Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Claire & Shauna

Hi Claire How did you get on at Royal Dick with Shaunna today? Been thinking about you both all day! Please update us on her progress. Kind Regards Gill & Phoebe

gill uk

Claire Just wanted you to know that I've been thinking about Shaunna too and I do hope you got some news today that at least makes you feel a bit more positive. I'm sure you'll let us all know as soon as you can. Praying as always Kathleen and Nollaig

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Been thinking about you too Claire. (If Claire is a Sky broadband user it has been down all evening and only just on now at midnight. If that's the case then hopefully we will hear something tomorrow).

Kath Scotland

Hi Gill, Kathleen & Kath Many thanks for all your thoughts and many apologies for not responding last night - the culmination of stress over the last three weeks combined with the long journey to and from Royal Dick completely wiped us out. Shaunna was admitted, as we expected, and it was incredibly hard leaving her behind because the distance means we can't visit. But, she's in one of the best places for treatment and that is reassuring. The consultation lasted 1 hour and the vet took a very detailed history during the course of which, we were told that her chances are 50/50. One of my concerns was whether her PRCA is primary or secondary and the tests later that day would seek to establish that fact. She had a chest x-ray, abdominal scan and more blood test, one of which is for tick disease. Her chest x-ray was clear, but the abdom scan showed that her spleen is speckled, which the vet thinks might be due to the organ trying to compensate for her bone marrow not working. The bloods also showed that she still isn't regenerating, but that her pcv is 17, which is better news than we expected and it came as a surprise because we were told that her pcv was 15 post blood transfusion last Thursday. Then the bit which I was dreading - the request for a second bone marrow asp/bioposy to see what her marrow is doing two weeks after her last one. Now, Shaunna suffered terribly with the first one and the thought of subjecting her to that kind of trauma/pain does not sit easy with me. I know that one or two of the dogs on this board have had more than one bone marrow biopsy and I wonder whether the procedure threw any additional light on the condition? A spleen biopsy is also being considered. In terms of meds: her blood work and physical exam showed that she's having side effects from the high doses of pred 40mg x 2 daily so it has been reduced to 25mg x 2 daily, which is what we expected and hoped for. So her Atopic dosage has been increased to 150mg daily. She has also been taken off the antibiotics. I just hope the drugs start to work soon. From personal experience, how long does it normally take with pred and atopica before signs of regeneration can be seen??? Take care, Claire

Claire Cumbria

Hi Claire Good to hear from you and although it is stressful she is in the best place. Although we are only just over an hour away we do not visit either so do not beat yourself up about that. It is not encouraged with over 100 dogs in sometimes. To be honest as much as I would love to see Mitch I think it would be hard for him to see us and then walk away again without him.Its been a week now and its so quite and calm without him into everything.Walks with my Collie and Lurcher are so peaceful- and I hate it! Shaunna will be fine and it sounds like they are on top of everything very quickly. Her PCV is not too bad at all and hopefully they will be able to pick things up very quickly. As for the bone marrow biopsy they may want to do another on Mitch if he does not start to show any improvements in a couple of weeks. I was assured when admitted that they were given strong pain relief. I know I am dealng with IMT rather than IMHA but Mitch has been on Pred. now for 13 days with no response seen. His PCV isn't even improving from 26 now? Cyclosporine added in about 5 days ago and no response seen yet either. Fingers crossed. Although platelets not red blood cells as in your case Mitch is basically struggling to regenarate platelets because he first has to make more pre curser cells to make the platelets. What I'm trying to say is that I would expect it to take longer in PRCA than a straightforward case of IMT or IMHA. In Mitch's case I know the vets are certainly thinking along these lines and not overly concerned about the time taken. Good luck, thinking of both you and Shaunna. Kath

Kath Scotland

Claire, I am so glad you,Kath, Kathleen and Gill have found such good and competent care at Royal Dick. On the danger that you will think of me as a total flake (you might even be right) i will give you the following advice. Take a picture of Shauna and make sure you are on your own and undisturbed. Now start "talking" to Shauna. You can do this out loud or just in your head. Tell her how much you love her and how much you want her to be healthy again. Try and visualize her in her healthy, balanced state. "See" her running her favorite field, eating her favorite treat, being active and healthy. Tell her that the doctors looking after her are very competent and love her to. They are doing all they can to make her healthy. Tell her that you spent a lot of money and did all you can to achieve this goal, but it is now out of your hands. SHE has to fight and make those blood cells and platelets. If you are not able to make a connection with her, the least it will do is give you the peace of mind that you did all you can and that there really is nothing else you can do. This way at least you will be able to sleep and not run in circles. Best wishes to you, Shauna and everybody else on your great island, Brigitte & Kahlu on Vancouver Island

Brigitte BC Canada

Brigitte I want to say I don't think you're a total nut!! I thoroughly believe in the power of positive thinking,I watch Louise Hay's dvd 'You can heal your life' and it has helped me get through Nollaig's illness ,it's the only thing that's kept me sane this last 6 months and why I continue to fight for Nollaig's recovery.I always talk to Nollaig and look into her eyes saying 'I love you and your body is healing itself' and when she was in hospital for 2 weeks there fighting a life threatening infection(which she has fully recovered from thank God)I would kiss her pic on the pc and talk to her and send her my love etc etc all the things you advised Claire to do.So I totally second your advice to Claire and indeed all who are dealing with illness/hard times themselves. PS Nollaig is being treated at Glasgow Vet School, another top treatment centre.I am lucky as it just takes me about 40 minutes to get there. Claire I have emailed you direct. Kathleen

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Brigitte, Already doing all that, it just seems the thing to do. Partly because I actually feel so helpless. Daft but I was trying to think what his face markings were like the other day and I couldn't even remember.I have his picture on my phone and talk to him more times on my phone every day than every one else put together. Onward and upward Shaunna and hopefully wee Mitch will follow you - just found out tonight he does in fact have Evans syndrome, so having a serious dip in that roller coaster ride right now. Kath

Kath Scotland

Hi Claire Please, please don't beat yourself up about not visiting Shaunna. As I have mentioned we left Phoebe for three weeks but once back home (as I am positive Shaunna will be!) you do forget about the time you were apart. Use this time to get some rest as when Shaunna does come home you will need all your energy to deal with the meds, the ups and downs, the advice, and the healing. Shaunna needs you to be strong, which is a quality I believe all owners on this site possess as this is what drives us to seek advice to help our fubabies initially. Phoebe had two bone marrow biopsies within a few days of each other - she is tiny, but oh so strong (and stubborn) and although at this point Shaunna will be weak the care and attention she will receive at the hands of Royal Dick will ensure she will be on the road to recovery - slow road, but recovery nonetheless. It takes months for the Preds and the Cyclosporine to kick in but once it takes hold it seems to increase at quite a rapid rate. I have never seen Phoebe looking so pink, her tongue, ears, eyes and gums look more healthy than I have seen for a long time and her next bloods aren't until two weeks time as she is now on reduced preds (a very terrifying time). So please be patient - it will happen - I think we are all used to everything being instantaneous in this life but sometimes "good things come to he who waits" and as we don't have an option with this disease it is the best advice I can give - not medical but emotional. Have been thinking constantly about Shaunna, Mitch and of course Nollaig and watching for their progress. Take care of yourself, Brigette's advice was great - and something which I did too - contstantly talked and prayed for Phoebe, as I am praying for all our furbabies. Will be looking out for your posts Kind Regards Gill & Phoebe

Gill uk

Claire, How are things with Shaunna? Would love to hear from you. Kath

Kath Scotland

This thread was discussed between 10/08/2009 and 12/08/2009

Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index

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