Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Great Post-Op for Mercedes

Hi All, So much sad news this week!!! Wasn't going to bother posting this but thought some good news was in order. Mercedes had her spay surgery yesterday and tolerated it well. We suspect that a surge of hormones was what may have triggered her IMHA in the first place, so it is quite a relief to have this done, and to see her doing so well. We will, of course, keep a close eye on her for the weeks/months to come----but for now we are happy to have her at home "healthy and happy"!! Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you that are still fighting your courageous battles, with this most awful disease. Hugs to one and all!!! Maureen and Mercedes

Maureen BC Canada

Hi Maureen, Is it ever good to hear good news! I am so happy Mercedes came through he operation ok. One less thing to worry about. On the thought that a surge in hormones triggered the AIHA, I have read that somewhere too. I find it very confusing how hormones play a big role in the whole thing. I went through most of the success stories to check if the dogs were male, female, neutered, spayed or intact. Of course this is just anecdotal evidence, but I found that most of the dogs were either neutered or spayed. So where would the surge in hormones fit into that? I am really worried about neutering Enzo. I have delayed it until he is at least 14 months for now. Does anybody have any thoughts on this, I would love to learn more! To Maureen and Mercedes, keep the good news coming! Best wishes, Brigitte & the poodle boys

Brigitte BC Canada

Maureen- I am so happy to hear your good news about Mercedes! Have a question about the spay as I am about to have Chloe done too. Did Mercedes have belly distention when the surgery was done? Chloe has a tremendous belly from the decrease in muscle tone. She really looks like she has ascites (but doesn't). How much pred was Mercedes still on? Did she have to go on antibiotics? I spoke with one vet about a lap spay. Dr. Dodds wants Chloe done like right now because of the chance of relapse with the hormone surge. It already happened in late June and her PCV dropped to about 19 when Chloe has a pretty silent heat cycle probably due to all the meds. It is incredible to think that she was to be bred in June before the IMHA. She had just had her testing in March. Thank god she never got bred as I wouldn't wish this disease on anyone. I am so happy to hear your good news about Mercedes! Has her hair started to come back yet? Are you coming to PCA in April with any of your babies? Hugs to you and Mercedes, Cheri and Chloe

Cheri Maryland

Maureen: Great news about Mercedes! We hope she recovers quickly and you have many years of love and joy together. Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita IA

Maureen, that's such great news to hear! I can relate to the stress *pre-surgery* that you must've been feeling. Good to hear she's handling it well. Give lots and lots of hugs to her for me. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Congratulations!!!! Here's to a long and happy future with Mercedes. We love happy news. Best wishes, Ronda and Buster

Ronda Illinois

Thumbs up for Mercedes! Best wishes for her successful recovery. Lisa

Lisa Texas

Hi All Thanks so much for all the congratulatory messages. I almost feel a little guilty that Mercedes has done so well! Bridgette, It was Jean Dodds that told me that hormonal surges can trigger IMHA. She voiced a lot of concern when I first consulted with her, as Mercedes had not yet been spayed. (Of course, she was in full show coat at the time, and we had planned to breed her after she had her "championship" so there was never any plan to spay!!) Jean did caution me that it would be imperative to spay her as soon as she was well enough, as the surge in hormones could definately trigger the IMHA again. When we got the results of the last bloodtests, Jean instructed me to spay her ASAP! I am just so happy to have this surgery behind me---even though we are not "certain" that the hormone thing was the original trigger. Cheri, Mercedes has been off the prednizone since the second week in August, and is only getting azathiopine (35mg) every third day, at this time. She has also had the 'denamarin" dose, cut in half and when we do the next bloodtests if the liver is still stable, that will be discontinued as well---as per Jean Dodds. My vet has prescribed amoxicillin twice daily for five days Post-op. No, Mercedes never did get a 'pot-belly" on the pred. Once I discontinued it the hair began to grow back in and she is looking quite respectable once again. She had amazing coat before she got sick and grows hair very quickly. That does not seem to have changed. No, we won't be at Nationals. Really don't have anything to show right now. In fact, I am currently looking for a "really nice" female black puppy to replace Mercedes in my breeding program. Must be well bred, show quality, as we would want to put a U.S. and Canadian championship on it, before we began training for agility. Do you know of anyone with a litter on the ground (or coming up) that may have a puppy that would fill our needs??? If so email me at mlsanderson@shaw.ca. If you would like to see my dogs check out our website: amazingpoodles.com Are you a breeder, Cheri?? If so, do you have a website??

Maureen BC Canada

Maureen, Just looked at your web site and your poodles are beautiful! I have a black standard that is 14.5 years old and Alex is a cream standard. So glad things are going good for Mercedes. Chris & Alex

Chris Pa

Maureen- Chloe's vet just asked for Chloe to be off her prednisone for 4 days prior to her lap spay to promote healing. I am just about to start her on every other day prednisone 2.5 mg and surgery is in 2 weeks. She is still on the cyclosporine. Her hct was 41.8 last week. Taking her off the pred has me terrified! Any thoughts? I am so happy Mercedes is doing well. My poodle boy Beemer sends kisses her way...He loves agility. I can't believe he is doing this stuff off lead. Another miracle. Cheri and Chloe

Cheri Maryland

Hi Maureen, Great news, I need to get Archie operated on but am nervous about making him feel poorly as he is so lively and enjoying life at the moment. Archie has a retained testicle so the vet is keen to get this done asap. We were persuaded to have him vaccinated as our insurance can't continue without, as he is considered recovered from IHMA by our vet although she will retest his pcv in a couple of months. So far so good with no side effects, so you have given me confidence to consider this operation after the retest in November. Hope Mercedes continues her good health. Sue and Archie

Sue Cambs UK

Hi Cheri and Sue Cheri---Mercedes was off the pred for about a month when we did her surgery. I too, was really nervous about stopping the prednisone but Mercedes actually seems to be feeling so much better, since we discontinued it---AND she is growing a beautiful new coat. She is still on azathiopine twice a week, but I have my "pre-IMHA" poodle back---just full of pee and vinegar. She gets quite upset when my other two dogs go out to work on the agility equipment and she has to stay inside. It won't be long, though, before she can start doing agility again too! Sue, The surgery was scary, but not as scary as the risk of the IMHA returning if she came into heat. Mercedes recovery was very quick, and uneventful. It was difficult to keep her "quiet"! It has been 2 weeks since the surgery and she continues to enjoy very good health and is bouncing all over the property, and back pestering her mother and aunty to come and play! LOL!

Maureen BC Canada

This thread was discussed between 24/09/2010 and 08/10/2010

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