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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Just a question about BillyBob
| Hi Just a question really - when I took BillyBob for his bloodtest, the vet mentioned something about Cushings disease. I've looked it up and his symptoms now are very similar, bloated tummy, excessive drinking, huge wees and his hair hasn't grown back on his back from last time I cut him. Can you tell me is Cushings different from AIHA or is it additional to the original diagnosis? A little update - he is still destroying his red bllod cells but his count is rising (the vet thinks too slowly) on 29 May he had 2.67 and on his last one 02 July it was 3.52. We're going back again on Wednesday so I'll let you know then how he is. Thanks again Steph |
| Steph Gloucestershire UK |
| Steph, Cushings in not part of AIHA but can be caused by the steriods used to treat the disease. You might want to take a look at this site http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html This is the section you might be most interested in from this page and I am copying and pasting here: "Iatrogenic Hyperadrenocorticism: The third cause of Cushing's is one that we can create ourselves if we give a dog too much external glucocorticoid, especially for chronic conditions like allergies. We essentially do what the adrenal tumor would do by flooding the dog's body with an excess of corticosteroid. Although both the adrenals and pituitary will attempt to respond to our interference by cutting ACTH and cortisol secretion, if we continue to bombard the dog's body with too much glucocorticoid, symptoms of Cushing's disease will result. The reason dogs are given tapering doses or every-other-day doses of steroids like prednisone is to avoid this consequence. Dogs with this form of Cushing's tend to have two very small, atrophied adrenal glands. Nonetheless, if iatrogenic (veterinary-induced) hyperadrenocorticism develops, it is fully reversible. The external source of steroid is slowly withdrawn to allow the adrenals to "wake up" and resume functioning." end of copy and paste You might to read the rest of the page as well |
| Joanne MN |
| Thanks for that Steph |
| Steph Gloucestershire UK |
This thread was discussed on 06/07/2008
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