Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Calamity Newly diagnosed on Monday

I am starting a new thread for Allie's post so more people can see it. Joanne Allie, Virginia, cclark@lmr-inc.com Hi, My Calamity was admitted to the hospital Monday morning with a PCV of only 9, I don't know how she was still standing. She also has ear and bladder infections. I went to visit this morning and they told me her PCV was on the rise, it's up to 17 and she finally ate something. I'm going out of my mind with worry. Nobody can figure out why this happy, healthy, normally active 4 year old got so sick, so fast. She was fine last Thursday, Friday she didn't eat... and it was down hill from there. This site is the first that I have read that has given me some hope.

Allie Virginia

Allie, I am so very sorry to hear that your most beloved Calamity has recently been diagnosed with AIHA. The onset of Calamity's illness sounds quite typical for the disease. One day the dog is fine and the next very, very ill. If you have not read my Web site on AIHA/IMHA as yet, you might want to do so when you can. 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. Indeed, AIHA is a very difficult disease, but dogs CAN and DO survive it and go on to live happy healthy lives. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Calamity during these most difficult days. PS. the fact that Calamity's PCV is going up and that she is eating are both very good signs.

Joanne MN

Allie, I am saddened to hear of Calamity's diagnosis. My heart goes out to you and prayers are with you both. This is a wonderful network of supportive, caring people. I know first hand as my 3 yr old previously healthy Irish Terrier was recently diagnosed with this condition. Learn all you can about the possible triggers and treatments. Take an active,inquisitive role in Calamity's care. The more we can tell the vet the better equipped they can be in saving our pets. Linda & Fitzi

Linda Asheville NC

I completely agree with what Linda and Joanne both said. You have be able to talk intelligently with Calamity's care team of vets, techs, etc. When Lucy first came down with IMHA I dove into educating myself in all that I could on this horrible disease. Had this board been around back in 2005 that would have been wonderful! Sounds like Calamity is on the slow road to recovery that most of us have been on...for some of us like my Lucy and I...several times. My Lucy was also 4 years old when the first onset of IMHA appeared...its so crazy how one day they are fine and the next...your life is turned completely upside down. Calamity will be in my prayers and Lucy's prayers...stay strong and encourage HER to fight! I swear our encouragement to Lucy gave her the will to live and beat this monster... Love, Crissy and Lucy

Crissy Kansas

Allie, I am sorry to hear of Calamity's diagnosis. (great name) I hope you have checked out Joanne's site as it will better prepare you for what you will be dealing with and help you understand this awful disease. The most important thing is to find a Vet who is well versed in treating it and believes that it can be beat. The best thing to do is to start a journal so you can keep track of everything because your head will be spinning for a while and it is handy to look at written records regarding drugs given and test results etc. so you can chart things. Hoping for the best for you and your girl. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Allie -- I'm sorry to hear that your dear Calamity has been diagnosed with IMHA. Where are you in Virginia? If your vet doesn't have much experience, and you live near Fairfax, VA, the Southpaws Veterinary Clinic has lots of experience treating the disease. One of the vets there, Dr. Antkowiak, was nominated for the Meisha's Hope Award, an award created by Joanne Dickson to recognize vets who have provided strong comfort, expertise, and care to dogs and families dealing with IMHA. Good luck with Calamity. Please take care and keep us posted.

Brenda VA

Allie, My 5 1/2 month old German Shepherd puppy was diagnosed on Christmas Eve day. Luckily for her, and me, we have gone uphill since day one, and she is down to taking 20 mg of Prednisone and 20mg of Famtodine every other day for another week, then if she blood work is fine, she is off medication. Hopefully forever. She started with 80 mg of Pred, 40 mg of Famtodine, 100 twice a day of Doxicillian after the initial injections she was given the first day. Sofie has been home from day one, she has never spent a night at the vets. For the first week, she got daily blood tests, then it went to every other day, then twice a week, then weekly, and now it has been two weeks. There is a light at the end of the long tunnel, sometimes the clouds get in the way.Most important thing is don't rush reducing the prednisone, I see from this list alot of vets/owners seems to drop it really fast,as soon as the PCV gets in the 30% range, my vet was adament that Sofies Pred would not drop until she was in the 40% PCV for a week. I wanted to drop it so bad, but now I am glad I listened to him. Sofie never gained more than 6 pounds and other than peeing and eating alot, she acted totally normal after the first day. Just make sure you talk to your vet, question things you don't understand and if something doesn't seem right, ask again. I work for a vet, and until this happened with Sofie, I had never heard of AIHA and I have been in dogs for over 40 years...

Joanne wyoming

I'm glad I found this site, makes me feel better that there are others out there with the same questions. My 6 year old Siberian Husky, Tasha, was diagnosed just last Tuesday with IMHA and is really fighting. I had noticed her lack of energy suddenly and no interest in food. She had originally had a PCV of 14, since last Tuesday after starting drug therapy she rose once to 15 then has dropped today to 12. I don't know if I am looking for improvements too soon or do I need to take more aggressive steps. Tomorrow morning I'm taking her to an internal medicine doctor here in Richmond at the Animal Hospital in Carytown. Does anyone know if this is the best place to go? I'm concerned that time is starting to become a huge factor as I don't want her to become any worse. Her current meds are: Doxycycline 150mg every 12 hours Prednisolone 30 mg in morning, 20mg in evening Azathioprine 50mg in evening Pepcid AC 10mg 2 times a day She weights 69lbs Thanks in advance, Steve

Steve Virginia

I've started a new thread for Steve's post regarding Tasha, so more people can see it.

Joanne MN

This thread was discussed between 20/03/2008 and 24/03/2008

Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index

This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.