Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - in remission but due for rabies vacc

Hi all, Our little Havanese Jack has been in remission for many months now, on his Cyclosporin. Christmas Day will be his 1-yr birthday, and, remembering how ill he was at five months of age, we are celebrating that he made it to see his first birthday. (We're hoping for many more.) Our dilemma is that he is due for his rabies booster at his birthday, and our internist recommends that we actually give him the vaccination. (She points out that we are legally required to do so.) She also believes that he would not "pass" a titer test, having had only one rabies vaccination to date. Although there is no way to prove it, I believe it was his first rabies vaccination at 4 months of age that pushed him over the edge into this disease process; and the way I see it, he has a 1 in 10 million chance of getting rabies, but something like a 50% chance of having a relapse from a rabies vaccination. I am truly terrified to give him the vaccination. I am wondering how others have handled the issue of re-vaccinations, especially those that are legally required. Thanks for your input, and blessings to all. Karin Grace

Karin San Francisco

Oh dear, that is a tough one Karin. When Kahlu was diagnosed my vet said, no more vaccinations. So for us it would not even make sense to have a titer done, since we would not vaccinate anyway. Rabies vaccinations are mandatory here but it is not enforced. Why don't you do the titer and then take it from there? Then at least you know that the risk is necessary. Best wishes, Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Hi Karin, Our vet wrote a letter to the County and they accepted this as a waiver for the vaccination. It's not unheard of for ill or medically fragile pets to have a waiver. The vet has to be willing to do it, but our County was just fine with it (and of course it's required here too). Good luck, I don't blame you one bit for your apprehension. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Karin, Our puppy, Henri, at 5-months of age was diagnosed with vaccine-induced IMHA. We have been told by our internist, our regular vet, and Dr Jean Dodds, NEVER to vaccinate our puppy again. We were told if he was ever to be vaccinated again, it would be lethal. When he is due for his rabies, the vets will write a letter to have the requirement waived for Henri. Dr Jean Dodds lives in California, you can email her at www.hemopet.org Keep avocating for Jack! I didn't know we had another puppy like Henri in our group. Furhugs, Ella Henri, West Highland Whiter Terrier, 1-yo, diagnosed 02/26/09 with vaccine-induced IMHA, Meds: 7.5mg/EOT Azathioprine.

Ella Seattle

Karin, If you have a caring vet, he/she should be willing to sign and affidative saying your pup had this disease and should not be vacinated. Our older dog Tasha, at the time was about 10 years, she got a bad reaction to the rabies vacine so our vet signed a release for her to never be vacinated. It all depends on your vet. You can have the vet order a titers and she might be surprise to see that your dog has enough anti bodies in her. Some vets say that all a dog needs is one vaccine in a lifetime. Dolores

Dolores rayso@wi.rr.com

Karin, Slinky had not yet received her first rabies booster when she came down with IMHA. She had finished her puppy series several months earlier, so I don't believe that they were related to her disease. We live in Chicago and at the time she was due for her shot, it was very difficult to get a rabies exemption. My vet and I discussed it at the time, but since she was still in the throes of her battle we did not vaccinate her. By the time she was in remission and we discussed it again, the politics had turned and it was possible to get the exemption. So, we have an exemption on file and she will not be vaccinated again, for anything. Her titers are low for everything. I emailed Dr. Dodds for her opinion and she was definitely against any vaccines for Slinky. She sent me some files about vaccine non-responders that made me feel more comfortable that Slinky likely has some immunity even though her titers are low. Rabies is tough with the legal implications. Even with an exemption, it only protects me as the owner, not Slinky, in the event of a bite. I have accepted that protecting Slinky is now even more my responsibility than before. I have 2 small children, and we simply do not have other small children over without shutting the dogs away with gates. I cannot run the risk of Slinky biting anyone (she's so well bite inhibited that she's never even bit me :), so this is overboard precautions). The dog walker is under strict instructions to keep her away from all dogs other than ours, and people. It's just the only way I can be sure she isn't going to bite and be quarantined off site, which I think would almost definitely cause a re-currence.

Stephanie Chicago

Karin, How old was Slinky when she was ill with IMHA? How close to her last puppy vaccine was her crisis? Our puppy, Henri, was 5-months old at the time of his IMHA crisis. He had just finished his puppy vaccinations when he became ill. He is due for his 1-year boosters but they will run titers instead. Thanks for the information. Sincerely, Ella

Ella Seattle

Karin and Stephanie, Did you have you puppies fixed? I am assuming their crisises were before they were due for neuter or spaying. We haven't neutered Henri, yet. Thanks, Ella PS My last post was for Stephanine---accidentally addressed it to Karin.

Ella Seattle

What do you do about Heartworm? do you think its safe to give them that test and heartguard or what product??

Pam Illinois

Karin, My girl was diagnosed at 10 months. After treatment and when she was 2 1/2 years old we did a titer for her rabies booster and she had plenty antibodies, so your vet is probably wrong. I did not do the booster based on that titer. I also have a waiver written by my vet. Whether it would hold up if the dog bit anyone is questionable. My Liesl is small and does not go out of the fenced yard without being on a leash with me. So odds are in our favor. Way to be concerned about your Jack. Nicky

nicky gvaz

Hi Folks, Those of you with puppies, dogs under a year of age, at diagnosis.....Did you spay or neuter your dogs after the IMHA diagnosis? I would really appreciate some input, as Henri has not been fixed yet. We are worried about doing surgery in him. Thank you, Ella Henri, West Highland White Terrier, 14-Months, diagnosed with vaccine-induced IMHA on 02/26/09, current meds: 7mg/EOD Azathioprine and Benedryl.

Ella Seattle

My Lucy had dental surgery and did just fine with the anesthesia. Good luck, Susan

Susan Ok

also, no more vax for Lucy.

Susan Ok

This thread was discussed between 13/12/2009 and 22/12/2009

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