Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Chloe in Maryland

Chloe is now mostly medication free! Dr. Dodds has reduced the thyroxine dosage and added DGP (dog gone pain) but no more cyclosporine or prednisone although she gets Omega 3. Liver values have gone back to normal from sky high levels. Her platelets are a tiny bit up and her calcium is slightly elevated. Chloe has been in some pain though and has difficulty getting up and moving about due to the severe calcinosis cutis plates or tumors under her skin at the joints. She was seen at UPenn dermatology but the only treatment for this nasty side effect of high prednisone is a pretty experimental usage of DMSO which can cause high calcium levels.The tumors have slowly decreased in size and I am not using DMSO. I think the breakdown of the calcium deposits is causing the slightly elevated blood calcium. I did try Deramaxx for 8 days until Dr. Dodds said to stop it as it causes thrombocytopenia. Chloe's hematocrit has gone from 44+ mid October (when still on cyclosporine) to 38 off all immunosuppressants. Hopefully the hematocrit will hold steady now. Chloe looks pretty good and as the large calcium deposits shrink I expect she will get more active.She is regaining her muscle strength and her pendulous belly is slowly getting smaller.Chloe was very much a couch potato Golden before she became ill so seeing her on her comfy bed most of the time is not a big change for her. She has now made it 7+ months. The biggest miracle is that her health insurance is being renewed for $360 for the year up to $20,000 in coverage. I sure hope we won't need that! Thinking of all of you in the fight against IMHA and wishing you and your beloved dogs strength to win. Cheri and Chloe

Cheri Maryland

Cheri - So nice to see your note about Chloe - I remember your story well - the two of you have certainly been through a lot and she is lucky to have you as her advocate! Can you share a little more information about why Dr. Dodds is recommending DGP? I've read a little about this product because my IMHA dog, Murray, is having difficulty moving around (current thinking is that it is "orthopedic disease" in his hips) and this is one product I'm thinking of asking my primary care vet about trying for him. She's helped me with Murray in the past - it's reassuring to see she recommends this for an IMHA dog. Thank you for any information you can share and best wishes for continued good health for Chloe! Best Regards, Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!! Ronda and Buster

Ronda Illinois

According to the literature, Deramaxx looks like a real no no for a dog with a history of IMHA. Dr. Dodds must use DGP for pain relief and it is apparently safe for a dog with IMHA. I have been using it (double dose) for 7 days now but have not seen the type of improvement in Chloe that I saw in just a day with Deramaxx. I am hoping that it might just take a while for the DGP to work. Chloe has a significant improvement in range of motion on the painkiller Deramaxx. It is hard to see her recovering so nicely from IMHA and having such a bad side effect from the iatrogenic Cushings (caused by the very high prednisone dosage-80 mg at one point). Calcinosis cutis is very common in Cushings. Her tumors could be removed surgically but that is another risk and pain for Chloe. She has 5-6 calcium deposits ranging from tennis ball size near her butt and 2X3 inches or so around her hips, shoulders, and knees. She recovered very quickly from her lap spay procedure but to have multiple large incisions to remove these tumors I think would be very painful. She was given Rimadyl after her spay surgery and if I had known then the bad side effects I never would have given Rimadyl to her. The side effects are the same as for Deramaxx. If anyone else has had experience with DGP please post.

Cheri Melomet

I can't believe your Vet would prescribe the Rimadyl while you were still in the fight? Glad to hear Chloe is improving. Hopefully her Calcinosis cutis and Cushings will resolve itself over time now that you have been able to cut back on the drugs.

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Well so much for Chloe being off cyclosporine for just a month-her hematocrit dropped from 38+ to 34.9. Her hematocrit was 44+ 7 weeks ago when she went of prednisone and was on a maintenance dose of 100 mg of cyclosporine. Dr.Dodds has put Chloe back on cyclosporine ( 4 mg per kilo a day). What a bummer! Back to milk thistle, pet-tinic and sucralfate again. I don't think she is going to be one of the dogs that can be medication free. Her lymphocytes were way up (obvously not being suppressed) and she is again non-regenerative. Back to the drawing board we go. Maybe she just needs a wee boost here and luckily she didn't totally relapse like she did in July and down to a PCV of 20. Anyone else have the PCV drop when off meds like this?

Cheri Maryland

Sorry to read that Chole had a little bump in the road to recovery. I have been there many times before with Ginger. Every time we take her off the pred, her PCV begins to fall again, so we have decided to leave her .5 mg 3x a week of pred and 100mgs of cyclosporine and so far so good. I am very slowly beginning to lower the cyclosporine to get her to 50mgs a day. Sometimes it can be difficult finding the right maintenance dosage. I hope Chole is feeling better soon, Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile PA

Cheri, now might be a good time to send blood off to a specialist (Dr. Dodds???) for analysis. I can't help but wonder if your vet at least looked at the blood under the scope to see what's happening. Could it be the bodies way of levelling out the blood?? I can't remember but how much does Chloe weigh. 100mg sounds like quite a high maintenance dose for cyclosporine...even for a larger dog. Just sounds like a never ending loop at this pace! Perhaps you could consult a good homotoxicologist or a TCVM to help chloe's body get back on track. Lots of hugs and prayers, Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Back on the roller coaster-so much for the slow weaning off meds and being med free. Chloe spiraled down to a hematocrit of 33 yesterday from a high of 44 on October 15. Dr.Dodds has her back on cyclosporine 200 mg/day and prednisone 10 mg/day. We tried a lower cyclosporine dose last week and Chloe continued her downward trend. I hate putting her back on prednisone because of all the tumors but better a happy dog on meds than no dog.Too bad-the tumors were slowly going down in size. Back we go to milk thistle, Pet-tinic, aspirin, famotidine and more. The good news is that the prednisone is a very low dose. Chloe had finally lost 3 of the 13 pounds she gained on prednisone. I hope the pounds don't find her again. Interesting though that you can see the lymphocytes climbing and the hematocrit falling. Looking forward to some great suppression by the combo of pred and cyclosporine. I shouldn't complain-Chloe has just about made it to 8 months post-diagnosis and she continues to make us all happy.

Cheri Maryland

Cheri, It must seem awful to have to start Chloe on the drugs again but maybe this time it will just be for a shorter period until you find what she needs to maintain? You are right that as awful as it is she is still with you and making small steps forward. Count each day with her as a blessing and believe that there is a light at the end of this tunnel. Hugs to you both. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

(((Cheri))) ....I know how much this sucks but just think of how good it is that you caught it when you did!!! I can't help but wonder now if this is a production problem or a destruction problem. What exactly did the vet or Dr. Dodds have to say?? My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

I think Chloe was slowly destroying her RBC's again. Tomorrow I take her back for lab work again. Hopefully the cyclosporine and the pred boost will help and eventually I can get her back down on both. I wouldn't feel so bad about all this except that she is really suffering from the calcium tumors caused by the prednisone in the first place. This new round of prednisone can only make the calcinosis cutis worse not better. i will post the new values when I get them. She was non-regenerative two weeks ago :( On the positive side, her fur is coming back in so she won't freeze this winter. Her gums always look pink unless she has a PCV of 20 or less so even the vet gets faked out. I was so happy to sleep through the night without prednisone making Chloe pee. I guess I will catch up on sleep this spring. I hate this disease. Chloe is alive! Thank you, GOD. Thank you, Dr. Dodds. Thinking of everyone fighting this battle. Cheri and Chloe

Cheri Maryland

Cheri, Keeping you and Chloe in my thoughts and prayers.

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Chloe is still chugging along on 200 mg of cyclosporine and 10 mg of prednisone. She seems pretty happy and lab results will be in tomorrow. After 2 weeks on this dosage her lymphocytes finally went down to 1800 and her hematocrit went up a tiny bit. I think I am putting a new wing on the veterinary hospital! She is playing more and actually almost made it into the back seat of the car by herself. Hard to remember that Chloe could jump up on the grooming table. Her fur is coming back finally (took 8 months!) and the tumors are shrinking a bit. I now have an article from UPenn about the usage of DMSO for calcinosis cutis if anyone wants to read it. As soon as Chloe is a bit more stable I will probably start the DMSO treatment protocol. The up and down has made us crazy here but it now seems old hat to me. I saw her breathing a bit heavily and thought-prednisone. She moved off her bed back onto the floor- oh she is too hot from the prednisone. It has been like repeating a grade in school but we will get through this. 8+ months and now the folks at the vet office call her the survivor. YES!! The ups and downs must be our practice time. I took my standard Poodle in for vaccine titers because I refused the vaccine and the results showed him to be immune so why would I ever vaccinate? One of the techs told me today that Chloe needs her vaccines. I looked at her and said NEVER, EVER again! But I will bring my Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in for titers. I hope as soon as the PCV is moving up more and the lymphs down more that Dr.Dodds will lower the cyclosporine dose. Happy New Year to all the wonderful dogs fighting the fight and the loving humans helping them. Cheri and Chloe

Cheri Maryland

Cheri, I'd love to read the article from UPenn on DMSO for calcinosis cutis. Good to hear Chloe is improving and extremely happy to hear you're on the right path with regards to vaccines!! We gotta stand our ground with respect to these decisions and for some it's hard to do with persistent vets and techs!!! The lymphs are just about where you want them now so I bet Dr. Dodds will give the OK to lower the drugs some very soon! Give her some hugs for me. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Here we go again! Chloe's hematocrit is down to 31.9 and lymphs back up to 2888. I was unable to reach Dr.Dodds today so am continuing the 200 mg of cyclosporine and 10 mg of prednisone until Monday. My guess is that the dosage of one or the other or both will be bumped up. Chloe acts okay but it looks like we are back on another downward spiral. Lymphs went up from back up from 1800. It looks like she must need more meds to suppress her system. What do you think? Good thing her insurance renews on Jan. 4 back to $20,000 or we would be on a sinking ship here. Cheri and Chloe

Cheri Maryland

Good news for Chloe! Her hematocrit is up to 39 on 200 mg of cyclosporine and 10 mg of prednisone. Wish I could keep her stable but alive is good. I guess she is just going to be my roller coaster girl. Her coat has started coming in even thicker than when she was in the show ring-a good side effect of the cyclosporine. Her muscle tone isn't back yet but the wagging tail and doggy smiles make up for it. 9 months and still hanging in there. I will be happy to have a cbc every 2-3 weeks and I know Chloe will. Dr.Dodds wrote to me and said Mazel Tov! Hopefully the cyclosporine will get reduced soon so I won't have to worry about liver problems again. The calcium tumors (calcinosis cutis) are still shrinking on their own and soon I will be trying the DMSO to reduce them more. I just need Chloe's lab values to stay up consistently. I can't believe her PCV started off at 9 last April.The ups and downs can make you dizzy. Chloe has been a lucky Golden girl.I wish all the dogs were doing well.This is one tough disease. Cheri and Chloe

Cheri Maryland

Cheri, What a difference 2 weeks can make! We are in need of some encouraging good news,so THANK YOU!!! Stay positive, it seems your girl is a real fighter. Best wishes, Brigitte & the poodle boys

Brigitte BC Canada

I second what Bridgett said! Carrie and Summer

Carrie DFW

Cheri, What great news! What a fighter Chloe is and of course her Mom too! Canine kisses to Chloe form California. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

This thread was discussed between 30/11/2010 and 15/01/2011

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