Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Karen and Darcy?

We haven't heard anything from Karen and Darcy, just wondered how our little Wonder Beagle was doing these days? melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Melissa -- I was wondering the same. I think Karen posted recently to support Josh, but don't recall that she mentioned how Darcy was doing.

Brenda VA

I keep checking for an update too. Although I don't post often anymore, I check the forum frequently, and you are all still in my thoughts and prayers. Julie

Julie IL

Thanks everyone for your concern. Darcy is indeed my little Wonder Beagle. Her PCV is slowing increasing, and when she was tested last week it was at 29%. That may not sound high to some of you, but for quite a while she was at 8%. Prior to February, she had been on Cyclosporine and Prednisone but we were not getting any good results. The holistic vet was giving me a grim diagnosis. Since it wasn't helping, I decided to take her off the Cycosporine and just try to make her as comfortable as I could. The vet seemed to think it was the prednisone that was keeping her going. At that point, I had decided not to do another transfusion and not to put her through the stress of going to a hospital or vet's office. I was able to find a vet who made house calls, but, even under her treatment, Darcy was not getting better. Fortunately, a wonderful lady I met on this forum suggested that I put Darcy back on Doxycycline. When she first became sick and was diagnosed with non-regenerative anemia last July, our regular vet put her on Doxy for a week and did the test for flea/tick/parasite. The test came back negative, so no more Doxy. Then, as many of you may remember, Darcy went through a very rough patch of taking different immune suppressants, prednisone, and azathioprine. She developed pancreatitis after her second transfusion. I asked the regular vet to put her back on Doxy and he did, but for only a week. She had a total of three blood transfusions and the last one in December (Greyhound blood from Dr. Dodds) was the only one that didn't make her sick. In fact, she was her old self until the end of January when the transfusion wore off and her PCV started to drop. It was in February that I asked the holistic vet to put her back on the Doxy. I felt that the previous test for tick/flea/parasite could have been a false negative. She said that from Darcy's records it didn't look like she had responded to the Doxy, but she would write a prescription. Well, guess what! The Doxy. has made a world of difference. Now the vet is telling me that there are many different diseases caused by ticks/fleas/parasites and that they require lengthy doses of Doxycycline. Darcy is still on 100 mg. of Doxy twice a day and a low dose of Soloxine (Dr. Dodds regime). As her PCV has risen, we have lowered the Prednisone. She is now taking 1.25 mg. twice a week. If her PCV continues to increase, we will lower the pred even more. Then, we'll drop the Doxy to once a day. After we get her off the pred we'll take her off the Soloxine. I am sorry to be so long-winded, but I haven't posted in a while and I want everyone to know my experience because maybe there's someone out there that it will help. I don't know what will happen when Darcy goes off the Doxy entirely, but, for now, she is doing great. Except for a little arthritis (she'll be nine years old in October) and some fat deposits, she's okay. I worry over fleas, ticks, and mosquitos because I do not give her Frontline, Interceptor, or any other chemicals. I have gone the natural route, which is time consuming, but worth it. I am truly thankful to God for giving me this time with my dear little girl. I wish all of you and your babies the best. Thanks again for inquiring about Darcy.

Karen NC

Karen, Isn't it amazing how much we have learned about treating our dogs on our own? I hope in each case the Vet learns something too or at least considers there may be options. I am happy that Darcy seems to be responding well to the Doxy and hopefully can eventually be med free. What a great doggy Mom you are. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Fabulous update and sooo happy for you and Darcy- Mom's know best, don't they :) melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Karen -- thanks for posting. You're not being "long-winded" at all, and it was fascinating to hear how you and your vets found a treatment that worked. One of the biggest challenges with IMHA is the fact that every dog reacts differently, so every treatment regime is a trial and error thing built around prednisone and then other drugs. I am so glad for you and for Darcy. May she continue to progress and may you have much more time together. Love those beagles!

Brenda VA

Karen, I too was thinking about Darcy, that is fabulous news! Thanks for that long winded reply! Laurie

Laurie CA

Karen: We have also been wondering about Darcy and are thrilled to hear she is improving. We'll continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita IA

Karen You might have read about my little beagle Nollaig who has prca if not see previous posts in the last 2 weeks. If you wouldn't mind Karen could you tell me a little bit about Darcy's disease, how long since diagnosis, is it prca, how many transfusions, drugs tried,how long to raise pcv etc etc... I ask because I have been told that if this last treatment does not work for Nollaig then there is no more can be done and we would have to make that awful decision...but I refuse to contemplate this and for all I know, I see that Darcy survived for a while at pcv 8% before she gradually improved,maybe Nollaig would do the same.That is why I would love to know as much as possible about Darcy's experience,would really appreciate it.My email link is above. Kind regards Kathleen and Nollaig

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Kathleen -- Glad to see you post, because I have been thinking about you and Nollaig? Is she stabilizing, but with slow increase in numbers? Have you tried to contact Dr. Dodds, who has been so instrumental in so many dogs' recovery from this disease. Karen has consulted with her, and Dr. Dodd's help has been important.

Brenda VA

Karen, It was great to hear an update on Darcy and such a good one at that! I too have wondered how she was doing. She truly is your little wonder beagle! So happy that things are going in the right direction. Chris & Alex

Chris Pa

This thread was discussed between 29/07/2009 and 01/08/2009

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