Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Hope and pray for Nollaig-please.

Nollaig went to see specialist vet today and her heart is beating about 140 beats a minute so slightly up from last week when it was 125,so she's definitely gone lower in her pcv.I can tell more so from her slowness in walking today that she has much less energy,it's heartbreaking to watch her, she was walking like an aged dog and she's only 3 and a half.I didn't bother getting a pcv check done as I know it will be at best approx 10.8 just going by her average drop a week as she was 15 last Thursday and it's not going to make a difference as to how I proceed. Rory gave her the nandrolone injection(the type he's got is licensed to use every 3 weeks but it releases itself gradually over that time period),and he also gave her a vitamin B12 injection.He had looked at the bioprep info I had sent him and he said it was absolutely fine to use. With regards to the thyroid, her total T4, although still within normal range, was at the lower end which he said could be due to the steroids i.e prednisolone that she's on, but he has now increased soloxine from 0.2mg twice a day to 0.3mg twice a day. I discussed about stopping/reducing some of the meds so we have immediately stopped atopica(cyclosporine) as she's been on it for at least 4/5 months and it's not making one bit of difference.We are also going to stop danazol, but we have to gradually reduce it, so she just gets a 100mg capsule once a day for the next week as opposed to the 100mg 3 times a day she's been on and then we stop it.The prednisolone- she's been on 15mg in morning and 15mg in evening that's to be gradually reduced so she's to get just 15mg in morning for next week and then gradually reduce it.I am a bit wary about reducing this too much, as although I don't think it's helping her anaemia it might be keeping her appetite up and I need her to keep eating to have any chance of overcoming this.The lithium(bone marrrow stimulant) and iron have just to be continued as he says if she does start to regenerate she will certainly need iron and I asked him about overdosing on iron due to her getting the bioprep also and he said her body would just get rid of any excess in her stools and make them darker. She is continuing on ronaxan(doxy) and when I asked about the dose he said that was the max recommended dose she was on 10mg/kg and Nollaig weighs 16.5kg so roughly just under max dose she's getting as she's on 150mg daily.He reassured me by saying if it is going to work it will work at that dose. We talked about time running out for Nollaig and he said I am never going to say look give up there's no hope and he said you know her better than anyone and I know you wouldn't let her suffer.I asked if she would be in any pain and he said no just extreme tiredness possible cramping in her muscles.We talked about Darcy again and he said again he couldn't say for certain why she started to regenerate but he would put it down to 'spontaneous regeneration of the bone marrow' and I said well that would be the best reason why as then you're not relying on drugs to turn things around so that when you reduce the dose the dog relapses,and I said well I'm hoping that happens in Nollaig's case.Darcy is a beagle also and her and Nollaig's disease have followed a very similar time frame and pattern see previous threads if anyone's interested in reading her miraculous story. Rory actually had tears in his eyes today when we were talking and I know he has a soft spot for her as do many in the hospital as she's so laid back and I'm sure he would be delighted if she recovered.He has done after all everything I have asked him to in terms of her treatment. Nollaig is still walking albeit very slowly but she perks up when she sees food and is still eating extremely well and wagging her tail etc etc I asked him about the slight pot belly look off her and it looks like she has a dip in her back that happened just very recently and he said that was the prednisolone doing that and that's why it looked like her back had a dip in it due to the pot belly. He said her lungs sounded fine as I told him that sometimes she sounds a bit wheezy when she's lying sleeping and he said I think that's due to her having put weight on around her upper respiratory tract and larynx dut to lack of exercise and steroids. I'm sooooooo scared and I just hope and pray that Nollaig can turn this around with God's help so please pray for her everyone. I'm doing all I can medically/holistically and religiously to get Nollaig back to the young fit healthy girl she deserves to be.She's lying here but looking through at the kitchen(just her eyes moving not her head) wondering when her midnight snack is going to appear she's got another half hour to wait for her yoghurt and then I will give her a small meal at midnight just so I can put the bioprep capsules through it. This has been the most horrendous 6 and a half months fighting this but on the other hand I'm grateful to God for having had it too and I hope I have many many more happy days with my darling girl. A nervous Kathleen and Nollaig

Kathleen North Ayrshire

am praying for both of you...be well,

Josh California

Sending all my players and positve thoguhts your way.

Samantha Perth

Kathleen, Nollaig and you are in our prayers. Try to stay strong. There is always hope, even to the last breath. Sue & Ren

Susie delaware

Kathleen -- I'll add my prayers with those of everyone else. I hope that this latest treatment regimen succeeds and turns things around. Nollaig still wants to fight -- her behavior (good eating, tail wagging) are good signs. My Wiley, another beagle, let me know it was time as she fought IMHA. She wouldn't eat, wouldn't really respond to us, and, after she had her stroke, she never walked again. She gave us a few good days, but on the last day, she was telling us it was time. Our vet told us to let Wiley speak, and she did. It was the hardest, saddest day of my life. But it doesn't sound like Nollaig is there yet. So, hang in there and listen/watch what she's telling you. My prayers are with you and Nollaig. The beagles just take our hearts . . . .

Brenda VA

Kathleen We are also sending our prayers and hope Nollaig can turn this around soon. It is a very good sign that she is eating and still wanting to fight. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Oh Kathleen, I'm so sorry. You and Nollaig are always in my thoughts and prayers. Be brave and stay strong. Nollaig is a little fighter. There is still hope. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how Nollaig is doing. I know you have a lot going on. Take care and I will be in touch...

Mardi Northern Calif

Hi Kathleen, I share your heartbreak as I went through it too. My original vet told me it was hopeless and I went to the Lort Smith hospital with Scruffy. I think the vet was inexperienced there as I was told he had a lump on his liver possibly a tumor which would need scanning. I found out later that it was just the affect of pred on the liver. He had a PCV of 8, a temperature and was rapidly getting more lethargic but not suffering. The vets at Lort Smith told me they could not do a transfusion and I would have to go the Werribbe University Hospital for crossmatching. It was going to cost me $A2000 upwards to continue treatment and I couldn't afford it as I am on a low income. They were amazed that he had no response to his meds and gave me a very poor prognosis as they felt in his case it was a secondry IMHA with an unknown primary source. I was very confused and didn't know what to do. I feared that I would go through more heartbreak, and took the decision not to continue. After reading this forum for over 12 months and trying to come to grips with losing him, I believe it was purely an imune attack in his bone marrow only and not a secondry disease, and perhaps if I had gone straight to the University Hospital the outcome would have been different as the vets just didn't know what they were doing. I will pray for Nollaig's recovery because the bone marrow can recover on it own, and know she has the best possible vet care you could give any dog and you have done everything you possible can for her. Julie.

Julie Australia

Kathleen, So sorry to see that you are both taking a dip in that rollercoaster right now. As I sit here with Mitch at my side (having demanded a middle of the night feed) I am amazed at just how this illness can turn around. Like you 10 days ago I could not see how he could possibly live a day longer in the weakened state he was in. If she had had enough she would let you know in no uncertain terms. I know it's hard to stay to stay positive - boy, I know I bottomed out! Thinking of you and praying that Nollaig will turn this about. Kath & Mitch

Kath Gudgin

Kathleen, While everything sounds so dire try to hold onto the fact she is still wagging, eating etc. That means Nollaig is still in the fight. I know how hard it is to watch your beloved dog's transformation throughout this disease but hopefully she will come through it with flying colors and return to the little girl you know. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

All of our love, thoughts, and prayers are with you and Nollaig. You two have fought so hard, I hope and pray for a turnaround and that your sweet Nollaig feels nothing but love and comfort, as I know she does. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Dear Kathleen, Am sending good thoughts and strength for both you and Nollaig to get through this. Take care, Aden

Aden Jerusalem

Dear Kathleen, Our thoughts are with you, and we are hoping more than anything that Nollaig recovers. You are a great mum to her and she knows how much she is loved. All the best of luck in the world! Samantha & Millie.

Samantha Geelong

Kathleen I'm so desperately sorry that Nollaig's pcv is still falling, but on a positive note you are trying another drug strategy and this could well turn the condition around. Also take hope from the fact that she is still eating and appears happy. I'm sure she will let you know when she has had enough and it doesn't sound as though you have reached that dreadful stage yet. Thinking of you both and sending best wishes, Claire

Claire Cumbria

Nollaig and I thank you all so much and with so many of you from all over the world(it's amazing how this site has brought so many people and dogs worldwide in unity,thanks Joanne) offering your love and prayers up to God for Nollaig, I trust in him to cast his healing power over her.After all, she shares her birthday with Jesus,hence her gorgeous special name Nollaig( I think I told you before-Irish for Christmas.) This morning she's eating up a storm and padding about a little on the search for more food-I pray it continues... Kathleen and Precious Nollaig

Kathleen North Ayrshire

We're praying for you all too. Eating like that always seemed like a good sign for Ethel. Keep the fight up!

Brian Vermont

My prayers are with you and Nollaig.

Robin NYS

Dear Kathleen and Nollaig Didn't think I had any more tears to cry - but guess what sitting here with tears in my eyes - not because of Nollaig's dip in her condition, but because I know just how you are feeling kathleen as do all on this site. Please don't despair, many many times we have all been where you are now and guess what these brave little soldiers just turn it around - in most cases. I do think that as others have said, Nollaig is wagging and (most importantly) eating. Just look into her eyes and you will get the strength from the love and thanks she is transmitting to you, even when she can't walk very far. Please, please stay positive, laugh around her, sing around her and talk to her (and as I am always doing kiss and tell her you love her), I do think these positive vibes do help, it seemed to in Phoebe's case even when she was away from home. I await every post from you to see how Nollaig is progessing, please keep us informed. You are in our prayers and a very special candle will be lit for her at mass on Sunday. Kind Regaards Gill & Phoebe with a special xx for Nollaig

gill uk

We are sending some Huge Texas prayers Nollaig's way!

Valerie Texas

Kathleen you and Nollaig are in our thoughts and prayers. Don't give up - as someone else here said - we have all been where you are now and know how difficult it is. My regular vet at one point said it was time to put my dog down. He was only 3 years old. The only reason I didn't do it at that moment is that I wanted my husband and son to be able to say good bye to him. He was very very sick and lethargic - didn't want to eat. He really had very little quality of life at that point. He was on a long list of medicines as he had a variety of things going wrong with him. He was turning yellow due to his liver being so toxic from the drugs. I stopped all meds except the immune suppressant drugs (Pred and Atopica) as I wasn't brave enough to stop them. I expected him to deteriorate but instead he got better. This disease is truly a roller coaster ride. I'm not saying it was a wise decision to stop alot of the drugs and I am not recommending it. I only mention it as in our case, the variety of medicine, was making him sick and I had no idea at the time. To this day the doctors always think and rethink before putting him on any additional meds. Don't give up hope. There are many others like us that have pulled through. We are praying that Nollaig turns around and you have many years together. Chris & Alex

Chris Pa

Kathleen: Just wanted you to know that we are thinking about you and Nollaig and will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita Ia

My prayers and thoughts are with you both during these tough times. It's good to hear that she is eating well and moving about. Hope to hear from you soon. Best wishes and positive vibes for Nollaig. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2009 and 04/09/2009

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