Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - millie PCV result

Hi everyone Millie PCV at 40 still today. All other levels on her CBC normal. I guess that means that she is not relapsing. The vet said that she wasn't worried and that I make her paranoid! I just wish the PCV would stabilise in the high 40's. Or maybe I should just get used to this being the new normal for Millie. Thanks for your support. It helped me thru the weekend. Samantha and Millie.

Samantha Geelong Australia

Samantha, I am so glad to hear the news about Millie. This is definitly a disease that causes a lot of stress on the owners. Coco is like another child to us and I am still really new to this so could you please explain what a pcv is? All my vet told me was cocos monocytes was 889 and her platelet count was 78,which was when he started her on the predisone.

kelly redding

Samantha, So glad no relapse for Millie - have a fab new year. Samantha & Madison

Samantha Perth Australia

Hi Kelly, Thank-you for your kind words - I am very relieved that Millie is still stable. We had a scare last week with a drop in PCV (relatively small but best to double check). Millie is coming up to a year since diagnosis, so we feel very lucky we've made it this far. PCV stands for Packed Cell Volume is the proportion of of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells - and is one of the numbers we mainly focus on here to evaluate the state of the anemia. Ask your vet for the PCV reading and please let us know what this is. Only when this stabilises into normal range (37-55), should you start reducing the dosage of the drugs. I'm surprised your vet didn't let you know the PCV? The platelets act in the clotting of blood. I think a reading of about 50 (thousand) is the absolute lowest reading to prevent spontaneous bleeding and bruising. The immune system can spontaneously attack both platelets and / or red blood cells. If you have had a full CBC done, please feel free to post the results. There are a lot of owners here with a lot of knowledge who can alert you to anything that might not look normal. Please don't be scared to question your vet either. I found that I needed to be informed as my local vet (who initially treated Millie), had only ever seen 4 cases of AIHA/IMHA in her career. Though she saved Millie's life, it wasn't until we had to go to Emergency at a Teaching Hospital near Melbourne that we finally got Millie in the best hands possible. Research all you can and be armed with the knowledge. I found this forum and the Meisha's Hope website a lifesaver when Millie was diagnosed. www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson They are our babies and part of our family, so it's heart breaking to watch them go through this. Especially when we've usually never heard of this disease until we are hit with the life or death situation with our pets. Good luck and keep us posted. Samantha & Millie.

Samantha Geelong Australia

Good news for Millie. Worrying for naught! congrats and good luck.

Mardi Northern Calif

Good job Samantha & Millie! Im so pleased. :) Kelly, why dont you ask your vet for a copy of the tests that were taken so that you have your own record - its important to be able to chart progress. Im pretty new to this as well (September 09) but I did create a spreadsheet tracking all the numbers - doing searches on what I didnt understand. Monocytes, a type of white blood cell, develop in both the spleen and the bone marrow. They attack infectious organisms and produce proteins that help heal injured tissue. The above quoted from the following website: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/diagtest.html As Samantha has said, please post your numbers - there are some amazing people here with great knowledge.

Silka Melbourne Australia

That's great news to get Samantha! Perhaps Millie's PCV will stabilize in the lower 40's. That shouldn't be looked at as a bad thing. The higher the PCV the better??? All dogs are different. If Millie were a greyhound then maybe I'ld be worried just cause most greyhounds are known to have higher crits. You'll know when Millie is in the correct range by the way she acts. Tessy's last PCV was 39.5 and I'm thinking she's close to where she should be just by the way she's acting. Have you had blood taken prior to her sickness? Do you know what her normal crit is? Anyhow, if I were you I'ld get Millie up for a good snuggle session and belly rub. You both deserve some relaxation now. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Thanks Everyone. Johnny - Millie's last CBC before she got sick had a PCV at 48. We have got close to that at 45 once. I guess as long as she is happy and energetic, I wont complain. I was out gardening last night and had little Millie with me. She was running around chasing flies and having lots of fun. It made me realise that the number doesnt matter so much as long as she is happy and healthy. She just turned 12 and is nearly 1 year in remission so there is a lot to celebrate! Sam and Millie.

Samantha geelong australia

Samantha, It is easy to get caught up in the numbers. While important as they are I think our observations of our animals behavior tells a larger part of the story. It sounds like Millie is doing very well. Enjoy every moment. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Thanks Johnny, I was wondering about the "normal" PCV for Riles, and he did get a full screen when I took him in, so now I know that a good guide is 46 for him. I guess the best guide is their behaviour as you say. Catching flies at 12 sounds good to me!

Silka Melbourne Australia

Phew! Very good, I agree with Johnny, time for some r and r now. Hugs to you both, Melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

This thread was discussed between 29/12/2009 and 30/12/2009

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