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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Here we go again....I can't believe this.
| Hello all, I still read and pray for all of you frequently. It looks like we might be on this roller coaster again, with another of our dogs. Aiyana our 12.5 year old Golden Retriever. She was diagnosed as mildly dysplastic when she was 18 months old - this last month it has started to give her problems, she was having a hard time with the stairs etc. Last Friday her hind end completely gave out (I thought thats what it was) she fell down the first part of the stairs to the landing. She then could not get up, I went to get a towel to make a sling, and she tried to get up but fell over and lost her urine. I called the Vet (she had been in the month before and we had discussed pain meds, our first choice was aspirin-but it wasn't doing it for her anymore) our Vet put her on meloxicam and she did well for 3 days. Tuesday during the night it was a bad stomach lots of diarrhea all night long. She did well during the day Wednesday, I made her burger and rice to help her stomach. She had one bout of diarrhea during the night but then started vomiting Thursday morning. Then started the bloody diarrhea, lots of blood. We took her to the Vet Thursday afternoon, he acted like she was on her death bed, and that it was time. My son was not ready to let her go, she is his dog. He gave us supposedly what was a 24 hour fix.. IV fluids, injectable meloxicam and some antibiotics and told us to come back the next day if she made it thru the night. She seemed to perk up Thursday night - ate a little, drank a little etc. Early Friday morning our young siberian husky had his first grande mal seizure, in front of her, I thought it was Aiyana dying but found Hurley convulsing on the floor and poor Aiyana sitting in the corner (praying this was a one time thing and just due to the stress). We took Aiyana back to the Vet Friday afternoon, a different Vet in the practice who did not think she was on her death bed, and did abdominal xrays and blood work. Her Xrays were good, showed some calcification in her spine, but normal for an old dog, her spleen looked slightly abnormal to him but not bad. We got the blood work results back yesterday, everything organ wise looks good her liver enzymes are on the high end of normal... but her PCV is 27. At this point diagnosis is either IMHA or hemangiosarcoma. Our options were for them to do exploratory surgery which we will not do to her at this advanced age. So our sweet Aiyana is now on prednisone, antiobiotics, flagyl for the diarrhea and famotodine. Good news is she is eating well - they made me withold food on Friday and the poor girl was starving. She can still get up to go outside though infrequently, drinks water and eats tons of small meals. We have to take her back Monday for another CBC. I am hoping we can see our usual Vet, we have dealt with 3 others in the practice this past week because he was in surgeries all week. I trust his judgement and hope he can steer us in the right direction. I honestly think the meloxicam is what set all of this in motion. Sorry for the length of this post but our story is long. I hate to see her go through what our Wolfie went through, but I guess at least we know what to expect this time around. blessings, Julie |
| Julie IL |
| I forgot to add she is very jaundiced also... not sure if that makes any difference at this point. Either way I know we are dealing with just a matter of time here, and probably not much time. As long as she is eating and drinking and able to get up to go outside we will love her and keep her as comfy as possible. |
| Julie IL |
| Julie, I am so sorry to hear of the illness of your most beloved Aiyana. I remember all you went through with your dear Wolfie. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days. |
| Joanne MN |
| Julie, thoughts and prayers to you and Aiyana. I am so sorry that you already have experience with this horrible disease. You know that so much is not in your control and that you will do the very best you can and most of all know how loved Aiyana feels. Being here is like having group hugs every day, so hope you will stay in touch as we all go through each of these crisis as a family. Wish we could all meet and cry and hug together in person. God Bless and may you find strength and courage to face each day. sharon and angel Brandy |
| sharon pa |
| Julie Hang in there. Have you tried the Liver Cleansing Diet? We had Maggie on it for about a week and did see a slight decrease in her liver enzymes. |
| Karon SC |
| Dear Julie -- I was sorry to hear that your Aiyana is seriously ill, so soon after you lost your sweet Wolfie to IMHA. I'll keep you and your girl in my prayers. Please let us know how things go with the vet. Please take care. |
| Brenda VA |
| Thank you all for the kind thoughts. Aiyana is still walking around with one of her babies in her mouth, eating, etc. Gross I know but she is pooping normal formed poop, so to me thats a good sign. She is definitely weaker and slower, but she is still my girl. As long as she is not in pain or suffering we will do our best for her. I will see what her blood work looks like today, if needed I will check out the liver cleanse diet. At this point I am afraid to change anything just in case. Thank you for the info. blessings Julie |
| Julie IL |
This thread was discussed between 05/10/2008 and 06/10/2008
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