Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Kahlu, always something

Just for once, I wish Kahlu would get a break with this wicked disease. This was supposed to be the week, we don't have to go to the vet..... He has been off and on antibiotics for UTI for the last 8 weeks. last time we did a culture and he was on antibiotics for 4 weeks. I was so sure, that this would be it now. I gave him cranberry concentrate 2x per day and he is feeling pretty good over all. We are down to 7.5mg prednisone and 25mg aza per day. He came off the antibiotics last Saturday and next week we were supposed to go in for an other culture, just to be on th safe side. Then today I noticed, he was dribbling a bit while laying down. I phoned the vet right away and they want him in for an other urine sample tomorrow. They want to puncture his bladder this time. I cringe just at the thought. I found a post from Patrice, that high cortisol(prednisine) could cause bladder stones. I will mention that tomorrow. He is not dribbling anymore, so hopefully it was just a fluke. I also thought that since we are on the lower doses now, he would be spared the skin issues. But over the last few days I discovered a couple of little crusty bumps, that fall off, sometimes they bleed, sometimes they just leave a red spot that then heals. Could that have to do with the thyroid, or is that the calcium deposits some people talked about at one point? I hope the vet has some answers for us tomorrow. Best wishes to all of you, Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Brigitte, Good luck, try not to panic, Kahlu has been doing so well! We will be hoping it's nothing, please let us know! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Brigitte, from what I have read taking the sample from the bladder only requires a simple puncture with a needle and is not traumatic to the dog at all. I think it's called cystocentesis...it's the preferred method of collection for urine cultures. It avoids contamination of the sample from lower urinary tract. It's really important to keep the dog STILL during this procedure. There's a potential for contamination if the needle were to penetrate the colon during the test. I had actually asked Tessy's vet if they thought this route would be better for her but they said it wouldn't be necessary (yet). If Kahlu has had this UTI for the last 8 weeks maybe this would be the best route for her doctor to take. You could always get them to do an ultrasound or radiograph to check for stones. If Kahlu is straining alot when he pees then that would upper his chance of having stones. Ask your doctor about adding small doeses of Vitamin C to his diet. This'll help acidify his urine and make peeing less painfull for him. I think..but I'm not sure...that this also helps to prevent certain types of stones. I can only assume that most dogs with this disease have low ph urine probably caused from their diets. Don't quote me on this....I may be totally wrong on some of this. This is just my understanding of this so far. As far as the skin conditoins go....I'm having the same battle. Tessy's been on antibiotics for it for a few days and just thismorning I noticed more forming. Hopefully the medicine will soon start working in both our cases. I hope and pray Kahlu gets over this real soon. You both deserve a break from all this. Give him hugs from Tessy & I. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/canine_oxalate_bladder_stones.html http://www.marvistavet.com/html/canine_struvite_bladder_stones.html http://www.dogandhorsecare.com/staph-infection ignore the ads, I am rushed for time and the pictures are good. Clavamox is a good antibiotic for this. Patrice

Patrice NYS

Patrice, thanks for the links. Very informative and I know for sure I DON'T want Kahlu to have bladder stones. (Do I have a choice?) When we showed up at the vet, first thing in the morning, Kahlu's bladder was not full enough to do the extraction. So home we went and back two hours later. The procedure was not worse than drawing blood, which surprised me pleasantly. The vet called back to say that indeed there is a bladder infection again. His PH is on the high side, 8 if I remember correctly. She saw crystals, white and red blood cells. From this she could not say for sure if there are bladder stones or not. We will do a culture and sensitivity test, that might give more info. Next step would be an x-ray. For now Kahlu is back on antibiotics. The vet said that the skin problem might clear up with that too. If it does not, we might do a fungal analysis. She did not think it is calcium cutis. It really is just two little bumps, not even the size of a pea, one close to his anus, one by his penis. If he would be a healthy dog I would not be concerned at all. But I am sure you all understand my way of thinking these days. Hopefully it is just a bacterial infection that will clear up with the antibiotics. I will continue with the cranberry extract in Kahlu's food. If it does not help at least it does not harm him. Off to the pharmacy I go, I really did not want a new summer wardrobe anyway. Spaghetti for dinner is fine......as long as I have a healthy dog! Best wishes to all of you, Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Brigitte, my other dog had a bump near his rump the other week about the size of a pea...maybe just a tad smaller. It was pretty firm in feel. The doctor said to put a heating pad on it a couple times a day and then put a topical antibiotic cream on it after each heating. Not even a week later it was gone. I think it may have been a bite but not sure. Does this sound the same as what Kahlu has? Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Good Luck to Kahlu :) I hope the anitbiotics do the trick! I know what you mean about the wardrobe. It wasn't a tough priority to change though, was it? I have never regretted a penny spent and still spend on Keiko, just changed things up. Funny how easy the decision was, eh? Take Care Brigitte, Smoochies to Kahlu from Keiko! Jess and Keiko

Jess BC

Johnny, It does not sound as if Kahlu has the same skin problem as Tessy. His little bumps start out as scabs, then they fall off. I just might be a bit over reacting on that one, but I know you understand. He only had three of those bumps so far. But when I saw red and even blood on his skin I was so worried it might be Thrombocytopenia (spelling?) of course he is feeling way to good for that. Except for one they have cleared up by now. I just noticed him dribbling a bit again, grrrr..... poor guy. The vet said it could be stones or just that his muscles are weak in that department as well now. One day at a time, right? Best wishes, Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Hi Brigitte, I haven't been on the board for a couple of weeks now as I've been working out of town in Gold River. Sorry to read of Kahlu's troubles. Thought I would give you my two cents worth on the scabby patches. Brindle got a few of those too and I believed them to be a side effect of the prednisone. They didn't appear until after she was well into her treatment so she would have been weaning off of it by that point. Who needs the summer wardrobe? Thankfully we live in a town that isn't exactly a fashion mecca! Yes, one day at a time and celebrate each success no matter how small. Christina

Christina Campbell River

This thread was discussed between 19/06/2009 and 21/06/2009

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