Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Kath & Mitch

Hi Kath Just wondering how Mitch is doing at Royal Dick - every day is a bonus and would love to know how Mitch is getting on? Who is treating Mitch at the hospital? Kind Regards Gill & Phoebe

Gill uk

Hi Gill I think I have been updating mostly amongst Claire's thread. Since Mitchs blood transfusion his PCV has been around 28-30 and his platelets around 6-8. No improvements seen but no worsening. So far believed to be just IMT. He has been on Pred for 12 days now and cyclosporin for about 4. I thought we would of seen some improvement by now. Hope to have more info tomorrow when we get the BM biopsy results (so far based on aspirate findings). Mitch is stable, happy and eating but still in a dangerous situation and with no improvements as yet unfortunately. Shasta was looking after Mitch last week and then Alisdair over the weekend. Thanks for asking, it's sure been a long two weeks.

Kath Scotland

Just found out tonight that Mitch does in fact have Evans syndrome, so having a serious dip in that roller coaster ride right now. He is destroying the platelets in his bone marrow but not sure if he is doing that with the RBC as well. If so what chance has he got with IMT and PRCA never mind AIHA? Any hope with those odds against him? He had a blood transfusion 1 week ago which put his PCV upto 32 and it has gradually fallen now to 26. His platelets were 42 and have fallen to 7. No response shown to meds as yet but he is bright, happy and eating. Its so unfair he so wants to live. Kath

Kath Scotland

Oh Kath I so feel for you,please God help Mitch turn this around. I don't have any experience re.Evan's syndrome but just with prca.Is Mitch regenerating red cells? I'm sure if you post a thread about Evans syndrome, you would get a few responses from those who would have experience of it.I'm sure I've read a few success stories on the Meisha's hope website of Evans syndrome dogs. http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/successstories.htm Take care Kath Kathleen

Kathleen North Ayrshire

They had initially seen some immature RBC in his marrow so it was not believed that he did not have IMHA and was diagnosed initially (whilst awaiting further results)with IMT. Also there were no spherocytes(dead red blood cells) to see in the drawn blood either and a negative coombs test indicated not IMHA. However, PVC continued to fall post transfusion and all the reasons I list above that made them think he didn't have IMHA actually can also point to the fact that he has IMHA but that he is destroying the RBC before they even leave the marrow.(i.e.neg coombs, no spherocytes) At the moment he doesnt seem to be regenerating RBC or platelets at all or at least at a slower rate than he is killing them off. Basically I think they are saying he has PRCA and IMT but I will clarify tomorrow when I speak with the vet. Kath

Kath Fife

kath, if you wish, please email me privately. i have a written protocol for you. my best, patrice

Patrice NYS

I am so sorry. Keep you chin up and your thoughts positive. I know you are probably stessing and frantic. I am thinking of you and will say prayers. I am hoping and optimistic that things will turn around. Take care..

Mardi Northern Cali

Hi Kath Am sending lots of best wishes and prayers for you and Mitch, and believe me with Alistair helping look after Mitch (and I know he will be in consultation with Marg Chandler who is fantastic), Mitch is truly in the best place. Phoebe was also non-regenerative, cried for ages over this news, in the bone marrow, and like you we seemed to receive bad news and more bad news, seemed like nothing was going for her - then when she got home I wasn't even sure how long I would have her for so decided to put all my efforts into looking after her for however long that was. I know I am way way so not out of the woods yet as far as this disease is concerned, but I would never have thought that when Phoebe was at Mitch's stage that she would ever look any better. Every day seems to see a minute improvement, even if it is playing with a squeaky toy for the first time makes my heart leap with joy. Please Kath, like Claire, it takes ages and ages for anything to seem to happen, particularly with these slow working drugs. The RD will be doing their very best to make Mitch well again, and a lot of this will depend on your strength and love when Mitch comes home. One of the best pieces of advice someone on the forum gave me in the early days was to "stay positive around your poorly pet, sing, laugh, let them know that they are in a calm and happy environment - sing to them, talk to them and make sure they know how much you love them". I am constantly singing, kissing, hugging, talking to Phoebe so that she knows that she needs to stay with me for a long time yet. Please keep posting so that we can all see how Mitch is progressing. One thing, don't be frightened to ring RD every day. I asked Alistair to ring me every day when Phoebe was staying there, which he did, and just having that contact with someone who is there is so comforting and they really never seem to mind ringing with progress reports! Kind regards and best wishes Gill & Phoebe

gill uk

Hi Kath Mitch can beat this, just give the drugs time to do their job, it is a great sign that Mitch is stable happy and eating. Now that you have a diagnosis his vets can provide the correct care and treatment. Sending our thoughts and prayers to you and Mitch and we hope he can come home soon. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Thank you all so much for your prayers and thoughts - I think they may be working! I have had some very unexpected and exciting news today, the vet rang me straight away because she was so excited herself. Today Mitch's PCV has risen to 30 (it was 26 48hrs ago) and his platelets have risen from 7 to 28 in that same time. It is early days but at least there is a sign something is happening. My son(13) started a website last night, basically loads of pictures of Mitch and little else. He knew how much I was missing him and was trying to give me a boost- if you want to take a look at my little man- www.mitchymoo.biz.ly I don't know if I dare get excited, poor vet I couldn't stop crying down the phone. Kath

Kath Scotland

Kath, I know that theses are rough days for you but it is great news that Mitch's PCV is rising. We are praying for his full recovery. Sue & Ren

Susie Delaware

Kath What a difference a day makes eh?!!! Only yesterday you were feeling bad,I can totally understand your tears of joy/relief/stress comming bursting out,I'd be exactly the same!! Enjoyed your pics,esp Mitch's large ears for his size..cute!! Keep the prayers going everyone, I think God must be an expert on AIHA/IMHA by now,he's heard so much about it from us lot!!! Kathleen and Nollaig

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Hi Kath Sorry for slow reply to your excellent news - and it truly is super news that Mitch is once again regenerating. These drugs seem slow to kick in and this is certainly a step in the right direction. You must be thrilled ! Perhaps you can take him home soon? Best wishes, Claire

Claire Cumbria

Hi It was hopeful that Mitch would be home Friday night after the blood results on Wednesday but Fridays results were dissapointing, he had dropped back to PCV 26 and Platelets 17. The vet ran the bloods twice to double check. There is apparantly red blood cells at various stages of development and she is confident that he is regenerating some but our main battle with Mitch is actually the low platelets. He is very vulnerable as it stands. Unfortunately transfusions do little to help the platelet count so of litle use to us. I hate this damn ride. Kath

Kath Scotland

This thread was discussed between 10/08/2009 and 15/08/2009

Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index

This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.