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) - Here are Brinnie's labs so any help is appreciated
| Took Brinnie for a checkup today and since last Thursday her PCV remained at 19, but the icterus of her blood was alot less yellow. So, she's still serious, but stable. Vets said they put her on the upper end of the prednisone to put her into remission fast. Hemoglobin 8 Hematocrit 19 WBC 12.3 RBC 2.72 Platlet count 123 I have other numbers, but think these are the important ones so if more information is needed, please let me know. I also bought some pet tinic as was suggested by several people. Now, I'm just trying to get her to continue to eat. It's like having an infant b/c she doesn't eat much at one time so I have to keep up on it and try many things. Thanks to all for your support and advice! Christina |
| Christina Nashville |
| Christina I think that it is good she is holding steady and from my experience it took about four weeks for the med's to begin to do their job. Hopefully her appetite will improve. I read on another post about the drug Mirtazapine being used to increase the appetite. Sending our prayes for Brinnie Cheryl & Ginger |
| Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile Pa |
| Christina, I wouldn't mind seeing all the other numbers if it isn't a problem. I'm a numbers guy so I love going over things with a fine toothed comb! LOL Did the vet say anything about why the platelets were so low? Are they getting higher or lower? Are the other numbers improving do you know? What have you been trying her with as far as foods go? Cheryl gave a great suggestion about using mirtazapine to help stimulate the appetite. Does she seem hungry but just doesn't want top eat or does she seem to not even be hungry? Wondering if it could be stomach issues. Ya got my thoughts and prayers, Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Johnny, Here are her labs: WBC 12.3 RBC 2.72 low MCV 66 MCH 22.1 MCHC 33.3 Platlet 123 low Neutrophils 9840 Bands 0 Lymphocytes 1599 Monocytes 369 Eosinophils 492 Basophils 0 Hypochromia slight Anisocytosis sligh spherocytes none seen polychromasia slight blood parasites none seen Platelet estimate was listed as adequate Coombs was 1:2 We have given her baby food (not much luck), broth, chicken, rice and beef, cat food, pudding...lots of things. She's doing better tonight with eating, but loses interest fast or just doesn't have the strength. I guess when the prednisone kicks in it will increase her appetite. I take her back Thursday to check her PCV again. She has perked up alot today, but still lethargic and not herself. I worry because she's 10 and am babying her. I did call another vet and he was great and assured me that our vet is doing all the right things. The numbers seemed to stay the same which I guess is good, not great, but she's probably considered serious but stable which for right now I will take! Thanks for your help! I'm a researched myself and like to know what I'm talking about so I get what you're saying about the numbers thing. Christina |
| Christina Nashville |
| The slight hypochromia, anisocytosis, polychromasia has me concerned some. Usually with a crit this low you'd see higher numbers for these three. To me (and hopefully someone like Patrice will correct me if I'm wrong) this points more towards a non-regenerative aiha but given they are slight means that the marrow IS producing some retics....just not enough. Perhaps responding to the meds? OR perhaps the pet-tinic might help here if this is a case of inappropriate blood building nutrients. Polychromasia is usually a sign of reticulocytosis meaning that baby blood cells are being made. Hypochromasia could be a result of insufficient blood building nutrients in which case the pet tinic would help. The fact that the MCV is in the normal range could almost point to low numbers of cells being produced in the bone marrow also. This could be a marrow problem OR a nutrient problem. In the later I'd also lean more towards a deficiency in folic acid and B vitamins more than the iron but I'm just not sure. How much Pet Tinic are you giving and for how long? Have they done ultrasounds and xrays yet? Hey, the fact that there are no spherocytes seen in a very good thing. Did they see them in the beginning? You should ask them this. You should also ask the doctors to have the thyroid checked. If I were you and money isn't an issue I'd have the blood sent to Dr. Dodds for full anaylsis. She is a life saver in so many meanings of the words! Get the profile 7200 if you do decide to send it there. She does breed, sex, and age specific thyroid panels! That's a super HUGE advantage! If I were you I'd ask to add soloxine to the med schedule also. Low doses are good for stimulating the bone marrow which is what's needed right now. Keep us posted. If by Thursday you don't see increases then perhaps you can talk with the doctor about evaluating the bone marrow. Let's hope you don't have to do this and that the pet tinic helps. Prayers and best wishes, Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Christina, I'd give it until Thursday just to see where things stand. If the numbers still have not improved then another immunosuppresant may be needed. If I were you I'd go with and ask for Atopica (cyclosporine) over the azathioprine. Problem with Atopica is it costs quite a bit so you have to consider the price. If money isn't a huge issue for you then I'd definetely go with the Atopica (cyclosporine). |
| Johnny |
| Christina, how's Brinnie doing today? Hope all is well. Continued prayers and thoughts for Brinnie. Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Johnny, Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. When I got home yesterday, she greeted me at the door for the first time since last Weds before her diagnosis. She walks around the yard a little bit after going to the bathroom and is wagging her tail more. Her tachypnea bothers me though (mostly at night). Did your Tessy do that while on meds? I have been feeding her small meals throughout the day and she's getting around much better. She was so weak and wobbly that it was hard to think positive. We go back tomorrow for checkup and so hoping that her PCV is up considerably. I needed for her to greet me yesterday as I fell apart to a friend yesterday morning. I'm relieved to see her acting more like her old self, but still know the disease is lurking and I feel on edge. Do you or did you feel that way in the beginning? Thanks again! Christina |
| Christina Nashville |
This thread was discussed between 15/03/2010 and 18/03/2010
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index
This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.
