Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - longterm recovery rates?

Forgot to start a new thread with this question: Does anyone know what the overall longterm recovery statistics are for AIHA dogs after first crisis? (How many go on to have another episode? How many stay healthy?)

Leslie Philly

Leslie, have you read the sucess stories on Meishas hope? there are a lot of long term (years) survivors that never relapsed Laurie

Laurie CA

Laurie, Thank you for suggesting to Leslie that she read the Success Stories at the Meisha's Hope Web site: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/successstories.htm Indeed, many of these dogs have survived long term with no relapses. Leslie I have read countless Veterinary Journal Articles about AIHA/IMHA in the nearly 18 years I have been familar with AIHA. One of them, and I am sorry I cannot cite the article or source since it has been a long time since I read that article mentioned that about 40% of dogs relapse with the disease. I am not sure how accurate that number is since we do not know how many dogs have actually been diagnosed with the disease but that number does seem in the ball park to me based on the number of cases I have heard of in the 11+ years I have been doing the Meisha's Hope Web site. But it seems, at least to me that the main reasons for those relapses are reducing the meds too quickly and vaccinations. If one can reduce the meds very slowly and be prudent about vaccinations it is quite likely the dog will not relapse. Also it should be noted that relapses, many times, can be handled very successly.

Joanne MN

Joanne, There are two studies, one from 2002 and the other 2005, referenced on the bottom of the Marvistavet.com IMHA webpage. This may be one of the things you were thinking of? I am pretty sure if I try to post the link here I'll get a lock on my posting, but maybe you can post this link? Patrice

Patrice NYS

The info referred to on the Marvistavet site http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_imha.html is not the info I was thinking of but I am happy to post the link since I think this is an excellent site. I have had a link to this site on the first page of my site for years. Just an added thought on "stats" in regard to long term recovery and relapes. I think that if you ask 10 different vets this question you may get 11 different answers because some vets will want to supply more then one answer. I visited with a gal whose vet told her a dog would not survive a relapse. She wrote to me all upset and I assured her a dog could survive a relapse and that many do. Sure enough her vet reduced the pred too quickly and the dog relapsed. But the dog recovered from the relapse and is doing well. I think that is important to know that relapses can happen to some dogs and that those relapses can be handled. My Meisha had more then one relapse and I freely admit those relapses occured because of mistakes made by my vet, but he learned from those mistakes and does not make them anymore. Never once did I ask him the stats on relapses and I am glad I did not. Instead we focused on getting my gal better and learning from the mistakes we had made and not making them again. The same can be said with survival stats at the onset of the disease. I have had people write to me whose vets have given their dogs all sorts of surival stats from 1 percent to 50 and many other numbers, but so many of those dogs did survive. So my advise has always been to learn all you can about the disease so you can work hand in hand with your vet to aid in your dogs recovery and not let negative stats stand in your way. Each dog is differnet and responds to the disease and the meds to treat it differently, so it is important to find out what works for your dog and not worry about stats.

Joanne MN

Hi Joanne As a beginner with all of this, I would like to ask what constituted a relapse for Meisha? Is it that the results went backwards, did she become ill - how did you know it was the medication? Was it reduced too quickly and then you had to put it back to previous dose? Is your story on your website? Thank you Silka

Silka Melbourne Australia

Sorry Joanne, I have seen Meisha's story on the front page, and she indeed was her very own, and your, success story. I guess I was wondering how I might recognise a "relapse" in my dog, though he isnt well enough as yet anyway, though he seems to be managing.

Silka Melbourne Australia

Silka, There is a page on the Meisha's Hope Web site called "Meisha's Story" http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/meishasstory.htm In it I tried to condense the nearly 10 years she lived with AIHA. Most of Meisha's relapses were easy to recognize, they included the same symptoms as the initial epsoide, that being lack of energy, pale gums and lack of appetite. These relapses were caused by reducing and/or discontinuing the prednisone too quickly. One relapse was caused by vaccinations given by another vet we saw when our vet had a day off. The symptoms for one relapse were a mild nose bleed and sneezing of blood. Color and appetite were fine and PCV had been great two and half week previous. We made lots of mistakes with Meisha and I feely admit that, but God was good and helped us correct those mistakes and get Meisha back in to remission. All this was back in the early 90's and there was no internet in our homes, so we struggled alone and it was very lonely and frustrating. We decided that if our experience could help even one person and their dog in the AIHA/IMHA, it would be worth it all. Next Monday, November 23, will be the 8 year anniversary of the death of Meisha and while we still miss her there is no longer pain only a sweet joy when we remember her. She changed my life in so many ways and for that I willl always be so thankful.I learned we need to use the pain that comes to our lives to help us grow and help others through their pain. If we can do that the pain has not been a waste. I will always be so grateful to Meisha for teaching me those most valuable lessons.

Joanne MN

I couldn't agree more with what you posted Joanne! If the Meisha's Hope site is any indication and Vetnet is any indication, there are more success's than losses. One can never give up hope. Take care.

Mardi Northern Calif

Thank you for your response Joanne; I did read Meisha's story, and many of the others - they all make me teary, but a lot give me hope. Its a wonderful site you have put together in Meisha's memory, and helping so many of us go forward with our doggies. It must have been so difficult for you way back then, but you persevered. This is not something I even knew about a couple of months ago, yet here I am finding all kinds of information and support - much of it coming from those like you and others on this board, with support, advice and caring from a distance. I really like that side of it - no judgements, just that we try to do our best and sometimes it doesnt work. Thank you all Silka

Silka Melbourne Australia

Our Toby had a serious hemolytic event last July, was put on prednisone and transfused. His PCV normalized, and he has not had another hemolytic episode. However, his hemolysis may not have been autoimmune, as he ingested some onions shortly before he fell ill---he also took Capstar and had Frontline applied in the same time period, so it may have been a "perfect storm" of hemolysis inducing factors. My kindest thoughts to all who are dealing with this problem; when Toby first fell ill, we were devastated, and this site was very helpful.

Ann CT

This thread was discussed between 09/11/2009 and 12/12/2009

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