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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - 'f#%@ng'Ticks Causing Anemia?
| I recently read in "Dog Fancy" Mag. that ticks can cause Anemia. Any thoughts? Unfortunately my 'lil angel had 12 ticks on her! after her 1st camping trip a few months before she became sick w/ this aweful disease. If this is so, why didn't the vets. tell me this? She did have a full "Tick Panel" test & it was neg. Lucily, she is doing well for now, off Pred. still on Imuran every other day, "long term". But the holidays were hell. Thanks, T. |
| T. Rose & Layla Erie |
| Hi Terese, Yes, ticks can lead to IMHA, the best person here on the board to answer that more in depth, is of course, Patrice. Elichia and Babesia are two common tick born diseases that can lead to IMHA. The good news is that if this is the cause than often these dogs will respond well to courses of antibiotics like Doxy. It's good that Layla had the tick panel, it doesn't sound like her IMHA was a direct result, then again, you never know. I'm sure Patrice will elaborate if she checks the board, maybe Joanne can as well. Glad Layla is doing well. melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
| T., Yes, tick diseases can embed in red blood cells and cause very serious anemia. They can also cause a very serious platelet deficiency as well, leading to prolonged and serious bleeding. As the disease inserts itself into body tissues it can lead to very serious illnesses besides the blood issues such as Lyme nephritis. In fact one symptom that dogs may show is limping and stiff joints, showing that the disease is in the tissues of the joints. I have been on a tick email discussion group for 3 years and I have learned a lot in that time. I now understand that tick diseases are at epidemic proportions in this country, in fact around the world. Many vets do not understand this and are not looking out for them. The in house vet test is called Snap4DX and is diagnostic for heartworm and three tick diseases. It does not cover all the possible tick diseases. Generally an ill dog that presents signs of a tick disease should have this test first and then a more comprehensive test done by a specialty lab. The best one in the US is Protatek Labs. Doxycylcine is the drug of choice and should be used at a high dose for a prolonged period of time to ensure that it is hit hard the first time. Retreating a prolonged case is harder and less successful. There are a few tick diseases that do not respond to doxy but other drugs. A friend from the Tick-L list has built a website that is full of information about tick diseases. I highly recommend it, http://blackgsd.googlepages.com/home patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
| My Lilly had Lyme & Ehrlichia before she developed AIHA. The vet we had taken her to, took her off of the Doxy against our wishes - now I know better - but we ended up losing her three weeks after she was diagnosed. We are now spreading the news to anyone who will listen. We have been able to save six dogs because of her death. One of these dogs was almost put down & passed a Senior hunter test the next weekend. Another (his 'sister') took first place in a puppy stake at a field trial today. These expeiences warm my heart. Lilly was a wonderful dog & I keep telling myself that her role in life was not only to be my companion, but through her death help save lives. People are listening to us now that she's gone. Patrice, thank you for leading me to the Tick-L. Unfortunatley it was too late for Lilly but I have learned alot of info that will help me with my four other dogs should the need arise. It's really sad realizing just how much the vets don't know about TBD. Lilly's been gone for about 2 months now but the pain is still incredible.... |
| Ann WI |
| An, I am so very sorry to hear about Lilly. This is truly a very tragic event. Please accept my deepest condolences. I have seen this scenario too many times on Tick-L. The owner knows their dog is sick, wonders if it is a tick disease. The vet either claims it isn't possible because of the geographic location and doesn't test or they decide to treat with a moderate dose of doxy for a short period of time, thus under treating the dog. In either case, the window of opportunity to successfully treat becomes narrower. Then the situation becomes chronic and relapses occur. Some owners are forced to try to find doxycycline without a prescription so they can treat their dogs with the high doses necessary. Education for tick diseases is spotty at best because of funding problems. Vets simply cannot keep up with all the literature that passes their desks. And this not only happens in veterinary medicine, but in human medicine as well. I have a very good friend who lives in Long Island. She became very ill a number of years ago and doctors were unable to determine what was wrong with her. She lost her job (and health insurance) because she could hardly function and was diagnosed with MS. Eventually she found her way to a doctor that finally diagnosed her properly with Lyme disease. By this time she was in great pain all the time and had lost a lot of her function. Today she gets by with her service dog and special treatments. Long Island, and the area of NYS near there, are hotbeds of tick disease. Yet tick disease has only recently, in the last few years, reached the media in Long Island. I encourage you to stay on Tick-L, it is a fun group, and there are some real experts who discuss many interesting things. Also, stay here if you can, to help other dog owners who describe something that may sound like a tick disease. Your help would be invaluable and would be a wonderful memorial to Lilly. my best patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
This thread was discussed between 31/03/2009 and 06/04/2009
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