Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Happy news for Holly!

Hi all, Just wanted to share the great news about Holly's latest bloodwork. Her Hematocrit is up to 50.1, and her retic count is holding at 1.0. For the last 4-5 months we have only been decreasing the prednisone each month by 1mg and are down to 2mg, and tomorrow will start another decrease of 1mg. She is still on azathioprine daily but that is okay. Plus I split the dosage of prednisone up evenily twice a day. I really think this regimen has worked for her. Before that we were decreaseing more rapidly and it did not work for her as her hematocrit went down and retic went up, so while this might be a really slow process it really seems to work. After 17 months it doesn't matter how slow we go anymore, we have waited this long for our baby to be okay, a few more months sure will not bother us. Wishing all fighting this disease the best of luck and remember it can take a long time but the wait is so worth it! Linda

Linda Sapphire

Linda, That is great news. I am so happy for you and Holly.

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Hi Linda, The slowness in decreasing the prednisone is a good thing if the dog can tolerate it. Lindy was tapered off very slowly. Towards the last year to year and a half, it was every three months. She is still on a maintenance dose of 25mg of Azathioprine eod and most likely will be forever. At this point she is her former normal self, since before the dreaded diagnosis left us in complete shock. It sounds like Holly is doing fine on that kind of regime. I'm so thrilled to hear it is working. Keep in touch! Hugs, Nancy and Lindy

Nancy CO

I love reading good news...I am thrilled for you and Holly! Janice Cliff and Curt's mom

Janice Newnan

Go Holly, Go!!

jan PA

It really makes reading this forum much nicer hearing news like this! Congratulations!

Jeanne Texas

good job holly, 50 is awesome

josh cali

Linda -- congratulations to you and to Holly. Keep up the great work.

Brenda VA

That is awesome news!!!! Congrats to you and Holly.

Layla Raleigh

50!! That's great! WTG Holly, keep up the great work!

Allie Virginia

Early in our journey, the vet told me that 1/3 of the dogs with IMHA will be on meds...forever. 1/3 will recover and be off meds...and 1/3 will not survive. Trooper is now 7 months post diagnosis - and has not YET had a normal retic count...the best was 1.7%- last week it was 2.2%. She had her best ever PCV- 48%.... While talking to the local vet (we have our specialist at the big hospital too) he now has 2 IMHA dogs (the practice is only 6 months OLD!!!) and I was saddened when I heard that the other dog is responding so much more quickly than Trooper ( the other 1/3)....but I guess if the fate we have...and to keep my girl...is meds every day....than so be it... Glad to hear we are not alone.

Chris Connecticut

Thanks to everyone for all your support! Chris, I know exactly how you feel with the retic count, while Holly has increase always on her PCV her retic count has always been still a major concern, because seems like as soon as we reduce to much it goes up over 1, so we are taking a real risk this month in decreasing the prednisone down to 1mg. I am very fearful that the retic count will go back up in danger zone and we will have to up the prednisone again. So right now just doing one day at a time and checking the gums every day. But if she does need to stay on minimual amount of prednisone then so be it. So good to hear that you have a specialist at the hospital and only being open 6 months is great! Holly's specialist is in Atlanta and we don't go down there, we correspond via fax machines and our local vet. Best wishes to Trooper and to all the others to continue their fight! Linda

Linda Sapphire

I'm so glad you found a weaning regime that is working better for Holly! We went slowly, waiting a long time between reductions. I just checked back and we started decreasing meds 5 weeks after she got sick, and just took her off the last pred dose about 11 months after we started weaning! Phew, that was slow, but well worth it.

Stephanie Chicago

That is great news! I justed posted on Wylies upswing of her hematocrit too. Laurie

Laurie CA

Linda, I have not been keeping up with threads till today and I am THRILLED to hear about Holly's bloodwork ! My Fitzi is coming up on 6 mos and seems to be out of the woods. Still on pred and his bloodwork is looking "normal" Linda & Fitzi

Linda Asheville

This thread was discussed between 16/07/2008 and 15/08/2008

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