Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - More positive news!

Yesterday I took Kahlu for his two week blood test. It was a couple of days early, because I was freaking out, thinking he has ringworm. ( I was also worried that it could be a relapse and now having trombocytopenia) He had a circular red spot on his belly. Thank goodness that is not what it was, just a bit of red flaky skin. It is all gone today. Shows you how paranoid we get with this disease. His lab results came back today and everything is stable and the same as 2 weeks ago. Except for the liver enzymes being quite high and the WCC just slightly high (still fighting UTI with antibiotics) it is all in the normal! Since his last reduction to 15mg he has so much more energy and seems so much more himself. We are in week 18 now and at the end of the week will reduce the prednisone again, Aza stays the same. Slow but steady. It is sure an exercise in practicing patience. Best wishes to everybody, Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Great work Brigitte! Kahlu's got a good mommy! Glad to hear the red spot went away. I think the same way you do....everytime I see something different with Tessy I feal I should take her in. I'm always paranoid something might happen to set us back. Has the liver enzymes been constantly high or have they been slowly coming down with the reductions? Tessy's are only slightly elevated. I haven't had a chem panel done for awhile. Her WBC count was high from the getgo and only recently went to within normal range. I'll be sending the blood off to Hemopet next visit for the full monty. Hopefully Kahlu's numbers will all go to where they're supposed to soon. It must feel great, and probably quite overwhelming, to see him getting his energy back and acting even more like himself. You're obviously doing something right. I can't wait to get my girl back. Give him bunches of hugs & best wiches from Tessy & I. Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

Great news Brigitte.... Keep up the good work Kahlu... Sam & Madison

Samantha Perth Australia

Brigette, Congrats to you and Kahlu! Hopefully they will find out soon why the liver enzymes are high. It must be heaven to see signs of the "old" Kahlu. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

A big paws up from Ginger! Cheryl and Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

way to go kahlu!!!

carol

Hi Brigette, what wonderful news Congratulations to you and Kahlu you both are winning the fight. Hugs from Effie and Belle.

Effie Australia

Yayyy Brigitte and Kahlu! Tiggs had those spots you might recall, it was a little skin infection (also prompted us to check his thyroid, which was extremely low). So, you might just double check the thyroid if you haven't already, but he sounds like he's a champ! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Thank you everybody for the compliments. I think there is a big portion of very good luck involved! Johnny, the liver enzymes actually went up despite the reductions. We try everything we can, Dr. Dodds liver diet, expensive Milk Thistle and Sam-e, but they kept climbing. My vet suggested an ultrasound. The only reason I did not want to do it, was financial and also that Kahlu's clinical signs are getting better. Tutteli said it could be that he has slush in his liver (?) that could be seen in the ultrasound and there would be a good medication for it. It is however counter indicated if it is something else. His numbers seem to have leveled off now. If they go up again in 2 weeks I guess I will have that ultrasound done. I hope your Tessy girl is doing good! Best wishes to everybody, Brigitte and Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

That is great news! Brigitte, I think mentioned in one of your other posts about a possible infection causing high liver enzymes. Please bring this up with your vet if you havent. The reason, Wylies ALT was coming down a lot as we were reducing pred, and then kind of plateaued. She had been having a few months of BAD gas so the vet put her on 7 days on metrizoidal in March. In April I took her in for her usual up and her ALT dropped 250 points. Yea, but then a few weeks ago I took her in for a recheck and she was back up 250 points. So my vet thought she might have some infection going on the the metrizoidel caused it to drop, and thinks she does have some infection and it didnt kick it all of the way and maybe not the right antibiotic, since the metro was was possible gastric issues so he prescribed doxy. She just stopped today and I take her back in 2 weeks and hopefully we se that ALT go down again. Laurie

Laurie CA

Thanks for bringing it up again Laurie. Sometimes i feel there is just too much information to process for my little brain. Kahlu has been on antibiotics (Clavulin) for UTI for about 8 weeks, maybe there is a connection. I will certainly bring it up at the next vet visit. It is going on my list right now, so I won't forget! Best wishes, Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Brigitte, I would ask your vet about the Clavulin since it has known liver side effects, and he has been on it so long, here is the info. I looked it up since I didnt know what Clavulin was. Its equivilant to US amoxicillin with something else in it. Why has Kahlu been on it so long? Liver: A moderate rise in AST and/or ALT has been noted in patients treated with CLAVULIN. Hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice which may be severe but is usually reversible have been reported. (see PRECAUTIONS) Laurie

Laurie CA

Laurie, thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. I just got back from the vet. I had to take my daughters poodle in, he had swollen lymph nodes last week. You can imagine how worried we were. He is all good now. I asked the vet about the antibiotic elevating the liver enzymes. She thought it was highly unlikely. Kahlu has been on them for reoccurring UT Infections. I also give him cranberry concentrate, but it does not seem to help. Hopefully after this course it will get better. I did go into the archives and searched for high liver enzymes. It was reassuring, that Kahlu is not the only one that this has happened to. Some dogs were even much higher than him. So I guess it is the prednisone that has accumulated and it will take a while for the liver to clean it all. Thanks for your help, Brigitte

Brigitte BC Canada

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2009 and 28/05/2009

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