VetNet®
VetNet® AIHA discussion forum
VetNet® Forum
Lifelong Learning Network
www.vetnetlln.ac.uk
Veterinary Recruitment
Premier Partner Program
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Dexter 10 year old Springer
| Dexter our 10 year old Springer has been disgnosed with AIHA on Friday. He was very poorly when we forst took him in. After many drips, blood transfusion we are still struggling to keep his blood levels up, currently only 17%. The one good thing is that he has started eating this afternoon and not stopped since according to the vet. Is this a good sign or just a red herring. He is quite bright, although very breathy as you would expect. He is still managing to go and do the necessary outside. I know nothing about this disease and the time taken for him to start to improve the vet is very laid back about it and keeps telling us be patient, is this right. HELP............ |
| Bev Essex |
| Bev, I am so very sorry to hear that your most beloved Dexter has been diagnosed with AIHA. 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. They wil also show you that dogs CAN and DO survive AIHA/IMHA and go on to live happy healthy lives. In answer to your questions it takes 5-7 days for a drug like prednisone to start to work and even longer for a drug like Azathioprine (Imuran) to kick in. According to the Veterianry Drug Handbook it can take up to 6 weeks to see a clincal response with Azathioprine but we do start to see that drug work sooner in some dogs. Blood transfusions are helpful in that they "buy time" until the medications do "kick in". It is very good news that Dexter is eating. Many dogs with AIHA/IMHA will not eat at the onset of the disease. Your vet is correct to be patient. AIHA is a disease, that many times can take a long time to recover from. In fact many times we will see dogs who have been diagnosed with AIHA/IMHA get worse before they get better. I know this is so hard so be assured that both you and your most beloved Dexter are in my thoughts during these most difficult days. |
| Joanne MN |
| Thanks for all the emails I have received, certainly has helped me to understand the disease better. Dexter'd PCV has dropped to 16 from 18 in 24 hours although he appears ok, won't eat their dog food so now cooking him chicken to take in. Blood transfusion he had on Sunday turned out to be 2 days out of date !!! Therefore, now going for a blood match and another transfusion this afternoon. This did purplex the vet as to why his PCV did not shoot up, now we have the answer. Today is also day 5 and I am praying that the steriods will start to work.... |
| Bev Essex |
| Bev & Dexter, I am sorry you have been diagnosed with this. I am very new to this as well, Maddison was diagnosed Feb. 18th. This site has helped me alot. It does seem that this disease takes a while to respond to medication. I hope Dexter responds well to this tranfusion. Stay hopeful, your in our thoughts. |
| Kathy N.C. |
| Hi Bev, sorry to hear about Dexter. You have certainly come to the right place for info on this disease. Our dog Trixie came down with it last October, she also had a transfusion, she was refered to Bristol Vet' hospital, not until about 3 months later though. The medication (Pred) does take a while to kick in with some dogs. From what I have learnt no two are the same, each one reacting differently to their treatment. All I can say is, it's a long process, there are good days and no so good days. After 4 months of Pred, Trixie's doseage was recently decreased, it's been a week so far and I am looking for signs of improvement. It may take a while, all we can do is give her the care she needs and hope she'll be back to her normal stage at some time. Please keep us updated. Tricia. |
| Tricia UK |
| bev,so sorry to hear about Dexter you have come to the right site for support.I dont know what i would have done with outit when i found out my Bella had IMha just dont get discourged you will have good days and bad days just take one day at a time.It is a vey difficult diasiese to deal with as im sure youve read about JUST STAY STRONG for your dog.My praywers are with you both Kathy Bellas mama |
| Kathy Pacifica California |
| Dexter had to have an emergency blood transfusion yesterday as his PCV dropped to 12.... Luckily the receptionist at the vets had a dog that was a good match, she rushed home and brought him in. The good news is that after 12 hours his PCV is now 30 and he is now warm to touch has pink insides to his mouth, still at the vets to be monitored for next few days. Vet has started him on Cyclosporine as well to keep the levels up. Eating well...... Fingers cross for the next few days.. |
| Bev Essex |
This thread was discussed between 25/02/2008 and 27/02/2008
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index
This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.
