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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Koa
| Posted 05 January 2009 at 07:11:37 UK time Amy, Hawaii My almost 5 month old english bulldog, Koa, is at the vet as I type getting a blood transfusion. I am so worried about our sweet, new baby. I took him to the vet today thinking he must have had an injured leg, as he could barely walk. His blood tests showed an extremely low red blood cell count and a very low platelet count. The transfusion will buy him a few days with the hope that an underlying cause will be diagnosed and can be treated with medication. We are praying for him and a recovery so he can come home to his family. He's so sweet and full of love and my family and I just treasure having his sweet face around. He loves us all equally...even my 3 year old that he loves to wrestle with! I'm trying to learn more about this disease as I wait for the vet to call. I will keep all of your sweet pets in my prayer too. Aloha, Amy |
| Amy Hawaii |
| Amy, I am so very sorry to hear your most beloved Koa is ill. With both a low PCV and platelet count Koa may be suffering from Evans Syndrome which is AIHA/IMHA and ITP (immune mediated thrombocytopenia) at the same time. If you have not read my Web site on AIHA/IMHA as yet, you might want to do so when you can. The URL is http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ Be sure to follow the links on the first page to many other sites on AIHA/IMHA that will be very helpful to you and do read the SUCCESS STORIES pages. They will show you what has worked for other dogs in terms of treatment options as well as give you a lot of HOPE. I know this is so hard so please be assured you and your dear Koa are in my thoughts and prayers during these most difficult days. |
| Joanne MN |
| Hi Amy, I'm hoping and praying for the best for Koa. Please keep us posted on his progress, I love English bulldogs. They are very strong, I'm sure your Koa will be a fighter. Also, depending on the diagnosis, there are several people here on this forum whose dogs have Evans Syndrome. There will be many here who can give you a wealth of info and more importantly, support. My dog Tiggs has AIHA, he was diagnosed on July 16th, and he is a pittie. He's been doing really well, so as Joanne said, read up on the disease and the success stories, it will give you much understanding and most importantly hope! Our best melissa and tiggs |
| melissa slc |
| Amy, I am so sorry to hear about this sudden emergency with your new puppy Koa. I hope by the time I write this there has been some positive progress. I have just now been in contact with the vet who moderates a tick list I am on. I asked him if there are tick diseases in Hawaii. He found me a credible source of a vet who practices in Hawaii who says that ehrlichia and babesia are two tick diseases that can be transmitted by contact with an infected tick in Hawaii. Ask your vet if they have tested for either of these tick diseases. They may have to send the samples out to a specialty lab for this if they are unaware of tick diseases in your state. The best lab is in the states: Protatek. If they have not tested yet, urge them to do so asap. The treatment for ehrlicia is high dose long term doxycycline. The treatment for Babesia is Imizol. my best, Patrice Here are short descriptions of these two diseases: "Ehrlichia infections can cause fever, swollen and painful joints, bleeding, anemia, immunosuppression, and kidney failure. Undetected and untreated infections can be life-threatening. Treatment often involves extended courses of antibiotics. Babesia is a protozoal parasite, similar to malaria. Babesia invades the body's red blood cells and can cause high fever, bleeding, and anemia. Sometimes liver and kidney failure also occur. Babesia infections can be difficult to treat. Side effects and complications are possible with some of the drugs. Once infected, getting rid of every last Babesia organism in the body can be difficult. Relapses are possible even with treatment." |
| Patrice NYS |
| wishing the very best for KOA, God bless |
| josh california |
This thread was discussed between 05/01/2009 and 06/01/2009
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