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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Grace, newly diagnosed
| I am starting new thread for Dave's post. Joanne Our Schipperke, Grace, had taken ill on Xmas Eve. My wife looked at her gums and they were white. We called the Vet and they said it could be life threatening. She was diagnosed with AIHA. She is on steroids and still weak. Her temperature is normal and she will eat, which is good. We are also hurt and as we were holding her Andrea Bocelli was singing "Time to say Goodbye" we were crushed in tears. We pray our Grace comes back to health and we pray for all of our friends that have this horrible condition. |
| Dave Worcester |
| Dave, I am so vey sorry to hear that your most beloved Grace has recently been diagnosed with AIHA. While AIHA/IMHA is very difficult disease, dogs who have been diagnosed with it CAN and DO survive and go on to live happy healthy lives. If you have not read my Web site on AIHA/IMHA as yet, you might want to do so when you can. 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. It should be noted that it can take 5-7 days for the steriods to start to work. In the meantime the PCV can continue to drop. If the PCV drops too far (usually the low to mid teens) most vets will give blood transfusions to "buy time" until the meds do start to work. Also many times, steriods alone will not be enough to get dog with AIHA/IMHA into remission. When that is the case vets will add another drug such as Azathioprine sold under the brand name Imuran or Cyclosporine to the treatment regimine. You can learn more about these drugs on the treatment page of my Web site. This page also contains links to other sites which contain more info on these drugs. I know this is so hard but please do hang in there. Dogs with AIHA/IMHA can and do get better. My own Meisha (who lived for 9 years and 10 months after her AIHA diagnosis) as well as all the dogs on the Success Stories pages are proof of that. Be assured you and your dear Grace are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days. PS. The fact that Grace is eating is very good news. Many dogs with AIHA/IMHA go for days without eating. |
| Joanne MN |
| Dave- It definately ISNT time to say goodbye so keep the faith. this is a very complicated disease but it can be beaten and there are plenty of people here who can offer success stories. you are in the right place. please update us when you get a moment. i would definately suggest you seek out a specialist who is well versed to take on such a situation. good luck to your GRACE |
| Josh California |
| Dave, my thoughts are with you and your dog, Grace. Please keep up up-dated on Grace's condition. It would also be helpful if you could let us know what Grace's PCV is and what medications your vet has started her on. My dog, Duck, was down to a PCV of 5 at the crisis point. My vet didn't feel that Duck would live but urged us to take him to the veterinary teaching hospital in Pullman, Washington. Within 24 hours they had him transfused, definitively diagnosed and on the proper medications. That was 7 months ago and while it has been a very long haul for all of us, we're glad we persisted. Duck has maintained normal blood values for months now and you would never know by looking at him that he was ill. He has totally regained his quality of life. Hang in there. AIHA is a rocky road but it is worth it to fight. deb and Duck |
| Debbie BC Canada |
This thread was discussed between 28/12/2007 and 29/12/2007
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