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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - FLUID IN STOMACH-WHAT CAN IT BE FROM
| OK CAME BACK FROM VET TODAY, THEY SAID ALIKI HAS FLUID IN HER STOMACH. HER PCV LEVELS ARE AT 30 WHICH IS GREAT BUT NOW THE FLUID IS NOT GOOD. VET SAID BRING HER TO GET AN ULTRASOUND TO RULE OUT TUMOR ETC AND TO POSSIBLY SEE WHERE THE BODY IS LOSING FLUID. IF THAT SEEMS OK AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING BAD THEN THEY WILL PUUT HER ON BLOOD THINERS TO MAKE SURE ITS NOT A CLOT. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS. PLEASE HELP ME DID ANYONE EXPERIENCE THIS. SUSIE WHAT WAS GOING ON IN YOUR DOGS LIFE. DID THEY REMOVE THE FLUID. WHAT WAS THE FLUID FROM. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP I AM SO UPSET. THANKS, TINA |
| TINA NY |
| Tina, I am so sorry to read your alarming post. I can understand why you are so upset. Please know that all of us here are thinking about you and support you. I wish I could tell you exactly why there is fluid building up in the abdomen but there are a number of things that can cause this. Your vet would have more information to determine exactly what the underlying cause is. I can tell you that, in general, ascites (fluid in the abdomen) can be a symptom of a heart condition. It can also be caused by a problem with the kidneys or perhaps even the liver. These may be happening as a result of the prednisone or it could be the result of a primary disease condition other than autoimmune hemolytic anemia. These fluids are a normal element of blood. In general, fluid builds up like this because the body system that is designed to control the fluid balance in the body gets goofed up. Instead of most of the fluids remaining in circulation in the blood vessels, it leaks out into areas like the abdomen or limbs. If the heart is having trouble pumping blood or the kidneys are unable to perform their job well, the fluid can't get back into circulation properly. Your vet can remove this fluid build up. They can tell from the color and consistency a likely cause of the buildup. My knowledge is sketchy about the direct cause and effect relationships of AIHA treatment protocol and this symptom. I am hoping Joanne has something else to contribute. I will be thinking about Aliki today patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
| Tina, I am so very sorry to hear that Aliki has fluid in her stomach. Patrice has give you some good possibilities to consider. An ultrasound sounds like a very good idea. It, hopefully, will provide the info needed to find out where this fluid is coming from. The Veterinary Drug Handbook states that Glucocorticoid use (prednisone is a Glucocorticoid) can increase extracellular fluid volume. If your vet cannot give you some answers in regard to this fluid build up please ask him/her to consult with a veterinary internal medicine specialist or a veterinary teaching hospital in regard to this issue. Many times this can be done as a ”veterinary courtesy” with no charge to you. Please know that many of us are thinking about you and your dear Aliki today and that you both remain in our prayers as well. |
| Joanne MN |
| Tina, Not that it will help with Aliki's situation, but 2 months before Holly was officially diagnosed her stomach blew up like a drum. The vet did blood work and xrays and even consulted with a specialist and did not come up with any answers. He put her on lasik for 1 week and as fast as it went on it came off. She also had fluid on her lungs and around her heart. We did not know it at the time, because vet never said anything but at that time she was already started with IMHA because her PCV at that time was 27, I was really annoyed with the vet for not letting us know at that time, instead of waiting two more months for her PCV to go down to 8. I also agree, she needs to have an ultrasound done to make sure. Linda |
| Linda Sapphire |
| Dear Tina, My Millie also had fluid build up in her lungs and abdomen. The vets ruled out tumours / cancers, but we discovered Millie had early stage congestive heart failure, so she is now on Vetmedin to control that. This could have contributed to the lung fluid, but the vets didn't think it would be contributing to the fluid in the abdomen. Initially she was receiving injections of frusamide and on Flusplex drops. As the anemia is resolving, the fluid build up is now non-existent, so it seems the anemia was the direct cause. Hope that helps, but our vets didn't seem to think it was anything to be alarmed about (due to the timing being the same time she has IMHA). Samantha & Millie. |
| Samantha Geelong |
| Tina, Hoping and praying that you get to the bottom of this quickly. Hopefully the new med will help her in the meantime, hopefully it's treatable and they can get her turned around quickly from this setback. thinking of you and Aliki, melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
This thread was discussed between 07/03/2009 and 08/03/2009
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