Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - For my Maggie

I took Maggie to the vets this morning to have her blood checked. The vet just called and advised that her HCT has dropped to 17, the problems with her breathing this weekend means that she now has Bronchitis. Her White blood cell count is normal, her platelets are 44. It seems that she is not responding to any of the medications; Predison, cylosporin, Azathioprine. The vet is saying that we should take her to one of the medical schools like Athens, GA. I need to know if anyone has tried BioPreparation?

Karon SC

This is what they thinked happened with Lola and then it progressed in less than 24 hours to pnemonia..take her to the place they are recommending asap. Food is not going to be the link that saves her at this point.

Courtney SLO

Karon, If Maggie has a low PCV and low platelets she may have Evans syndome which is AIHA/IMHA and ITP (immune mediated thrombocytopenia) at the same time. While Evans syndome can be difficult to treat, dogs can and do survive this but I urge you to get to a veterinary internal medical specialist or a veterinary teaching hospital ASAP so Maggie can get the prompt and aggressive treatment she needs. You can find info on how to find a veterinary teaching hospital closest to you at this URL http://netvet.wustl.edu/vschool.htm#na and this page may help you find an ACVIM near you http://www.acvim.org/Specialist/Search.aspx Please know that both you and Maggie are in my thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time.

Joanne MN

Karon -- just checked in and read your update on Maggie. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I'm hoping the specialists can help. Please take care.

Brenda VA

Karon, If you scroll down, you'll see a thread on BioPreparation. I asked about it and so did some others. I think there was a comment about the amount of Vitamin A it contains and that it might not be a safe level. Maybe someone else can offer more info on it. Please keep us posted on Maggie. How long has she been on the three meds? Remember that it usually takes six weeks for them to kick in. Darcy is on the same thing, plus a stomach protectant and thyroid medication recommended by Dr. Dodds. At the beginning, I was also giving her lots of blood, bone and immune building supplements, but decided to do only the PetTinic as I was afraid the supplements might be interfering with the immune suppressant drugs. I thought that it had to be one or the other -- totally holistic or totally medications. I opted for the later, but, if we can get Darcy's PCV count up and holding steady, I may eventually go back to the holistics. If you can take Maggie to the specialist in Athens or anywhere there is someone who is experienced in treating this disease, I would urge you to do so. She definitely needs treatment for the bronchitis ASAP. My prayers are with you and Maggie. Karen

Karen NC

Thinking of you and Maggie, good luck with the specialist and please keep us posted. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Maggie is not doing well at all, I’m afraid that she has lost the battle with this disease. She’s eating some but very small amounts. Movement is very labored. I want to see if we can get her another blood transfusion, but I fear that that will only prolong the inevitable. She has been on all her meds for about 7 weeks now.

Karon SC

Karon, I am so sorry that Maggie is not doing well. Perhaps a blood transfusion will be the answer. Darcy has had two so far. She was at the specialist today and her PCV went from 20% to 17% in a one week, but I am thankful that it had not gone down to 15% as it had done previously. One time it went as low as 8%. I'm taking her back tomorrow to have the Cyclosporine level checked. The specialist said that it might need adjusting. Have they checked Maggie's Cyclosporine absorption? Have you considered adding in a thyroid medication? For some reason Darcy's appetite and energy level is very good. I'm thinking that it's the combination of Prednisone and Cyclosporine that's making her hungry. Yet, her PCV is low and this is puzzling. We don't know if her bone marrow has started producing new RBCs. I'm holding on to the hope that it has, but the specialist is not so optimistic. I trust in God more than in the specialist. I'm praying for you and Maggie. I know that you'll do what you think is best for her. That's all that any of us can do for our dear little ones. Please keep us posted.

Karen NC

Hi Karen Hope that Darcy is doing well. My husband and I get up at 4:30 AM, we have been giving Maggie the following dosages each morning with her food.:- Cyclosporine 5 x 100mg = 500mg, Azathioprine 2 x 50mg = 100mg, Famotidine 1 x 20mg, Prednisone 4 x 20mg = 80mg. Due to the infection we give her 500mg of Clavamox which is a antibiotic 2 hours later. I have also been giving Maggie 1 BioPreparation pill sprinkled on her food . At lunch time I have been giving her another BioPrep on another small portion of food. At 5:30PM we give her with her food Famotidine 1 x 20mg, Denamarin 2 x 425mg =850mg (for her liver), another Bioprep sprinkled on her food. 500mg of Clavamox 2 hours later. Then just before bedtime, We give her another Bioprep on a slice of turkey or mixed in with some chicken stock. It is taking quite a toll on her system. She has got very finicky with her food. So she doesn’t like taking the meds. We have tried ways to get the medication into her system; crushing the pills up and adding to her food, piercing the Cyclosporine and putting the liquid on cheese, cake anything. Evan squirting it into her mouth. My vet did check and some of these medications are available in compound, so if it gets to the point where it is difficult and stressful for Darcy to take the medications, you may want to ask your vet for a compound. We had decided that enough is enough. Maggie has been a fighter, but this disease is terrible and she is getting very weak. She had a blood transfusion yesterday. We were hoping that this would give her a boost. Her HCT is 16. It’s the strain on her liver and heart. We also started her on Thyrozine 1.6 mg which is to help with the thyroid or bone marrow, I can’t remember which. She has not eaten much today, and her ability to walk is labored. She is telling us that it is time. Please pray for Maggie.

Karon SC

Karen, Reading your last post made my heart ache for you and Maggie. We are all here for you both, whatever path the future may hold. Your bond is clearly strong and mutual and can carry you through the uncertainty, the fear, the pain...and the unique and deep closeness that comes from going through this together. Thinking of you both with tender support, Cheryl (and always Barkley)

Cheryl Medford

Karen: Have you tried using soft food to get some of the medication down Maggie? Our dog Sheba wouldn't take her Atopica in pill pockets or wrapped in cheese or meat so we tried slipping it into a little soft food. That seemed to do the trick - in fact she would come trotting into the kitchen when she heard the tear of the waxed paper and smelled the soft food. We didn't even have to entirely cover the pill - just sort of squished it down and fed it to her. Also - I'm wondering about the cyclosporine with food and in one single dose. Our vets and the literature included with the medication advised that cyclosporine be given on an empty stomach - 1 hour prior to eating or two hours after eating. And while it's usually given as a single dose for atopic dermatitis most of the research I've seen regarding its use for AIHA indicates splitting the dosage in half and administering it twice daily. You might ask your vet about timing and dosage schedules. Keeping our paws and fingers crossed! Rita and Sheba

Rita IA

This thread was discussed between 29/09/2008 and 05/10/2008

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