VetNet®
VetNet® AIHA discussion forum
VetNet® Forum
Lifelong Learning Network
www.vetnetlln.ac.uk
Veterinary Recruitment
Premier Partner Program
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Help! New symptom - Maggie
| Maggie is two days out from her 2nd blood transfusion. Took her to the vet today because of an alarming new symptom...she started shivering and clicking her mouth (like a person grinding their teeth). She seems to also have trouble keeping her eyes open (maintaining consciousness). I ran her to the vet to do a follow up blood test and her red blood cell count was holding steady at 20 (same as Thursday). She's on the following: prednisone, reglan (for nausea), famotidine (pepcid), baytril (antibiotic) and Atopica (immune suppressant). Has anyone here ever had any neurological problems with their dog arising from either the AIHA or any of the medications. The vet was concerned and gave me a small dose of valium to relax Maggie. Please help if you can. I'm worried about a possible precursor to a seizure or blood clot (in the brain). Thanks |
| Patty T. atlanta |
| I don't think it's very common, but prednisone does list convulsions as one of the rare side effects. I haven't had any experience with neuro problems, but am thinking of Maggie and saying a prayer. |
| Ronda So Cal |
| Patty, It's puzzling, but perhaps she is having an adverse reaction to the transfusion. It can, in some cases, cause an allergic reaction, fever or even chills. I remember Chance was shivering as he received his transfusion and we had to put a blanket on him and a heater near him. The symptoms you describe alert me to shock. It's difficult to check dog blood pressure but you can check the pulse by finding a good sized artery in the leg or neck and counting for a min to see what the pulse is like. Is it rapid, too slow, irregular? Are the pupils dilated? Check the temperature (at the rectum), it should be somewhere around 100-102. If it's much lower or higher than that I would alert the vet. How is the breathing? Even and normal? Rapid and shallow? She might also be hypoglycemic. Try giving her something moderately sweet in small quantities a few hours apart. You could even try pedialyte. They make popsicles. Atopica can cause a kind of "spaciness" if the dose is really high. It should subside after a few hours. let us know what happens Patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
| Ronda & Patrice, Thank you both so much for your thoughts. Her temperature was checked at the vet - normal. They did take another blood test...and said they will check her electrolyte levels (I believe that's her sugar levels?). I gave her some boiled chicken for dinner...she ate 8-10 good pieces. She also ate a few nibbles of my wheat crackers. Drinking is good. I let her lick the bottom of my yogurt container. She seems better tonight. I was real careful to "stagger" her meds. For example, I try to give her the Reglen (for nausea) right before she eats and about 1-2 hrs before her prednisone. I think if I'm careful administering them, it may help with wooziness, unsteadiness, weakness, trembling, etc. I read in one of the other posts awhile back that sometimes the side effects of the transfusions and meds can be as bad, if not worse, that the AIHA itself. I am praying if we get Maggie thru the next couple of days, they will subside. I will keep you posted. Thanks again for your suggestions and kind words. God Bless. |
| Patty T. atlanta |
| Hi Patty, My Kent had similar symptoms when taking cyclosporine (atopica? same yes?). He was also very very woozy from the cyclosporine to the point of walking into walls and just totally out of it. We made the decision to take him off of it after 3 days but for other dogs its the best drug. They are all different. Hang in there and see if it resolves, particularly keeping an eye on blood tests. Also re Patrice, yes, watch for shock, keep the dog warm (kent has his own blanket, and even though we are in florida he got cold between the drugs, the weather was cool, his haircut, and the a/c.). I have also heard of pepcid sometimes causing shivers and even nausea. Please ask your vet about adding sucralfate. I recall that around the time kent was shivering he also developed terrible gi bleeding, and only was prescribed sucralfate after that. Please keep an eye on the poo! I also heard that low protein can cause shivers, though i dont think it is the culprit here. the popsicles sound like a good idea, you could also in addition, freeze chicken broth (low salt low fat) and give as a treat. Hope this helps a little bit. Thinking of you, Christine and Kent Took her to the vet today because of an alarming new symptom...she started shivering and clicking her mouth (like a person grinding their teeth). She seems to also have trouble keeping her eyes open (maintaining consciousness). |
| Christine Fl |
This thread was discussed between 21/06/2008 and 23/06/2008
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index
This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.
