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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Jennie (aka Jenners) Update
| Hi, Everyone says this disease is a roller coaster but let me tell you - I buried my uncle on Monday, our best friend (51 years old) had a brain aneurysm on Thursday - life support pulled today -, and Jennie crashed last night. Ever since she has been medicated her PCV improved, never a decrease, but last night (while my husband was away saying goodbye to our friend) Jennie just seemed to crash. Her PCV the day before was at 38. The drs. where she is being treated are awesome and we decided to do another full blood panel. Her pcv was 37.5 and BUN showed no relapse but her WBC was high -- possibly meaning either an infection or worse, cancer. I'm in a rural area so we don't know if it's cancer but she's back in the hospital being intravenously supported with antibiotics to see if it's "just" an infection. I didn't say goodbye to her the way I should have - the look on her face as she's being led back into the hospital area is enough to break my heart. She's 12+ (we don't really know as she was a stray), she's had the best life any dog could ever have, but I'm really truly not ready yet to let her go. What a week. Gail |
| Gail SD |
| Gail, My goodness you have had an awful week to say the least! I would not even worry about that slight drop, hopefully it is just an infection that can be put right shortly. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. Penny |
| Penny Lytle Creek Calif |
| Is she on antibiotics? My puppy was on Doxycillian 100mg twice a day for 6 weeks, her WBC at times was in the 45-50,000 range during that time. I was told their WBC can climb as high as 60,000 due to the fact the Prednisone has lowered their immune system. |
| Joanne Wyoming |
| Gail, I am sorry to hear about this latest problem with Jennie along with all the other sadness in your life. How long has she been taking prednisone? Kidney infections seem to be more frequent while on this drug. That could be the reason for the high white cell count. Sometimes it is hard for them to actually test for this and I have read that they sometimes use a special needle to sample the urine directly through the kidney wall. Apparently it is not as painful to the dog as it sounds. I know exactly how you feel about leaving her and not feeling that you left her the best way you could have. While Chance had to stay at the specialists for a bone marrow biopsy Mark had to drive me back to Rochester so I could go to work. I had to leave him in a big wire crate in a room next to 3 barking dogs. The look he gave me burned into my brain. I had to remind myself that dogs don't judge us, they never think we have failed them in any way. They love us all over again the next time they see us. Jennie will be happy to see you again tomorrow and she most likely will feel better after her treatment. Give yourself a big pat on the back for taking such good care of her today. My best, Patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
| Thanks everyone for your words and support. This is crazy I can't believe how much I love that dog. (I've never had a dog before!) Unfortunately, she is not responding to the intravenous antibiotics. She is alert but has absolutely no function of her legs. She's in the hospital with the antibiotics intravenously yet but the Dr. is really concerned that she didn't show any kind of improvement from last night to the a.m. How do I know if I should let her go? Her quality of life is gone if she can't walk at all. How will I know? If she can't walk and the high WBC does not react to the antibiotics, does this totally mean that there is some kind of cancer there? I want to go on for her but how do I know when enough is enough? It's not like she is a young dog and I don't want to put her through too much more turmoil. I feel like I've been put through hell - imagine how she feels! How can I ever have another dog? This is just so very hard to deal with. |
| Gail SD |
| Gail - That is way too much to deal with at one time. You poor-thing! I think that Jenny has to let you know. You have to look at her, visit with her, talk to your vet and trust your gut. If she can pull out of this enough to come home, you are able to care for her and she is not in pain, she may have some good days left to share with you. As we all know, a dog is much easier to please than we are. I really believe that she will let you know. My thoughts are with you. |
| Allison TX |
| Gail you poor thing...you have been through a horrible week. Jennie is in my thoughts and prayers. As for knowing when its time to let go...that's a tough one. 10 years ago I had a beautiful little female Shih Tzu her name was Mai Ling she was 12 years old. Most of her life she suffered from colitis, she was at the most er quite often. One evening I had left her at my parents house while the family went out for dinner upon our return I found her in the midst of a seizure. We rushed her to the nearest hospital when they worked on her extensively and advised that she had suffered a stroke and although she was looking at you she did not understand what you were saying and that basically her brain had been severely affected. It was the hardest decision I've ever made to let her go. As I was talking to her I could see she had no idea who I was or what I was saying but as she was being injected she for a brief moment looked at me and fully understood everything I was saying and had the usual look in her eyes when I would tell her how much I loved her which wasn't there an hour before. I knew at that moment that she understood and that was her way of telling me it was okay that she was ready. It was by far the toughest decision and not one I am prepared to make again. But you will know. And when and if that time comes know that there are many of us here for you. Good luck, keep us posted and know that you will and Jennie will be in my prayers. Evelyn and special wags and licks from Daisy |
| Evelyn So Jersey |
| Gail, I'm so sorry to hear about all your sad news. And now Jennie. I will be thinking of you and hoping for a turn around for Jennie. Take care. deb and Duck |
| Debbie BC Canada |
This thread was discussed between 01/03/2008 and 02/03/2008
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