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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Enzo, not AIHA related
| I am sorry to ask a non AIHA related question here, but since I have 'known' many of you for over a year and appreciate all your knowledge, I thought I give it a shot. Enzo has been a healthy happy puppy, until about a month ago when he started limping. I thought it was a small injury from playing with Ripley. It went away and then showed up again much worse, when I took him to the vet. My worst fear was that he would have a torn cruciate ligament. The vet did not find anything. Definitely not the ligament, no swelling and not his hips either. We gave him a one time dose metacam and he seemed to be better for a few days. Then the lameness sort of came and went but last weekend it was really bad, he just let the one leg dangle when he was standing. We had to go in for titers anyway so he got checked out again yesterday. To be sure we did an x-ray of his hips, legs and lower back. Nothing conclusive except, for maybe mild panosteitis which would be basically growing pains. Right now he seems to be fine again. Romping around, playing, eating and being happy. The lameness does not seem to be exercise related. He seems however a bit weak in his hind quarter. Has anybody experienced this before? It is a large breed 'thing' so I was hoping Patrice you would have some input. I know there is others with poodles and Airedales so I thought I would ask. Enzo's father is 65 lbs. his mother probably 55. Enzo has gone from 11 lbs at 8 weeks to 30 lbs 10 weeks later. The vet promised me to do some more research and get back to me when she has the titer results. Which is probably tomorrow. Should I maybe supplement calcium? He is on Wellness puppy food. Now that I know "all" about hematology, immunology and pharmacology, I guess if I seriously want that vet degree I have to learn about orthopedics? :) Thank you all, Brigitte & the poodle boys |
| Brigitte BC Canada |
| Brigitte, I am so sorry to hear that Enzo is not well. Let's hope it is just growing pains. After the tests did the vet have any feeling as to what could be causing it? I am sorry I can't really offer any help. A girlfriend of mine has a lab. When he was 3-4 months old, she noticed a similar problem with his front legs. He ended up needing surgery to remove lesions in the cartilage of his shoulders. But a cartilage issue would have appeared in the x-rays, right? Here's hoping he is just growing fast, and as his growth slows down he will get better. Thinking of Enzo and you tonight. Jessi & Toqua |
| Jessi BC |
| What do you feed him? I wouldn't supplement with calcium...actually puppies should be getting probably UNDER 2% calciun cause puppies don't regulate their calcium absorption until after about 6 months of age. Will he let you feel around to see where the soreness is? Splinter in the paw maybe? Brigitte, I've often heard that for these types of cases TCVM is an excellent choice! Don't suppose there's any around you. Try brewing some camomile tea really strong and then let it cool. If he won't drink it by himself use a syringe and shoot it into his mouth. This is a mild pain reliever amd amtiinflamatory and is perfectly safe to use! I'm just not sure what to think. My thoughts and prayers are with Enzo (& you). Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Hi Johnny & Jessi, thanks so much for your concern. We can feel all around Enzo's leg and foot, no reaction. It is really strange, especially because it comes and goes, even goes from one leg to the other. This actually sounds typical for panosteitis, so I tend to go with that. My vet actually does some acupuncture. There is a holistic vet fairly close that does TCVM, that could be our next step. Enzo on Wellness puppy food. I am tempted to switch to raw... I will give the chamomile tea a try for sure! Thanks again, Brigitte & the poodle boys |
| Brigitte BC Canada |
| Brigitte, Sorry that you are having these issues with Enzo. We have had only one of our Airedales that has experienced lameness at a young age. Her's was attributed to running and playing with the older dogs. At full speed she would "tuck and roll" when they would catch up to her. When we put the brakes on that behavior her lameness went away. I hope like you that it is just growing pains and will clear up on its own. Side Note: Cooper is now 15 months since the onset of IMHA, drug free for 3 months and a healthy 3 year year old. We continue to count our blessings with him every day. Ron |
| Ron Florida |
| Brigette, Sorry I have been sick, not here. Have your vet test for Lyme disease immediately. One of the first signs of tick disease is this random joint pain that comes and goes. The spirochetes go into body tissues and are responsible for the "arthritic symptoms." I just read an article about Lyme disease is now being seen in Canada, much to the surprise and alarm of many vets. You can do one of two things after the test is done, wait to see if the testing shows positive or just go ahead and start treating with high dose doxycycline. If you see immediate response, then you are probably onto something. If this happens, don't let the vet reduce the dosage or the length of treatment! Read my good friend Gil's page about Lyme: http://sites.google.com/site/blackgsd/lymedisease I trust EVERYTHING that Gil has on this website, she is a consummate researcher. my best patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
| Ron, Cooper being off meds for 3 months is certainly not a side note, but a reason to celebrate!!! I am so happy for you ! (a bit sad too, you know why) I have been trying to keep Enzo and Ripley from playing too hard and too much, with mixed results:) I am sure Cooper has his shiny coat back, please give him a Canadian bear hug from me! Patrice, I am sorry to hear you have been sick. I hope you are feeling better and the pain of loosing Chance is easing... I read about the lyme disease, (some of the symptoms sounded right on) and called the vet right away. She thinks this would be very low on the list, since he had no inflammation of the joints or swollen glands. She thinks it is bone related (panosteitis). But since we just sent blood to the lab, we will see if they can do a lyme test at the same time they do the titer. Thanks so much for your thoughts, Brigitte & the poodle boys |
| Brigitte BC Canada |
This thread was discussed between 28/05/2010 and 29/05/2010
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