Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - I feel so guilty today

I cannot shake this feeling of doom today - I woke this morning and started to prepare Riley's medication and realised I had not given him his Atopica last night which I do before I go to bed. Im nervous today as I wait for the results of the latest blood count taken yesterday - I have asked for a complete set, and I dont feel positive for some reason and this has thrown me. What could be the impact of this? Have I done something terrible? Nasty vet is on duty today so Im not calling.

Silka Melbourne Australia

Funny that you mention that because my husband forgot to give Ginger her cyclosporine this morning. I don't think one missed dose will hurt them so try not to worry to much. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile pa

Phew, thanks Cheryl, Im glad Im not the only one!

Silka Melbourne Australia

Silka, you know...I always think that I might be missing a med dose. I have to give meds to Tessy 7 different times in the run of a day and to this day I haven't used a chart or an alarm clock. Sometimes I'll wake up in the middle of the night and still half asleep and the first thing that comes to my mind is did I remember to give her the dose last night. Not to worry you but I think that when Tessy was still in crisis mode and was only on pred and aza I think she might have missed a dose from puking and I THINK this might have lead to her relapse she had...although no proof that this WAS the cause. Ever since then I have yet to miss a dose. Sometimes I'm a little late...sometimes up to 20-30 minutes when I'm late getting home but nothing serious. I think that the drugs are the most important when the destruction is still occuring so this is the time one shouldn't miss a dose. It wouldn't be AS important once the destruction in more under control. Do you get a morphology done often? To get this you might have to have the blood sent out. If you haven't I'ld recommend you get it done. They should at least be looking at the blood under the microscope at each visit. This can tell the doctors lots about what's going on. Give Riley some hugs from Tessy & I. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Do you give the Atopica twice daily?

Johnny

Man there nights I just wished I didnt have to get up out of bed to give Atopica to Rosie. I think I did miss a dose one time but they told me if I made it by midnight I would be okay.. so I did that. I also have my cell phone set to all the times to give her her pills. Im better at giving hers than i am my own kids or me when we're on medications. :)Dogs gotta love em..

Pam Illinois

Try not to beat yourself up over this. I remember waiting for the blood results and how I would drive myself crazy wondering what it would be and then convincing myself it must be awful. The results, whether good or not so good is something you have no control over. It is what it is! I wasted a lot of time worrying, sometimes for naught, it's the nature of the beast. I'm sure everything will be fine. Get some rest, give Riley lot's of lovins' and think positive. I'll be thinking of you both. :)

Mardi Northern Calif

Thanks everyone, I knew I came to the right place for some reassurance. Johnny, I give Riley one Atopica a day. I will post the blood results in a separate thread that I received today.

Silka Melbourne Australia

HIYA, I know its hard but please try not to feel so guilty.I don't think one missed dose will really hurt.It's easy to blame ourselves for every thing but we are all trying to cope with this terrible disease and it's so hard. Love and best wishes to you, Corrie and Joey.

CORRIE DAGENHAM ESSEX UK

Silka, If it is of any comfort, Dr. Dodds had us dose Chance's Atopica on a Monday through Friday schedule with Saturday and Sundays off. This is called "pulse dosing" and is sometimes used when dosing some herbal supplements to keep them effective. I believe, though I am not exactly sure, that Dr. Dodds has found this especially therapeutic to dogs that have non regenerative anemia, like Chance did. I would never advise anyone to just go ahead and treat this way, but check with your vet first. Atopica (cyclosporine) has a loading dose period when it is first administered. Thus the higher starting dose. Then it is gradually dropped for effectiveness. What it is doing is reducing the number of a certain white blood cell in the system that has been identified as the culprit in many autoimmune conditions. So once you have been on it for a period of time, the WBC's that are influenced are at a lower level and it would take a bit of time for them to increase back up to their original levels. One dose missed shouldn't be cause for alarm. Just check with your vet during the next regular appt. to see what to do next time. We kept a notebook in the kitchen and wrote down everything, meds, food, p*ps, vet visits and procedures etc. I can't tell you how much easier it was to figure out what was happening. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

This thread was discussed between 26/10/2009 and 27/10/2009

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