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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - ELSA
| My little border collie mix, Elsa, has just been diagnosed with IMHA. We brought her to the vet this past Friday morning thinking that she may have had infected anal glands (she'd been scooting and now had a fever, wasn't eating). First they tell us that she has Lyme Disease (even though she was vaccinated in May) and that it may have triggered the IMHA which means her red blood cells are being destroyed. Her Pcv was at 15% on Friday and rose slightly to 20% on Saturday---she seems a bit more spunky today since they've started the steroids, IV fluids and antibiotics. But after reading all the websites and memorials, I know she is no where near being out of the woods---I am hopeful but at the same time, afraid to be hopeful. I feel like I've been hit with a Mac truck. A few days ago she was running around the yard like a maniac, playing with our german shephard and BAM! she's fighting for her life. I'm so confused----is it genetic? was it the tick that my husband pulled off her the week before? is it the heartworm medication she gets monthly? Is it the Lyme Disease? When did she get the Lyme disease? In May she was fine at her check up--they did blood work. Did the vaccine GIVE her the Lyme disease that triggered the IMHA? I want to know the answers but does it really matter? Not for ELSA, I think---she already has it---but maybe for other dogs down the road? |
| Cindy Succasunna |
| I am so sorry to hear you little Elsa has been diagnosed with AIHA (IMHA) I suspect you are like 99.9% of us here and had never heard it it before diagnosis. My just turned 4 year old golden retriever, Hunter was diagnosed on Oct. 9, 2003 and never got to leave ICU. Lost him Oct. 16, 2003. I had never heard of it til he was diagnosed and my heart went to me my feet when i did research. However we are 100% sure that his was brought on by the 6 month heartworm preventatvie, ProHeart6. That was the only thing different the previous 3 months of his life. Also, his liver was damaged. in fact, 4 days after diagnosis my vet did ultrasound and all 3 vets said he had cancer of the liver. BUT upon his death we had a necropsy done and the result came back, NO CANCER, but druged induced necrosis of the liver. AND 10 months after his death the FDA had them pull it from the market because of the high number of severe adverse reactions and deaths, and two of the leading reactions that caused death was AIHa and livER DAMAGE. My precious Hunter had both. Many dogs had 2 reactions--seizures and liver, seizures and AIHA, gastric and AIHA, etc. BUT DOGS DO SURVIVE and live long lives. There is one OLD golden here who has survived and living a great life. So never give up hope. Always be cheerful around her as dongs sense sadness and that will cause stress she doesn't need. There is one here, a cocker, whose AIHA is belived to have been brought on by a tick disease, but i can't remember which one. Billy is dong really good--his woner is on another forum i belong to and posts stories about him and up to date pictures. Wishing you luck. |
| Sandra Texas |
| Cindy: I'm so sorry that Elsa has come down with AIHA/IMHA. Please check out Meisha's Hope website. It has lots of valuable information about AIHA, and heart-rendering stories of dogs who have beaten IMHA. There is anecdotal evidence that heartworm and/or flea preventatives and/or vaccinations "cause" AIHA. I believe there are also tick-borne diseases that can trigger the onset of AIHA or mimic the symptoms/signs of AIHA. Since you recently removed a tick from Elsa, you may want to ask her vet rule out any of the tick-borne diseases A 2001 report prepared by Antech Labs summarizes several studies done on dogs who were diagnosed with IMHA. It can be found at http://www.antechdiagnostics.com/clients/antechnews/2001/7-01.htm. The results seem discouraging, but dogs do survive, and go on to lead normal lives! Shadow, my terrier mix, has been battling IMHA for four weeks and two days - and it wasn't until last week that she seemed to be improving. Please don't get discouraged if Elsa has a set-back here or there along the way. Keep us posted on Elsa's recovery. The people on this forum understand what you and she are going through. Shadow & Sandy |
| Sandy Utah |
| Cindy, I am so very sorry to hear that your most beloved Elsa has been diagnosed with IMHA. While AIHA/IMHA is a very difficult disease, dogs who have been diagnosed with it CAN and DO recover and go on to live happy healthy lives. If you have not read my Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Web site as yet, I would urge you to do so. 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. I know this is so hard so please know that you and your most beloved Elsa are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days. |
| Joanne MN |
This thread was discussed between 18/11/2007 and 19/11/2007
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