Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - HELP! anyone Swollen tongue and slimy drool?

I just now got back from Orchard Park, Baby’s real sick and I don’t know what’s wrong. It’s 8:53 pm here in NY. Baby seemed to be drooling today and just getting real sick, so I kept checking on her. When I went to check her @ about 3:00 today her tongue was swollen and bleeding on the side not sure if she bit it, she was white pale lying in a pool slimy blood stained drool with the most horrible order coming from her mouth! The first thing I thought was it was her stomach, I lifted her leg and her arms they were limp, she kept trying to get her tongue in her mouth but it was so swollen it wouldn’t even fit in her mouth and it was crooked, more swollen on one side than the other. I took her to my vet, he couldn’t do any thing for her he gave her some fluids, tested her blood and put a catheter in her arm, and he did a sonogram he couldn’t see anything, so I took the hour drive to Orchard park in Buffalo, when he had tested her RBC it was 16, the smell that was coming from her mouth was HORRID! Like infection, or stomach content. I don’t know if she’s gonna make it they are going to do a blood transfusion, give her some heavy antibiotics & fluids. I have never seen anything like this in my life! It was absolutely horrid! She’s in ICU I’m probably looking at 1,200 for now depending on what they find and how long she’s there. The worst thing is when they took her in this huge room and put her on a stainless steel gurney I turned to the Dr. by the door and turned around and looked at her and she had two women fussing with her and the only thing she cared about was where I was going, the look she gave me she picked up her head and looked at me in panic like YOUR NOT GOING to leave me are you!!! I just started to ball it just killed me! So I just walked out , the Dr. said I’m going to be a minute so if you want to visit with her a while, I said no I just couldn’t I was crying so hard I couldn’t even see, and I couldn’t bare to see her like that! Then on the way home this horrible thought came over me, what if she doesn’t make it, and that’s the last thought se has of me is walking out on her, and what if that’s the last thought I have of her is how she looked at me and I abandoned her! I don't know what is wrong with her!

Brande NY

Hi Brande, I am so glad you posted on here. I was very worried about things for you, and this forum is awesome for support. I was using FaceBook on my mobile to correspond with you (can't access FB at work), so at least I can type back to you here a lot easier! Maybe you can post Baby's history and latests results here for people to help with. Post the whole lot from her CBC if you like. Also post her medication dosages and any other supplements you have her on. I mentioned to you to discuss Aspirin with your vet also to prevent blood clots that can occur in the earlier stages of IMHA. These clots can be potentially fatal. I know how heart breaking it must be to have to leave Baby, you are doing the right thing so you CANNOT feel guilty about leaving her, and she won't think you've abandoned her because that's not what you have done. Maybe go and visit her tomorrow if you can, I'm sure that will lift her spirits. Focus on the positives, and getting as much information as you can to get Baby through this. Thinking of you, Samantha.

Samantha Geelong Australia

Brande, I am very sorry to hear about Baby. This sounds very alarming to see. My first impression was that Baby may have eaten something that was poisonous to her and had been vomiting it up. Is this possible? She could have had a seizure (and bit her tongue) before you came into the room and that would account for her swollen tongue and the blood. You made a wise choice taking her to Orchard Park. If there is something to be done to help her recover, they can do that there. I had my dog there last Tuesday and I am so grateful for their great skill and compassion. I have spent many hours in the intensive care unit and I know the staff are excellent. If you can find the strength to compose yourself, they will let you sit inside the recovery kennel with her if she is better. Keep us posted. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Brande, I have been there and oh so recently. In my heart (through the convincing of others and my own feelings) I feel that Baby knows you are trying to help her. The cost of help can be tough but you have to do everything you can to save her. If you care enough to write on this forum, I know you care enough to save her. Please go see Baby as soon as you can. Work or life or whatever else will be there. Please don't beat yourself up. The hardest part of this disease is the lack of warning that it provides and we all handle it in a different way. The transfusion will help Baby and then, I firmly believe, you will be needed to provide support. You are her ROCK. The tears are normal, you want to do everything possible for Baby. Stay tough, you are battling a tough disease and you need to be as strong as possible. I am praying for the best. -Darren P.S.- I've heard, read, and studied that Heparin can decrease the chances of a blood clot.

Darren Long Beach

Hi Patrice, Brande's dog Baby does have IMHA - I have been corresponding with Brande after she posted on an IMHA group on FaceBook. Any ideas on how IMHA might be implicated in this - could it be she's thrown a blood clot (is that the right terminology???) in her tongue? Samantha.

Samantha Geelong Australia

These signs are something that I have seen mentioned with poisonings of some kind or an allergic reaction, possibly to a food that is poisonous. I might suspect a snake bite as well, but it is winter in NYS and there are no snakes out! This is also a very common reaction to biting a poisonous toad! But they, too, are in hibernation right now. Some medications can cause this kind of a reaction. I think it is a coincidence that it is happening simultaneously with the IMHA. But my guess is that the drooling, vomit and swollen bleeding tongue were most likely caused by a seizure. What caused the seizure is the question. A medication? Food? She mentions a horrible smell. Well, most people know what vomit smells like, so why would someone comment so strongly about a smell if they have experienced it before? This may indicate a poison, as they tend to have a bad smell. Something like a household cleaner? Dogs that have AIHA or IMHA can sometimes ingest some pretty wild stuff if they have developed stomach ulcers from prednisone. Here is an extensive reference to canine poisoning. This is definitely a "read this and keep this posted on the fridge" article. They also mention plants as a poison, something I had forgotten to mention. And aspirin can cause an allergic reaction in some (not all) dogs. http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0175.htm I think that they will have already checked all this at the clinic and treated it. I have great confidence in their skill. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

That makes sense Patrice. Thanks. I noticed that Brande didnt mention Baby had IMHA in her post so just wanted to make sure everyone knew Baby had it. I am glad you recommend this hospital. That is very reassuring!

Samantha Geelong Australia

Brande, I'm so sorry to hear that Baby is sick with this disease. You found a good place to get help! My first thought was poison/toxic ingestion. Has the vet said anything to you about this? If Baby is going to the same place Patrice goes then she is in good hands. I'll keep Baby in my thoughts and prayers. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Dear Brande, Oh my gosh......my heart goes out to you and Baby.......I too am thinking maybe she had a seizure....my dog Shadow had seizures for 10 years.....and the slimy-drool that comes out of their mouth from it does smell really bad...and she could have bit her tongue...made it bleed and swell....and after the seizures they are exhausted and can seem lifeless....also wondering where she is at with her hemolytic anemia and meds....was she feeling O.K. before this? Did she just start a new drug? Please, please keep us informed...I'll be thinking about you both....as soon as you can be alittle calmer in her presence, it probably would be good if you could stay with her...but you're an emotional wreck from all this and have to take good care of yourself....Baby needs you strong....this is a great site with wonderful, smart, caring dog-lovers....Tammy and Cody

Tammy/Cody N.J.

Everyone, I have been corresponding with Brande over FaceBook messaging. She is going through a lot, it's awful for her.... Her vet suggested that they thought it was a blood clot in her tongue - which is why I wanted to get some feedback on that. Seems unlikely to me after I read Patrice's posts and the article Patrice posted the link for, and now Tammy's feedback also suggests it may not be. Anyways, I hope she posts back here with an update for everyone, but her vets did suggest putting Baby down today. The last message I had from her was that they said they couldn't be sure it was a blood clot, and they wanted to give her more time. Thanks for helping, Samantha.

Samantha Geelong Australia

Brande, Please stay strong for your Baby and how ever you feel at least try to visit with her. The one thing that gave me some comfort when I had to let Coco go in Jan was that I was able to give her some comfort and be there for her before she passed. It is heartbreaking to see them that bad but even though it may look horrible keep up the fight for her. I am praying for strength and comfort for you and may Baby be blessed with a full recovery...Kelly

Kelly Redding

Samantha, Do you know how Baby was doing before this happened? Was she sickly, or doing O.K? Do you know how long she's had AIHA for,etc....? This really blows my mind...the insidiousness of this disease...what our poor dogs go thru, and us....I'm praying for Brande and Baby....sooooooooo sad....Tammy and Cody

Tammy/Cody N.J.

Honestly I think you should go visit her. She is all you have when buddy was at the hospital I went every single day and spent hours. I am praying for you guys. I know it is upsetting I've been there . It is so emotional. When I read your post I just started crying because I know how you feel. My prayers are with you and baby.

lucy ny

Hi Tammy, She was going along OK - she had a PCV at 26 when Brande first posted on the FaceBook site, and had probably been sick for around 2 months.... It dropped to 16 yesterday which was when Brande took her in. Baby was on Pred, but both Joanne and I responded to Brande that we thought it was too low a dose (probably by about half what it probably should have been). I believe Baby's vet then put her on Azathioprine (maybe a week or so ago), not sure if they increased the Pred. I think Brande mentioned that Baby had a low reticulocyte count - so potentially this is non-regenerative, but I didn't get any numbers off Brande. She just messaged me again to say that the swelling on Baby's tongue had gone down, but 1/2 her tongue was hard and had darkened in colour, the other half was normal..... The vet is a little more optomistic now that the swelling has going down a little, and has backed off on suggesting euthanasia at this stage, so I think this is a small positive for Brande and Baby. I really felt for her, it's so hard to know people are so distraught and not actually be there to help! Samantha.

Samantha Geelong Australia

Hi Samantha, Thanx so much for the info. and up-date...do you know how old Baby is....I'm really starting to feel that some puppies/dogs don't handle their vaccines well and the body sees them as foreign and creates this nightmare....I also wonder if perhaps the rescue dogs are over-vaccinated because of their un-known history......the shelters can run titers to see where they're at with their immune systems, but it's costly and I don't think they do it much.......Tammy and Cody

Tammy/Cody N.J.

i agree with tammy Buddy got his vaccinations a couple of months before he died and my pug died of itp 2 years ago right after his vaccinations. Has baby gotten them recently? lucy

lucy ny

Hi Tammy, Baby is a 5 year old Samoyed. Brande messaged me today to tell me that Baby had been able to eat some food - she was very excited! I think the main concern was her tongue, so hopefully now that is resolving and the swelling is going down, they can get the anemia under control. She hasn't given me any more details on Baby's anemia, except that she had a transfusion yesterday and the PCV is 26. On another note you mentioned vaccines, I think my Millie's IMHA was caused by her vaccination, which was about 3 weeks before her IMHA diagnosis.... Millie was 10 or so when we adopted her just over 2 years ago and I don't think her previous owners ever vaccinated her.... I wonder if this was part of the reason for her being more vulnerable to vaccine-induced IMHA.... Samantha.

Samantha Geelong Australia

This thread was discussed between 01/02/2010 and 03/02/2010

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