Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Kent Update - Worried

Hi Everyone. We are back on the AIHA rollercoaster again. Kent was down to 12.5 imuran EOD and 2.5 pred daily, but started being a little weird a few weeks ago. Checked his blood, and his hematocrit is down to 28,from 30. Vet upped his imuran to 25mg EOD, and we checked the blood again yesterday - still 28. I know this isnt much, but he is really tired, and sleeping longer than normal. He is throwing up sometimes in the morning - just clear liquid, and also when he drinks water in the morning. He doenst have an appetite - rejects steack, snapper, pork, everything, even his favorite veggetables and fruits. He lost a pound in a week - is now 33 lbs. Doesnt even want his treats. He is much slower than normal and very spacey. At the park, i can throw the ball, he chases it then forgets what he was doing and just wanders around the grass. He is so sweet, and if you didnt know him would think he was normal, but this change is just horrible. The worst is that he doesnt really want to play with his bear much. He has recently started taking amoxycillin to get rid of the nasty enterococus bacteria he has been harboring since december. I was so excited about getting rid of that bug, now this. Maybe its all because of teh antibiotic? I dont know. He has a box of supplements and medicine on the counter, and I am at a loss. Today he will only get pet tinic later and his meds tonite. This is just heartbreaking, and I would like to ask everyone to keep us in your thoughts and prayers this week. I know what we can do as a group, and I am so grateful we are here for each other. Thank you,

Christine Fl

Christine, My prayers are with you and Kent. For me, one of the most heartbreaking aspects of this journey is that my dog no longer wants to play. He was so playful and joyful before, but he simply doesn't have the energy anymore. So I know how you are feeling and I will keep you and Kent in my prayers. Many people from this forum have told me to keep up the hope and that many dogs do get back to normal. Hugs and wags, Leslie and Sunny

Leslie Oceanside

Christine, some dogs have a reaction to amoxycillin. I would be hesitant to continue if his symptoms appeared at the beginning of taking the first tablet. Can the vet change the script to another choice of antibiotic? Jan

jan phily

I agree with Jan. Penicillin is one of the suspected causes of AIHA, so I would change his 'script if I were you.

My Chloe Michigan

I did not know there was a connection between amoxycyllin and penicillin. I will consult with Dr. Dodds about alternative antibiotics ASAP. Complicating this is that we are trying to get rid of the enterococcus, which i suspect is an underlying cause of his kidney disease. He has had this bug for at least 6 months, and the first round of baytril 5 months ago did not kill it. So frustrating. I appreciate you all keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. And the good news of the day is that Kents appetite is returning a bit - yesterday he ate 5 strawberries, and begged for shishkabobs - i made him his own shishkbob kidney/aiha friendly version, and he ate. Today he started the day be chasing a curlytail lizard around the backyard, so i think he is returning from his spaced-out state. :) Thank you all, christine and kent

Christine Fl

Chrstine, It's good to hear Kent seems a bit better today. Please give him a big hug from Maddie and me. You might want to check out this Web page on Amoxicllin http://www.marvistavet.com/html/amoxicillin.html which says and I quote "Amoxicillin represents a synthetic improvement upon the original Penicillin molecule."

Joanne MN

My internist also told me amoxicllin can cause AIHA and Wylie was on it before she was diagnosed. Its actually a family of antibiotics that fall under this including penicillin. I am sorry I dont remember the name. Laurie

Laurie CA

Chloe was on amoxicillin for 6 weeks when she had a bladder infection and resulting bladder stone. Then she got AIHA. I had never even heard of this disease before, and wish my vet had discussed the harmful effects.

My Chloe Michigan

Christine - I'm happy to read Kent is feeling a little brighter this morning - had read your previous posts and was thinking of you last night. I am curious as to what Dr. Dodds has to say about amoxy - I had not heard that family of drugs has been linked as a possible IMHA trigger. My gosh - it is so hard to keep everything in balance and tough to know what to do at times, isn't it? Please keep us posted on what you hear and, more importantly, how Kent is doing. Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

Hi Everyone, The enterococcus bug is a very very very nasty one for any dog to have, and although amoxycillin may not be the ideal medication for Kent to have to take right now, we have consulted with our vet and with Dr. Dodds and have decided to continue it. The bug he has itself suppresses the manufacturing of red blood cells and affects his liver and kidneys - i believe the bug itself is an antecedent cause to his current kidney disease. I am praying that raising the dose of imuran plus getting rid of this bug will serve to improve Kents health overall in about a month or so, and that he will continue to improve. He is starting to 'liven' up a bit, and it seems that mornings just arent his time anymore. I am working now, and i worry constantly as i leave in the morning as he is still in bed, wontget up, and seems 'sick'. but by the time i get home, he is his perky self, and now he has his appetite back. This AIHA is such a tough disease to cope with. Such ups and downs. It is a year and 6 months since Kent was diagnosed, and one year and 7 months since he became sick. He has relapsed once in that time. His hematocrit has been as low as 7, and here he is today, 95% OK. I am grateful, and I still pray for his continued health and for all the other dogs out there with this horrible disease. I would appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers throughout the next few weeks as we fight this bug, and I thank you all. Christine and Kent

Christine Fl

Christine, I am *always* thinking about you and Kent. I am positive with Dr. Dodds assisting you that you will make the proper decisions regarding Kent's care. I just found a tribute to Jean last night that I had not seen before. Check out this website and you will surely cry a few tears: http://www.akitasyutori.com/Issho.htm There are a number of pictures of Jean and Issho nearer the bottom of the page. Jean is going to be in our area late August for a day long seminar on thyroid and immunity! I have already registered and can't wait to meet her and thank her personally. We lived through that time with Chance when he wasn't making any white blood cells and I lived in constant fear of him contracting a serious bacterial infection. We took his temperature 4 times or more a day, from the advice of the specialist, so we could monitor if he was spiking a high temp from an infection such as the one that Kent has. It was an awful time for me and brings back a flood of memories. He was on a different antibiotic of one kind or another for probably 5-6 months. I think we often forget that dogs do spend most of their lives sleeping, and that is absolutely normal! Perhaps his schedule has shifted a little and he just is sleeping in a little more than he used to? In our household, the dogs have readily taken on my schedule, (11am up, bedtime 3am) and not my husbands (5am up, 9:30pm bedtime). I find it kind of odd, and my husband sometimes can't pry them off the bed to go out and pee in the morning! Perhaps your partner is a night owl? My best, patrice

Patrice NYS

Christine- wishing the best for Kent. Sway is also on amoxycyllin for a bacteria/UTI. so i know how that goes, glad Kent is feeling better though. Patrice! that link u provided was sad :/ that is great that Jean is coming out there to NY

josh california

For all on antibiotics, digestive enzymes which you can purchase in any health food store and sprinkle over food both for breakfast and diner is helpful for gastro/flora balance as antibiotics also kills the good intestinal flora. I actually still use it for Choe because of his two year stint on pred. I wasn't comfortable with the continuity for that long of a period with pepcid. The product I use is called maxi baby-dopholus by Country Life. Best wishes to you and Kent, Christine. I understand your pain. I have a boy who has also had his share of ups and downs over the past two years. Your life becomes consumed with worry. Jan

jan pa

Hi Everyone, We just got kents test results back today. Good news and bad news. His blood is holding at between 28 and 31, and his liver values have all gone into the normal range. Wow. His GGT at one point was over 200, and is now 6. This is great news. The bad news is that we have been battling renal problems since january, and it looks like we may be losing the battle. HIs bun has gone from 55 to 99 in less than two months. He is eating homecooked diet, gets the right supplements, and fluids. The only link i can come up with is a different manufacturer of SaMe, the fact he is only wanting to eat meat, or the amoxycillin. After a long discussion with his vet today, we are increasing his fluids to twice a day, and i have ordered renelix for him to help his kidneys. Because i am not sure about the amoxycillin, we have decided to take him off for at least a week - he has been on for two, should be for four weeks, but his quality of life right now does not justify worrying about this. The kidneys are our priority, and i need to see if the amoxy is causing this reaction - its so awful to watch him want to play but not have the energy, and this is just horrible. I still throw his ball, and he gets distracted. He seems happy, at least for a few hours a day, and the rest of the time is resting. He is going off all his supplements also for a week, except pet tinic and fish oil but taking all his drugs. I am hoping to see some improvement soon, and i will continue to research any kidney assistance i can find. He is, with his high bun, very tired, but still with us mentally - just lethargic. His creatinine is to 2.1, even with the alum phospate binder. I am hoping and praying that he can beat this, too, and that we can lower these values enough so that he can have a good quality of life. He just turned 11, and he is my heart. He has survived AIHA, IMT, Pancreatitis, and i am doing all i can to help him through this. He is one very strong dog, but I am afraid there is nothing i can do. Please join me in my prayers, and send all good thoughts his way. Thank you, Christine and Kent

Christine Fl

Christine, Check out K9Kidneydiet. Best list on the internet. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9KidneyDiet/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=1

Patrice NYS

dear patrice, thank you! we are members on that list, and it is great. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, christine and kent

christine fl

Christine, I am sending prayers and good thoughts your way. Please know that I am wishing the best for Kent during this difficult time. Layla & Tipsi

Layla Brantley Raleigh

Good thoughts & praying for Kent. I second Patrice's comment on the K9Kidney list.

Ronda So Cal

Hi All, I have great news. Kent is so tough and such a trooper, it never ceases to amaze me and cause me to be so grateful for everything and everyone in our lives. We doubled his fluids and within 48 hours he became better, and 4 days later he is his normal self again. Energy, appetite, the works, like it all never happened. We have decided not to take him off his antibiotics and also not to do the iv flush - not necessary at this point, though maybe another time. He is so strong, it is just amazing. I received the renelix and started it yesterday, hoping it helps. I believe his bun came down dramatically - he is playing and running like a little pony - dramatically different than a few days ago. Thank you ALL for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers - i truly believe this has made a difference in his amazing recovery. The power we have as a group is just enormous, and humbling. Thank you, Christine and Kent

Christine Fl

This thread was discussed between 26/07/2008 and 10/08/2008

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