Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Help ASAP! is PVC low or something else?

Wylie had no energy on her walk this morning, same symptoms from her relapse, but her gums are pink. She was also limping a little this morning and I did see her kind of gag. She also didnt chow her breakfast like she normally does. She did have a huge engorged tick fall off of her on Thursday! so can that be it? I think I will just call the vet and get her in this morning Laurie

Laurie CA

Laurie....I'ld get her to the vet asap to get checked out just in case. Better safe than sorry when dealing with this terrible disease. Please let us know how she's doing. I'll send a prayer her way today. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Thanks, I am off to the vet now will let you know what I find out Laurie

Laurie CA

just a scare, but puts my nind at ease for the $60 I spent and we need to watch her if she gets worse. Her HCT is hanging at 42 which is great. Her ALT is down to 277 yea!! She has been over 500 for the last few months. I think the pharmaceutical grade milk thistle is what is helping, she was on over the counter.

Laurie CA

That is so good to hear Laurie! Just think, if you hadn't taken her to the vet you'ld probably be all stressed out right now wondering what was wrong. I would have done the exact same as you. Give her some doggy hugs from Tessy & I. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Phew! Always a little scare with this disease! I also pop in frequently for the $60 Peace Of Mind bill... Glad Wylie is ok, take a deep breath now. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Laurie, Glad that Wylie's numbers all look good! That is the bad thing having dealt with this disease you always think the worst right away. Hugs to you and your girl. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Wylie is back to her old self this morning. When I told my husband I was taking her in, he said why cant you just let her be and grow old gracefully. She is about 12. This really hit me had yesterday, I started reading a book, I cant remember the name but its a story told from a dog. I was sobbing in the first 3 pages where he says "I am old and here I am lying in my urine waiting for my owner to come home, oh why do they do this to me. Load me with steriods to make me walk when I dont want to anymore, I cnat see because of cataracts, please I just want to go" I thought I think I have made the right decisions in the past for my dogs, but I have to remember at some point its about them and not me. Laurie

Laurie CA

Laurie, It sounds like you are reading "The art of racing in the rain" It is a tear jerker in some spots but resolves itself in the end. 12 is not really that old. We had an Aussie who lived to be 18 and we only let him go because of back paralysis. We all who have had to make the "decision" know when it is time and it is when you realize that you are indeed doing things for yourself not them. It does not sound like Wylie is any where near there and your paranoia is the normal reaction to having treated this disease. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Penny, that is the book, thank you for your kind thoughts, I really needed to hear that. I hope that time is far far away. its difficult having 2 12 year old dogs, my other dog is a lab and people are mean when they say oh wow labs usually only live to 9 or 10, stick foot in mouth. Wow, 18 years old, thats great, I think Wylie has aussie in her, she is short coated but has that one mesmorizing blue eye. Laurie

Laurie CA

My husband, Mark, who works in IT sent me this in an email just a few minutes ago with the subject titled: Chance Allegory. If you have ever worked with a computer and had problems, you will understand this. "Google says: "They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them." Translation: A Windows PC may run sprightly at first, but over time it starts to crawl, like an old dog in the hot sun seeking porch shade. In Alabama. In July." Patrice

Patrice NYS

Laurie -- I don't think you should assume that people are being mean when they say "wow, labs usually only live to be 9-10." I think that most people make that remark to convey how nice it is that a larger dog is living longer than conventional wisdom. As someone who lost her dear beagle to this damned IMHA at 10.5 years old, I think it's wonderful that other pet owners have their dear dogs for much longer than that. My Wiley's, best friend, a yellow lab with all kinds of health issues, outlived her -- Walker died two weeks after Wiley just short of her 16th birthday. My neighbors' dogs have gotten to 14 and 15 despite various health ailments. I am so glad they have enjoyed their dogs for so long, and I just wish my husband could have enjoyed the same longevity with our sweet beagle girl. Mean is when people look at your dog and say "man that's a fat dog." My Wiley was overweight, and her Addison's made her look more so, and one day when a man said that to me, while his small son looked on, I was so tempted to retort with "man, that is one homely kid." But I wouldn't hurt him the way he hurt me. His behavior was mean!

Brenda VA

Laurie, My dog Salome who I lost to AIHA was a Lab and she was 13 when she was diagnosed. Other than showing a lot of grey in the face she was otherwise healthy and still running strong until the AIHA hit. Ignore the so called experts that cite the time tables on a dogs life expectancy based soley on breed. Ha! Best to you and yours Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Hi Laurie Well done to you and Wylie - I think paranoia comes alongside this disease - we have had some pretty awful days lately (hence my absence from the website) and phoebe is due her bloods on thurs - I am petrified - not sleeping already!! You mentioned in one of your posts that Wylie was on a pharmaceutical grade milk thistle - can you let me know the name and if you bought it online? I would like to get Phoebe started on it too. Again - congrats on Wylie's blood results - lets hope I have the same outcome on thursday love and best wishes gill and phoebe

gill uk

Again, thank you for all of your kind words. Gil, Wishing the best for Phoebes visit Thursday, just remember, dont beat yourself up if the numbers are not what you expect, many times they get worse before they get better. Here is the info on Marin. http://www.1800petmeds.com/Marin+For+Dogs-prod10853.html And also many dogs here take this, Wyle had a rare reaction to the Sam E so she is on just the Marin http://www.1800petmeds.com/Denamarin-prod11008.html and also look for this, its an iron /vitamin b supplement that my vet prescribed to also help with the red blood cells and the liver http://www.healthypets.com/pet1ozbypfiz.html. As always, talk your vet before adding anything. Laurie

Laurie CA

This thread was discussed between 11/07/2009 and 14/07/2009

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