Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Madison has AIHA

Hi All, This is my first post but i have been reading comments since my dogs was diagnosed with this disease on the 13th Jan 09. Before then i have never heard of it. I took Madison to the vet on the Monday night because i came home from work and she had no energy and really pale gums. The day before she was at the beach running around like her usual self so seeing her like this was very distressing. The vet took a blood sample immeidately and within minutes she told me that Madison had this disease and was extremely sick her blood count was 15. She had to stay with them in ICU - i was distraught. For 4 days she stayed there and was put on immediate medication and had 2 blood transfusions. I was allowed to take her home on the thurs and she was checked daily. I took her home with a count off 25 and it drop by 1 for the next few days until it was 21. That was a week after her diagnosis. Two days later it stated to increase to 23 and today (5 days later) its up to 32 which is great. She is on Pedx, Immune and asprin. Oh and some stomach tablets to stop her getting sick. The vets have been amazing and i know it is early days but she is doing so well now. i hope she continues to improve and get back to her hypo active self. Samantha

Samantha Australia

Dear Samantha, I am so sorry to hear about Madison. It sounds like this was incredibly sudden. You are a smart person to get her to a vet so quickly and you are very lucky to have a vet who knows how to treat this emergency. It sounds like she is improving daily. Come to this forum daily to let us know how she is doing and ask any questions you might have. There are many friends here who will support you. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Hi Patrice, Thanks for you email and support. It has been a tough 2 weeks and i really thought i would never get to bring Madison home with me. I Forgot to mention she is a 7 year old Maltese X Shiz-tu and is the love of my life. Maidson is definately a little fighter and i am so proud of her to come so far. She doesnt need another blood check for 2 weeks now. Samantha

Samantha Australia

Samantha, Then Madison is your Heart Dog. There is nothing more to explain. patrice

Patrice NYS

samantha- i wish you and madison the absolute best going forward.

josh california

Glad to hear that your Maddison is doing so well. Whereabouts in Australia are you from. I lost my little maltese x shih tzu about six months ago. I am from Melbourne and Lort Smith animal hospital did my blood transfusion. Scruffy had no regeneration of his bone marrow and his PCV nos just kept dropping and I had to make a heartbreaking decison not to go on with further treatment. He was only 9 months old. The fact that you are getting positive PCV nos is a really good sign for recovery.

Julie Australia

Thanks Josh & Julie, Julie - I am in Perth and Balcatta Vet Hospital has looked after Madison. So sorry to hear about you little boy - he was so young, it must have been so sad. Madison has had 2 litters of pups so she is a strong little girl luckily. All Madisons test's showed her bone marrow was regenerating which was good. The 2 transfusions helped her get over the inital low count and now she is doing it all on her own. Its only been 2 weeks since her diagnosise but she seems to be responding well to the medication and i can tell by the way she is acting that she has improved so much. She is always hungry and really wants to go on walks with her brother - but she cant go yet though :o) Samantha

Samantha Australia

Your vet sounded like they were on the ball! Go Madison! Just be careful if her PCV goes up and stabilises that the vet doesn't drop the meds too fast - that's where we went wrong with tragic consequences with our little Millie. Hang in there - its tough going at first and you need nerves of steel but we got excellent results at the beginning. This site is excellent for information and support. Clare UK

Clare UK

Hi Clare, Thanks for that, i will definately make sure that the medication isnt dropped off suddenly. Sorry to hear that you lost your little Millie. One of Madisons puppies is called Millie - she is just so gorgeous and my best friend is her owner. I feel for you. Thanks again for your email

Samantha Australia

Hi Samantha. Lisa who lives in Perth her dog also survived and is doing really well. You might find her email address through past posts. She offered me good support.

Julie Australia

I just wanted to say I was born in Perth back in June '46--well actually Mt. Lawly in St Annes Hospital. My Mom grew up in Bassendean, married my American dad during the war. I was a year old when we came to the states. Still have kin down there and am in conatct with a couple of them.

Sandra Texas

Hi Julie, I tried to find Lisa but couldnt. Would be great to find out where her dog was treated. I have a great vet who has so many success stories with this disease which makes me confident Madison will make a full recovery. All Madison wants to do now is go out walking with her brother at night. She looks so sad when she cant come. hopefully in a few more weeks she will be able too. She is also so hungry all the time due to the medication, she wakes me up at 6am cause she is starving... the vet has said not to over feed her and i can tell she has already put on a bit of weight since taking the medication. Thanks for your email Samantha

Samantha Australia

Samantha, If you search the archives starting in 2005 for posts about Bertie, Lisa did have an email address posted. I don't know if it is still current and I have not re-read all the posts for references of where he was treated. He was also the Dec. 2008 success story on Joanne's Meisha's Hope site. You might try to fill Madison up with raw veggies. Best to you both. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

This thread was discussed between 27/01/2009 and 02/02/2009

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