeth

Elizabeth Baltimore

This thread was discussed between 23/08/2008 and 28/08/2008

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