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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - I feel like I am on a rollercoaster
| We noticed Monday afternoon that Farley was not himself when he refused a treat. By the time for bed he was not moving much and he had to be carried upstairs. In the morning on Tuesday he did not want to get up. I forced him up and then he didn't want to go downstairs. I got him downstairs and outside. His urine looked concentrated but yellow. I made an appointment for 4 o'clock at the vet's. He didn't eat or drink just laid on his pillow all day. Our vet recognized the disease immediately. He did chest X rays and blood tests. His PCV was 17 and his spleen showed up hazy on the X ray. We were told to leave him at the vet's office and to come back when they closed and take him to the emergency clinic for the night so he can have constant care. In the morning we were to pick him up and bring him back to the vet's office. We picked him up that evening and were given the oxyglobin for the transfusion. They did his transfusion as soon as he got to the emergency clinic. When we picked him up in the morning he looked so much better. His PCV was 22. There was talk of him coming home that night. Around 3:30 pm we got a call from our vet saying that Farley had thrown up and had blood in his stool. He would need another transfusion because his PCV was 17 and would have to go back to the clinic for the night. When I dropped him off at the clinic he looked good because he had just had the transfusion. He urinated before he went in and it was a concentrated yellow colour. I picked him up this morning at the clinic and they said his PCV was 26 at midnight and was pulling on his walk. Outside he urinated, only this time it was a very dark amber colour.We went to visit this afternoon and his PVC was 19. By 3:30 it was at 17. He is having another transfusion and I am to take him back to the clinic for the night. He is on predinsone and azathioprine. I just wish they would start to show signs that they are working. I have been to Meisha's Hope website and read the success stories and they have given me a new found hope. The website is fabulous. I just want Farley to start responding to his medications as we have a family vacation planned with my parents and sister and we leave a week tomorrow. I have a good friend that is going to stay at our house with the animals that Farley loves but I don't know what to do if he doesn't get stable. After Farley has the transfusions he seems almost like his old self. Then 20 hours later he is back to the low levels again. I know it can take time but I just want him stable and at home. I am sorry for all this venting but I appreciate the opportunity to do so. It is time for me to go pick up Farley and bring to the clinic. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will be his last night there. |
| Sheryle Toronto |
| Sheryle, I am sorry about your Farley. I know that "rollercoaster". I was just wondering if Farley has taken any medicine or had any vaccinations within the weeks immediately BEFORE his diagnosis? |
| Allison Tx |
| Hi Sheryle. I'm sorry to hear that Farley has been diagnosed with this awful illness. Yes, it is definitely a roller coaster ride. Just have a couple of questions in reading through your post. You said that there was blood in Farley's stool and also that he had dark amber urine (which could be a sign of blood). Have the vets/specialists looked into the cause of that? Here's poor Farley trying to make new blood and it sounds like he is losing it. This should be brought under control. My dog is on both prednisone and azathioprine. From what I understand it takes a while for both of these drugs to kick in. That's why initially the transfusions are so important to keep Farley going until the meds start to work. Is Farley taking anything to protect his GI tract from these meds? My dog takes famotodine (Pepcid AC) and sucralfate. Some dogs are just given Pepcid but some owners have reported that their dogs later developed ulcers and that they wished they had been given the sucralfate as well. So I would ask for both the pepcid and the sucralfate just for extra protection. The pepcid you can buy at your drug store and the sucralfate is a prescription med but it isn't expensive. Another potential danger in this early phase is blood clots. Ask your vet about that. My dog was given heparin to begin with and now that he's stable (many months later), he still takes one quarter of a child's aspirin twice a week and will continue to do so as long as he is on the prednisone. He was showing signs of pulmonary embolisms in the crisis stage (very rapid breathing and then a few seconds of not breathing) but fortunately he was able to pass them. They could very easily have killed him. So it is important to ask about this. Your vet may not want to give anticoagulants if Farley is bleeding internally though. Also, when the vets do a CBC ask for the printout for your records. In fact gather as much information as you can. And write your questions down before you visit the vet. That way you won't miss anything. I know I was mentally a basket case in the early days and found that the lists helped me. You will want to keep an eye on the white cell count to make sure it isn't dropping. Sometimes with some dogs the azathioprine suppresses the bone marrow too much and their white cell count gets too low. Please keep us posted. And if you have any questions at all, ask them here. This is a great source of information and you will get support from people who have, at one time or another, been in a situation like yours. And big hugs to Farley. deb and Duck (my dog!) |
| Debbie BC Canada |
| Thank you for the support Allison and Debbie. Farley has an allergy to vaccines so he has not had any since he was 16 weeks (he is 6 now) and he has not been on any medications since last spring. Farley is on medications to protect his GI tract but I am not sure what they are. They have stopped feeding him except for the food he gets with his pills. So he has not vomited again. When I picked him up tonight after the transfusion he was happy and wanting to walk. He had a bowel movement which was well formed but soft and his urine was yellow once again. I will definitely find out exactly what he is taking for his GI tract. However,I am not sure if he is on anything for the blood clots. Should he be on heparin after he is stable or during the transfusion stage? The pulmonary embolisms sound very scary and something I would like to avoid if possible. It seems like there are so many different secondary issues that can arise from this disorder. I appreciate all your advice. I am going to start making a list of questions and requests. Thanks Deb and Duck. |
| Sheryle Toronto |
| Sheryle, I am sorry you have had to join us and this is indeed a roller coaster ride. The transfusions will buy time for the drugs to kick in. What kind of dog is Farley? Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
| Hi Sheryle. Duck was only on heparin for a few days - just while we were getting him through the initial crisis. Then he was switched to the child's aspirin. I know that some dogs are treated for embolism and others aren't but I'm not sure why there isn't a set protocol. Your vet should be able to answer those questions. Great news that Farley was happy tonight and had a normal bowel movement. All good signs. Good luck to you. I'll be thinking of you and checking the site for your news. Take good care. deb and Duck |
| Debbie BC Canada |
| Hello Farley is a cocker spaniel. He had a goodnight and his PCV is at 25% as of this morning. He was feed last night and had rusty coloured diarrhea this morning. He is back at our vet's today and we are hoping his PCV doesn't drop. I am feeling much more positive today. Thanks again to everyone for the support. |
| Sheryle Toronto |
This thread was discussed between 31/01/2008 and 01/02/2008
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