Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Milo- Help/Ideas PLEASE

We don't know anything about these diseases and what we should do!! Someone please give us your ideas! Please!!!! We are devestated!!! We took him out of our veternarian office this afternoon and drove a hour to a specialist to see what they could do for Milo. The woman who saw him (Oradell animal hospital, paramus NJ) looked over Milo and said she think's Milo has AIHA And Evans Disease. She said that it's a very tough disease to treat, it is really 50/50. She said that their is a change we are fighting a losing battle. Nothing else was done just talked to us about him. She said we could leave Milo in their care for 3-5 days and leave a $1500.00 deposit. (Which we don't even have and we were denied Care-credit) We still have to pay $2200.00 which was DUE upon Milo's release from our veternarian office.(We made a 500.00 payment and they told us they usually dont allow payments. (It's unbelieveable how much it costs to try to keep your pet alive!!!!!) She said we could be spending 3-5,000.00 and end up losing in the end. We brought him home with us with thoughts of spending time with him and bringing him to be brought to "rainbow bridge" We had him in the yard for a little while and he was eating for us and barking, running aorund for a few minutes. After seeing him like this we just can not bring ourselves to let him go. We can't give up on him yet, We are HOPING their could be a turn for the better. I just emailed Hemopet.com and I am waiting for a response. I am going to bring milo in with me to talk to the vet again tonight. (HOPEFULLY) Please someone keep milo in your prayers and someone whith knowledge let me know your thoughts? Are we just hanging on for nothing?? We just can't let him go!!

Robin New Windsor NY

Robin, A few dogs on this board have sucessfully fought both diseases. Unfortunately there are no guarantees with this disease even if you do everything medically possible. We spent $14,000 in one month and still lost our poor Salome. It is good that Milo is running around and barking and eating but without the drugs like Pred or such it is hard to tell. I am sure you will hear from Dr. Dodds soon she is very good about answering her email. I am so sorry you are not getting the help you need. You remain in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs to you all. Penny

Penny Lytle creek Calif

I just spoke with a Vet from where Milo was hospitalized for the last week. He told me that his reccomendations were to euthanize Milo, because he does not think Milo is going to respond to treatment. :( I still can't bring ourselves to do such a thing. It's like I want to keep going on and on until we get a "YES WE CAN HELP HIM" He said that treatment could go on over 3-6 months and after 6 months mark it makes it a fair prognosis, but he does not believe milo will fall in to that percentage. He believes Milo would not make it to 3 months. He said he can even fall out of remission even if he DID make it (so that comment makes me wonder) and go through this all over again. I mentioned the medications cytoxan and another one in replace of the prednisone and he told me that they are chemotherapy drugs and can kill milo and a animal should not be on them? I told him about how Milo has been eating, and chasing my son around on the quad while barking. He said that is good to hear, but he could show great signs of getting better and just crash, not to get our hopes up. I hate to bother all of you. I really am sorry. I am just a basket case and feel I have to keep trying for our Milo. He pooped straight liquid a little bit ago and it was blood. :( What would you do in this situation??????????? How could we have to make this kind of decision??????

robin new windsor ny

I am so sorry about Milo, I am so new at this too. Patrice posted about Cornell University, I assume its a vet hospital. Is there any way your vet can do a consult? I live in a rural town and was able to consult with the only internist in town, and then told my vet to consult with UC Davis, which is the best teaching hospital on the west coast. I hope you hear back from DrDodds soon. As Penny responed there are great outcomes. Onother wasbjust posted yesterday about Boogie. it gives me hope if my dog get that sick that so far far Boogie is fighting and winning.

Laurie CA

Robin, I think you have to follow your heart on this one. Do what your gut is telling you is the right thing right now. In my experience, our puppies let us know when they can no longer go on fighting. IMHA can be very expensive to treat - we forked out $5000 over the course of 36 hours for our Lab Bronwyn and still lost her, but 8 hours before she died we thought we'd be bringing her home. She was unusual in that her PCV levels rose and stabilized, but her bilirubin levels jumped through the roof. And we'd do it all over again tomorrow, even though things are now really tight. Let Milo tell you what needs to be done - because I firmly believe they do tell us. In our case, we couldn't have let Bronwyn go before it was obvious there was no other choice - I simply would never have forgiven myself. We just couldn't have given up on her. And it sounds to me like you feel the same way. I know you feel horribly conflicted right now. My advice would be to follow your instincts. They'll tell you when or if it's time. If you want, feel free to email me. I'll be thinking of you and your son and Milo. I really hope they're able to help him. Elizabeth

Elizabeth Baltimore

Robin, You now have a diagnosis and that means you can begin to compare what other folks have done here with their dogs that have had such a severe diagnosis. We had a similar diagnosis as yours, very difficult to overcome. It did take from April until late September last year before we knew whether we were going to succeed or not. It took nearly round the clock medications, several transfusions and lots of vet visits to get to that point. Medications can be very expensive. We probably spent around $5000., maybe a little more if you count care after the worst was over. I will say that it definitely can be done if you are willing to put your heart and time into it. Your family will need to learn a lot about the disease and you will be getting advisement from Dr. Dodds about treatment protocols that are needed. Your vet will have to be acceptable to taking advisement from her as well for this to be successful. Some vets, such as mine, were quite honored to have her advisement, other vets find it an annoyance when a client comes in and tells them what they need. Have a family conference tonight to see how everyone feels about the duties ahead and the cost. Whatever you decide... THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO GO. You are doing this out of love and no one here on this board will judge you whatever you decide to do. Each person's path is a little different. But you all must agree on the final outcome. Stay with us here so you can get more advice. my best, patrice

Patrice NYS

Bear was diagnosed approx 2 1/2 weeks ago. After no response on pred and 2 transfusions regular vet said euthanize and they were literally replacing his transfusion bag when I stopped them. Brought him to critical care hopsital - he is on pred, imuran, cylcosporine, cytoxan, danasol has had 7 transfusions and two human immunogloblulin infusions. Brought him home today after 10 days in critical care - don't know if he will make it he is very ill, PCV 12 hrs after transfusion is 20 but he is eating drinking etc.. It is expensive to treat and no one should tell you to give up but you need to know that this is a very tough disease and that no matter how hard you try or how much it costs it may not work out. Having said that, find a vet that understands your mindset, I learned just in time mine is too quick to pull the trigger for me. Good luck finding a vet - try the vet schools in your state/specialty vet clinics.

stephanie houston

if nyc is not out of the question, try the animal medical center on 62nd.

stephanie houston

Robin, I am sorry you are dealing with this. It's such a tough disease. I never thought I would get to the point where Boogie is holding a count in the 30's. She was so sick for two months. I thought I would lose her four different times, and that's when she had her four transfusions. It is very expensive. In the past 3 months I have spent over $9,000. Not only are the doctor visits and hospitalization costly, but the meds are also very expensive. I spent over $100 just last Thursday. That was for 21 days worth of two medications Boogie is on, and she's currently taking four meds. I hate to discourage you, but you may have to be realistic about finances and do what's best for your family. I do realize that after all the money I've spent, there are no guarantees with this awful disease. It sounds like Milo is doing pretty well right now. Please enjoy your time with him while he's feeling this way. Take care of yourself. Sue

Sue Moorpark

This thread was discussed between 31/05/2008 and 01/06/2008

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